The Ruels of My Heart

chapter twenty two - your perspective

One month later...
Moving to Auckland was the best decision I have ever made. New Zealand is so stunning. I am slowly forgetting everything that happened in Sydney, putting it all behind me, moving on. I've started a job at Starbucks and I've made a new friend, Carmen, who works with me. I'm just in general so much happier. My life is so much simpler.
"Lara?" I call, placing the caramel frap on the bench so the customer can get it. This is a typical day at work, nothing interesting, just the normal. My mum thought it would be better for me if I just went on a vacation or something so I could clear my head and come to terms with everything that happened. But I needed the opposite. I needed to channel all of my energy and thoughts and do something productive, like get a job, which I did. Plus it's a great distraction. It means I only think about Ruel and what he did eighteen hours a day. Shit, I'm thinking about him now.
"Jaylen?" I call, placing the latte on the bench. The customer grabs their drink and sits down at a table. I only need to serve one more customer and then I get lunch break. I turn around and I'm halfway through asking what the next customer wants, until I look up and see their face and I'm lost for words.
"I'll have an iced latte with soy milk. Grande, please. Oh and maybe a little chat with you?" Despite the hat and the sunglasses, I can easily tell by the familiar features who it is.
I sigh, not really knowing what to say, but my mouth moves by itself, "I guess so. It is my lunch break now..."
"Great, I'll grab a table," they reply and walk away.
"I'm taking my lunch break now!" I tell Carmen.
"Sure thing Leo, see you later," Carmen replies, smiling. She is so nice.

"So what do you want to talk about?" I ask bluntly, sliding into the chair across from them.
"What happened with Ruel... He didn't send me or anything but I just-"
"I really don't want to talk about it," I interrupt.
"Please just listen?"
"Alright then."
They tell me the whole story. About Rachel, how she blackmailed Ruel, how she kissed him, not the other way round. How he still cares about me he just knew I needed space. Which I definitely did.
"Holy shit... I had no idea," I say. I feel so bad. A tsunami of guilt crushes over me. I never gave him a chance to explain himself. I didn't have any faith in him. I didn't answer his calls. I just left. I ran away from reality. I didn't face what had happened. I gave up.
"It's okay. Ruel totally understands. He wants you to be happy and he doesn't want you to feel bad or anything. But there was one thing he told me to ask you if I ever saw you..."
"What?"
"He would love you to come to his last show for the tour, in Auckland tonight. But if you don't want to that's okay he understands and-"
"Coco," I say, smiling, "Tell him I will definitely be there."