The Wallflower's Revenge

AWR Chapter 8: Not again!

They've decided to have lunch near Carson's office. There's the fast food chain that they loved ever since they were still in high school.

"Wow, Mcdonald's does not disappoint. It's always a trend for us, I can't believe it!" Nova giggled as he pulled a seat for her to sit down.

"Thank you. Wow, you're still a gentleman, Carl."

"You know, it's always not a big deal for me."

"Why don't we order our food first before we talk? We need to catch up with almost two decades of not meeting each other, you know."

Carson and Nova went to the counter just like the old times. They were even arguing a little about what to order like children. They even went to the counter together and argue about which food seemed to change over time.

“Why don’t we try this sundae?”

“Wow, when did you ever like sundae?”

“I guess I started to like it because it sounds like''Sunday ``? They both laugh at that corny joke that Carson started. Even the cashier from that station giggled because of the two.

"You never change," Nova punched his shoulder a little as she laughed. Carson got their order on a tray and went to the table where they had decided to eat for lunch.

Carson looked at her so well that it made her flattered. She couldn't help but smile.

"I know, I know, you just miss me."

Carson scratched his head as soon as he heard it coming from Nova. She's a petite woman and she's already forty years old. He's a year older than her. She has curly, brown hair and brown eyes. She has a brown, flawless complexion.

"Yeah," He ran out of words. They utter a short prayer of thanks before they started eating their meals. Nova couldn't help but to smile because she had a chance to meet her best friend that she hasn't seen for two decades now.

"I realized that time flies so fast."

"Yeah, it only felt like yesterday, you know."

"Congratulations for your promotions these past few years. I knew it. You'll be a police officer. I've always believed it in my heart since then."

"Look who's talking. You also reached your dreams as an occupational therapist as well. Congratulations."

"You know me. I'm a goal digger." He burst out laughing because of what she said. 

"You're still my best friend, you know. Stella is one, happy woman because she got you as her husband."

"You never said yes decades ago, it happened that someone had pity on me." Nova giggled as she pinched Carson's arm even more that they caught the attention of so many people in the restaurant.

"Past is past, alright? The important thing is, we're still best of friends. I hope Stella will not be jealous about all these things."

"I knew my wife. She's the most thoughtful, most understanding wife in the whole world."

"No wonder you had such a sweet darling, Leylah. I hope I would meet her one day." Carson felt so excited upon hearing Leylah's voice that he pulled his chair closer to Nova as he showed the screen of his phone to her. She chuckled when she saw a slideshow that he especially made from the time Leylah was still a baby until she's sixteen now.

"Wow, that's one heck of a stage father!"

"I'll accept any nicknames when my only daughter is the reason."

"Awww…" She looked at him and smiled even more.

"Yup. She's the most adorable to me. I would do everything for her, Nova."

"Of course, a father, a parent would do everything for his children. I can relate to it even if I am single."

"It's your nature of work, right?"

"Yep. I'm learning on a daily basis and these are not new to me already." She smiled as she tapped her hands on his arm.

----

"Gosh, that Leylah still drives me crazy."

"Yes, she said that while you're gone." Sophia, one of her best friends, is also against Leylah and Lea. 

"I thought she never even cared about my businesses but it's also her thing." Eveelia clenched her fists as she kept on thinking about it. Sophia nodded as they went inside McDonalds to eat snacks too.

"Well, I guess it's official now. I will also include her on my hate list."

"Evee,the thing is, you are hated by everyone, that even includes me." Sophia said it in her most sarcastic way. 

"You can't hate me totally. I know you didn't like me that much but you're not going to because you didn't have a choice." Eveelia retorted as she folded her arms. She even raised her eyebrows as she grinned at Sophia.

"Oh god, mind games again. When are you going to stop?"

"Until I am also done with you, you impatient rat."

"Alright. It's clearer to me now. You want both of us to use each other for both our own benefits, right?"

"Very well then, thank you. That's very straightforward of you. I'm loving it."

"I hate to say this but I have to be with you to also achieve my plans." 

"If you want to achieve your plans perfectly, don't be so stupid and just follow what I'm telling you."

"I'm telling you right now, too. I'm not going to lick your shoes forever. If I'm done with my plans, you will never see my face." However, Eveelia grinned as a reply. It's as if she saw something that instantly caught her attention.

