The Mystery of Us (You and Me Against the World)

Chapter Twenty One

Torrance is seated on her couch while watching her favorite Korean TV series scattered with remnants on the floor, crumpled tissues, a tipped-over bottle of wine, and the remains of a half-eaten pizza. Dim afternoon light seeps through the curtains, casting soft shadows. Torrance hugging a fluffy cushion. Jade enters, carrying two mugs of steaming coffee.

"Hey, Tor," Jade noticed the mess) Wow, you really went all out, huh?"

Torrance sighs. "Don't start, Jade. I'm not in the mood for your jokes."

Jade gently sets the mugs down. "I'm not joking. I'm just... surprised. You went from 'I'll be fine' to this. (gestures to the room)

"Yeah, well... you know how it is. Emotions are messy." Torrance responded sarcastically.

Jade sits beside her."So can we talk about Friday night?"

Torrance crosses her arms. "What's there to talk about? It was a disaster."

"A disaster, sure, but that doesn't mean we can't unpack what happened. I mean, it's unlikely for you to lose it like that," Jade said calmly.

"Did you come here to lecture me?" Torrance looks at Jade.

Jade's holding up his hands. "No lecture, I promise. Just... a friend checking in. What happened with Zach doesn't define you."

"I let myself get swept away, and then...(pauses, frustration bubbling up) he doesn't even care at all!" Torrance's sadness is evident in her voice.

Jade leans forward. "I get it. But you weren't with him because you thought he cared. You were... dealing with something. It wasn't just about him.

Torrance laughs bitterly. "Right! So I guess I should just shrug it off, right? It doesn't matter that I thought maybe, just maybe, things could be different?"

Jade furrows his eyebrows. "It matters. Just not in the way you think. (pauses) What did you feel when you were with him?"

Torrance sighs and her eyes downcast. "At first? Excitement, I guess. He's so charming, and... I thought he'd be different. Well I'm much aware of what he is but I ignored the signs thinking that..you know?"

Jade replied. "But you realized he wasn't."

"Yeah... when I woke up and he was just... gone. I felt so stupid, Jade. Like I was just an easy lay or something." Torrance picks up the mug.

Jade looks at Torrance."You were more than that. You're more than that, Victoria."

Torrance mumbles. "I'm invisible to him."

Jade sighs. "Some guys are just idiots. You're looking at it from the wrong perspective. You were vulnerable and wanted connection. That's not wrong."

"I just wanted to feel something real..." Torrance in her soft speaking voice.

Jade holds Torrance's arm. "And you will again. But you need to give yourself time. It's okay to not be okay right now."

Torrance sniffles. "I don't want to be a mess forever."

Jade smiles softly. "You won't be. Remember the last time when you thought you'd never get over William."

Torrance's rolling her eyes. "Oh..Don't remind me..."

Jade chuckles. "Sorry! But you bounced back. You'll do the same this time."

Torrance's eyeing Jade."I don't know, Jade. It feels different. With Will, we had history. With Zach, I had... nothing.

"Maybe that's what hurts the most. You were hoping for something, and it ended before it even started," says Jade.