Contest Entries

Romance Contest: Forbidden Love

EVELYN'S P.O.V:

I FELT my heart thudding against my ribcage. I could hear my heart thudding against my ribcage. I was a little nervous, but mostly excited to meet Caleb. We were friends in the beginning of our elementary schools, but both of us moved to different places and lost touch. However, couple months ago, I received a request on Facebook, and that's when we started chatting up.

Five days ago, Caleb dropped a text saying that he'd be dropping by at Manhattan because of work, and he'd want us to meet. I said yes.

So here I was, waiting for him at this cafeteria.

I was flattening out the skirt of my printed mauve sundress, when I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked up and smiled at Caleb, who was crisply dressed in a grey formal suit. He had his black hair decently slicked back, and a big smile on his face. The fact that the evening sun was shining through the window, made his blue eyes glimmer like an ocean on a sunny day.

"Hi," I said, still sitting on the chair I'd occupied.

"Seriously?" He raised his brow, still smiling. "We're meeting after more than a decade! C'mon, give me a hug!" He urged.

I laughed as I stood up and wrapped my hands around his neck, while he slipped his arms around my waist, giving me a bear hug. I sensed the fragrance of his cologne immediately, and it smelled great.

"What's with the attire?" I asked as I pulled away, and sat down.

"Really? No 'How you been?', 'How was the flight?'" He shook his head.

"Oh, I got enough updates on those to write a book!" I laughed. We spent some time talking on random topics, cracking silly jokes and pulling each others legs. I knew I'd enjoy Caleb's company in person, but this was going better than how I'd pictured it in my head.

"So, how's Dave?" He asked about my husband.

"He's fine," I said. "Busy with his work schedule, as always. He took off to London yesterday for a four-day trip. At times I envy him for his job, you know. He gets to travel so much!"

"He travels a lot?"

"Oh, yes. Half the time I come home to an empty apartment. In the beginning I felt so lonely. But now I use it to spend some good 'me-time'. It also helps that whenever Dave's home, he makes up for his absence. We watch movies on our bed, go out, it's crazy... He's a good man," I instinctively smiled as I thought of him. I pulled myself out of the reverie to look at Caleb, but he had this weird expression on his face that I couldn't put a finger on.

I frowned at him, "Are you okay?"

As soon as I said that, he changed his expression to a happy one in a jiffy. He shook his head and waved his hand dismissively, while adjusting his tie with the other hand.

I raised a brow at him.

"Nothing," He muttered.

"You do realise that I'm not going to accept that answer, no?"

He opened his mouth to retort, but actually did realise that I wasn't going to give up. He sighed a deep breath and smiled, "I'm just... happy for you."

I leaned back against my chair while tilting my head. What?

"Aren't you happy?" I ask, concerned.

"No, no, I am. Sarah has been an amazing wife. And we're really happy in general. But..." He drifted off and looked away, not feeling an ease speaking whatever he wanted to speak.