When We Collided

The Video

"What's wrong, Baby Girl?" Rei, my handler asked me.

"I'm that transparent, huh?" I remarked dully. I was still mulling over my love problem.

"Yes, you are," Rowan, one of my good friends from my teenage days, declared unabashedly. He had taken me and Rei on a spin in his brand new car. I sat shotgun while Rei was at the backseat.

"How could you see my face anyway?" I asked Rei. She was supposed to see just the back of my head from her seat.

"The mirror on your sun visor, Darling," she explained.

"You had better cut this out Shana," Rowan scolded me. "We don't get to see you that often anymore. And when I do you go all emo on me."

Rowan and I were part of a large group of friends formed during our teen years. It was mostly composed of our fellow actors at AccEnt. We used to be very close, but our careers took us to different paths. We still made an effort to see each other once in a while though.

"I'm sorry, Ro." I smiled at him apologetically. "I don't mean to be such a downer."

"What could bring down the unbeatably optimistic Shana Que? Or the more appropriate question is, who?"

He and Rei laughed and I rolled my eyes at them.

"Whatever," I muttered under my breath.

"What's going on between you and Onyx, anyway?" he asked.

"None of your business," I retorted.

"So you're keeping secrets from me now, is that it? I thought we were best friends?" His puppy-dog look almost thawed my heart, but I managed to keep my resolve. "Ah, hell... Rei, can you help me out? What's the real score between ShanOn?"

Rei raised her thin brows. "I admit that only Onyx and Shana know the real score. But when these two are in the same room, the temperature shoots right up!"

"Oh please, Rei." I shot her a dark look.

"Oooh, hot! That's why you don't have time for the gang anymore. Because you're so busy with him. Don't worry Shan, we're all happy for you. You deserve as much time as you want with your man." Rowan beamed at me.

"Stop it!" I yelled, slapping him on the shoulder. "Nothing's going on between Onyx and me."

"Who is it then? The only other guy I see you with is Garett. No, don't tell me--"

"Rowan," I said with a sigh. "Why are you suddenly linking me to just about every guy? No, I'm not dating Garett either. I think he's gotten closer to Dee now since we went clubbing a few months ago."

"Okay, back to Onyx then. I knew you couldn't resist him!" he teased.

"You're as bad as Auntie Susan." I rubbed my temples, remembering my aunt's girlish squeals. "She bugs me about him, too."

"Great minds think alike." Rowan winked at me. "We're here."

We entered the mall gratefully. The cool airconditioning was a welcome respite from the sweltering heat outside.

"Don't get mad at me, Shan. Here, I'll buy you a thickshake," he offered.

And I forgave him, just like that.

We walked along the length of the shops, sipping our shakes. Rowan took selfies and groupies with me and Rei. Looking bored, he turned on the video camera on his phone.

He suddenly turned his music on. The song that played was Onyx's latest single.

He sang along to it, bobbing his head. He then aimed the camera at me, capturing my face which showed a mixture of horror, embarrassment, and reluctant admiration. His stark ability to annoy me knew no bounds, after all. Rei chuckled behind us.

"I am so going to post this," he said excitedly. "You think Onyx will see this?"

"He and his mates are at a beach somewhere far away, where there is no cellular coverage," I tried to get his hopes down.

"How did you know? Do you communicate?" Rowan asked, feigning amazement.

"Silly boy. It's all over the internet."

"Psh. Reasons."

I stuck my tongue out at him. He retaliated with gusto.

"Come on Shana. Why don't you just admit it? I won't tell. I swear." He crossed his heart. I crossed my eyes. "You can't keep on denying it. You love him. It shows in the pictures."

"What pictures?" I asked him.

"All of it," he replied, swiping at the screen of his phone and showing me.

I scrolled through the pictures of Onyx and me and sure enough, there was a different glow to my cheeks. I looked like I was lit up from the inside whenever we locked eyes. Some photos captured me staring longingly at him. Oh shit.

I cleared my throat. "I'm a great actress," I explained.

"You wish," Rowan responded. "It's the absolute truth. Don't worry Shan, he loves you too. The pictures say it all."

Before I could think of a smart comeback, Rei interrupted.

"Hey kids," she called out to us with a secret smile. "Apparently, Onyx has cell service wherever he is."

Rowan and I looked at his phone.

Onyx had liked the video and had commented, "I miss you."

Oh shit.

Photo credits: http://www.zerochan.net/1141316