It was morn; the sun finally claims and reigns above the darkness of the sky, with the usual melodious chirping of the birds as they rejoice the new born day in harmony.

Rey could sleep no more. She tosses and turns on her massively enormous bed as she applies all her effort, pulling herself together in adjusting to this new typical kind of life she now has — living a life she isn't worthy of. She already made up her mind, and she knew she couldn't stay here for good, though she's aware what it could possible cause her. But, for the actuality that she really isn't meant to be here, she has to get to the very end of her limitations on her very own way. And, if she would have to convince Ben a million times just to make him understand her point, she would do it determinedly.

Rey have decided to pay a visit at the cafe this morning. She sat up and grasps her phone from the bedside table. It was early at six, she read. And since sleeping would be no use for her any longer now, she then went out of bed to prepare herself for a shower, and dresses up comfortably in style by putting on a floral lace dress that is suitably modest, but hugs her flawlessly slim figure, defining and showing off her curves very well; with her favorite denim jacket on top to cloak some of her bare skin, including her thin, fine shoulders. She rarely wears dresses like what she just recently put on, but it wasn't to show off or anything. She only thought that it could change or improve a little bit of her plain aspect so, why not try something new?

As Rey went out of her room, she was surprised to see Ben blocking her front, with his hands rested upon the door frames. "Jesus Christ! Ben!" She blurted out at his blowing presence. But, there was something even more surprising than that that kept Rey in cloud nine. "Don't you even know how to... knock...?"

"Good morning, milady." He greeted her with a pleasant morning smile.

Rey sucked in a sharp breath and cleared her throat as his shirtless torso was exposed in front of her, with her eyes lingering on his broad, beefy, buff, hench, muscular frame that indeed demanded her attention. Yet, gawking wouldn't be quite enough to describe her state, but, she was stunned, astounded, shocked, flabbergasted, amazed, wonderstruck, and mesmerized by his physique. Hell... It was like nothing she've ever seen before. His body was definitely alluring and drool-worthy — completely a bolt out of the blue. He was barrel-chested, with abdominals that were sculptured to perfection whilst his six-packs pop, and biceps that were the size of her head, yet lean. Completing his masterpiece of a bodice, his shoulders — round and protruding — gave his whole look a new flavor.

"Rey, is everything alright?"

Still lost in her fantasies, Rey bit her lip, becoming dreamy of Ben pulling her closer towards him, and of extending her hands to touch his masculinity. Look at me, notice me, know me, love me — Rey kept begging him mentally, hoping that he would be able to decipher her elaborate feelings.

"Rey! Are you okay?"

"W-What? Oh, uh... Y-Yeah, I'm okay." She stutters as she snaps back into reality, "G-Good morning to you, too. W-What are you doing here and, w-where the hell is your shirt, if I... if I may ask?

God, Rey! Stop fantasizing with your daydreams!

"Nothing. I was just checking out on you. And, why bother with the shirt on anyway when it apparently seems like you're actually enjoying the view?" He teases and went on with a chuckled laughter.

Rey swore beneath her breath, "I don't want to curse on you but... you're a one of a kind asshole for that. No offense, bruv."

"No offense either but," he claims his assertion, "why were you were biting your lip then?"

"Shut up, I wasn't." She stood her ground defensively, however, she couldn't justify enough to deny it within herself, either. Or, I really was.

"Really? Oh, well. Come on down now, I'll be cooking us some breakfast."

"Wait, you? Cooking us breakfast?" She scoffs, crossing her arms in dubiety. "But anyway, it would be a pleasure to have a taste of your 'fine feast'."

"Well, don't misjudge me."

Rey affirms, creating a promising gesture, "Trust me, I won't. I'll be down in a minute."

A fresh and pleasing sweet aroma wafts from the kitchen to the living room. The light treading of footsteps on the wooden floor divulges Rey's approach. "What's cookin'?" She queries.

