You.

Chapter 31 - New feeling

Zoya goes into fight mode after feeling hands grasp her waist. "Who-!"

"Hey, calm down, it's me." Zach responded.

For an instant, fear was in Zoya's eyes, "You! What are you doing here?" She demands, placing her hands on her hips and then immediately taking them off because her hands touched his.

"Zoya," His face changes immediately from being sad to realizing what he is doing. He retreats his hands from her waist but keeps eye contact, "Uh, I just... wanted to see you again..."

"Well, now you have, so if you'll excuse me-"

She marches back into her store and disappears after taking one last glance around for Rose. As she leaves, Zach reaches his hand out as if he's lost her forever.
 
~~

Madrid sits at home, pondering about Zoya. I've liked her for a long time, but I can tell I'm not the one she truly loves. It's him. Always been him, I can see it. He exhales deeply; I have to let her go, and I know these feelings will take time to subside.. it's gonna hurt, Madrid, but you can do it.
After he gets dressed in a black sweatshirt and trousers and combs his dark brown curly hair with shaved sides, he goes out to go get a couple groceries, trying to clear his head. As he strides through the isles, he is looking intently at all the products and doesn't realize another person is doing the same thing and not paying attention. They end up colliding and the other person drops their things. Madrid is startled and reaches down to help pick them up and apologizes.

"Oh, I'm sorry-" They both lift their heads. Madrid sees a beautiful young woman with emerald green eyes and long gold locks and as soon as they make eye contact, he feels that time has stopped.

"Oh, it's alright. I am kind of a clumsy person myself, haha." She smiles, trying to add some humour to make the atmosphere less awkward.

"Well uh, here," He cocks a grin and hands her her things.

"Ah, thank you," She chuckles. "Well, have a good day!" She starts to walk off.

He pauses for a second, then grabs her hand, "Wait!" She turns around. "What is your name?" He asks.

She smiles softly, "Elise. But you can call me El. What is yours?"

"It's Madrid."

Elise ~ Madrid... did he feel it too?

"Well, Madrid, see you later." She smiles and leaves.

He watches her walk away. El. There was something about her...

When he finishes grabbing everything he needs, he tries to look for Elise. He fails to find her in the store. Once he buys everything, he heads to the parking lot and tries to find her there. He spots a woman with the same hair from the back. He starts making his way when she turns around and he sees it's a different woman. What am I doing, of course it's not her. I should get back home.

The mysterious girl he met today has been occupying his mind ever since he met her. Zoya and Rose won't be getting home for awhile, which is good. It gives me time to peacefully sit here...

~~

Rose stands in place, her eyes wide open and not hugging Lonokai back, trying to comprehend what just happened. Did he just hug me?

"W-wha-"

"Shh, let's just stay like this for a moment..." He closes his eyes. People walk by, staring in confusion and whispering about them but Lonokai cared less about that.

After some time passes, Lonokai releases himself from Rose and she's left confused on what to do.

"I hit you... and you hugged me in return. Why?" She stands with a puzzled but sad face.

"You really think I could ever get mad at you? Rose, I deserved that slap. I deserved it for being untruthful to you. Trust me, I really wanted to tell you everything about me, but I just... couldn't. When you came into my life again, the first thing I wanted was to make up for lost time. And I know you may not forgive me completely right now or even trust me, which I understand, but please, will you stay by my side?" He asks like a sad puppy.

She turns away from him, "I don't understand... you had Veronica, who was gorgeous by the way, and had always made me jealous and think you would leave me in the drop of a hat, but still, you come to me? Why?" She turns back to him.

"Because... I love you, Rose." He said with a serious expression, the most serious he has ever been in Rose's eyes. "It's always been you."