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Chapter 19 – A Long Time Memory

I finally look up to the person standing behind me, “Hey, sparkles” is all I could say. She changed since the last time I saw her though she didn’t say anything. She wasn’t looking at me, eye to eye, maybe because I was staring at her too much that I forgot to say hi to the person next to her. I greeted the person beside her “Hi, Elena. It’s been a while” I kissed her on the right cheek while she hugged me and told me how she missed me the last time I saw her. “By the way, Do you know each other?” she asked me while pointing her curiosity to the both of us. She didn’t say anything so I answer on her behalf “Yeah, I used to play in her movies and TV series”. She was confused so I had to tell her the whole story.

“I used to appear on her movies back when I was a rising star” I said. She was puzzled and gathered her thought and said “You are the one wearing the mask on the prince suit with the blood on the knife she was stabbed with?” she said hysterically. “Yeah, Arsonist Came was the movie, is that all you can remember with all the roles I played with?” I asked seeking something more popular scenes.

“I was kidding, I saw all her movies and drama” I turned to Shelby who was awkwardly and patiently waiting for Elena. I asked her if they knew one and another and Elena answered for Shelby “She was the one I was meeting with in Canada”. Shockingly, I raised my voice a little bit louder “What?!” Shelby was startled but compose her self in a second. I remember when I asked her why she was in Canada and she said that her bestfriend run away there for a year and she finally found her but won’t come with her in the States. Elena live in the States but she was staying here because she was handling some family business while her dad is in the hospital for a sudden heart attack.

Gathering all the pieces with the memories I made with Elena back in Canada, I figured out that the bestfriend was Shelby. “You were in Canada for a year? Why didn’t I hear about this?” I asked her. Finally she answered and I got to hear the voice I was always dreaming to hear everyday “You weren’t a social media guy back in the day”. I nod my head up and down agreeing to what she said. I was curious why she was there so I asked “What were you doing in Canada?” Elena was cut off by Shelby after she said “She had a me…” she couldn’t continue what she was about to say because Shelby’s stomach started to growl and we all looked at her and laughed about the situation. Shelby was laughing with us and I was staring at her again. She became shy and stopped laughing. She arranged the strands of her hair that was blocking her eyes and looked the other way around.

Elena looked at us and said “Why don’t we eat together? It’s been a long time”. I was going to decline the offer because Shelby might find it uncomfortable but she said “I’m okay with that” and looked into my eyes for the first time since she stepped into this gym and announced to everyone in the room that it’s her treat today. Eli seemed uncomfortable ever since Shelby walked in because she knows our past and that she was sorry for what happened with our relationship.

Shelby walked towards Eli and said something that made Eli smile and they we walk altogether into the restaurant near the gym which is in the same floor. I sat beside Eli and in front of me is Shelby who looked like she lost a bet. Elena started the conversation with the unexpected question “Aren’t you a thing before?” I was shocked by the question and I looked at Shelby who wasn’t fazed a bit and continually eating her food in peace. Elena won’t stop asking and I was about to answer her when Shelby answered the question first. “Yeah, we were” I looked at her again and reading her face was like looking at a statue who won’t give you any emotions, just blank.

Eli smacked my lips and tried to lighten as she looked at me with worried eyes. Isn’t Elena, the bestfriend, suppose to know this kinds of things? Why is she asking some searchable questions. Is she cooking up something with her words? I kept asking myself why is she asking and I lost in the thougt that I didn’t notice that my spoon dropped on the floor and everyone in my table looked at me. I said “sorry” and asked for another spoon and we continued eating while Elena won’t stop talking. Once she started telling stories about her experiences in her travels and her boyfriends, you won’t hear the end of the story and it feels like you’re listening to the radio.

She won’t stop talking about how we first met and all the things we ate, drink and stories on the beach. All of us was quite a listener because I didn’t realize I was already listening to a long time memory. Even I can’t remember all of it and Elena was like a movie narrator who wanted to tell every scene and emotion on the story.

Shelby suddenly stands up and asked to be excuse. She said she just needed to go somewhere for a bit. She started walking and I followed her with my eyes. I wanted to ask her something so my feet started to move on its own and follow Shelby. I almost lost her with the elevator closing but some guy catches up and that gave me a chance to slide in.

Shelby was quite shocked by my sudden appearance but hides the emotions right away. We were silent because a guy in his mid 20’s are here with us. Thankfully, the guy didn’t know me or it will hinder on my intention to talk to Shelby. She recognized Shelby though, who wouldn’t? she is a hollywood superstar actress who is known by all while I am a guy who this guy doesn’t know.

I stayed silent as he was asking Shelby some picture and autograph. Shelby gladly cooperate with the man and for quite a second he finally get off the elevator. Tension was building up as the elevator closed in. She didn’t say a word, I can’t think of a word. She breaks the ice asking me what floor am I going? I told her “same as you” smiling at her made her a little bit angry.

We are already up in her floor and I still followed her but she suddenly stops and she turned around and said “Are you following me?” she asked. I was about to answer when someone called “Mommy?!” happily and a kid, who looked familiar appear together with that guy I saw Michelle hanging out with. Shelby froze and I was a bit puzzled because this kid called Michelle his mommy and even Shelby. This guy always shows up wherever this kid went and he was always hanging around both women I’m closed with. What is going on here?