Ben, now clad with a shirt on and an apron, glances over his broad shoulder to recognize her walking en route to him. "Pancakes." He replies, flashing a warm smile before turning back to his current chore.

Rey gradually brushes up behind him; she gently wraps up her arms low around his waist, advancing her forehead to rest on his back, causing another pleasant smile to creep onto his face. Ben found it hard to fathom her existence in his life. He always feels so secured and calm, free from his own darkness whenever she's around. He was just so thankful to have someone like her.

He flips the pan as the pancake starts to sizzle. With a whiff of its sweetness trying to escape, Rey's emits a soft, pleasing hum in return the second it enters her nose in satisfaction.

"Why did you put your shirt on?" She mumbles, her warm breath converging with his skin.

He smirks and chuckles, "Why? Miss seeing my perfectly-shaped body?" He teases her once more, stealing a glimpse of her from behind as he maintains to keep an eye out on the frying pan.

Rey rolled her eyes and groans with a little mutter of disgust, simulating to be annoyed with Ben for awfully being such a tease as she unshackles herself from him, heading to the teapot to suit herself with some tea, "God, Ben... your mind!" she vociferated, concealing her veracity of fetishizing his enticing image. "You just better make sure that pancake doesn't burn or tastes rough... or else, you're cooking is dead to me."

"I swear to you, it won't." He avows, peering over her in assurance.

"Whatever, badass." She snapped, pouring herself a cup of tea. In the meanwhile, a brief pause threw in the atmosphere between them. Yet, it took a very short lapse of time for Rey to eventually break the mere silence, "But you know, you're not so bad yourself." Leaning against the counter, she squints at him as she takes a casual sip from the brim, "I never thought and knew that you're literally good at this."

Ben flips the pancake over, and onto the plate, he drizzles some extra syrup atop, garnished with a thin-sliced butter cube on its pinnacle layer. "Maybe because you actually never asked." He asserted, arching his eyebrows as he turns off the stove.

Rey hums in concurrence, staring at him with her lips together in contact, restraining a faint smile from forcing to tug at her lips. "Hmm..."

The decently cunning array of the pancakes made her stomach rumble, eager to taste the food in front of her. She places her cup down on the table, heading straight for the plate, whereupon she ultimately takes one bite to savor in just a keenly grasp. "Pale. It's too sweet," she opined with great irony.

"I doubt that." Ben saunters on his feet in confusion, aiming for the plate to have his turn for a taste. He highly doubt Rey's judgement, for there's nothing wrong with its flavor at all. "I don't get what you mean. It completely tastes fine. What's so pale about it?"

Rey again rolled her eyes in stable sarcasm, walking a few inches closer to him. "Hey, relax. I was only being sarcastic," she responded, her hands attempting to rest tenderly on his shoulder. "Overall, it was such a delicacy," she praised. "By the way, I'm planning to go for a visit at the cafe today. I wanted to reassure Rose that everything's going fine now. She was just really upset and worried last night when she called me. Would it be okay if I leave you for a while?"

"Well, you don't have to leave me. And, since we're both free for the day, I could come with you if you like?" He offers thoughtfully, depositing his hands on to her waist as he held her ardently close. "Also, I could drive you there," he added. "Poor transportation's very particular in this place so, you might need a ride."

Considering his chivalrous and gallant companionship towards her, she upholds in an alluring tone, "I like the sound of that."

Rey stood on the tip of her toes as she brings her face nearer to his, with her arms enclosing his neck in seclusion, craving for a kiss. Ben then lowered his head, securing the aperture amidst them. Unwavering and in sync, their lips pressed together tamely, yet amorous it felt. Their stomachs began to flutter, a weird but desperate feeling that sends shivers tending to crawl from their nape, down to the very end of their spine. It lasted for less than a minute until they broke free from each other's cumulative desire.

"Dinner's on me," Rey demanded as she whispers in his ear, still clinging onto him.

"Tonight?"

She nods discreetly, "Yep."

