Heartbeats and Algorithms

Chapter 3: Restless Defiance

Jasmine

I woke up feeling restless. After a full day of lying in bed, boredom had sunk its claws deep into me. Xavier had insisted I stay put, but there's only so much daytime television and scrolling through social media one can handle. My head still throbbed a little, but I was tired of doing nothing. Surely cooking wasn't going to hurt, right?

I decided to make a hearty soup. The idea of something warm and comforting seemed like a perfect distraction. As I pulled ingredients from the fridge and pantry, I realized I was missing one key thing—thyme. I frowned, thinking of all the times I'd told myself to restock it but never did.

Xavier's words replayed in my head: "No unnecessary activities." But how bad could a quick trip to the store really be? I'll be in and out in ten minutes, I reasoned, grabbing my car keys before I could overthink it.

As soon as I hit the road, I regretted it. My vision was still a little blurry, especially when I glanced at the street signs. But I stubbornly pressed on, determined to make it there and back without any issues. Just a quick trip, I told myself again. I drove slowly, squinting against the haziness clouding my vision.

When I finally reached the store, I grabbed a basket and made a beeline for the spice aisle. As I scanned the shelves, my eyes caught sight of a familiar figure near the produce section. Xavier? No way. He wouldn't be here—he put me on bed rest! I quickly ducked behind a nearby shelf, clutching the basket to my chest, my heart racing.

Peeking out, I confirmed it. Yep, that was definitely him, pushing a cart, looking relaxed but focused. My pulse quickened. There was no way I was getting caught here after he explicitly told me to rest. I needed to avoid him, but I couldn't help but steal glances in his direction. The last thing I needed was a lecture about how I shouldn't be out shopping, of all things.

I turned to make my escape, but in my haste, I crashed right into him, my basket spilling onto the floor. "Oh no..." I muttered, scrambling to pick up the scattered items.

"Jasmine?" His deep voice immediately made me freeze.

I looked up to see Xavier standing there, a mix of surprise and concern crossing his face. My cheeks flushed. "Uh... hey, Xavier."

His eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here? I thought I made it clear you were supposed to rest."