Between Us

Chapter 6 : Undercover Shadows

Engfa emerged from the café, balancing a box of pastries and two iced coffees in her hands. She handed one of the drinks to me, and I accepted it with a nod of thanks, taking a sip to distract myself from the tangled mess of thoughts swirling in my head.

Suddenly, a little girl ran up to Engfa, wrapping her small arms around Engfa's legs in a tight hug. Engfa crouched down and lifted the girl into her arms, her face lighting up with a genuine smile. I watched, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected display of affection. A guy, whom I recognized from Heidi's party, approached them, his eyes bright with excitement.

Engfa stood up and greeted her friend, then turned to me with a smile. "Charlotte, this is my little sister, Mia," she said, gesturing to the shy girl clinging to her leg. "Mia, say hello."

Mia peeked out from behind Engfa, her big eyes filled with curiosity but too shy to speak. "Hi Mia," I said, feeling slightly awkward but managing a smile.

She didn't respond, instead pressing herself closer to Engfa. Engfa chuckled and ruffled Mia's hair gently. "She's a bit shy around new people," She explained.

I couldn't help but smile at how adorable Mia was, despite the awkwardness of the situation.

Engfa's friend stepped forward and enveloped her in a warm hug. "Hey, Engfa! Mia really wanted some ice cream," he said, releasing her and ruffling Mia's hair. Then he turned to me and smiled. "Hi, I'm Jax."

"Nice to meet you," I said, offering a polite nod.

Engfa beamed. "Jax, this is Charlotte. Charlotte, this is Jax, one of my oldest friends."

Jax's grin widened mischievously. "Oh, Charlotte... the infamous beer pong loser from Heidi's party."

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Yeah, that's me," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

Engfa laughed and gave Jax a playful shove. "Don't tease her too much."

Jax raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just had to bring it up. It's not every day we get to meet someone who lost so spectacularly."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Despite the awkwardness, there was something disarming about Jax's good-natured teasing.

Engfa turned to Mia, her expression softening. "I'll come see you later, okay?" She leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on Mia's cheek. Mia giggled and hugged Engfa's leg tighter before letting go.

"Make sure she gets her ice cream, Jax," Engfa added with a playful tone, ruffling her hair one last time.

Jax nodded, a warm smile on his face. "You got it. We'll have the best ice cream adventure ever."

Mia looked up at Engfa with wide, adoring eyes. "Bye, Eng!"

We both waved goodbye to Jax and Mia as we made our way back to the car. As we drove away, I couldn't help but glance back at them. Seeing Engfa in that affectionate moment with her sister and friend added a new dimension to the girl I thought I knew. Despite my lingering suspicions, there was an undeniable warmth to her that I hadn't seen before.

"So, how long have you known Jax?" I asked, breaking the silence as we pulled onto the main road.

"Since we were kids," she replied, a fond smile playing on her lips. "He's like a brother to me. And Mia, well, she's my heart."

She pulled into the driveway, the tires crunching softly on the gravel. The rest of the drive had been steeped in silence, a heavy tension hanging between us. We both exited the car and moved to the trunk to retrieve the groceries. I grabbed a few bags, feeling the weight of the situation more than that of the actual items.