"Okay, no problem. So, uh... let's go?" Ben asks, still lost in his deep vehemence.

"Yeah, sure."
==========================
Rey couldn't contain herself anymore. She really misses how the uplifting scent of coffee wafts through the entrance, and in each and every corner of the cafe. Of course, she wouldn't forget Rose, who did sound awfully worried the moment she called last night. And, by the second she hung up on her, to Rey it was the rudest thing she've ever done to her yet.

They pulled up outside the cafe, and went out of the car with Rey being puzzled as she read the sign that said,

'CLOSED
UNDER RENOVATION'

"That's weird. I was here last night but, I didn't know about any renovation going on." Ben informed as he stood beside her.

"Wait a sec. Let me call Rose." Before she could take out her phone, there were anonymous yells and screams from afar that sounded so notably usual, in which she found it easy to be recognized.

"Oh, my God! Rey!" Rose exclaimed in astonishment as she scurried towards her into a full embrace. "I'm so glad you're back. I was so worried about you last night."

"I'm truly sorry about that. But, don't worry, I'm fine now. That's why I'm here, ain't I?" Rey assures her finally without overthinking anything.

"Well, what did exactly happen?"

"It's a long story. Something came up at the apartment where I used to live in so, right now, I'm living together with Ben."

"O.M.G.! Is that even legal?" Rose shrieked with great enthusiasm.

Ben remained silent as he stood behind Rey's back, until he heard her mention his name that caught his attention. "Yeah, about that..."

"Seriously, it makes me wanna scream." Rose stated frantically, trying to hold the stimulated feeling towering inside her.

"Um, I think that would be a bad idea." Rey stated, considerately.

"Don't fret. I won't."

"Anyway, where were you? And, what's going on with the cafe? How about Maz?..." Rey was typically hyped up to ask several questions in her mind that she was able to muster.

"Hey, slow down." Flooded with a vast number of interrogatives, Rose interpolated, "First of all, I just got here, okay? Secondly, Maz and I had this idea of a new cafe setup in mind since last week. We thought a couple changes around here would be nice so, we decided to close the cafe for the following days until we're done with the renovation."

"Well, how about Finn? How is he?" For the fact that she hasn't heard of Finn for a while now, Rey's raptured expression drastically became sober, commemorating his distant presence — his voice, the cheesy smile on his face, the gaiety and humor in his laughter... everything about him that makes her and Rose feel so complete.

"How's my peanut?" And yet, a familiar voice conversed with them from a diminutive distant.

Rey gazing behind, she suddenly felt enlightenment that her once solemn face lit up again with glee, together with her eyes sparkling at the corners. She just couldn't help but grin at the sight ahead of her.

"Finn!" She hurtled towards him as she called out his name in ecstasy, that then ended into a warm, friendly cuddle in each other's arms. "I missed you so much!"

"Ow!" Finn mumbles in ache as she spurted against him, clobbering his bruised arm inattentively.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" Rey unfetters immediately in caution. She was stirred to see him once again, that she couldn't withstand herself from her welcoming felicity.

"I'm okay." His smile was filled with great enthusiasm, in spite of the pain he feels within the bruise. "Aw, come here you..." Finn mumbles with his arms wide open as he indulges the warmth in Rey's embrace. He then whispers delightedly in her ear, squeezing his eyes shut as they held each other closely, enfolding their tight clasp. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you, too." Rey muttered.

Beyond them, Ben and Rose stayed around tight-lipped as they stood, with their eyes looking fixedly at them.

Rose shifted a fuzzy gaze to Ben and interrupts, "Don't tell me you're jealous... are you?"

"Why should I even be?" Her unanticipated question left Ben uncertain to answer. He then reflects and asks himself, nevertheless, there aren't even enough matters to form up a conjecture of his jealousy, knowing that Finn has been a part of Rey's life since then. "Besides, they've been friends for years. I don't see anything more than that."

