Tragically Yours

| 27 |

"So, Abigail—" Ethan starts as we all strut our way to our office space.

"Just call me Gail," She interrupts him before I could even think to correct Ethan. Part of me wants him to suffer by calling her with her 3-syllable name. I don't why I thought about that, but something about it makes me regain a tiny bit of pride inside of me.

"Okay then, Gail." Ethan bows his head to address her using her nickname—that originated from me. "How did you find Vydor?"

As if on cue, Gail chortles that several heads had turned to face us. "It's quite a long story and a bit—" She quickly glances her way to me before continuing, "—embarrassing, actually." She clutches an imaginary hand in front of her chest as if she's having a cardiac arrest. Still, she keeps a bright smile on her face—even though that smile is for Ethan, since she's facing him again. "But to make it short—and avoiding mentioning the embarrassing part—I found his actual address from the letters he'd sent me."

The letters that I've sent to her based on Ethan's idea. I can already tell he's been thinking that. Especially since he'd automatically flash his arrogant grin at me. I deliberately rolled my eyes at him and silently cursed him. "I see... I'm glad you've found your way to Vydor without getting lost."

Gail spits out a nervous chuckle, "Yeah, luckily that didn't happen. It'll be unfortunate if I get lost in the city." She glances around, nothing in particular in mind in what to look for. "So, where are your stations?"

That's what she's looking for? Our station? I have a feeling she's looking for something else—to be specific, someone, since she's not particularly glancing at the station, more like at the people around. Does she know someone here? If so, who are they, and how did they know each other? Shaking away my thoughts, I decided to speak up and not let Ethan have the spotlight to answer her question. I raise a finger at the direction we were walking and towards both of mine and Ethan's station. "That's our station, we're literally next to each other."

"Oh, I see." She mutters, but not entirely glancing at our station. If I can assume, she's actually glancing at the door ahead of us. The door towards Favian's office. The door that has his name imprinted on it to make sure everyone here knows where he is located.

I have this urge to ask her what's wrong, and decided to give in with that urge. Not caring that Ethan may still want to chat with her. "What's wrong? You've been looking a bit worried since the time we arrived here."

She snaps her head to glance at me for a moment. Silence covers between us like a blanket—while Ethan is hovering closely like a lamp on the bedside table. "No, I'm not worried. I just remembered something." Gail slowly nods her head, as if she'd convinced herself that was the best answer she could mutter. "It's nothing serious, just a small detail about something."

"Okay then... But if you're worried, you can tell me, and I'll listen carefully to your worries." I instinctively hold her hand with mine as I keep eye contact. This might be one of those moments where I want to kiss her, but Ethan is literally beside us and I don't want him to witness us kissing again. Plus, I'm pretty sure Favian can see us through his one-sided window.

She gives me a lopsided smile, "I'll keep that in mind."

And with that, we all had finally reached our station. I pull an extra chair for Gail to sit next to me as I work. And for some unknown reason, I feel nervous but excited at the same time. I never tried to work while someone was monitoring me. Well, Favian sometimes watches me work, but this time it's not Favian. It's Gail that is sitting beside me, happily watching me work on an article. I feel nervous that she may find what I'm doing boring and will not pay attention to me any longer. Meanwhile, the excitement is coming from the fact that she's here. Here with me, right now. After years of not having her by my side, she's finally here.