𝐄𝐙𝐄𝐊𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

16

I rushed to the bathroom for a quick shower as soon as Jade called, asking to meet up. The urgency in her voice was unmistakable; she sounded upset, almost on the verge of breaking. Whatever this was, it had really shaken her, and that alone was enough to make me worry.

I applied make up on my face, hoping it might hide away the exhaustion and the dark circles that had settled under my eyes. The last thing I wanted was for Jade to notice—I knew she’d pick up on it in an instant and start asking questions.

We decided to meet at a quiet Italian restaurant downtown, one we’d been to before, with dim lighting and cozy booths that offered a bit of privacy. When I arrived, she was already seated, hands wrapped around a glass of water like it was anchoring her in place.

We ordered, but even then, Jade was barely paying attention, mumbling something about pasta while her gaze stayed distant. When the food came, she just picked at it, pushing it around on her plate.

Sitting across from her, I watched her stare blankly at her untouched pasta. She seemed so distant, like her mind was somewhere far away, completely unaware of the world around her. Her fork lay idle in her hand, and the food on her plate was quickly getting cold. I could tell something was seriously wrong, and I wasn’t about to let her keep it to herself.

"So?" I prompted, snapping her out of her thoughts. Her eyes lifted to meet mine, looking so pained it almost hurt to see.

"He… shouted at me," she said quietly.

That threw me. My fork clattered as I dropped it, staring at her in shock. "What?!"

"He sounded so angry… frustrated. He told me to leave without even looking at me. So, he’s mad at me, right?"

I shook my head, confused. "Wait, hang on—why would he be mad? What happened?"

She sighed, seeming more lost than ever. "I don’t know. He’s the one who touched me first, remember?"

That got my attention. "Oh, so he made the first move. And then?"

"Then, he ran to the bathroom," she mumbled, looking down at her plate as if hoping it held the answers.

I blinked, trying to process that. "He… ran? To the bathroom?"

"Yeah," she nodded, still looking confused. "It was like he was in sudden pain or something. I asked if he was okay, but he just told me to go. I didn’t know what else to do, so I left."

I stared at her, resisting the urge to laugh. "So, you think he has a stomach issue? You know… maybe a bit of an ‘emergency’ situation?"

She glared at me. "Akira! We’re eating!"

I couldn’t help it; I burst out laughing. "Okay, okay! But seriously, what if it is just a stomach thing? Or… what if he’s secretly… you know…?"

"Gay?" She raised an eyebrow at me, and I could see she was fighting not to smile.

"Hey, it’s not impossible! I mean, why else would he freak out like that? What if he’s literally repulsed at the thought of touching you?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

She sighed, her expression clouding over. "Or maybe he’s just disgusted by me. I’m not glamorous like Sofia."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Oh, please! Let’s get something straight here, Jade Castillo—you are leagues more beautiful than Sofia. Sure, she may have the body, but you’ve got this natural charm. You walk into any room, and trust me, people notice."

"Akira!" she protested, blushing furiously.

"What? I’m just saying the truth! Have you ever thought of, you know, showing a little skin? Maybe a hint of cleavage? You’ve got the looks; use them!" I winked at her, and she blushed even more.