"Yeah, right. How ridiculous of me..." Rose muttered embarrassingly. "Just forget what I asked you in the first place."

"Um, peanut..." Finn alluded. "I think we should—"

"Oh, right. Well, sorry, um... peanut?" Rey asked him keenly as she escapes the tight enfold in his arms, agog of the anomalously unusual name he denoted to her.

"Why? Is there something uncomfortable with that?"

"Nothing. It's just new to me, but, I think it's cute, actually." She remarked, regarding him blissfully with a sigh. "By the way, how's your injury? And, when did you get dismissed?"

"Just the other day. But, my doctor prescribed that I should still take my maintenance for pain reliever. Though it's all getting better now."

"That's great, then. By the way, there's someone I'd like you to meet." Rey gripped Finn's arm, dragging him closer towards Ben and Rose.

"So, uh... Ben, this is Finn, my other best friend aside from Rose. And, Finn... meet Ben, my—"

"Your boyfriend, I know." Finn interjected, and in an instance, Rey and Ben were tongue-tied, considering his barely alarming knowledge in regards to their relationship. "Uh, did I say something wrong?" He asks in bewilderment.

"No— yes, but um, we're... listen, it's—" Rey jitters turbulently, unable to sustain the words spitting out of her mouth. Regardless of her avidity to do so, it seemed like in every respect, altogether those words helplessly went back down her throat.

"No sweat. There's nothing wrong with what you said," in her behalf, Ben intervenes. "It's a pleasure meeting you, by the way," he held out his hand, gesticulating formally a handshake of amity.

In a grip, they shook hands as Finn outstretched his, a manifestation of embarking and bring about a new course of understanding and rapport to each other, "Yeah, you too." It definitely ain't a 'bromance'. Yet, it was a great way to start off a friendship, likewise at some point, a piece of respect to show their willingness to make their acquaintance.

"Say, Rey... would you mind helping me carry on with the renovation?" Rose calls Rey for a need of her assistance.

"We have all day so, let's get it on." Rey couldn't agree more. She misses every of her daily duties, such as their everyday morning routines inside the cafe before it opens as soon as time strikes eight. And, now that mostly everything would look a lot more different than usual, she just couldn't wait to go back to her life of serving customers.

Rose turned the key to the cafe, unlocking its doors. "You guys go stay here and spend some quality time, having a little tête-à-tête while Rey and I head inside for a moment," she points out her suggestion, "would that be okay with you?"

"Sounds good to me." Ben concurs with her favorable basis, knowing it would be a quite a propitious move for him and Finn to familiarize themselves with each other's capacities, in able to relinquish their own doubts and compromise the matters in dealing with new people whom you barely even have any common insights of, nor understandings.

"Great!" As the girls walked in to do some of their charges, the boys resolved to remain outside, having their own form of conversations to catch up with each other as newly associates.

"I think we should head inside and go help them." Finn confabulated preferentially as for being altruistic. "They could use some of our help."

Ben reconsiders, "Well, I thought that to myself as well but, didn't they tell us to stay here for a couple minutes?"

"I don't know. So, you're on with Rey now, huh?" Finn shifts their discourse by questioning him personally, apropos of his latterly affectionate bond with Rey.

"Yeah. But, we decided to slow things down and just take our time," He pointed out, crossing his arms against his chest.

"Rey has never been in love," Finn mentions. "It was a secret she thought would be too humiliating to tell."

"Really?" Ben appears to be nearly startled. Through his clear eyes and sharp gaze, one could easily tell how committed and inquisitive he is to hear more, "I didn't know about that."

"She didn't tell you?" Finn asks.

Ben slightly shook his head in response, "I guess she wouldn't want to spill the beans."

"I'm afraid I already have." Finn concludes, and they tittered vaguely.

Ben then specifies directly, "But to be honest with you, I have no idea how it all started. I just met her during an interview with me, and the worse part is that, I even misjudged her for being incompetent. But, as days went by, there was this— I don't know but, a somewhat uncanny feeling promptly commenced to creep up on me and, I started seeing something special about her that made me feel so contrastive."

