Here's the thing that I always hoped to happen in my life,

They are in front of me and smiling,

He didn't even turn to look at me and just walked inside the office,

I sighed

He came back with papers and we went home.

"Ava, how do you know him?" Danny inquired, his eyes locking onto Romano with a hint of suspicion.

-----------------***----------------

As we entered the bustling club, my eyes scanned the VIP room, revealing Karen as the sole occupant. Romano was conspicuously absent, and I couldn't help but feel a tinge of unease. Danny enveloped Karen in a warm hug, his eyes shifting to me with an expression that clearly conveyed the need for an explanation.

"Karen, you live here?" Danny inquired, initiating conversation.

"Yes," she responded, a perplexed look lingering on her face.

Those words marked the last coherent sound I registered before inexplicably drifting into a drowsy haze, the rapid rhythm of my heart in stark contrast to my growing fatigue.

Suddenly, an explosive voice sliced through my half-slumbered state, jolting me awake. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" the voice roared, yanking me from my trance.

I blinked, trying to piece together the abrupt confrontation unfolding before me. It was Romano and Danny, their faces contorted with anger, glaring daggers at each other. Karen's gaze darted between the two, mirroring my own confusion.

Romano eventually spotted me, his intense gaze drilling into my bewildered eyes. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" he asked with genuine concern, pulling my attention.

"Ava, how do you know him?" Danny interjected, his eyes narrowing as he directed his glare back at Romano.

"I..." My voice faltered as I struggled to find words in the midst of their mounting tension.

"You just stay here. Dan, I need to talk to you now," Romano interrupted me brusquely.

"And why would I hear you out?"

"Because you know what to do and what not?"

With that, Romano exited the room, Danny reluctantly following him, leaving Karen and me in a perplexed silence.

"Do they know each other?" Karen inquired as soon as we were alone.

I took a deep breath and prepared to provide an explanation. "I met Danny earlier today when I went out. I believe he's the boss, but I couldn't gather much information from him directly. I was caught off guard."

Karen sighed, her expression reflecting her understanding of my predicament. "I can imagine how overwhelming that must have been. But why did you react so strongly?"

"It's just...Danny was my best friend," I began, my voice laced with a hint of sorrow. "Well, he still is. We lost touch for almost four years, but our friendship remains."

Karen voiced her reservations with a somber tone. "I always despised him, Ava. He seemed to appear whenever trouble was brewing in your life. I suspect he's involved with your mission somehow. Remember, Olly shared the same sentiments about him. She didn't like him either. And look at what's happening now."

I attempted to defend my old friend. "But..."

Karen cut me off sternly. "No, Ava. Not again. Your mission should be your top priority. You need to focus on finding her."

A few days earlier...

"Ava, return to San Francisco within two days."

"Why? What's going on?"

"Don't ask questions. My daughter is missing, and I need you here until I find her."

"What happened to Olly, Dad? Where is she?"

"I AM NOT YOUR DAD," he erupted, halting me in my tracks.

My heart ached at his harsh words, and I could hear his controlled anger seeping through the phone as he breathed heavily.

"You're coming back. My assistant will brief you on the mission, and you'd better not overstep your bounds again. Got it?"

"Yes," I replied tersely before abruptly ending the call. I couldn't bear to hear any more from him. He didn't deserve my tears.

It was painful. Every time I looked into his eyes, I felt a pang of heartache. Those eyes held nothing but contempt for me, a lack of trust that cut deeply.

I booked my flight back to San Francisco for the next day, leaving everything behind. This mission wasn't just an assignment; it was my life. I couldn't afford to lose Olly again.

Present time...

According to my father, I needed to be in close proximity to those who had been part of Olivia's life and report any suspicious individuals. But my stubborn nature led me to seek clues through my own contacts. This choice had brought me to my current situation.

"Karen, I understand your reservations about Danny, but he was the one who supported me when I was utterly alone," I said, attempting to defend my friend. "I can't distrust him solely based on information from a criminal."

She sighed but slowly nodded, signaling the end of our conversation.

After a few drinks and a whirlwind of dancing, there was still no sign of Danny or Romano. To our astonishment, their phones had been switched off.

Where could they have disappeared to?

As we rode back to Karen's apartment in a taxi, my phone rang. Assuming it was Romano, I answered with his name on my lips.

"Rom..."

But I was abruptly cut off by an angry voice. "What the hell do you think you're doing? I explicitly instructed you to remain until the mission's completion, and you've decided to meddle with my work. Where the hell are you now?"

"I... I..." My words faltered, and I felt shock ripple through me. He had discovered my actions and called me in the dead of night. His voice held not just anger but also a depth of animosity I had never heard before.

