Time After Time | Wenrene

For Just One Moment

"Why won't my heart listen to me?" Wendy had asked herself. She lost count on how many times she had mumbled those words, but her internal dilemma can't be ignored any longer, by her sole companion. A frustrated groan from them snaps her back into reality, notifying Wendy of her presence. "Are you just gonna sit there and question your whole existence or actually hang out with me like we planned." Joy raised an eyebrow with her arms crossed over her chest looking a tad bit annoyed at the oblivious Wendy sitting across from her at the cafe they had come to frequent ever since it had opened up.

"Oh! Joy, how long have you been sitting there?" Wendy's sudden alertness turned into confusion, paying no mind to what the younger one had previously said.

Joy can't help but to facepalm. She had been sitting there for 15 minutes waiting for the latter to notice her presence. Although, expecting Wendy to notice her immediate arrival was a mistake on her part she must admit, to herself of course. "15 minutes you blockhead. What are you even muttering about in that little bubble of yours?" Her frustration now gone seeing the apologetic face Wendy sent her way hearing how much time had passed since she had arrived for their little hang out date.

Wendy gasped as she realized the time, "I'm so sorry, I lost track of time and just-"

Joy waved a hand dismissing the string of apologies she wasn't going to hear the end of until the latter felt that she had assured her enough for them to move onto whatever the next topic would be. Wendy thought of continuing but she knew Joy had already let the matter pass. That was the way things were with the two, anyway.

A set of drinks and pastries were delivered to their table. With the fifteen minutes that Wendy had spent, lost in her own little world, Joy had ordered them their usual orders at the cafe, a grapefruit green tea lemonade for Wendy and a taro smoothie with tapioca pearls and coconut for herself. As for the pastries, a cream puff for Wendy and a chocolate croissant for Joy. They thanked the server and Wendy didn't forget to thank Joy for ordering for her as they had a few sips of their drinks before going back to the topic at hand.

"So, what's gotten you so distracted? It's not like you. Well, sort of." Joy leaned in with her chin placed on top of her palm ready to hear the cause of Wendy's dilemma.

Wendy pondered a bit before telling the curious girl in front of her, "Uhm.. well, she's... back."

Joy was puzzled with Wendy's vague answer, raising her eyebrows in question, "who? Is it someone I know?"

Wendy takes a few seconds to slowly sip her drink of choice before dropping the name onto the conversation at hand. She sort of knows how Joy will react, a look of surprise, understanding, maybe a little apologetic, but most of all, anger would overshadow the rest of the emotions mixed into her eyes as she meets Wendy's eyes. She looks at the puzzled Joy who was patiently waiting for her answer.

"Irene."

Just as she had thought, Joy's eyes widened in surprise, quickly switching to an understanding and apologetic look, until it was all overshadowed by her undeniable anger towards the person Wendy had named.

"Don't tell me, she contacted you through one of her 'unknown numbers' and asked to meet up with you like she did last year and the years before that," Joy had rolled her eyes and leaned back into her chair, clearly a little pissed off now because of the name mentioned. Wendy couldn't blame her younger friend, she had been there to see the relationship between Irene and Wendy flourish into something to be envious about, then for it to dwindle to nothing as if they were complete and total strangers. She had even witnessed, although late since Wendy had kept it a secret from her for a week or two, the first time Irene had waltzed right back into Wendy's life like nothing had happened between them and nothing needed to be said since it was 'all in the past' and Irene had 'changed'.