Ben dug deep into the near end of his own self, and for once more, he became true to himself and his feelings. Until now, he couldn't discern his side of reality — his certitude of falling and being in love. Oftentimes, he would compare himself to Rey from every angle or probability, and arrive to the extremity of letting go, for he thinks he doesn't deserve her at all. Whereas in the fullness of time, he would realize how fortunate he truly is to have her.

"You're definitely head over heels for her." Finn asserted intuitively with his shrewdness.

Ben chuckles, gazing back at Rey with extreme adoration as he restated in acknowledgment, "I surely am."

He couldn't hold forth to his mysteriousness anymore, for he is indeed in love with her. It wasn't like as before, with all his denials and the conflict inside him — the missing puzzle pieces to the clarity of his feelings. And yet, those 'feelings' had already taken hold of him, where everything is much more clearer to him now, and he won't let it break apart once more.

"But you know," Finn glimpses back as he confers, with Ben keeping his steady gaze at Rey. "I can't blame you for you aren't wrong about her being special. She has a very great potential in journalism. It ain't something to be doubtful of about her. It's her passion," He restated convincingly to advantage Rey's compelling capabilities, alluding to how well he knows her throughout these years they've been together. "She's the type of person who won't let anyone, or herself down. It was long since she was condemned to a life of drudgery, yet she proved herself reputably enough, and she never gave in, no matter how high the stakes are. It's her mettle." Shifting his gaze back at Ben, he then addresses his words directly at him, "You'll just have to believe in her. And I know you do, for you love her."

Ben frees himself, away from his longingly tight gaze. He felt Finn's uplifting concern which made him apprehend how thankful Rey must be to have a friend like him by her side, who can genuinely appreciate her in any other way and be there for her through thick and thin. "I know we aren't that close enough but," he then landed a hand onto Finn's shoulder as a token of gratitude for his sincerity, "thank you, Finn."

After minutes of having their work cut out in renovating the cafe, Rose took a pause from working her ass off, since all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. "Aww, just look at them." Standing still against the counter, she utters in admiration.

"Rose, they aren't babies anymore, nor pets. Don't be so naive." Visibly worn out from all the work, Rey corrected in a serious tone, wiping the beads of sweat aiming to fall from her forehead. "And, not that I don't want them to be close enough but, we could definitely use their help here, don't you think? It's been only a few minutes since we started, but it appears to be like 3 hours now with all the sweat pouring down on my skin."

"I'm not, okay?" Rose counters, pouring herself a refreshing glass of cold water. "And, just let them be. They seem to be enjoying themselves."

Rey gives off a sigh, continuing with her work.

"What about you and Rose?" Ben inquires, reciprocating the question.

"I-It's complicated, actually, and I can't seem to put my finger on it. I once asked her out but," Finn shrugs, "I don't know if thing's would likely ever change between us."

"I might sound untrue like I'm giving you false hopes, but, I think she's into you as well." Ben was being sincere, and he speaks nothing but the truth from what he could presume to be the case. "I could see no reason for her not to like you at all. But, don't worry, you'll soon get there, trust me." He smiles, but Finn was yet rattled with disguise as a beam of negligible discomfort marked upon his visage.

"Come on, we better head inside." Finn mumbles, entering the cafe with Ben following from behind.

Rey walks up close to them as they entered and babbles, "Oh, it's a good thing you guys have already decided to give us hand. Because, obviously, we really need it."

"Sorry, but, didn't you guys tell us to stay outside and have a little— what's it called?— tête-à-tête for the meanwhile?" Finn avers in recall, lifting a brow.

"We did," Rey admits broodily, "but, come on, do you really have to sound so... guilty? And puh-lease, I didn't make up that word even if it does exists."

"You're welcome." Rose interrupted as she stayed beyond the counter, creating some refreshments.

