Deception, Revenge, And Regrets

Chapter 5 - Colleague

It's seven o'clock, and she's ready. She's not typically the girl who prepared long hours for a date.

For her, time matters. She hates being late, and she hates late people. Erwan knows it well. Just in time. As she runs down the stairs, she heard the doorbell. She directly headed to the door to open it for Erwan. She was so amazed at how Erwan look wearing his suit.

"Hi, babe! Are you ready? You look so gorgeous today." Erwan said. Then he immediately held her chin and kissed her smoothly.

"Thanks, babe. You too, you're so handsome today, and I love it. Let's go!" she said to Erwan.

"Let's go," Anne responded. She kisses him while guiding her in the arms. Erwan opened the door and helped Anne carry her purse. They walk to the car, and he opened the car door immediately to let her go into the passenger seat.

She loves the feeling of being treated like a princess. No one can ever replace Erwan's gentleman thingy to her. Oops. Not really. That guy from the past did. That guy she will never forget as much as she wants to. Erwan started the car and turned on the music. Then there's the old song that began to run through their ears. It's so relaxing. It feels good that you are with your loved one and listening to good music singing together.

The "Passenger Seat" sang by Stephen Speaks.

The night is young as they arrived at the restaurant. But Anne seems to feel uncomfortable with the place. It was like the old place where they've been—the guy from the past. Memories were hunting her. She hates it. She got shocked, knowing that this was the restaurant where it all began. The mistake that Erwan had no idea at all.

"Good evening, Ma'am /Sir... Table for two?" the crew said as she sways her hand to the table's direction where they can sit.

"Yes, please..." Erwan responded.

"This way, Sir..." as the crew guided them to the seat. Anne still feels uneasy about the place. It was indeed a good ambiance and a perfect place for a couple, but why does she feel this way? Why does Anne feel that this moment is not what it should be? Looking at the old seat where they sat before, she notices a familiar face. It's him. Why is he here? Why he's gone at the office, but he's here? Why he sat the same seat, we had before.

A Colleague.

"Babe, He's your office mate, right?” Erwan said, looking in the guy's direction.

"Y-yes," Anne said while got startled by what Erwan had just said. She felt uneasy and uncomfortable with all the restaurants, why Erwan brought him here. And of all the people, they will see why it was the guy from the past.

She was startled as she responds to every word Erwan has said. Though Erwan never noticed. But Erwan is such a friendly person, so he went to where the guy was sitting. They never met before, but he knows some stories about it. Yes, some random story about him.

"Hi! I'm Erwan, Anne's boyfriend. And you're Xian right, Anne's office mate?" Erwan said, trying to be as accommodating as he was.

"Y-yes." he shockingly answered. Same as Anne's reaction earlier. Xian startled. He never expected to see Erwan and Anne at the restaurant. Although he resigned from work, he still goes to this restaurant. Where his love life began, he always eats dinner there.  Alone.

"Nice meeting you. Finally, I got a chance to meet you. Sorry for the last time I wasn't able to join you for dinner. I was so busy at work. Maybe we can catch up today." Erwan said while the two felt uncomfortable.

"Oh... It's okay," he said plainly. This restaurant is for couples, and Anne wasn't expecting him to be here. The last time they came here, the waiter thought they were a couple. She can't even look at him. But memories came back how she gave herself to him, how his kisses taste. The warmth of his body to hers and how he takes care of her. The good feeling from the past.

"Babe, Are you okay? Should we join him?" Erwan said without hesitation.

"S-sure..." the only word that came out of her mouth.

"Is it okay, Xian?" he looks at Xian, asking permission to join him.

"S-sure..." unintentionally the same response with Anne. He left him with no choice but to say yes.

"Great then. So how is it going at the office, Xian?" Erwan asked Xian without having any idea that he left his job.

"Oh well, I resigned already last time," he said while he looked to Anne, wondering why he never told Erwan about it.

"I see. Sorry I didn't know. So you work in this area?" Erwan said, trying to get comfortable with him.

"Not really. I love this restaurant so much." Xian replied.

"Oh, so you always come here? Quite weird though, this restaurant is for couples. So are you with someone else today? Well, it looks nice, and I bet the food is nice too." he said.

"I'm alone, but this is where my heart is. All the memories that I always want to remember." showing the sadness on Erwan's face unintentionally. He wants to tell Anne how he loves her, but she's not for him.