"Immediately come to Karen's apartment. I'm waiting," he demanded before ending the call.

"Who was that? You look pale all of a sudden," Karen asked, her gaze filled with concern.

"Dad," I replied, and she quickly instructed the driver to accelerate.

After reaching Karen's apartment...

"Who gave you permission to be here?" My father's voice reverberated through the room as he refused to meet my eyes.

"I don't require anyone's permission," I retorted, my tone firm and resolute.

"You do. When you're involved in my mission, I need to know everything."

"But this is my mission, so I'm not obligated to explain anything to you."

"Your mission? What mission?" My father's eyes bore into me, his expression unyielding.

I looked at him, searching for any sign of genuine concern, but all I found was the same coldness that had been present all those years ago. "It's none of your business," I asserted, pivoting on my heels and walking out of the apartment. I couldn't stand to be near him any longer.

It was painful. Every time I gazed into his eyes, my heart ached. Those eyes conveyed his disdain for me, his lack of desire for my presence, and the utter absence of trust.

I found a bench near Karen's apartment and sank into it, lost in my thoughts. Suddenly, the sound of a car horn broke the silence.

"Do you intend to spend the entire night in this cold?" Romano's voice reached my ears as he stepped out of the car.

I felt my emotions surge, and I couldn't control the overwhelming urge to rush into his arms. For a moment, he stiffened in surprise, but then he returned my embrace.

"Everything will be alright, Olivia," he whispered soothingly.

His words prompted a sudden reaction in me, and I forcefully pushed him away. I could see a mix of confusion, realization, and anger in his eyes. He rubbed his face and turned away from me.

Olivia.

What was I doing?

I couldn't allow myself to feel this way. She was everything to me, and he belonged to her. This was wrong. I couldn't harbor these feelings for him. It was impossible.

With resolve, I turned and fled into the dark, directionless night.

"Ava, there's a new boy at our school. He's so attractive."

"Do you know his name is Romano? He's a star football player. I've been stalking him for a week..."

"Ava, he spoke to me today for the first time. His voice is amazing..."

"Hey, guess what? I'm going to a party with him this Friday."

"He defended me..."

"He brought my favorite chocolates to our house today. Dad really liked him..."

"He proposed to me, Ava... I can't believe it. He likes me too..."

Her words echoed incessantly in my mind.

Romano had been her first crush, her first love, her first boyfriend.

I needed to stay away from him.

I ran, I don't know for how long, but at some point, I stopped and dialed Mr. Marthy to book my flight back to San Francisco.

I didn't return to Karen's apartment that night, and neither did I receive calls from her, my father, Romano, or Danny.

The next day, I landed in San Francisco, drained and exhausted.

I decided to rest for the day and resume classes tomorrow.

"Ava, you left without a word. Where did you run off to last night? I was worried sick," Karen said.

"Don't worry, Karen. I'm in San Francisco. My work there was done, you know that, right?"

"I do. Are you alright?"

I knew what she meant. She was the only one who could handle me at my worst.

After speaking with her, I yawned. I hadn't realized just how tired I was. I hadn't slept at all the previous night, and after returning to my temporary residence, I had continued to deprive myself of rest.

I got up and went to my room, intending to take a nap and skip another meal.

Yes, I often skipped meals. Ever since that incident from my past, I couldn't eat regularly. When I was alone, the memories flooded back to haunt me.

Flashback...

"Stop, Daddy," my twelve-year-old self had pleaded, trying to prevent my father from leaving me once again.

As always, he had ignored me, speaking with my aunt instead. "She's no longer my child," he had said dismissively. "I don't need to keep her with me now that the deal is over."

What deal? Was I just a transaction to him now?

I had silently shed tears, refusing to show my pain anymore. He didn't love me. That much was clear. So, I decided that he didn't deserve me either.

End of flashback...

I didn't know how long I had slept, but when I woke up, it was already 8 PM.

I was still tired, and I couldn't understand why. Perhaps it was the nightmare that had haunted my brief slumber.

My thoughts were interrupted by the rumbling in my stomach.

"Alright, Tummy, I know you can't go hungry anymore. I'll feed you," I said to myself, offering a faint giggle.

I prepared some French toast and paired it with red wine.

I know, it's an unusual combination, but when I cooked for myself, I always enjoyed experimenting with unconventional pairings. Don't ask why.

Hehehe.

After finishing my meal, I washed the dishes and resolved to tackle my daunting homework.

I really didn't like studying science; it just didn't click with me. Biology terms felt confusing, and I struggled to memorize them. I hoped that I could find Olivia soon and return to my normal life.

I managed to complete my homework after four exhausting hours. It was now 1 AM, and I had only five hours left to sleep.

______***______

#lajawabattitude

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