A succession of loud, rhythmical tones pierced through their conversation. Ben recognizes it was his phone that creates the short, sharp trills of rings as he took it out from his pocket. "It's mine. Excuse me for a moment."

They were relentless as they kept going with their confabulation. Ben, on the other hand, deferentially walks away to take the call.

"Anyway," Rey went on decisively, purposeful to divulge something worth - knowing. "I promised myself and to DJ to let you know about what happened—"

"You don't have to." Finn cuts her word, mindful of what she's about to utter. "It's all clear. I was there earlier this morning."

Rey stood dumb in front of him, at a loss for words.

"Is that why you've been so distant these past few days?"

"Of sorts. I've been looking for a new place to move in but, as expected, I failed." Rey expresses her weak utterances with mere disappointment on her face.

"What is it, Phasma?" Ben urged as he stood by the entrance. "No, I don't take any appointments on a Sunday, why?"

He runs his hand through his hair as he listened, messing it and shattering the confidence he so easily portrayed. And then, his eyes widened, glistening with his obscure thoughts. "Wait, who?"

"Look, I know it's a huge possibility that you'll be staying with Ben for the following days or weeks. And, I'm not saying that I'm against it but, wouldn't it be too much?" Finn conveys his vast concern, and Rey could easily fathom out what he meant. "You know me, I could help you out."

"That's exactly what I've had in mind." She projected her thoughts, "I know I can't stay with him forever. Cos in reality, I-I'm not supposed to be living with him under the same roof at all."

"Rey, you need help." He claimed.

"Finn, I would appreciate it — I always have. But, you don't— it's just... it's been too much, okay?" She replies, hesitating with her disposition to partially decline his offer.

"Alright, t-tell him to wait. I-I'll be there in twenty." Ben's noticeably wounded up as he ended the call; his voice was becoming jittery and frantic, with his face contorted with agitation.

"...I somehow wanted to survive this alone, like I always have. I'll call for your help anytime I need it, just, not this time. I hope you'd understand." Rey didn't want him to feel dejected, for she has never rejected him throughout the ages they've known each other and became friends — which had been so long before now. Yet, it was her choice, and she has to deal with its consequences... alone.

Ben sauntered towards them in a quick pace. "Guys..." he called out and addresses his apology, "I'm terribly sorry, for at this point, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you with the renovation."

"Why, did something happen?" Finn questions alarmingly.

"There's someone waiting for me at work, and it did sounded very important." He clarifies.

"Do you really have to leave so soon?" Rey queries in a low tone.

"I'm sorry, Rey. But, I have to. Don't worry, I'll catch up with you guys very soon." Ben assures them as he reapologizes sincerely.

"Take care of yourself." She muttered.

"I will." Before leaving, Ben leaves a soft, genuine kiss on her forehead as he replied promisingly. "I'll see you later at home."

He now rushes away towards the cafe's entrance, where in a glimpse, he was gone.

"Lovebirds." Leaning against the counter, Rose seemingly chimes in, in able to recognize her subtle presence as she soon finished with the beverages.

Rey glances back to face her, leaving a conspicuous grin as she indistinctly rolls her eyes at her. She notices Finn, who surprisingly became as quiet as the grave. "Hey, is there—"

"I have to go to the bathroom." He mutters blankly as he treaded away.

Rey could distinguish his sudden audacity to be so meekly withdrawn. She would likely want to approach him but, she thought he might need some time alone to himself.

She then ambles towards Rose, aiming for a small talk. "You never get tired, do you?" Rey questions as she takes her seat on one of the bar stools in line out front of the counter.

"Get tired of what?" Rose answers innocently, motioning her hand as she takes a firm grasp of the refreshments she prepared for them a while ago. "By the way, here's your drink."

"Oh, thanks." She replied, turning her attention to her drink. "Anyway... forget the question, but, any tea to spill?"

