Round Two

Three - Zuri

Zuri

The Los Angeles evening wrapped itself around me as I walked down the sidewalk, the sky washed in fading gold and bruised purple. Cars rushed past, laughter spilled out of open windows, life moving on as though nothing inside me was unraveling. A few blocks away, my house waited — quiet, suffocating, unavoidable.

Gosh! I knew I shouldn't have said that! Now, my chances of getting the job are so narrow. I was worrying about the job interview when my mind suddenly conjured up an image of Rose glaring. Does she work there?

“Oh, Dami, I need you right now.” I muttered to myself, digging into my purse for my smartphone. I immediately unlocked the phone and speed-dialled Damilola's mobile number.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three rings.

Four rings.

No answer.

I groaned inwardly, re-dialling the number. “Pick up before I lose my flipping mind.”

Still no answer.

I glared at my phone's screen, halting in front of the picket fence that caged my house. “I swear to God, Dami, if you don't pick the phone, I'll kill you.”

For the third time, I called my best friend's phone and got no response.

“Dami!” It took me a good amount of self control to not throw my phone at the ground and pull my braids out.

A second later, my eyes caught sight of my boyfriend's contact ID; Gabby Boo. Should I? Yes, I didn't feel the spark I wished for when it came to him, but at that moment, I just needed someone.

“Zuri!”

My breath hitched, finger hovering over his caller ID. I slowly brought my onyx eyes to stare at the old bungalow in front of me, and right in the porch sat Gabriel!

“Gabriel?” I started up the driveway to the porch. What the heck is he doing here? And dad… oh no.

“Hi, babe.” He grinned at me as I got on the porch. “You look…” His brows furrowed. “Where are you coming from?”

“What…” The words disappeared. I didn't tell Gabriel about the eviction notice and the job interview. And I didn't want to. “I went to Dami’s” The lie came out before I could process them. “We went to see her uncle who works at an oil company.”

“Oh.” His eyes still wandered all over my corporate outfit. “Wh…”

“What are you doing here?” I immediately butted in before he could ask further questions. “I mean, my dad… He let you in?”

Thankfully, he took the bait. “Oh. I thought I would surprise you. And as for your dad, I told him I was a friend and he let me wait here for you. He didn't even push.”

Of course, he wouldn't. He doesn't care.

“Well, it's late. And I'm exhausted.” My feet are killing me.

“I know,” His smile resurfaced, and I forced myself not to cringe. “That's why I have something planned for the both of us.”

“Excuse me?”

•••

“It's lovely, isn't it?”

The restaurant was drenched in quiet luxury — dark wood, gold accents, soft music humming beneath the clink of glassware. It was the kind of place meant for celebrations, not for someone counting her breaths and the numbers on a menu.

Somehow, Gabriel had managed to drag me here; he had waited till I freshened up at home, even after I had told him I was exhausted. Well, I didn't really say no to him.

“It looks expensive.” I blurted out.

“Doesn't mean I can't afford it.”

“Interesting.” He can afford to eat at this kind of restaurant but he couldn't get me the outfit I had wanted last week.

Shortly, a blonde waitress arrived, holding a notepad. She had the most polite smile ever. “Good evening, and welcome. My name is Chloe. Have you had a moment to look over our tasting menu, or may I guide you through some highlights to begin your evening with us?”

“Um,” My eyes scanned the menu, and rounded — every meal; whether light or heavy, was too expensive. “I… Wow.”

Across the table, Gabriel didn't seem to flinch. He was still studying the wine list.

Chloe’s smile softened, becoming more conspiratorial than polite. She took a half-step closer and lowered her voice just a notch. “It can be a lot to take in. A lot of our first-time guests find the four-course prix fixe to be a wonderful introduction. You choose one from each column.” Her pen, which hadn’t yet touched the notepad, gestured subtly toward the right side of the menu.

I followed her glance. The prices there were still numbers that made my stomach dip, but they were single, solid numbers, not a dizzying parade of them for a dozen mysterious courses.

“That sounds… more manageable,” I said, the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding easing out.

“Excellent,” Chloe said, her voice warm with approval. “And for you, sir? The tasting journey, or shall we join your guest on the four-course path?”

Gabriel finally looked up, a slow, easy grin spreading across his face. He closed the leather-bound wine folder with a soft thwap.

“We will both have the four-course,” he said, his grey eyes meeting mine. “And we’ll need a bottle of the Peter Michael ‘L’Apres-Midi’ Sauvignon Blanc.”

“A stunning choice,” Chloe said, her smile now fully genuine. She collected the untouched tasting menus. “I’ll get that started for you. ”

As she glided away, I stared at Gabriel, teeth gritted. “You just ordered a bottle of wine that costs more than my phone.”

… And would be a great support in my quest for finding a new home.

He leaned back into the plush banquette. “It’s an experience. Try not to do the math, okay? Just… be here.”

And I tried to do just that.

The starter course came, and I did my best to listen to his words; I nodded and hummed when necessary, spoke less. And still, the knot in my stomach stayed.

“Please, excuse me.” I said breathlessly. I didn't wait for his reply before leaving.

With instincts, I eventually found the ladies’ restroom.

The room was bathed in soft white light, too clean, too quiet compared to the hum of the restaurant outside. The marble sink gleamed under the lights, mirrors lining the wall like silent judges.

I stepped up to one and stared at my reflection.

God, I looked tired.

Not the physical kind — the kind that sat in your bones and refused to leave. I turned on the tap and cupped water into my hands, splashing it over my face. Cold. Sharp. I welcomed it.

Get it together, Zuri, I told myself silently.

A laugh echoed faintly through the room.

Not a feminine one.

I froze.

The sound came again, this time followed by murmured voices — low, intimate. My brows furrowed. This was the ladies’ room… wasn’t it?

I slowly turned my head toward the far end of the room. A man stood near the last mirror, one arm braced against the wall, a girl pressed close to him. They were whispering. Smiling. Too close.

And I turned back to running water. Then he spoke.

And my world tilted.

“…Zuri?”

The way he said my name; careful, disbelieving, made my fingers curl against the cold marble.

That voice.

I lifted my eyes to the mirror.

Dark hair. Sharp jaw. Eyes I once memorized like scripture.

Kim Tanaka.

He looked different — sharper, harder — like the boy I once loved had been carved into a man I barely recognized.

The brunette beside him looked confused as he gently moved her aside, his attention entirely on me now.

Of course he had moved on. Of course he was here with someone else. Of course.

“Can you give me a moment?” he said to her, calmly, smoothly — like this was his world and we were just standing in it.

She hesitated, then left without a word, allowing silence to swallow the room.

My heartbeat roared in my ears.

“Kim…” I breathed, the name slipping out before I could stop it.

His eyes softened for half a second.

Just one.

Then his face settled into something unreadable.

Suddenly, I heard Rose’s voice. “And if you have any decency left, stay away from my brother.”

And I ran.

I ran out of the restroom, away from the man who had haunted me for more than five years.