I am currently at a tea shop, facing Zia's mother. It has been a few minutes since we met, and I still don't understand why she decided to see me now.
"Zyke, how have you been?" Mrs. Loire asked, her gaze fixed on me.
"I'm doing alright," was my brief reply.
"Zyke, I won't beat around the bush. The reason I wanted to talk to you now is because I need your help," she stated.
I felt taken aback, unsure of what kind of help she was seeking from me.
"Miss Loire, I'm not sure what you're trying to convey," I responded.
She smiled, as if there was an underlying meaning behind it.
"Your response tells me one thing: You are not aware that Zia and your friend Eli are in a relationship," she disclosed, intently studying my face for any reaction.
Despite feeling nervous, I maintained my composure, not wanting Zia's mother to perceive any impact from what she had just revealed.
"I wouldn't be surprised, as I already knew that Zia had feelings for Eli," I replied, offering a smile.
I did not anticipate her surprise at my response, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Are you absolutely sure about what you're saying, Zyke?" she queried.
I nodded, ensuring she understood my certainty.
"They are both my friends, Mrs. Loire, so I am well aware of the truth. It's not something I wished to reveal, but I have no choice but to inform you of the reality," I explained.
"My daughter is not a lesbian," she asserted emphatically.
"That is precisely why Zia fled and rejected Clint's marriage proposal. She couldn't bear the idea of residing in the same house with Clint due to her feelings for Eli," I clarified.
Mrs. Loire fell into a sudden silence as she looked at me.
"Zyke, you're aware that Zia's father will never accept her relationship with your friend. Therefore, I am pleading with you to help separate the two of them," she stated directly.
In that moment, I couldn't help but lose respect for the woman in front of me. Interfering in one's child's personal life seemed unfathomable to me. I remained silent, meeting Mrs. Loire's gaze.
"You will help me, won't you, Zyke?" she asked.
Attempting to maintain a smile, I responded,
"Mrs. Loire, I do want to help, but I know Zia, and I believe you know her too. She has shown the courage to defy her father, which is more powerful than me. Wouldn't you agree, Mrs. Loire?"
"I am not asking you to advise Zia to break up with Eli. I simply want you to help create a situation where Eli betrays Zia, causing Zia herself to end their relationship," she explained.
I couldn't help but feel sorry for Eli, as she was far too kind to deserve the negative perception that Zia's mother held of her.
"Zyke, you will help me, won't you?" she asked again.
"I will try, Mrs. Loire. However, I cannot promise success, as I know Eli better than you may think," I replied sincerely.
Upon hearing my response, I noticed Mrs. Loire's face turn red, though she attempted to maintain a smile.
"If Eli is not what I perceive, then I hope she understands the consequences she may face. Zia is my only daughter, and I won't allow her to be with someone who hasn't achieved anything in life," she emphasized.
"Please do not be too certain, for there may come a time when the person you currently underestimate now will become the person you'll need tomorrow," I said, giving her a dead stare.
"In your response, Zyke, it sounds as if you're suggesting that I cannot depend on you. If you are unable to help me, let us simply forget about this conversation," she said. With that, she stood up, leaving money on the table, and departed.
I was left alone; I allowed my mind to process everything we discussed during my encounter with Mrs. Loire.
Even though I was at home, Mrs. Loire's plan continued to weigh on my mind. Unable to shake off the thoughts, I decided to take out my cellphone and call Eli. It took several rings before she finally answered the call.
"Zyke, why did you call?" Eli asked.
"Where are you? There seems to be a lot of noise around you," I asked with concern.
"I'm at the airport. I sent Zia off, but I'm heading home now," she replied.
"Can you come to my place? I have something important to tell you," I said.
I could sense a sigh of hesitation before Eli responded.
"Zyke, if Zia finds out that I went to your house, she might think that I'm not serious with her. I don't want her to think badly about us," Eli expressed.
In that moment, I recalled what Mrs. Loire had mentioned earlier. Eli had a valid reason, for it was possible that Zia's family was monitoring her movements now.
"Alright, Oli and I will come to your house instead. There's something you need to know," I said again.
