𝐄𝐙𝐄𝐊𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

13

The phone barely rang once before Jade picked up, and I couldn’t resist the smug smile that spread across my face.

“Guess what! I beat you to it!” I declared before she even had a chance to say hello.

“You did!” she laughed, a little surprised but genuinely happy. “I was literally just about to call you.”

“Knew it!” I teased, leaning into the playfulness of the moment. “So… what’s the plan for dinner tonight?”

“Oh, do you really think he’ll make it to dinner? You’d just get jealous if I told you,” she quipped, her tone light, and I rolled my eyes, already picturing the smug look on her face.

“Spill it!” I pressed. “And what’s the ‘big gift’ this time, hmm? Don’t think you can dodge my question!”

“A watch,” she said with a hint of pride in her voice.

“Oooh, classy! Last year was a tie, this year a watch… what’s next? A nice pair of briefs?” I snickered, picturing her face turning beet red.

“Aki! Don’t say things like that!” she gasped, and I could just imagine her blushing.

“Haha! Jade, you’re still the same. No wonder your husband tries to keep a straight face around you—you act like a lovestruck schoolgirl whenever he’s around!”

“You’re terrible,” she mumbled, but I could hear her smiling, even through her embarrassment.

“And I bet you’re blushing right now, aren’t you?” I pressed, amused at how easy it was to get her to react.

“That’s only because you’re being absolutely outrageous!” she protested. “And someone could overhear!”

“Oh, let them! Besides, I’m alone right now.” I softened my tone, letting my gaze drift to the city lights outside my hotel window, casting a warm glow over everything.

“Oh? Don’t you have work?” she asked, sounding surprised.

“Nope! Just arrived at my hotel. The view here is amazing. And guess what? I’m staring right at your husband’s office building,” I added, laughing at the idea of him just a few blocks away.

“Wait… what?” she nearly squealed, and I could practically feel her sitting up straighter. “You’re here?”

“Yes, I’m here,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but I couldn’t hold back my excitement. “Surprise, best friend!”

“Oh my gosh, you’re full of surprises! But I can’t leave right now…” Her voice dipped, sounding both thrilled and disappointed.

“It’s okay,” I replied, understanding. “You told me your husband has a business trip tomorrow. We’ll catch up then, all right? And please, no oversized sweaters for my sake. You know I can’t stand those on you!”

She laughed, probably imagining me grimacing at her wardrobe. “Okay, okay, no baggy clothes. I promise.”

There was a pause, then her voice softened. “Oh! He’s home.” I could hear the excitement in her tone, like she’d been waiting all day for this moment.

“All right, I’ll let you go,” I said, feeling my heart swell a bit at how happy she sounded. “See you tomorrow, Jade!”

“See you, Aki,” she replied warmly, and the line clicked off.

I set my phone down, a warm smile lingering on my face as I let out a small, contented sigh. Jade had always been this constant, beautiful part of my life. She was like sunlight breaking through clouds, her laughter and voice grounding me no matter where I was. Just hearing her now reminded me of how much lighter everything felt with her around, as though the weight of the world lifted, even if only for a moment.

I thought back to when we first met—we were both fourteen, awkward and unsure, but somehow we clicked instantly. It was in Japan, during one of those elaborate industry events our fathers attended for the clothing business. My dad had been chatting with her dad, and when we were introduced, it was like meeting someone I’d known my entire life. We bonded over everything, from school stories to our dreams for the future, and from that day on, she was my best friend. We’d seen each other through so much—joy, heartache, and everything in between.

One of the hardest moments we faced was when she got married. She was only twenty, and she barely knew her husband, Xavier Morganthe. I could still remember the sadness in her eyes when she told me. She didn’t feel ready; there was so much she still wanted for herself, yet family obligations weighed on her. She loved her father deeply and respected his wishes, so she agreed to the marriage, even if it meant putting aside her own dreams.

Her father’s passing, not long after her marriage, was an even heavier blow. She’d barely adjusted to being a wife, and now she was grappling with the grief of losing one of the people she loved most.

Her husband, Xavier Morganthe, was a man I’d met only twice. The first time, he struck me as quiet and distant; he was polite, composed, and thoroughly unreadable. But the second time, I noticed something different. There was a look he’d give Jade, one that seemed almost soft, as though there was more beneath that stoic exterior. It was a flicker of something unspoken, something even Jade seemed unaware of.

Five years had passed since that day, and somehow, Jade and Xavier still felt like strangers to each other. I often found myself encouraging her to open up, to try and bridge the gap that had grown between them. I believed there was potential there, a chance for them to discover each other if only they’d let their guards down. But fear and habit are powerful, and both of them seemed unwilling to take that first step.

Despite how much it hurt to see my best friend in a marriage where she felt alone, I couldn’t ignore that look in Xavier’s eyes. He cared, I was almost certain, but he was hiding behind walls as high as Jade’s. She, too, was holding back, afraid to reveal her true feelings. I only hoped that one day they’d both have the courage to break free of those barriers and find each other for real. Maybe then they’d see the possibility of a love worth fighting for, one they both deserved.

Thinking of it all, I leaned back, my heart heavy yet hopeful. I knew Jade deserved love—the real kind, the kind she and I had dreamed of when we were young. I knew that, deep down, she wanted it just as much. Perhaps, just perhaps, the day would come when she’d find that love with Xavier. Until then, I’d be here for her, cheering her on, reminding her that no matter what, she was never alone.

And as I watched the lights of the city fade into the night, my thoughts drifted, as they often did, to Ezekiel. No, stop, Akira. Don’t think about him.

But I always got betrayed by my own heart. It wasn’t a matter of choice; it never was. Sometimes, I woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, struggling to catch my breath, as though the very air was being stolen from my lungs. It felt as though my heart was being ripped apart, piece by piece, with each passing second. And in those moments, all I could think of was Ezekiel.

I couldn’t escape it. No matter how hard I tried, the pain clawed its way back into my chest. So, like clockwork, I’d run to the bathroom in the middle of the night, as if the cold tiles beneath my feet could somehow ground me. I’d turn on the hot water, letting it scald my skin, hoping it could wash away the ache I didn’t even understand.

It never worked, of course. The heat would only make the emptiness inside me burn worse, but for a fleeting moment, it would give me the illusion of relief. I didn’t know what was causing it. Maybe it was stress, maybe homesickness. Maybe it was a cruel form of lovesickness that I couldn’t shake.

But lovesick wasn’t even close to the truth. I hated that man. I hated how he wormed his way into my thoughts and my heart, how he had the power to make me feel so completely… out of control. I didn’t want him in my head. I didn’t want him in my heart. But every night, there he was, haunting me in the silence of my thoughts, a constant reminder of everything I wanted to forget.