Chapter 59 The Regret
Grayson's POV
"Grayson, aren't you having dinner with us?"
I stopped walking towards my car and looked back to answer Bram. "No, I'm not. I have important business."
The general manager threw an empty bottle at me. "What's more important than a team dinner?"
If it wasn't for my laziness to do anything today, I might have given him the gift of a punch to the face. Unfortunately, I wasn't in the mood for a fight today. So instead of responding to him, I just raised my middle finger in the air and got into the car.
Today I wanted to search for Quinn again after stopping yesterday because Kelly was pestering me.
I wanted to look for Quinn in the places she frequented in case she went there too.
In addition, I also mobilized my confidants to stake out Owen. Because after all, I was sure Owen would definitely go to where Quinn was hiding. Because there's no way Quinn can hide this tightly without help. So it was necessary to pay attention to Owen's damn movements.
Tonight please MoonGoddes give me luck. Help me find my fated mate and let us reunite. If you grant it, I promise I won't waste it or doubt it again, I really do.
I had gone to the places where Quinn had worked part-time in the past, which are convenience stores, nightclubs, and candy stores. But I didn't find Quinn there. In fact, my visits became like an impromptu fansign because so many people were asking for photos.
I couldn't help but oblige my fans because they had been my loyal people all along. Besides, with my reputation suffering due to the accident, being seen with my fans can help my reputation improve. Although I truly appreciate my fans, there's no denying that reputation is also important to me.
The bad news is, after dealing with all my fans, my energy is now completely drained. That's why I've been staying in the car and haven't gone out to check on Quinn's latest flat because I need to gather my strength again.
Besides, who knows if monitoring from the car will make Quinn appear. Who knows if she left something in that place like she left her picture last time.
My eyes were busy watching the streets and everyone who passed by. I ignored the dozens of calls from my mom or Kelly who had been trying to reach me since last night. I didn't want to tell them about this problem or it would only make them happy.
I didn't want them to think that my relationship with Quinn was over. Because if they knew, they'd push me even harder and tease me even more. Just imagining it gives me goosebumps.
The point is that right now I want to avoid meeting people who could make Quinn even more misunderstood. Whether it's the woman from my past or my own family who are strongly opposed to me having a relationship with humans. Because I'd rather avoid them than lose Quinn.
Oh shit! What else is this? Where did that guy come from? Why did he come up to my car too? I parked my car properly and didn't block the road. So I guess I didn't cause any trouble.
The guy knocked on my side window. I finally opened it. "Can I help you?" I asked as politely as possible.
He pointed behind me, to the flat building. "I'm the janitor. While cleaning up the trash in front of door number 05, I found a rectangular cardboard box wrapped in wrapping paper."
"Then why did you tell me? I mean, shouldn't you have reported it to your boss or whoever it was?"
"Indeed I should have, sir. But when I picked it up, I found your name written on the wrapping paper. So instead of reporting it to my boss which would take a long time, I intend to give it to the owner directly."
Wait, does that mean it's a gift for me? Since it was found in front of door number 05 that Quinn had lived in, could it be a gift from Quinn? But on what event?
Then, how did this man know that I was in this car? Okay, I don't mind if he knows my face and my name, but that's if I'm outside, while I've been waiting in the car all this time. So he shouldn't know that it's me in the car, right?
"Ah, sorry if I'm being presumptuous. I have previously seen you visiting the flat in the car you are currently using. It just so happened that when I was going out, I saw this car again. So I immediately rushed here while you hadn't left yet."
So it's like that. It makes sense too. It means I have to be more careful because someone was watching me without me realizing it.
I opened the car door and got out. "Can you show me where the thing you're referring to is?"
"Sure. With pleasure, sir."
He led the way, taking me back to the doorstep of Quinn's now empty and unoccupied flat. And the object he’s referring to was indeed there, next to the door in the bin.
"This is what I meant, sir," he said, handing me the object.
I picked it up and shook it. It was quite light and like the weight I was used to holding at the rink. I was honestly curious but I didn't want to open it in front of other people. So I took out a tip to thank him for leaving.
"Thank you for being honest and not throwing it away," I said politely as I handed over the tip. "Please accept my gratitude."
Although shy at first, he finally accepted it. "Thank you very much, sir."
"I'm the one thanking you."
He shook his head quickly. "It turns out the news was wrong. You're such a good person. Nice to meet you, Grayson."
I only responded with a smile because if I agreed to his words, then he could label me as arrogant. And then it wasn't long before he left.
That's when I opened this rectangular object in a hurry. When I opened the outer wrapping paper, I immediately saw the words ice hockey stick on the surface of the brown cardboard.
That made me open it even more brutally until I finally saw the object that I used to hit the puck on the rink. I took it out of the box and held it carefully.
When I dropped the box, a piece of paper came out. The paper said:
Hi Gray Bear, since you scored the most and Frost Maple won the game continuously as you promised, I would like to give you a gift. It's not a big and expensive gift, but I hope you like it.
From Quinny.
Oh fuck fuck fuck! I really messed up. I was really stupid for not coming after promising Quinn to come that day. I was overcome with anger because I thought Quinn really betrayed me and accepted the other team's offer.
Quinn's anger this time must’ve reached its peak because she went as far as to throw away the gift she was supposed to give me, to the point where she threw away this expensive thing when she's a person who really values money.
Gosh, I really can't imagine how much of an asshole I am in Quinn's eyes. Maybe I don't even have any pride in her eyes anymore. Maybe now she just sees me as a short-tempered, rude, and tactless guy.
Argh! I'm really done now.
This stick... it should have been given to me directly by Quinn that night. I should have received it directly from Quinn if I had come. But I just ruined everything, including maybe the surprise Quinn had prepared.
Quinn must’ve saved up to buy this thing and it's a custom that certainly doesn't come cheap. She worked in many places, one of which was to give this precious gift that I was supposed to appreciate that night but instead it ended up in the trash because she’s already disappointed with me.
Gosh, I really am so stupid and don't know how to appreciate other people's gifts!
Now Quinn is gone. This stick is all I have with me.
I... really wasted the opportunity Quinn gave me. I... I deserved all of Quinn's anger.