"What is it?" Sophia asked as she also followed Eveelia's direction of her phone and what she's trying to capture.

"Oh my gosh!" Sophia can't help but to also cover her mouth with her hand.

"Yes girl, oh my gosh indeed."

"This will go viral and trending! Are you going to post it tonight on Eveelia's den? Sophia meant the name of Eveelia's personal and official social media platforms that's exclusive for her name and popularity. Because of the hate she's been receiving, a lot of people also follow her out of curiosity.

"I'm still thinking about it."

"Thinking about it?" Sophia mimicked the way she said those things. She pulled her all of a sudden and closer to her as soon as she's done taking short video clips and some pictures of her prospect.

"What do you need to worry about? If it's a viral thing, you will just post that video on your dummy account and that video will spread like crazy."

"I am not sure about that. Just leave it to me and I will take care of it."

"Why let it stay with you when you're not even sure of what will happen next?"

"I will keep this video and pictures until I am satisfied with making Leylah suffer."

"You think that's effective?" Sophia couldn't help but wonder.

"Use your common sense!"

They tried looking for a chair near to where the people they're stalking were sitting.

"Okay, this is the perfect spot," 

"Oh, c'mon Evee! Are we going to stalk these people the whole time and not talk or do  something else?"

"It is very important for me, you know."

"I've never heard that nonsense before."

"Now you do."

"We're not even ordering our food yet."

"That's for you to do, alright? Here's the money." Eveelia pulled some dollar bills from her pocket but her phone and gaze were locked on to her subjects.

"You know for a fact that I can't miss this scoop."

"Alright, alright, queen of gossip. I shall heed your orders." Sophia rolled her eyes, grabbed the bills and stood up to order two large fries, chocolate sundaes and burger, the gossipers' favorite meal.

 'I am indeed lucky tonight. If there's something that's lacking in you Leylah? It's your common sense.' Eveelia kept the other words to herself as she continued filming her prospect without those people knowing what she's doing right now.

----

"I hope that we can still catch up any time soon." Nova and Carson almost stood together at the same time as they shook hands.

"Of course. I will make sure that you will meet Stella again and my lovely Leylah." She replied as he held her hands tightly as he shook it. They both meet each other’s gaze again.

"I'd love to, Carl."

"You know my name's Carson, right?" He saw her giggling because of what he just said to her just now. He could see that she shook her head lightly as she grinned.

"Yup, I just want a shortcut, your name sounds long, you know." They both giggled as they let go of each other's hand.

"Believe me, Carl. Your wife and daughter were too lovely. They've been blessed with a man like you in their lives."

"I hope they get to appreciate that more than you do."

"Of course, silly! I guess everyone's just so busy that we're also missing some little, important details."

“I hope so, too. Sometimes, life gets so busy we talk about different things or topics most of the time.”

“Well, in that case, try to loosen a bit. Maybe you’re becoming strict, that's why your wife and your daughter didn’t know how to deal with you, maybe.”

“Wow, you really know me.”

“Of course, who else will, right? It’s as if you’re a stranger to me when you get to say or act like that, you know…” She replied with a contented smile.

"I always wish we will still see each other again next time. I promise, I will go together with my family so that they will also meet you."

“I’ve always wanted to meet whoever is making you this kind of happy, Carl. That’s one of my biggest wishes, you know me.”

“Aww, you never change. I promise, I will make sure our next meeting will be together with my beloved family.” Carson reacted and Nova could see him blushed a little.

"I can’t wait for that moment to come." Nova exclaimed in a joyful manner as she beamed with a smile like she used to. It is when Carson noticed that her phone has been ringing for numerous times in a row now.

"Oh, sorry, Nova! I'd better hurry. I still have to meet my other colleagues. See you around again!" 

"Hey, before I forget…" She said while looking for something inside her tote bag, he never heard of his voice anymore. Before Nova could even pull her card to give Carson her number, he was gone from her sight. She sighed as she waved her hand in the thin air as she looked into nothingness.

'I hope so too, Carl. Sorry that I have to go to Germany tomorrow and I'm uncertain when to come back again.' Nova smiled as she looked at the entrance of McDonalds again. How she wished that they would see each other again after this lunch.