EX-istential Crisis

Chapter 14: The Unexpected Truth

Nelly sat at a quaint café near his university, sipping a hot cup of coffee. He had a rare moment of calm between classes, and as he scrolled through his phone, a familiar name popped up on his screen—Mrs. Gina Emberly. The sight of Miro's mom's name made him smile. She had always been supportive of him, even after the breakup with Miro.

"Hey, Mrs. Emberly! What's up?" Nelly greeted her through the chat.

"Hello, Nelly. I'm visiting a business area near your university. How are things going? Are you free to meet?"

Nelly quickly agreed, excited to catch up with her. It wasn't long before Gina entered the café, carrying herself with that calm and confident demeanor Nelly had always admired. He waved to her from his seat, and she joined him with a smile.

"Mrs. Emberly, it's good to see you," Nelly said, standing to greet her properly before sitting back down.

"And you too, Nelly. How have you been? It's been a while since we've had a proper chat," she asked, her tone warm but with an undercurrent of concern as she scanned his face.

Nelly smiled brightly. "I've been good! Things are going pretty great actually. Classes are tough, but nothing I can't handle." He paused, glancing down for a moment before admitting, "I mean, I still get flashbacks. Some days it hurts. You know... about Miro, but I've been lucky."

Gina tilted her head, watching him with motherly interest. "Lucky, you say? How so?"

"My friends... and someone new. Someone interesting." He looked a bit sheepish as he said the last part.

Gina's brow raised, and a playful smile curled on her lips. "Oh? What's the name of this someone interesting?"

Nelly chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Her name is Mira... Mira Raine."

At the mention of the surname "Raine," Gina's expression shifted. Something clicked in her mind, and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Raine, you said?" she asked carefully. "Is her father a doctor?"

"Yeah, I think so. I've heard his name before. Elias Raine, right? That's him." Nelly replied casually.

For a moment, Gina was lost in thought. The name Elias Raine brought up memories she hadn't visited in a long time. But she brushed it aside quickly, focusing back on Nelly.

"So, what are your plans moving forward?" Gina asked, her voice soft but probing.

Nelly leaned back in his chair, thinking for a moment before responding. "Honestly, it feels fulfilling to have so much support around me. My friends are everything. They've been there through thick and thin. I love them all."

As he said this, a genuine, warm smile spread across his face. It was a rare sight—Nelly truly feeling content despite everything he'd been through. Gina watched him with fondness, her heart swelling with a mix of pride and affection. She reached across the table and gently took his hand in hers.

"Go find something you love, Nelly. You're like family to me now. You've been through so much, and I'm so proud of you. You can do it, okay?"

Nelly nodded, his eyes soft with gratitude. "Thank you, Mrs. Emberly. That means a lot."

Just as they were having this heartfelt moment, the café door swung open, and a familiar group of girls walked in. It was Mira's friends—Mash, Ran, and Annika, their laughter echoing as they entered. They spotted Nelly and Gina sitting together, holding hands, and Mash's eyes widened as she immediately jumped to conclusions.

"Whoa, Nelly! You into mature women now?" Mash exclaimed loudly, drawing attention from the other patrons.

Nelly almost choked on his coffee, whipping around to face them. "Wha- No! What are you even talking about?!"