You, Me, and Her

Verse 06: Perfect Strangers

The launch for their next month's edition was fast approaching and Halwyn and his friends were drowning with work. He literally had to stay up all night editing his interview, sent an email to Aidan's manager, and then waited for him to approve it. They hadn't talked since that day in his house and their communication was through the manager only. Halwyn preferred it this way, it would be awkward to communicate again after their last encounter. And if it hasn't been with her sister's bitching about the interview's deadline, he wouldn't reach out to him again. Siana was quite meticulous and stern in ensuring that they always asked for the celebrity's permission before putting everything in print. So whether liked it or not, he had to reach out to him until the launch of the magazine and they wouldn't have to see each other again.

"Are you doing anything today, Hal?" Cadi suddenly peered inside his office and he raised his head from his laptop computer to meet her pleading gaze.

He sighed, "What do you want?"

"Don't be mad," she retorted and let herself in before he could say something else. "Can you drop me by the Wild Orchid this lunchtime? I cooked Meg's favorite Indian curry and she told me she'd be at the shop later."

Halwyn was seen typing on his keyboard rapidly and abruptly halted when he heard this. "You haven't seen each other for a week," he told her. "I thought you guys broke up."

"Hey, that's rude! You're beginning to sound like Steffan and Maxen."

"Yeah? Well, I wouldn't know you two are in a relationship if you don't remind us every day," when the other person had gone very quiet, Hal peered at her face. "Alright, that was foul."

Cadi drew a deep sigh and sat down on the chair in front of his desk. "It's complicated, Hal. I don't want to make her feel any more uncomfortable than she already is."

"Are you happy?"

"She was disowned by her family after coming out, she's trying to keep everything lowkey."

"That's not what I asked," said Hal. "She should at least make an effort to reach out to you. When was the last time you two had a date?"

Cadi leaned back on the chair and blew air out of her mouth. "A month ago? Or maybe a few months...I can't really remember. Are you talking about a vacation?"

Halwyn rolled his eyes and stopped typing. "As in a simple dinner date together? It doesn't always have to be a grand gesture but at least have time for each other even for a few minutes; can't she do that?"

She thought about it for a moment then shook her head. "Please, just drop me off at the flower shop, okay? I'll make it up to you during lunch. I'll treat you."

"Why don't you just have a lunch with her?" Halwyn offered, "I mean, you're bringing her lunch so might as well eat it with her."

"She might have clients at the shop, I don't want to interrupt."

Hal wanted to add something else but had chosen not to which was a good choice since Cadi wasn't feeling great after receiving feedback from one of her closest friends. She was aware of the current status of her relationship but she would like to put her trust in Megan rather than question the cogency of her relationship. However, she also acknowledged what Hal constantly reminded her; that there wouldn't be any relationship if only one person strived to make it work.

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"Hal, are you at the office?"

"Why aren't you answering?"

Ion sighed for the third time as his brother wouldn't even answer his text messages and he was now standing in front of his office building. Well, it wasn't like only Hal was employed at the company because his sister was also the editor-in-chief of Trend Wise magazine.