Rena sat across from her best friend, Jade, at their favorite brunch spot, staring down at the untouched stack of pancakes on her plate. She poked at them absentmindedly with her fork, her mind a tangled mess of conflicting emotions. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm syrup filled the air, but it wasn't enough to break through the fog in her head.
Jade, with her usual bright energy and no-nonsense attitude, took a sip of her mimosa and raised an eyebrow. "Okay, Rena. Spill. You've been sitting there like a zombie for the last ten minutes. What's going on?"
Rena sighed, setting her fork down and leaning back in her chair. She'd been trying to gather her thoughts all morning, but now that Jade had asked directly, she wasn't sure where to start. "It's Leandro," she began, her voice soft. "And... well, someone else."
Jade's eyes widened, a grin spreading across her face. "Someone else? Girl, why didn't you lead with that? Who's the new guy?"
Rena bit her lip, feeling her stomach twist with uncertainty. "That's the thing. He's not really a 'new guy.' He's, um... DJ Blue."
Jade blinked, her grin fading into a look of confusion. "Wait. Like... the DJ? The radio guy you've been obsessed with?"
Rena nodded, feeling her cheeks flush. Saying it out loud made it sound ridiculous. "I know, I know. It's crazy. I've never even met him, but I can't stop thinking about him. His voice, his advice... I feel like he gets me, you know?"
Jade stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Rena, you've got a crush on a voice? That's a new one, even for you."
Rena groaned, burying her face in her hands. "It sounds so dumb, doesn't it?"
Jade shook her head, still laughing but more gently now. "No, it's not dumb. It's just... unexpected. I mean, I get it. The guy's voice is like velvet or whatever, but you've never even seen him. How do you know he's not some middle-aged dude sitting in a dingy studio?"
Rena lifted her head, giving Jade a half-hearted smile. "I don't know. I guess I don't. But it's not just the voice. It's what he says. It's like he knows exactly what I'm going through, and when I called in that night, his advice helped me more than I thought it would."
Jade's expression softened, and she reached across the table, placing a hand on Rena's. "Look, I get that you've been feeling lost with everything going on with Leandro, but crushing on a radio DJ you've never met? Maybe you're just looking for something—or someone—to distract you from him."
Rena sighed, staring down at her plate again. "Maybe. But it feels like more than that. I can't explain it."
"Okay," Jade said, sitting back in her chair, "let's break this down. You've got Leandro—your ex who won't take a hint and keeps trying to worm his way back into your life. And now you've got this DJ guy who you feel connected to, even though you've never met him. Am I right so far?"
Rena nodded. "Yeah, that's about it."
"So," Jade continued, "what's the real problem here? Are you torn between them, or are you just trying to figure out what you actually want?"
Rena hesitated. That was the real question, wasn't it? What did she want? Part of her was still processing everything with Leandro, trying to let go of the past while dealing with his attempts to pull her back in. And then there was this strange, growing connection she felt with DJ Blue, which was confusing her even more.
"I don't think I want Leandro back," Rena said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I mean, I've already decided I'm not going to give him another chance. But every time I think I'm done with him, he shows up again and makes me question everything."
