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As Jenna patiently waited for Arias, she passed the time by scrolling through her Instagram timeline, liking some posts, and watching videos. Her phone time was interrupted by a call from her sister Lily. With a hint of uncertainty, Jenna answered the call, "Hello." Lily greeted her, "Hey Jen, how have you been?"
Jenna responded cautiously, "I'm fine, how are you?" The two sisters hadn't spoken or seen each other in 6 or 7 years. The reason for their estrangement was a misunderstanding involving Roc. Lily had accused Jenna of being involved with Roc, causing tension not only between the sisters, but also affecting Jenna's relationship with Arias, who, despite not believing the rumor, treated Roc differently as a result.
Jenna was baffled by her sister's decision to start the rumor. She was always curious about the reason behind it because the rumor had a devastating impact on her life. In Spanish Harlem, everyone believed that she had cheated on Arias, leading to frequent attacks from people. When Arias discovered the situation, he was pissed and intervened to resolve the issues.
"I was calling to inform you that I'm in Los Angeles and I would like to meet up with you to have a conversation," Lily told Jenna. Jenna hesitated for a moment, weighing the decision of whether or not to accept the invitation. She was unsure about Lily's trustworthiness, but at the same time, she was curious to hear what Lily had to say. After a brief internal debate, Jenna sighed and asked, "When and what time were you thinking?"
"Tomorrow at 12pm, let's meet at the 63rd Cafe. I'll send you the address," Lily's voice was filled with excitement. Jenna couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension about the plan. "Alright, I will see you there. Bye," Jenna said, quickly ending the call before Lily could say anything else. She didn't want to entertain any doubts, so she ended the call abruptly. "I hope I won't regret this," Jenna muttered to herself.
Jenna longed for a time when she and Lily were close. Jenna adored her sister and looked up to her, especially during their childhood. Jenna used to follow Lily everywhere, always eager to be by her side. However, as they grew older, Lily seemed to distance herself from Jenna. Jenna felt as though she didn't matter anymore, especially when boys entered Lily's life.
She was so deep in thought that she didn't even notice her phone ringing she looks down and it was Gigi she picked up the facetime call. "hey" "Are you okay?" Gigi asked, looking at Jenna with a puzzled expression. Jenna gazed at Gigi for a moment before speaking, "Lily called me" Gigi's face softened. "How did that go?" she inquired, recalling the rift between them and how much it had hurt Jenna.
"She wants to meet up tomorrow," Jenna revealed. "Are you going?" Gigi asked. "Yeah, I think I am, but I'm not sure," she replied, sounding uncertain. Part of Jenna was urging her to go, while another part cautioned her not to be easily swayed. "I think you should go and see what she has to say," Gigi advised. "She might surprise you and change." Jenna mulled over her words and realized that Lily might have a chance, but she would never know if she didn't give her a chance.
"Gigi looked confused as she asked, "Where are you? Why does it look like you're in a car?" Jenna immediately started smiling and Gigi raised an eyebrow, asking, "Why are you smiling like that?" Jenna grinned and replied, "I'm with Arias." Gigi's face lit up with a smile as she exclaimed, "Really?" Jenna gave a nod.
"Yeah, he's going to take me to the store, but we had to make a quick stop at his new bar that he's opening," Jenna said, glancing at the door. "So, a date?" Gigi asked, causing Jenna to look at her phone and smile even harder. "Something like that," Jenna replied. Jenna wasn't entirely certain if this was a date, but it certainly felt like one to her. "Well, I'm happy for you, but please don't fall for him," Gigi warned.
Jenna empathized with her sister's concerns. She was hesitant to develop feelings for someone too quickly, wanting to ensure that he had truly changed for the better. She was determined not to revisit the painful experiences she had worked so hard to leave behind. "I understand, Gigi. I'm guarding my heart," Jenna reassured her sister, resolved not to let herself get hurt again.
"Okay, good. Rick just arrived," Gigi informed Jenna. "You're still hanging out with him? How's Rick doing?" Jenna inquired, feeling a pang of longing for the close bond she shared with Rick. She often wished he could be the supportive older brother she had always wanted. "He's doing well, still the same goofy Rick. I'll give you a call later," Gigi replied before Jenna could bid her farewell, ending the conversation.
As she sighed and set her phone aside, she glanced towards the door and saw Arias engaged in a conversation with someone outside. When he turned and locked eyes with Jenna, he flashed a warm smile before turning back to the person he was talking to. Jenna couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions as she looked down and felt her cheeks flush. She was both frustrated and captivated by the enduring effect Arias had on her - she still felt butterflies in her stomach every time he looked at her.
As Arias made his way back to the car, he approached Jenna's window. With a warm smile, he asked, "Are you hungry?" After a moment's hesitation, she replied, "Yeah, kind of." He then opened her door and extended his hand. Jenna hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his, allowing him to help her out of the car. "We're going to this place for food," he said as he led her inside. Although she was taken aback, she decided not to stop him.
