SERENDIPITY

~29~ The Talk And Back To Normal ✔️

"So...?" Ethan asked, his gaze fixed on me, analyzing my every reaction.

"Hold on a second. You're joking, right?" I questioned, a mix of disbelief and uncertainty coloring my voice.

"No, Raquel. I'm serious," he sighed, his expression filled with a mixture of determination and concern. "I'm suggesting this because I believe it could potentially help with whatever plans you have in mind. Going to the event as Mariella Santiago will reignite the media's interest in you..."

"Which isn't necessarily a good thing," I interjected, weighing the pros and cons in my mind.

"I understand the risks, but it also means exposing your talent to the world. Who knows, someone influential might take notice of your music," he reasoned, his eyes scanning my face as if wrestling with his own internal conflicts.

"Um... Is that all?" I inquired, searching his eyes for any hidden intentions.

"Uh... Yeah," he replied, offering me a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Alright," I murmured, pursing my lips as I absentmindedly shook my mug, lost in thought.

The atmosphere around us grew dense with unspoken tension, so thick that it felt tangible, as if it could be sliced with a knife. Ever since the incident when he kissed me, I found it difficult to meet his gaze while conversing. There was an undeniable heaviness that lingered whenever we were alone. With the ongoing drama surrounding Adrian and Mia's supposed sister, we hadn't found the opportunity to address what had occurred between us.

Letting out a sigh, I gathered my courage and decided that now was the best time to broach the subject.

"Ethan, about what happened..." I began tentatively.

Running a hand over his face, he interrupted me with a furrowed brow. "I thought we agreed to forget about it," he interjected, his voice laden with frustration.

"How long do you expect us to keep pretending?" I challenged, my voice tinged with frustration. "Listen, I'm not okay with this. I just want us to return to how things were before, without this tension-filled dynamic between us."

After a moment of silence, he asked a question that caught me completely off guard, causing me to nearly bite my tongue in surprise. "Do you still love him?" he inquired, his words hanging in the air, thick with uncertainty. It was a question I never anticipated, out of all the questions he could have asked.

After recovering from my almost tongue trauma, I sat there in a stunned silence, my lips partially parted as I pondered the question once again.

Do I still love him? There's no denying it. Fuck me!

"You know what? Just forget about what I asked earlier. The answer is pretty obvious," he said with an eye roll. "I don't know why I even brought it up in the first place," he muttered under his breath, almost as if speaking to himself.

"I..." I began, but our conversation was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of the waiter.

"Apologies for the delay. We had a minor issue with the coffee machine," the waiter explained, his voice polite.

"No problem," Ethan replied, offering the waiter a small smile.

"Cappuccino with plenty of whipped cream and espresso," he recited our order, returned the smile, and swiftly left.

"Can't you see that this is difficult for me?" Ethan exclaimed, frustration etched on his face as he pushed his hand through his hair. "That kiss was a mistake. It never should have happened, even though I don't regret it. I can't keep holding onto false hope for something I know won't ultimately happen."