"Tea? We already have our tea right here." She illogically points at their glasses of cold iced tea, but Rey was supposedly asking metaphorically.

She rolled her eyes at her once more for acting delirious at first. "God, could you please just get a life?" She mumbles.

"But, hey..." Rose ignorantly goes on with her talking, basically changing the subject of their discussion, "you're lucky to have Ben."

"Well, that's—" she shrugs, "I don't know... fate? He wasn't really a man of my interest by those times before." Rey utters, and takes her first sip from her glass of cold iced tea. She was apprising her statement so candidly, and it was somehow a veracious detail. Rose didn't say anything in between, so she continued, "When he called me incompetent during the interview, it struck the hell out of me, and I hated him for that. I even thought that I'm gonna have to deal with him for one month, just to prove myself that I ain't a fool, or someone amateurish as for what he sees of me."

Those were clear grounds she found to justify her proposition enough to loathe Ben and be more aggressive in defending herself, despite its unpalatable circumstances. Notwithstanding, it blatantly gives the impression to be fundamentally flawed, as they began to ascertainably live and cherish that peculiar spark they've inadvertently found in each other's indescribable entity.

Rey lets out a subtle and reposing sigh, directing back her gaze diametrically at Rose, "Until one night, my perspective about him started to change. For that moment, we were connected, which felt so amazingly surreal. And, once we finally shared our stories to one another, I realized that we're both having our own kind of struggle. We then started comforting each other to ease our doldrums, wherein I found that... I wasn't in fact alone after all."

"It is truly romantic." Rose's voice was little more than a murmur as she uttered blankly. Frailly on her feet, her arms were rested upon the countertop, with one hand holding the straw as she gradually stirs her drink.

"Rose, I get it if you and Finn are both very reserved and reticent regarding your feelings for one another but—"

Rose shook her head to gainsay, "No."

"What do you mean 'no'?" She discourses. "You're both aware that you have this liking for each other, so why not take the risk? You've got nothing to lose!"

Rose stood uprightly, "It's not that easy, Rey." She retorted, turning her down. "And besides, we aren't that suitable with each other for some particular reason anyway."

In the interim, quietude overruns the atmosphere as Finn passes them by, still being so hollow.

Rey walks towards him as she calls him out, "Finn, wait."

Finn turns around, opposing her. "What?" His tone was very disheartened, lacking any emotion. Rey could feel how dispirited he is right now, and she couldn't bear him anymore.

"Listen, if you're mad at me for what I said minutes ago... I'm sorry." She began to apologize, hoping things running in the midst of their friendship would go back the way it used to be. "I didn't mean to underestimate you and make you feel like I'm turning you down or anything... I'm really sorry."

"What? Rey, I'm not mad at you, okay?" Finn declares to her, yet he couldn't comprehend why she would even ask such a complicating question. "Because, if you just look at it, there's no reason for me to treat you that way."

"You aren't?" Rey couldn't leave her thoughts. She felt a bit more relieved, though she wasn't yet assured. This friendship she has of a lifetime with Finn was her most priceless treasure — incomparable in any other way — and she doesn't know what she'd do without him. Thus, she's afraid to lose that friendship, for losing him would be her greatest blunder. "Look, I ain't gonna deny that I'm irritating by nature at times like this but, whatever it is you think of me right now, don't pull yourself back from telling me so."

"Rey, I'll be telling you this one last time. Whatever stupid thing you do, and no matter how annoying you are sometimes, I'm not gonna be mad at you," Finn elucidates solemnly. "You know why?"

She then sighs heavily and drops her assertion, "Because I look too pathetic?"

"Because you're my friend," he added, settling his hand on top of her shoulder. "And as a part of that, I don't want you to feel guilty for a thing you've done."

