Girl Get Rid Of That Jerk (Williams and Shawn)

The roses were vibrant, bursting with bold colors and full of life. Their presence carried a romantic whisper: you casually drift through my dreams, turning my heart into a fragrant garden.

After arranging the flowers, Allison recalled the nurse mentioning that Joshua had been there just half an hour ago. The thought made her heart race. Could he still be around? Once the idea took root, she couldn't shake the urge to find out.

She pushed open the door and hurried towards the elevator. It was only seven in the morning, but the sun was already starting to heat things up. In her light lavender dress, Allison stepped out of the elevator and briskly made her way to the hospital's outdoor parking lot.

Within a few minutes, she spotted a familiar figure and slowed down. Joshua hadn't left yet. He was leaning against a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, head down, with a cigarette in hand. Wisps of smoke curled up lazily. Oblivious to Allison watching him from a short distance, he seemed lost in thought, far removed from the world's chaos. The morning light softened his features, giving him a gentle glow.

It had been days since she last saw him, and Allison's breath caught as she moved closer. Joshua looked up, meeting her gaze, and seemed momentarily surprised. Quickly, he stubbed out the cigarette and tossed it into a trash can nearby. Allison never liked the smell of smoke, and Joshua used to avoid it too. But with recent chaos in the Fisher family, balancing family and company duties without a break, he had turned to smoking and drinking to cope. Missing Allison deeply but unable to rekindle their past closeness, he found solace in these habits -though he avoided drinking excessively to stay in control. Smoking became his outlet when longing for her overwhelmed him.

As Allison approached, Joshua instinctively stepped back. "Don't come too close, I reek of smoke," he said, concern in his voice. He lowered his eyes, "I'm sorry, I just needed to take the edge off."

"It's alright," Allison replied softly, her eyes meeting his. "Thanks for the flowers. They're beautiful."

"I'm glad you like them," he said, his voice deep and sincere.

Allison wanted to ask why he hadn't come to see her, but the words stuck in her throat. Joshua, reading her unspoken question, said, "I didn't want to wake you, so I didn't knock."

She nodded, acknowledging his thoughtfulness. Silence lingered between them, neither knowing what to say next.

Eventually, Allison broke the silence. "I should head back. Take care on your way."

"Will do," Joshua replied, his gaze gentle.

Later that evening, Allison received a call from Olivia. "Allie, do you have a minute? There's somethingnoveldrama

important I need to talk about," Olivia

said, her tone unusually gravel

Surprised, Allison wondered what could be so serious.

"I'm free, what's up?" she replied.

Olivia hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Do you remember Carolyn?"

Carolyn? Why bring her up now? "Yeah, I remember her vaguely. We weren't close, and she went abroad, didn't she?"

"She did, but she's back now."

"Oh, really? Why mention her?"

There was a pause before Olivia spoke again. "She's back for Joshua."

Allison waited for Olivia to elaborate. Sensing Allison's silence, Olivia continued, "Seven years ago, before she left, she confessed her feelings to Joshua. I recently met her, and she told me she's back to pursue him."

BUMS

As Olivia finished, Allison stared at the bouquet of roses on the small table beside the hospital bed, their sweet scent filling the room, dost in her thoughts.