Chapter 8

• ***
• Writer's POV:
• The girls sat admiring each other. They couldn't stop laughing and gasping at how much each of them had changed.
• "It's crazy. You're so pretty." Maude giggled.
• "Says you? Maude you are a bomb. Damn." Reena replied and they laughed.
• "After all these years. How have you been?" Maude asked as they got a little serious, "I never heard from you again after you know what."
• Reena looked at her.
• "I never heard from you too, Moe. And I tried to get in contact with you but your phone never rang again."
• "I changed my number immediately after the incident. I tried to contact you to but to no avail."
• "Oh, that explains a lot. I changed numbers too."
• "Oh, no wonder."
• "And here we are. Finally." Reena reached out and grabbed her hands. They giggled happily. It sure felt good to get to see each other again.
• They talked about their lives after college, their jobs, them moving to Miami and much more. They spoke for hours nonstop.
• ~
• "So? Who's the lucky guy?" Maude asked, "And don't tell me you have no one. Just look at you, Riri."
• Reena chuckled.
• "No one for now. I broke up with my boyfriend two months ago. Now I'm focusing on the temporal modeling I'm doing. Guys are a headache and I think I need a break." she said, eating some of her ice cream.
• "I understand that. My last boyfriend was a jerk. Overly possessive and sometimes a brute."
• "Hmm, then you did great to leave him."
• "Best decision ever." Maude mused and they laughed.
• "And now?"
• "There's this guy, a colleague. He's nice and all but he's somewhat immature and very clingy. He's asked me out on two dates and both were disastrous. Noelle convinced me to give him a third chance."
• "First of all, how's Noelle? I hope she's fine."
• "She is."
• "Great. Secondly," Reena mused, "Don't run into a relationship with that colleague of yours if you don't want to do it. There are other guys out there that will treat you right and who will share the same feelings with you."
• "Where?" Maude asked playfully, eating more of her ice cream, "I'm tired of looking for Prince charming."
• "Tired?? Girl, you just turned twenty four. You've still got some time." Reena giggled and her friend chuckled.
• "Yeah. You're right.".
• They were still chatting when:
• "Lorenzo??"
• Both girls froze and immediately turned, their hearts skipping a beat at the same time.
• However, relief washed over them when they realised that it was a woman calling her little boy that kept running about the place.
• "Come here!" she ordered and the little boy came rushing back.
• That caused awkward silence between Maude and Reena who faced each other again. Maude managed a little smile.
• "Wrong alert." she managed to joke and Reena smiled a little, understanding what she meant.
• "Yeah. We're in Miami now. No need to worry about alerts." Reena spoke in a double sense as well.
• "I know right. The main reason I asked for a transfer. Chicago constantly reminded me of a past I want to forget."
• "Me too." Reena cleared her throat for the risky question she was about to ask, "Moe?"
• "Mmm?"
• "Did you get over him, well?" she asked, mentioning no name. No need to call names.
• Maude gave and awkward smile and stroked her hair.
• "I did. It wasn't easy but I eventually did. Took me a year or more. I don't remember. That part of my life is locked out. I'm good now and happy about it."
• Reena smiled at her friend.
• "Great. I must admit that I was very worried about you and that was why I tried to contact you several times."
• "It was hard. Very. But it's completely over now and I promised to myself, never to experience such a heartbreak again." Maude sighed, "And you? You got over him?"
• "Mmhmm." Reena hummed and ate her ice cream, "Worse time of my life. I never knew a heartbreak could make me cry that much. It was terrible. I surrounded myself with positivity and family. And it helped me greatly. I never thought of the past again, until now. I moved on quite well."
• "I'm happy to hear that."
• They continued to eat when amused, Maude dared to ask:
• "What would you do if you ran into him? I can't help but imagine."
• Reena looked at her and her expression made Maude laugh.
• "Never. I pray never to meet him."
• "Why? Apart from the dangerous incident and heartbreak, I thought you two had made peace."
• "Yeah maybe, but I'll probably freak out if I see him. That famous night, I discovered a side of him that scared the hell out of me. One of the reasons that convinced me more to stay away from him for good. Yes, he forgave me but before we parted, though in what seemed to be in good terms, I saw a look in his eyes from the car while my father drove me out of campus. It was that of sadness but mixed with something else, Maude. Something like bitterness and maybe anger? I wasn't sure. But it'd scared me a little. Today when I think of that last look he gave me, I have a feeling that he maybe did not forgive me. Deep down I feel that way and that's why, if I see him, I'll hide. For real."
• Maude laughed a little and Reena joined her, lightening the atmosphere.
• "And you?" Reena asked, "What will you do if you crossed paths with him?"
• Maude shrugged, her smile fading.
• "I don't know. I really don't." she played with her ice cream, "I'll ignore him or hide like you." she joked a little and they chuckled.
• "Exactly. But we have nothing to worry about. They left Chicago years ago and we've now done same. Let's change topic and forget."
• "Yeah, good idea."
• **
• ~~~ "Why did you do that? You should've told me the truth. Why didn't you?"
• "I wanted to protect you. I meant no harm. Please forgive me."
• "How? You said you loved me and yet you put my life in danger? Did you even love me?"
• "Yes, I did. How could you doubt that?"
• "Fine. Do you still think of me?"
• "Not really. Only when something reminds me of you."
• "You don't love me anymore?"
• "Do you? Love me?"
• "Not anymore."
• "Good, cuz I've moved on as well. The past is gone."
• *She giggles sweetly and goosebumps cover my skin*
• "You sure?"
• "Yes. I have someone new in my life."
• "I know. But you haven't moved on completely. Maybe just 90%."
• "100%."
• *She laughs and I'm tempted to smile but I don't. My heart is palpitating at a dangerous rate and I'm beginning to sweat. Why?*
• "100%?"
• "Yes."
• "Lies. If it was true, you wouldn't be here with me. Why hide your little sadness behind your constant joker smiles?"
• *She laughs out rather hysterically. And then, she stops and the look on her face is suddenly that of worry and concern.*
• "Al??"
• "Yes?"
• "Al?!"
• "Yes? What is it?"
• "Al!" …. ~~
• Alejandro awoke abruptly, breathing hard and his forehead sweaty. By him was a worried Lorenzo. He was sitting by him on the bed.
• "You had a bad dream. Are you okay?" Lorenzo asked, helping his twin to sit up.
• Alejandro still a little shaken looked around, confused. Places were still dark.
• "What time is it?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
• "Two. Got up to get myself a glass of water and one for you as well. I just thought you might be needing it. And when I got here, you were having a bad dream." Lorenzo explained, grabbing the second glass of water he'd brought along and giving his twin who turned out to be very thirsty indeed.
• He watched Alejandro gulp down the water. When he finished his glass, Lorenzo gave him his, guessing he wanted more. He was right as Al drank down the second glass of water.
• "What was it about?" Lorenzo finally asked after his brother was calm.
• Al rubbed his forehead.
• "Maude."
• Lorenzo's brows shot up.
• "Maude? Why would dream of her after all these years?" he asked with a little frown.
• "I don't know. It's definitely because we spoke about our college years a few days ago. You know we can't speak about those without memories of those girls returning."
• Lorenzo signed.
• "Then let's not ever talk about those years. Whether it has to do with them or not." he said firmly.
• "Yeah, you're right."
• "Go back to sleep now. See you later in the morning." Enzo said and patted his brother's back before standing.
• "Alright." Alejandro collapsed on his bed again and Lorenzo left.