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XI. Rumination

"You know you can tell me what happened. It's been years. I've been giving you advice for something I've no basis of! Does this even make sense to you?"

She sighed. There was no way she can out-talk Mel, and it has always been this way.

"If people knew about this, how hard would they laugh! I can out-talk anyone and everyone, all except Mel," she mused.

It's a miracle in itself that she has been able to remain mum for these many years, but she knew that a time will come when Mel would finally demand the whole story from her. And the time has come because her dear friend had cleverly managed to put two and two together to figure out that Aga was the "mystery guy" she had been talking about the past few years, since all the relationship drama ended. She never exactly meant to hide his identity, but she found no reason to divulge it anyway. Her usually nosey friend probably sensed her mild reluctance to present the story in its entirety and to her surprise, never forced any details out of her.

But now, her nosey friend is back.

"It's a long story. I'll meet you at our usual place?"

-----

"And so, yeah."

"Whoa," Mel finally breathed out after her lengthy - and long-winded - story filled with hems and haws, "that sounds like it came straight out of a drama. I didn't know your love life was so exciting."

"Shut up! I'm frustrated enough as it is."

"Wait, so your break-up with Ken... does this have something to do with that?"

Her mind stalled upon that question. Did it? 

"I don't know," she finally replied in a resigned tone, "things just didn't work out with Ken. I mean, he was a sweet guy, attentive, but he just got really possessive and I didn't like it. Why am I even repeating all these, you already know them."

"You never told Aga about all these? Or the fact that you never got married?"

"I didn't say anything to him specifically. Someone else might have told him. After all, news travels fast, you know."

"The poor guy only just found out that you fell out with Ken. And from me. Didn't you find it necessary for him to know? Considering he confessed to you and all?"

"No wonder he was staring at my hands the other day when he handed me the cake, and had a befuddled expression on his face," she chuckled, and then her face fell back to serious almost immediately, "and no. Ken and I, we fell out some time after his confession. We weren't exactly in close contact, so how would I know if he'd maybe found someone new? Or maybe started to take a liking to someone in whatever land he was on? Then it'd be incredibly selfish of me to stand in his way."

"The bottom line - you two don't communicate as much as you should. Period."

Lea sighed at Mel's comment, and reluctantly nodded.

"Do you still like him? I mean, Aga."

-----

She sank into her armchair the minute she returned to her apartment, letting the softness of the velvet cushion envelope her body. Contrary to relaxation, she found even more suffocated - as if her troubles were being wrapped around her tightly - and she sat upright in reflex. Rubbing her throbbing temple furiously, she allowed her mind to dwell on the uncertainty.

If she were to be really honest, that short catch-up with Mel opened her eyes to many things.

One, he had found out about the non-marriage, and she should be ready for his snooping questions that will come in no time.

Two, close as they are, they had serious communication issues that might, or might not, have everything to do with Aga.

And lastly, three, she might, or might not, still like the guy.

She leant back into the armchair. That last one was the biggest reason for her pounding headache, she was sure.

If she were to be completely honest, this thought has been plaguing her, on and off over the years, but she had never, ever arrived at a conclusion she was satisfied with. A part of her missed him in a way that wasn't normal - for a friend - and yet a part of her was willing to leave it in the past. However, this was only a part of the issue, and Mel had yet again reminded her that there was a question she had, perhaps deliberately, avoided and left unanswered for years now.

Had he anything to do with her failed relationship with Ken?

The newest acknowledgement that he had and still does linger in her decisions often was some progress, she pondered, albeit a rather slow progress. It was no answer closer to finality and she did have the time of the day to brood over it. Just as her thoughts started to twist into a jumbled mess and a frustrated cry was about to leave her lips, her phone rang.

The caller ID?

The most gwapo man.

"As usual," she commented with a lazy sigh, "the most shameless man."

-----

A/N:

Okay, so I kind of lied. The previous chapter wasn't exactly short...and it wasn't setting up for this chapter either - more of like the one after this. And this is the actual (really) short chapter.

I'm so, so, so immensely apologetic for this short update after such a long while! /bows really, really low/

Inspiration is a rare commodity these days and I'll need loads of encouragement from everyone. /sighs dramatically/

Anyway, vote, comment or share!! Your support is REALLY greatly appreciated. I can't even begin to describe how it feels like when I receive words of encouragement from you guys. Simply mind-blowing and amazing.

Thanks for reading and see you in the next chapter or my other story collection!! :D

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With love,