The Heart System

Chapter 850: Chapter 850

Emma blew on her mug, holding it with both hands, and took a small sip. But when she tasted it and found it too hot, she grimaced.

Damn, she was cute.

”Hot?” I asked.

”Yeah. I like ice in my coffee,” she replied.

”Well, we don’t have that around here.” I smiled. ”Sorry.”

”My tongue will feel different for the whole day now.” She exhaled. ”It happens when I drink something extremely hot.”

A knock on the glass door came from behind me. Turning around, I saw Tessa waving at me, her coffee mug sitting beneath the machine as it filled.

”Jasm... no, Tessa, right?” Emma asked me.

”Yep.”

”Minne told me she was taking good care of Kim.” Emma said, watching Tessa grab her mug.

”Mik,” I corrected. ”And yep. She loves that little rascal.”

”Mik...” She repeated. ”Smart.”

”Hey, you lazy fuck.” Tessa entered the balcony with a smile. ”And hey, Emma.”

”Hey,” she replied.

”Why are you here?” Tessa closed the door and walked beside me. ”Something wrong with Nala?”

”Yeah, I’ve been calling her today, but she wasn’t answering. So I thought I’d just drop by.”

”Yeah, the gal’s been really busy,” she said. ”But it’s good for you to drop by.”

”Thanks.”

”How are things at the hotel?” Tessa asked, sipping her hot coffee. ”Any news?”

”Nope,” I replied. ”Eleanor just sent a photo. Esme and Delilah are okay.”

”Good.”

”Things bad at the penthouse?” Emma asked, tilting her head.

”Just... complicated, I’d say.” I took a sip from my coffee and exhaled. ”Cold today, huh?”

”Yeah,” Tessa said, looking outside. ”At least it’s not raining. I like snow.”

Yeah, even though there was snow everywhere, it was coming down slowly. The wind that had been wreaking havoc since the morning had finally died down, too. Now, it was just another calm morning accompanied by lazy snowfall.

Cozy.

But this kind of weather always made me sleepy. Just grab a hot coffee, lie in bed with a blanket over me, and watch TV or scroll through my phone. That sounded like the perfect way to spend the morning.

”So, this Carrie,” Emma said, breaking the silence. ”Have you two seen her up close?”

”Yeah.” I nodded. ”Very up close... You?”

”Nah.” She blew on her mug, trying to cool it down. ”But I was with another Carrie. You know her, right? They disbanded the group and went their separate ways.”

”Different Carrie?” I asked. ”Sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

”Wait... that Carrie?” Tessa asked. ”So they disbanded the group, huh? Good. I hated their last album.”

”Who...” I started, then gave up halfway through. ”You know what? No. I don’t like music groups, and I’m not getting myself involved.”

”Such a boring guy.” Tessa’s shoulders slumped.

”I’ll just smoke one of my three limited cigarettes and go back inside.” I pulled my cigarette packet from my jacket. ”But if you... decided to give me more, Tessa, maybe I can...”

”Suck my ass, assistant.”

I sighed and opened the packet. ”Fine, fine.”

Well, it was worth a shot.

The door behind us opened once again, and this time... it was Melvin.

He had the kind of look that instantly made it clear he was as depressed as a person could get. Messy hair, an unironed shirt, and dark circles under his eyes. He held his coffee mug lazily with one finger hooked through the handle. One wrong move and the entire thing would probably end up on the ground.

”Hey, guys,” he said without looking up, then walked toward the corner of the balcony.

”Hey?” I called out. I took two steps toward him and stopped nearby. ”You good, Melvin?”

”I’m not.” He exhaled. ”You think I’m chasing after the wrong girl, Evan?”

”Hell no.” I recoiled slightly. ”You love her. That has to mean something. Just tell her how you really feel. If she refuses you, she refuses you. That’s it.”

”What’s the deal?” Tessa asked, walking over beside me.

”Hey, Tess.” Melvin nodded.

”You two know each other?”

”Yeah, yeah.” Tessa waved her hand. ”We met while he tried to take an upskirt shot of me.”

”WHAT?”

”I get the reference.” Melvin smiled. ”Sergeant Tod, right?”

”Huh?”

”It’s this new movie that’s been popular for like a whole month, you idiot,” Tessa said. ”The protagonist was named Melvin. Him and his future partner met while Melvin knelt down to tie his shoes and...”

”Okay, no.” I put a hand up. ”I’m just gonna smoke and go away. Also, Melvin, let’s go to Stingy Ladies today. I might have a plan.”

”What kind?” he asked, his mood lifting a little. ”Aw, man, you got me excited. What kinda plan, huh? Tell me, please.”

”A plan that requires you to trust me.”

”Alright, I’m in!” He smiled. ”When? Now? We can go now if you want. I mean, I’m done with work.”

”After work. Wait for me in the parking lot.”

”YES! Thank you, man. Thank you. That works, too.”

”Who is Sergeant Tod?” I asked. ”I thought the guy was named Melvin. Are we talking about the same movie or...”

”Sergeant Tod is his serial killer name,” Tessa explained. ”My God, we just watched that shit a week ago. How can you forget? The guy with the scar on his face... wait, not. That was the other guy. The guy with the scar on his arm. Were you sleeping or something?

Well... yeah. Probably sleeping, movies weren’t my thing, but whatever.

”I dunno, I just forgot.” I shrugged. ”Anyway, I’ll be over there.”

Shit. I didn’t even know why I decided to help him. I guess seeing him that depressed made me pity him.

Either way, I was standing behind what I had just told him. If he had feelings for her, he had to confess. Because if it wasn’t for my idiotic classmate who couldn’t keep his mouth shut and loved to gossip, I’d have had zero girlfriends in high school.

Wow.

I’d never thought I’d end up playing matchmaker.

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