"Wow... You're so romantic. Lucky the girl that you will be with." Erwan said, not knowing that it was Anne he was referring to from the past. Xian smirked but facing the glass wall for Erwan not to see his face. He's starting to feel like he wants to punch Erwan. He is fed up with him asking so many things, and he wants to pull Anne and kiss her hard. He missed her so much.

The old memories came back. Xian doesn't want to bother these two, but it seems like destiny is playing with him. He doesn't like the idea of having dinner together and chatting like they were friends. Anne suddenly got choked after hearing what her boyfriend just said and left her with no words. She can't speak because she felt that the moment she talks would be when the past will get revealed.

She keeps on chewing her food and sipping her wine. Same as the wine they had together before. She's occupied with the past where she and Xian were eating and drinking wine—having a friendly conversation. But that's only thoughts. They will never have that moment again. Never.

"Are you okay, babe?" Erwan seems worried after she got choked.

"Yup, I'm okay. If you'll excuse me, I need to go to the toilet." Anne said to the two guys.

"Okay, go ahead, babe," Erwan said.

"Please excuse me for a while, too," Xian told Erwan. Anne went in the direction where the toilet is, while Xian went to the counter. Xian ordered drinks as he cannot take it talking to Erwan while with Anne. He ordered a vodka and drank it together with Erwan.

He took two shot glasses and one bottle of vodka. He requests some ice bucket which the waiter said will just deliver to where they sit. Xian okay with it and headed to where Erwan was seated. Erwan had a pure intention of friendship for Xian, while Xian cannot take him as a friend.

"Why are you playing with our destiny? I'm trying to have some courage for me to be able to tell Erwan about what happened. I don't know if he will accept whatever my explanation is, but I am not ready." Anne told herself as she looks in the mirror and put on her red lip tint.

She put some powder on and freshen up. She headed back to where they were sitting while she notices that the two were having some good time—laughing at each other and having a conversation. She has no intention of interrupting them. But Erwan saw her coming and waves at her, then pointed to her seat. She immediately goes back to her chair and smells the alcohol they were drinking. Both of them were tipsy.

"Are you okay, babe? I'll just go to the toilet." Erwan asked. At the same time, she's getting ready to stand up to go to the toilet.

"Yup. I'm okay," she replied. She felt uneasy when Erwan left. She doesn't know if she will speak to Xian or not, but she decided to keep quiet. Then Xian started to talk.

"How are you?" he said while seriously looking at her wishing to get an answer from her.

"I-I'm okay. How about you?" Anne replied without looking at him. Her heart beats faster, and her face turns red as she touches her ring finger.

"I miss you... I still love you..." as Xian continued. He wants to see Anne's reaction. But she keeps on looking at the glass of wine. Anne cannot speak as if she's mute for a moment and her tongue shrunk. Her face and ears turned red. She's shaking. She felt like thousands of butterflies in her stomach.

But she loves it. She loves hearing those lines. “I miss you... I still love you..." But she can't love him. Does she don't love him? Is her heart still reserved for Erwan? Or what happened in the past is always brought to her future? She wants more of it. That's what she feels. But how can she love him if she has Erwan? How can she tell Erwan that she loves Xian too? Is she torn between two guys? Suddenly Erwan broke the silence.

"How is it going, guys? Do you want to continue this at her house?" Erwan asked while volunteering at Anne's house. He seems to found a new buddy for a drinking session. He seldom someone for drinks, only Anne at her home. Both of them were shocked and said yes in unison.

"Okay, sure." Anne and Xian said. Both of them felt the current flows through their veins and turns each faces red though due to alcohol Erwan did not notice it.

"Whoa! Okay. Anne's house then. Bill on me for now." shockingly Erwan replied as they say it together. She offered to pay the bill this time and hoping to have it next time. He waves at the waiter to get the bills so they can pay. As they wait, they talk about each other love life. Since Erwan and Xian were both drunk, they talk about a nonsense thing.

It's nonsense to talk about Anne's past, but her feelings grow more for Xian every day. As she heard what Xian told Erwan, she knows he was referring to her.

"I have this girl I love from the past and up to now, but she has someone else. How I wish we can be together..." showing his sad eyes, Anne felt it inside her heart.

"Too bad for men that she has someone else, but why not fight for her. Suppose she's worth fighting for, then go for it. Do you want me to help you?" Erwan pity Xian about his love life. He wants to help the guy.

Xian just nods at Erwan, not indicating if he agrees or disagrees with his suggestion. The waiter came to their table and gave the bill to Erwan. After paying, all of them went out of the restaurant. Anne offered to drive for them as both of them were drunk. Xian leaves his car near the restaurant.