"Oli?" she asked, concerned.
"Yeah, don't worry about Oli. I will take care of her," I said.
"Okay, see you," she said before ending the call.
A few minutes later, Oli and I found ourselves standing in front of Zyke's house. I glanced at Oli before knocking on the door.
"Promise me that whatever you hear today will remain confidential. No one else should know," I said, giving her a serious look.
She smiled and playfully pinched my nose.
"I promise!" she exclaimed, placing her hand over her chest.
"If anyone else finds out, you won't like what I'm going to do," I warned.
"I promise, babe. No one else will know our conversation today," Oli replied.
I rolled my eyes upon hearing her call me "babe," knowing that Oli was just teasing me again.
After a few knocks, the door swung open, revealing Eli standing in front of us, her eyes still showing signs of recent tears.
"Come in," she said, averting her gaze.
"Is she crying?" Oli whispered to me, prompting me to pinch her back.
"Ouch! That hurts," she said.
We took a seat on the sofa while Eli remained standing.
"What would you like to drink?" Eli asked.
"Juice!" I said. "Beer!" Oli chimed in at the same time.
"Beer," Oli repeated when asked to confirm.
I raised my eyebrows at Oli, slightly annoyed.
"Are you seriously choosing beer? At this time? It's midday; that's what you want to drink?" I asked her, irritated.
Oli responded with a smirk.
"Yes, I'm serious. I'm not a grade-schooler who drinks juice, babe," she said, stifling a laugh.
Hearing her answer makes me annoyed. I attempted to pinch her back again, but she managed to evade it. Instead, I retaliated by throwing a pillow at her, catching Eli's attention.
"Is there a problem?" Eli asked, looking back and forth between Oli and me.
"We don't have a problem," Oli said as she walked closer to Eli and grabbed a can of beer.
"I'll stay on the balcony," Oli added, trying to dissipate any tension.
Following Oli's gaze, I then shifted my attention to Eli, who had already taken a seat in front of me, gently placing the juice she had fetched onto the table.
I heard a deep sigh from Eli at that moment, further intensifying the sympathy I felt for her.
"What did you want to tell me, Zyke?" she asked, her eyes fixed on me.
I swallowed nervously, uncertain of how to begin conveying what I needed to say.
"Eli, promise me that you won't tell Zia about what I'm going to disclose today," I said, my voice trembling.
"What is it?" she inquired.
"Zia's mother spoke to me earlier, and she wants me to help her ruin your relationship with Zia," I shared, my voice shaking.
Instead of shock, a sad smile appeared on Eli's face.
"So, Zia was right about her parents attempting something unfavorable," Eli responded calmly.
"Zia told you about it?" I asked in disbelief.
Eli nodded, her eyes filled with sorrow as she looked at me.
"I am aware that they don't like me for Zia because I am just an ordinary person. They believe I cannot provide a good life for their daughter," Eli revealed.
"What are your plans now?" I asked, concerned.
"I'm not sure yet, Zyke. To be honest, I'm still feeling confused," Eli replied honestly.
I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming amount of pity for Eli in that moment. It made me realize that in some families, it's not an individual's kindness that is valued, but rather their social status. I couldn't help but feel grateful for my own father, who, despite raising me alone, always emphasized treating everyone equally. When it came to love, my father taught me one thing: it doesn't matter if the person I love is wealthy or poor; what matters is their kindness and genuine love for me. I couldn't help but draw a comparison between myself and Zia. I knew I was fortunate with my family, while Zia, on the other hand, experienced struggles due to their family's lack of acceptance and understanding, which ultimately affected her relationship with Eli.
"Eli, if you ever need my help, don't hesitate to ask. I'll do everything I can to help you," I offered sincerely.
Eli smiled sadly, her gaze locked with mine.
"Thank you, Zyke. Thank you for everything," she expressed her gratitude.
I simply nodded, my mind racing with thoughts. I wanted to help Eli. I wanted to help her prove her worth to Zia's family. This is the only way I know to show how much I love Eli, even though she's not aware of it.
