Something, Nothing

CHAPTER 19

a/n: happy new year !!!! it's 2025 !!! hope this year brings great and only great things to you !!!!

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CHAPTER 19 — WHO'S KEN

"Oh my god! It really is you!" Sun Ling shrieks and throws herself at me.

"Hi," I cough out, catching her and somehow balancing myself from falling from the sudden force, "Hey,"

"How are you here?" she demands after pulling back, shaking me by the shoulders, and then smacks her forehead, answering herself, "Right. I forgot Ken told me you live in Swettenham. That's close. He didn't call you, did he? Or did he actually call you and you came?"

Was he planning to call me? He probably was and that sends a surge of unnecessary warmth through me. I quickly dunk metaphorical cold water over it and turn to a partially stunned Shiv who was just standing a few steps away from me.

"This is Shiv, friend of mine," I introduce him and vice versa, "Shiv, Sun Ling from my university,"

"Hi. It's nice meeting you," Sun Ling extends a hand towards him and he accepts it, shaking her hand.

But he doesn't even have the courtesy to wait until we were alone to blurt out, "So you weren't lying. You actually have friends over there,"

I give him a pointed look, "Did you seriously think I was lying?"

Sun Ling lets out a small snort, "I can see why you would say that," she says to Shiv, making him adopt a smug look.

He just waves her hand at Sun Ling and looks over at me. I shake my head, rolling my eyes.

"I don't like you guys. I'm going to walk away,"

Sun Ling laughs, weaving her arm through mine, keeping me from leaving.

"Ken didn't tell me you'd be coming here today,"

"Who's Ken?" Shiv asks, and I internally facepalm.

I've told them about Jomar and Sun Ling but not Ken, worrying that they may see something that I was desperately trying to hide about him. And the last thing I expected for their paths to cross.

"Ken is another friend," Sun Ling replies.

"Oh?" Shiv quirks his head and I feel his eyes on me but I look down at Sun Ling and shake my head.

"He didn't call me," I tell her at last, "I was dragged here,"

"So, this is a coincidence?" Sun Ling claps her hand together, and looks up at the sky loudly professing, "Universe, you wonderful thing,"

"Uh, yeah," I follow up with a small laugh, "We have to leave now though,"

"Already?" Sun Ling questions, frowning.

I nod, "I have work tomorrow and I got to wake up early,"

Shiv is still looking at me, but thankfully he doesn't call me out on my lies and just observes. I know he's going to have a lot of questions later but I'll deal with that when the time for that comes.

"You're working on your break?"

"Yeah. Just helping out my father at his shop,"

She nods, and then turns around, searching the crowd, and bringing out her phone.

"He was just here," she says, "Let me call him,"

"It's fine. It's fine," I quickly interfere, reaching out and bringing down her hand from making the call, "I'll talk to him later,"