Chapter 2

• (Yesterday)
• Ava had a slight frown as she looked at me though I felt that she was seeing past me. I sighed and leaned on the seat after putting down the coffee cup on the table.
• “I am just probably paranoid. I’m sorry for bothering you. I know you are busy,” my voice was really apologetic.
• She shook her head and the frown disappeared and a small smile appeared on her lips.
• “No don’t say that. I actually was planning to talk to you but you called me first.”
• It was my turn to frown. “What do you want to talk about?” I asked since she sounded a bit worried.
• We often talked so I knew she wanted to tell me something more serious and it's not just about our usual topic.
• She released a heavy sigh. “When did you start feeling that Parker is seeing another woman?”
• I moistened my lips and straightened. I took another sip of my coffee like I wanted to take time telling her.
• “Camille?”
• I had no choice but talk. With a heavy sigh, I put down the cup again.
• “It started weeks ago. He seemed to be a little distant and a few times he cancelled our date. He said they had to rehearse. I know they are preparing for some gigs but...”
• “It’s called woman’s intuition.”
• I bit my bottom lip and chose not to comment.
• “You’ve only been together for about a month and a half right?”
• I nodded. “N-now I’m beginning to blame myself for wanting to keep our relationship a secret.”
• “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You just wanted to protect yourselves and what you have, nothing’s wrong with that. Before you agreed to be his girlfriend you knew that he was on his way to becoming popular. Fans are very possessive and you just wanted to save yourself from all the criticisms or harsh comments and all that stuff. You also care for him so much that you didn’t want him to lose his followers and supporters. Besides, it was a mutual decision. Even if you didn’t say it first, knowing my cousin, he would have suggested that too. He loves you but he also cares about his career. He worked hard to get where he is now. The only problem is he couldn’t resist temptations,” Ava sounded really disappointed and her voice even had a trace of anger and regret.
• “I don’t want to confront him because I know he will just deny it. He will even say that I’m stressing myself for nothing. “
• “My friend had seen him a few times with the female vocalist of one of the bands they’re practicing with. I know her, her name's Zoe. Last night actually I saw them together at our family friend’s bar. I took a candid shot of them.”
• ***
• I could never forget that face who was now in front of me. Zoe was taller than me and had a slimmer body. She was sporting a short boyish hairstyle. There was no denying that she was pretty. Again my insecurities resurfaced. She wasn’t only pretty, she was talented like Parker too so how can I compete with that? I removed my eyes from her and checked my reflection again and applied some gloss on my lips. Just then the door opened.
• “Zoe we have to hurry. He’s looking for you,” said another female with pink hair who quickly went to one of the cubicles.
• I almost dropped the lip gloss.
• “Right!” Zoe replied in a husky voice before walking to a cubicle too.
• With trembling hands, I hurriedly put back the lip gloss in my purse and got out of the restroom.
• **
• Caleb couldn’t help narrowing his eyes as he looked at Parker who was whispering something to Ava. They were a little far from him but he knew his friend’s body language so well. Obviously he was a bit tensed.
• “Parker said that you play the drums and you also sing,” Zoe asked him.
• He didn’t turn to her instead he gulped the remaining booze in his glass before putting it down on the bar counter.
• “I’m a little rusty now,” he replied in his baritone voice.
• The woman released a small laugh which was too husky for his liking. He and Parker didn’t have the same taste in women which was good because they could never let any female affect their friendship. They might be chalk and cheese but the fact remained that they were good buddies.
• “Now that you’re back, for sure he will encourage you to play and sing again.”
• He frowned but didn’t reply. He was relieved when the cousins headed back to them. He smiled at Ava who was looking at him fondly. He straightened and opened his arms to envelope her. He didn’t miss the expression on Parker’s face though it disappeared after a second or two. Something was definitely bothering him. He wanted to ask him if he was okay but Ava loosened her arms around him and put a small distance between them.
• “Excuse me but are you back to break hearts again? It’s is kind of unfair but you look even better last time I saw you,” she commented as she shook her head .
• He chuckled. “You improved a lot too,” he joked which made her laugh.
• “Excuse me I need to make an important call. Zoe, Isha’s waving at you,” Parker pulled the woman’s arm and walked away from them without even waiting for either him or Ava to reply.
• Caleb shook his head, “I guess some things hadn’t changed.”
• Ava sighed then released a wide smile as she raised her face at him before she held his hand. “Anyway what have you been up to?”
• ***
• I decided to leave. I didn’t want to be in the same room with that woman. I saw a coffee shop which was around five minutes on foot from the bar. The painful and angry feeling I had was slowly fading. The short walk helped. I hugged myself as I approached the shop. I know I got this. I didn’t want to worry Ava who was probably on her way to the venue. Anne on the other hand was out of the country. It’s been close to a week since we last talked. According to her, she wanted to do some soul searching after her big fight with Martin, her fiancé. Apparently she caught him cheating too. I released a bitter laugh.
• “I didn’t know that being cheated on is catching,” I murmured to myself.
• I chose a table far from the other customers. I hardly touched my latte. I frowned when my phone started to ring. Parker was calling. I was torn between rejecting the call or taking it.
• “You are stronger than you think and you can handle this!” I consoled myself.
• With a heavy sigh, I answered the call.
• “Honey? Where are you? You said you will just go to the restroom!” his voice sounded really worried and I wanted to snap at him but I didn’t.
• “I just grabbed a cup of coffee to perk me up. We had a busy day at the shop,” I lied and I heard him sigh.
• “I’m sorry honey. I didn’t notice that you were tired. You should have told me. If I knew, I would’ve taken you home to rest. Anyway you can meet Caleb some other time.”
• I almost sobbed with what he said. He was caring at the beginning of our relationship especially when we didn’t have to argue whenever I rejected his attempt to have intimacy. Just after a few weeks my dream man showed his true colors. Saving myself for the right man was the best decision I’ve ever made. I jutted my chin.
• “Tell me where you are. I will drive you home. “
• “You don’t have to. I can take myself home. Anyway have a blast without me, ” my voice was cold.
• I didn’t wait for his reply. I simply hung up and switched off the phone. I sat there for a few minutes while in deep thought before I arose from the chair. I decided to go back to the bar. Time to face my fear and enemy but I had to freshen up first.
• I walked without hurrying to the hall leading to the restrooms. I gaped and quickly hid. I felt my heart was beating fast. I carefully peeked from behind the wall. Parker and Zoe were facing each other and they were engaged in what seemed to be an emotional conversation. The woman reached for Parker’s hand. I swallowed a sob and turned to run from the place when I hit something solid.
• “Watch out!” a low-pitched voice warned.
• I felt an arm snaked around me to stop me from falling. I raised my face and hazel brown teary eyes and saw a blurry face of a tall man then I felt ears started to fall down my cheeks. I shut them for a moment still controlling a sob.
• “Let me get you out of here!” he drawled.
• I nodded and let him pull me with him as my body was slightly shaking because I was suppressing my feelings. I am grateful that this stranger came at the right time.