Leonel fixed his gaze on them.

Gradually, his breaths quickened. Hastily, he pushed his cart to the opposite end.

Abandoning his selections, he fled without making any purchases.

The chosen vegetables and fruits remained neglected in the cart.

Calvin observed Leonel's departure.

Deliberately, Calvin returned the two boxes of condoms to their place, sighing softly. "Why put yourself through this, Alexis?"

Alexis cast her gaze downward.

She harbored a sense of guilt. While desiring proximity to Leonel, she hesitated to instill hope or become entangled with him afterwards.

Projecting herself as somewhat unscrupulous seemed advantageous.

She resisted being overly compassionate.

Completing the transaction, Calvin whispered as they entered the car in the parking lot, “It's still not too late to change your mind, you know,"

Seated in the car, Alexis shook her head in refusal.

Leaning against the back of the chair, Calvin pulled out a cigarette box from his pocket.

Although he rarely smoked, he couldn't help but consider lighting one up at the moment.

Immediately upon Lighting it, Alexis extinguished the cigarette for him. Turning to her, Calvin, after a prolonged silence, extracted an invitation card from the console. Placing it gently in her hand, he remarked, “Don't procrastinate any Longer."

Gazing at the invitation card, Alexis drifted into contemplation.

Despite the passage of three years, the sensation of being with Leonel had faded from her memory.

Deliberately, she avoided dwelling on that sentiment.

Although animosity had likely grown between them, the necessity of proximity and intimacy with Leonel for the sake of Evelyn remained.

An awkwardness engulfed Alexis.