Zyke and I sat across from each other. We were here in this fancy restaurant, talking about our lives in the past, with the clinking of silverware and soft chatter creating a soothing background around us. After years of not seeing each other, this reunion was filled with a mix of nostalgia and excitement.
"Zyke, it's been so long since we last caught up. How have you been?" I asked Zyke while looking at her happily.
"Eli, it feels like a lifetime since we were last together. Life has been a rollercoaster, but I'm grateful for every twist and turn because it made my life meaningful. How about you?" She replied as she put her phone on the table.
"Oh, Zyke, where do I even begin? So much has changed, yet some things remain the same. Remember those dreams we used to talk about?" I said, smiling as I remembered our silly moments together.
"Those late-night talks about traveling the world and chasing our dreams? They feel like a distant memory now. But hey, we're here now, sharing this moment," said Zyke.
"Indeed, Zyke. Life may have taken us on different paths, but our bond remains unbreakable. Here's to old memories and new beginnings," I said, raising my glass of champagne.
Zyke just nods as she raises her glass in a toast.
We ate silently, but deep inside my heart, I wished that Zia was here with us. It's been a couple of months since the last time I saw Zia. I want to reach out to her and visit her office, but my apprehension is holding me back, preventing me from making the call or meeting her in person. I fear that she may distance herself from me once more. Therefore, I have decided to cherish my love for her from afar, allowing me the freedom to love her openly and without constraints.
While we were eating, I saw a familiar figure approaching our table. If I'm not mistaken, this is the same person who belittled me at the airport. I prepared myself for whatever actions this girl might take, yet I maintained a composed demeanor in the presence of Zyke.
As she halted before us, Zyke's attention was drawn towards her.
"Is there any problem, Miss?" Zyke asked, meeting Oli's gaze.
Oli responded with a derisive smile, intensifying my irritation towards her. Then her gaze shifted from Zyke to me.
"Is she the one who took Zia's place?" she directed the question at me without hesitation.
Upon hearing Zia's name, Zyke's face lit up with a smile directed at me.
"Zia, is she the reason for your self-neglect today, Eli?" Zyke's inquiry was gentle yet probing.
At that moment, I noticed a shift in Oli's expression, a sign of brewing anger.
"Eli neglected herself because of Zia. Am I understanding this correctly, Miss?" Oli's question to Zyke was direct, tinged with disbelief.
Zyke took a moment to compose herself before responding.
"Yes, you heard it right, and I will answer your question earlier. Miss Eli and I are just friends; to be exact, the three of us are friends. So I don't understand why you asked my friend that question." Zyke answered as she looked at me.
"Don't you have any clue, or are you genuinely unaware?" Oli retorted, casting a glance in my direction.
At this moment, I noticed that Zyke was not in the mood, and I knew that she would explode anytime soon.
"Maybe I don't know what's going on with them, but whatever you intervened between her and Zia, I think we're out of it; that's their personal problem, am I right?" Zyke said as she looked at Oli.
"I thought you three were friends; why don't you seem to care about what Zia is going through?" Oli replied, fixing her gaze on Zyke.
At this moment, I saw Zyke smile devilishly before she spoke.
"Because I'm not interested in finding out what their problem is, especially if it's personal. Let me enlighten you: Zia has harbored feelings for Eli for quite some time, yet Eli views Zia solely as a friend. Is that the information you seek, Miss?" Zyke's words were accompanied by a casual gesture with her cellphone.
Witnessing Oli's astonishment after Zyke's response, I realized Oli's defeat was inevitable. Despite this, she sported a challenging smile before addressing Zyke.
"So, is it because you know that Zia loved you for a long time?"
that you just turn her around? Are you deliberately hurting her, knowing she loves you? "Oli's words were directed at me, though her gaze remained fixed on Zyke.
Before I could interject, Zyke intervened abruptly.
"Why? What do you expect Eli to do? Pretend to reciprocate Zia's feelings when her heart doesn't align with hers? Is that the scenario you wish to unfold?" Zyke's retort was decisive.
"I wasn't addressing you, Miss. Are you Eli's spokesperson now?" Oli responded, visibly irritated.
"You should talk to me, as I am acquainted with the two individuals involved. You have the courage to confront Eli because you know she has no opponent against you, am I right?"" Zyke's response carried a hint of challenge.
At this moment, I saw the manager approaching us, so I spoke.
"Oli, I don't want any trouble here; I know you have eyes for Zia. I won't stop you from courting her as long as you promise to love and take care of her because she deserves it. Sorry if I hurt Zia, but as Zyke says, I can't force what she wants to happen. I hope you understand that," I said, hiding my pain.
After I spoke, I saw that Oli was looking at Zyke, and Zyke was looking at Oli as well. So I spoke again.
"Please, we don't want trouble here. Leave us alone, Oli," I said calmly.
Oli departed, but before she could distance herself, Zyke's voice cut through the tension.
"Remember my face, for this isn't over," her tone laced with anger.
In response, Oli offered only a sly smile before exiting our table, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved tension in the air.
