"Hey Lesley! Are you coming to the reunion?"

Lesley put her things on her table before looking at Claude with a frown. "What reunion?"

Claude moved his swivel chair near her. "Our high school class reunion! It's next week Les."

Lesley opened her computer and started her work. "I think I'm too busy to attend."

Claude sighed. "Come on Les, you've been drowning yourself to work these past few months. You've lost some weight too. Do you have a problem?"

Lesley didn't answer and just focused on what she was doing.

It was true though. She had been drowning herself to work for the past few months, ever since he came back.

"I'm just always here for you Les, okay? You know that." Claude said.

"I know, thank you Claude."

"And you know I love you."

Lesley suddenly felt guilty, "Claude–"

Claude raised his one hand in front of her to stop her, "I know Lesley. I know where to stand. I'm just reminding you that I am here."

Claude smiled and went to his area. Lesley was left there, feeling guilty.

Claude was always there for Lesley. Those first months since she and Gusion broke up, he was the one who always comforted her. He had been her human handkerchief.

Claude and Gusion were actually both her suitors back then. But she fell in love with Gusion, and Claude remained as their close friend. In fact, he always cursed Gusion before while she was crying because of their break up.

And Lesley couldn't believe it that up until now, his feelings for her never changed.

She often asked herself: why didn't she fell in love with Claude? If she did, then maybe, things were different now. She might not be brokenhearted now.

She needed to move on.

But Lesley knew it was wrong to use other person just to move on. It was a selfish move, and she didn't want to hurt Claude.

Claude has been kind to her and she would just used him?

No, definitely no.

Lesley sighed. Will I ever move on from you Gusion?

=====

"Lesley, aren't you going home yet?" Irithel asked her as she picked up her bag.

"Later Iri, I need to finish this." Lesley answered while still typing on the computer.

"Now now Iri, why don't you take Lesley as your role model? You always went out early." Claude teased Irithel.

An angry vein appeared on Irithel's forehead. "I'm just on time to leave. And I don't need to overtime always because I do my work fast, unlike you, you lazy bastard."

Claude laughed, "I didn't say anything. You're so defensive."

Irithel stomped her feet angrily and glared at Claude. "Whatever you say ice cream head! Don't talk to me again!"

Lesley couldn't help it but to giggle. Those two looked so cute when they were arguing.

Irithel flipped her bangs and looked at her. "Take care Lesley, and be extra careful to someone with a hair like an ice cream."

Lesley laughed and waved at Irithel, "Thank you Iri, take care too."

Irithel went out of the office while Claude waved goodbye to her before following Irithel.

Who knows, they may fall in love with each other someday.

Lesley smiled at that thought.

=====

Lesley picked up her bag before turning off the light and computer on her table.

She glanced at the wall clock. It was already ten thirty in the evening.

She already called her parents that she would come home late today. Her little brother, Harley, wanted to pick her up but he had an errand to do.

She went to the elevator and pressed ground floor. She felt her stomach growled. She sighed. She forgot to eat dinner.

The guard greeted her before she exit the building. He already knew her since she was always the last one to leave the building these past few months.

Lesley kept herself busy to avoid thinking too much about him.

But whatever she was doing, her mind still wandered about him.

It had been three months since she saw Gusion with Angela. Ever since then, Gusion would always try to speak with her, but she would get away easily, avoiding him.

Gusion would always wait for her when she was done with her work. Luckily, Claude was there to save her so Gusion couldn't approach her.

That was why she had been always working overtime. So she couldn't cross paths again with Gusion.

Lesley sighed and decided to stop to a nearby café to buy some food. She would just eat a proper meal when she came home.

She ordered a caramel macchiato and a slice of strawberry cheesecake. She sat on the table near the window.

There were still few people walking on the streets and in the café. Lesley relaxed herself and got her book to read a few chapters.

She was in the middle of reading when she noticed someone sat in front of her.

Lesley looked at that someone and the book fell down from her hands.

That someone was the last person she wanted to see.

Gusion.

"Mind sharing the table?" Gusion asked her.

Lesley couldn't speak. She just stared at him.

"Lesley?"

Lesley went back to her senses and picked up her book as well as her bag then ran out from the café.

"Lesley wait!"

Why is he still following me? Lesley kept on running, running away from him.

But of course, Gusion caught her as his steps were bigger than hers.

"Lesley please, just let me explain." Gusion begged.

Lesley kept on shaking her head. "No. Please Gusion, let me go. Don't hurt me anymore."

Gusion held both of her arms and gently made her faced him. "Lesley, you'll just kept on hurting us both if you don't listen to me. Please. Even just for five minutes. I'll explain it all."

Lesley teared up, she was crying again because of him. "No Gusion. You don't have to explain. I already knew it. You don't have to shove it in my face. Please, just let me go."

Gusion gently shook her then wiped her tears. "Lesley, just let me explain. Five minutes is all I asked for you to listen to me."

Lesley continued to sob, flinching his hands from her. "You've hurt me enough Gusion. Don't add some pain anymore. Can't you see? I'm trying, I'm trying to move on from you."

Lesley frustratingly wiped away her tears as she continued. "So please help me. Just... just stay away from me. Because everytime I see you, I'm going back to the start, back to zero. Just one glimpse of you and now I'm stuck again. Just hearing your voice makes it so hard to take even one step away from you."

Lesley took all her might to look at Gusion and smiled at him. "Please Gusion? I'm learning it, the art of moving on. So please cooperate with me, for both of us to be happy."

She turned her back to him, walking away from him.

I just hope I can make him walk away from my life too.

"If you think I'll stop just because you told me, then think again Lesley."

Lesley stopped on her tracks when Gusion spoke. But her back was still facing him.

"And I will not stop until you listen to me. I told you before Les, once fate brought us again together, I'm never letting you go again. You can walk away from me now, but expect me to chase you after. I'm not giving up on you, I'm not giving up on us."

Lesley sighed and closed her eyes.

Why are you making this hard for me Gusion? Just let me move on from you. She thought while walking away from him.