Erwan was seated in the passenger seat while Xian at Anne's back. Erwan fell asleep. He got into his deep sleep from drunkenness. While he was sleeping, Xian looks in the front mirror of the car. He was looking at how Anne has changed. More beautiful. Sexier than before. It was a nice feeling seeing her again as she gazed at Anne.

"I missed you. I want you to be mine tonight." Xian whispered at Anne's ears which tickled her. She felt aroused. The current flow over her body and closes her eyes for a second. She just focuses on her driving before they get into a car accident.

Xian felt that she has feelings for him. The way she gazed at him at the restaurant. The way she kept quiet whenever he says those words I love you, and I miss you. He just can't force her to admit her feelings. Anne felt guilt as she looks at Erwan. Poor guy. He loves her so much, but she cheated on him. Thinking about admitting her mistake makes her more scared of what Erwan will do.

As you know the song, too much love will kill you. She's afraid. It's either he kills her or Xian or kills himself.

"Anne, I love you!" those were the words that keep running through her mind while driving. He loves her, and She loves him. But they can't be together. They can't just be together without hurting someone else.

They were almost near Anne's house when Erwan woke up. He's fully recharged though still a bit drunk, and he can manage to drive back home. They stop by the convenience store for drinks then headed home again. Xian is still a bit drunk, the same as Erwan, but they both manage to walk upon reaching home. Anne took the key in her purse while the two guys were standing behind her carrying the drinks.

"Okay, come in, guys. Feel free to help yourself." Anne said while she put down her purse on the table. She took the beer from the grocery bag and put it on the table. Erwan helped her get some ice in the fridge and brought it to the living room where Xian was sitting. In Xian's mind, he was seated next to Anne and drinking together while happily chatting. 

He did not notice that it's been a few seconds since Erwan hand him over the can of beer. He seemed to be occupied by something else, which Erwan did not bother. Erwan thought it was the girl he loves though part of it was a correct one, a portion of it was her girlfriend.

They all sat on the sofa and began to sip their beer. Silence took over while they were drinking their beer. Anne had two cans while Xian and Erwan had four each. They were all drunk and dizzy. Erwan was the first one to fall asleep on the sofa while Anne and Xian were still awake.

Xian can't help himself but pull Anne towards him. He's been waiting for this moment where he can be with Anne again. As he pulled her towards him, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her passionately. Anne responded with intense feelings.

Both of them have been carried away and didn't notice that they reached her room. Xian undresses her, and so as Anne undresses him. They were both naked while kissing each other. Xian started kissing her body while not missing any part. He missed Anne so much, and Anne missed him too.

They passionately held each other's body, and Anne wrapped her arms towards his neck until both of them dropped at the bed. The mistake happened once again. But this time, they were both in love with each other. No buts, no ifs. They were not worrying about what Erwan will do or say either. It happened. It just happened—no intention of doing it again.

Destiny has bonded them. Catching their breath, they both dressed. Though they were both tired, they went down to the living room and check on Erwan. He's still sleeping. He has never been drunk before. Upon reaching the stair's last step, they kissed so hard that it indicates it could be the last.

Xian said goodbye and thank her for the day. He was so happy, and he gave his number to her. He was hoping that it won't be the last. He took his things and headed back to where he parked his car. Anne sends Xian with her eyes outside. At the same time, she wakes up Erwan and asks to go back home. Erwan woke up, not knowing what had just happened. He fixed himself and left her house a few minutes Xian left. She can't explain how happy she was after the make-out happened.

“Thanks for the night. I missed it so much. Hoping for another adventure with you.” Anne smiled while reading Xian’s message.

“I missed you too... so much. I love you,” Anne replied. Finally, she was able to tell him that he loves him. But until when can they keep this secret? The nightmare that they create. The nightmare that soon Erwan will suffer. Erwan has been good to them, but what will happen upon knowing what they have done?

"I love you, and I always will. Just come with me and forget Erwan." she heard out of nowhere.

"No! I can't! I like you but will never love you. It is just a mistake." and then she woke up again, catching her breath as she dreams of him.

Then she smiles. It wasn't the same feeling as the first time she dreams of it. The feeling was different; she did feel any guilt about it. But what adds up from her dream as they were making out. She recalls how they had an intimate moment and smile.

"I love him, and I always will," she told herself and look at her phone as it flashes. She receives a text message. Excitedly she took her phone and key in her code. She smiled. It's is Xian. The man she loves. The man that she's ready to fight for in the world. The man that she wants to be with forever in her life.