Jessica’s eyes widened in bewilderment at Debra’s sudden emotional outburst.
“I must apologize on her behalf,” Percy interjected quickly, his voice calm but apologetic. “Debra just went through a breakup, and she’s still very emotional. This has nothing to do with you.”
“I’m sorry, Jessica,” Debra sniffled, her voice trembling. “I lost my composure for a moment there. My boyfriend of three years broke up with me last night. He said he’d fallen for someone else, and I just… I can’t accept it.” Her voice cracked, and tears spilled over again. “I thought, if only I were as exceptional as you, maybe he wouldn’t have left me. I…”
Her words trailed off as another wave of sobs overcame her.
Jessica pressed her lips into a thin line, inhaling deeply as she composed herself. She spoke gently, her tone measured. “Breaking up with someone like that might not be such a bad thing. You deserve someone who values you for who you are.”
But Debra only cried harder. “Jessica…” she whimpered, throwing her arms around Jessica’s neck and burying her tear-streaked face in her shoulder.
Jessica stiffened at the unexpected embrace, caught completely off guard. She wasn’t used to such displays of emotion, let alone from someone she barely knew. For a moment, she was at a loss.
Thankfully, Percy stepped in. He walked over and placed a comforting hand on Debra’s back. “There, there, Debra. That’s enough now,” he coaxed gently. “No more tears.”
It took several moments, but Debra eventually pulled herself together, her sniffles subsiding into quiet hiccups.
“I’m so sorry, Jessica,” she said, her voice raspy and thick with emotion. “I didn’t mean to lose control like that.”
Jessica offered an awkward smile. “It’s okay. It’s Gracel to feel upset after what you’ve been through. I completely understand.”
“Thank you, Jessica,” Debra murmured, dabbing at her tear-streaked face with a napkin.
A brief silence followed, broken only by Debra’s uneven breathing, until her expression suddenly shifted, as though struck by a new thought.
“Jessica, will you… will you come with me to a bar for some drinks tonight? I just can’t bear to be alone right now.”
Jessica blinked, caught off guard once again by Debra’s abrupt request.
She hesitated before responding politely, “I’m sorry, but I already have plans for tonight.”
Though her tone was kind, inwardly she felt a growing sense of unease. Debra’s earlier sobbing and unexpected embrace had left her unsettled, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that agreeing to spend more time with her would lead to a chaotic evening. She could already picture endless rounds of drinks, more tears, and perhaps more unwelcome hugs.
It seemed better to decline and encourage Debra to lean on her closest friends or family for comfort instead.
Debra’s face fell, her expression clouding with hurt. “Jessica, do you… do you not like me? Is that why you don’t want to spend time with me?”
Jessica was momentarily speechless, taken aback by the question.
After a moment’s pause, she sighed lightly and replied, “It’s not that at all. I really do have other plans tonight.”
Thankfully, Percy stepped in once more, his voice firm but kind. “Debra, you shouldn’t pressure Jessica like this. If you want, I’ll go with you instead.”
Debra hesitated, her disappointment evident, but eventually nodded. “Alright,” she murmured before glancing back at Jessica with a hopeful expression. “But we can still hang out again sometime, right? Maybe go shopping or have lunch?”
“If I’m free, of course,” Jessica replied.
Debra’s face lit up instantly, her earlier sadness replaced by enthusiasm. “Great!”
________________________________________
The rest of the meal passed with Debra directing most of the conversation toward Jessica, jumping from one topic to the next with unrelenting energy. It was clear she was eager to forge a closer bond with Jessica, though her intentions remained somewhat ambiguous.
At one point, Jessica asked casually, “Debra, was there a particular reason you invited me to lunch today?”
Debra blinked, seemingly surprised by the question. “Oh, no reason,” she said lightly, waving a hand dismissively. “I just thought it would be nice for us to have a meal together.”
Jessica nodded, but the feeling of unease lingered. Something about Debra’s demeanor didn’t quite sit right, though she chose not to pry further.
________________________________________
When the meal concluded, the group left the private dining room and began walking toward the elevator.
As they approached, Debra turned to Jessica with another suggestion. “Jessica, why don’t you let Percy drive you back to the hospital? It’s on the way for us anyway.”
Jessica opened her mouth to politely decline but froze mid-step as her gaze flicked upward.
Her entire body stiffened.
Just ahead, she saw something—or rather, someone—that made her heart skip a beat.