"But, didn't I make you feel guilty for appallingly rejecting your generosity?" Rey's completely apprised of his reasoning, however, it isn't fairly clear to her, for there's highly no difference. She could discern the guilt — trapped within his mask of blitheness. She appreciates how he cherishes their friendship by his very own ways, yet, hiding what he truly feels within the shadows of his bright, warm smiles isn't how she presumed it would be — but to set free the real indifference he feels inside. "It just kills me to think about it cuz, just care to imagine the years— all throughout those years, I've never rejected you at least once. But now it just... feels so wrong."

No such tear was streaming down her face — not even a single drop. Finn could sense that she was holding it back, exerting her effort to keep herself stable from a sudden breakdown. He looked at her dramatically, not uttering out at least one word. Yet, all he could do was pull her close towards his embrace, trying to ease her from what's been bothering her for a while now. "It's alright, peanut."
==========================
The moment Ben arrived at Starkiller, he was definitely in a haste. Not to mention who's waiting for him at his office, regardless of knowing who's who.

By the minute he was already outside his base, he didn't hesitate to walk through the door before him. As he entered, he wasn't supposed to be anymore surprised — or aggressive, rather.

"What the hell are you doing here, you asshole!?" Ben glowered savagely at Hux, who seemingly appears to maintain his calmness, unaffected by whatever Ben has to say to him. Ben knitted his brows, with his forehead in a deep furrow, and his blood boiling with rage. He couldn't control his temper as he helplessly become brutish every time he sees or hears his voice. He never liked him since then, nor his selfish and vile attitude, for he's just alike his old, wicked father. As what they say: 'like father, like son.'

"Ben, relax." An old voice of a man forestalled him, beating him to the punch from governing his aggression. "Hux came here with me. There's somethi—"

"Bullshit," Ben impugns, smoldering with indignation. For as much as possible, he didn't want to believe it, "Seriously, uncle? You've got to be fucking kidding me."

Senator Luke Skywalker... Knowingly Leia Organa - Solo's — Ben's mother's — fraternal twin brother. He previously worked for the senate for about two years, until he subconsciously came up with an option of becoming an exile in Ahch - To for nearly a decade, only to get away from all the political assaults being thrown at him by the public and the government, which he knew himself that he didn't actually commit. Forsooth, his decision was extemporaneous and unpremeditated, for in the concrete, it was neither of his notion to leave. In spite, he had no other choice, but to keep his distance for a couple years 'til the world has merely forgotten about him.

"I'm not," retorted his uncle Luke, approaching him closer from a distant. "Ben, you have to listen to me. To us. You don't know how sensitive this matter is that we're about to discuss."

He very much feels uncomfortable with what's exactly going on. Nevertheless, he has to take his hostility under control. And as for what his uncle had said, "Fine. But I won't waste my time with this prick," he hissed, roughly fixating at Hux.

They sat formally at his table as they began their discussion. Ben was trying to keep himself together, forcing his lame attentiveness to hear them out.

"Ben," Luke summons his attention, precariousness flickering in his eyes, "this won't be easy for you. And for me, as well."

Ben felt disquieted; consternation piling up in the atmosphere surrounding them. His hands began to tremble, with fingers twitching unmanageably in discomfort. "What do you mean?"

There was a pause, and the room was so quiet, in which you might have possibly heard a pin drop. His uncle turned reticent, as if the words he's about to verbalize went back down his throat. And as for Ben, he couldn't take it anymore. So he urged, "Uncle, please... just tell me what this is all about."

"It's about Leia," Luke exclaimed. "She's alive, Ben... Your mother is alive!"
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AUTHOR'S NOTE
Sorry if I took too long to write this chapter. I just finished with my exams this week and I'm so tensed! And, sorry for the cliffhanger here... 😅 It took me 65 pages and 6k plus words to finish this chapter and I am waaay too far from my limits now. But there's more to the story in the next few chapters ahead, so you better watch out for more!

Also, likes and comments would be highly appreciated! I need to know your thoughts about this story so far so I would be able to manage and improve my writing skills that would satisfy you enough... Above all, thanks for the continuous support! #ReyloForever!