Regie wondered what tragic news the group received when he got closer. Only Kwan was his playful self, but Sorell was elsewhere, just like the man who stared at her intensely. One would think the stranger just caught his wife cheating.

"I'm glad to see you guys," Regie beamed. Kwans' and Sorells' relationship seemed to have progressed for the better, the man thought. "Did you guys come together?"

"Yes," Kwan replied.

"No, ㅡI mean we came by our own means," Sorell added to clarify. She didn't want Ravan to think there was something between her and Kwan, of all people.

Regie cocked a brow while Kwan pursued the conversation," It's a great event, Regie. Thank you for the invitation."

The older man looked around, and Sorell felt like Regie had set them up. He was a schemer. One only discovered his intentions once the deed was done. Sorell didn't notice the older man's bewildered and awkward stance when Kwan spoke.

Sorell felt she had to present Ravan and Zara with Regies' stare upon her.

"Regie, this isㅡ."

"A great player, what a game. Are you a professional?" Regie said, interrupting Sorell.

Raven smiled, "no, I'm not. I'm just your average psychical trainer and secondary school P.E. teacher."

Sorell blinked; she didn't expect Ravan to answer so frankly. Then again, the man wasn't ashamed of how he made a living or who he was. Ravan knew most of the guests came to flaunt wealth and status. He was an average guy who found no satisfaction in reinventing himself for the gallery.

"P.E. teacher, huh?"

Sorell knew things didn't add up in Regies' head. Thus, she supplied the missing pieces, "Ravan knows the Indian ambassador. He's also a childhood friend."

Finally, Regie had the whole picture. Sorell wasn't known for dating nobodies. Ravan was somebody from her past who changed the woman's public image in many people's minds. For Regie, Ravan was Sorells' rabbit foot, and from how the woman stared at Ravan, one guessed she knew it.

"Oh, I see," Regie said and nodded," nice to meet you," he stretched out his hand. Ravan shook it, and Zara followed up as Ravan introduced her.

"Well, happy to see you all are enjoying yourselves. Kwan, can I speak to you for a minute?" Regie said once the presentations were finished.

The men left, leaving Sorell facing the couple. All wished to flee the awkward silence but saw no way out when suddenly they heard.

"There you are, Ravan. Thank you so much for coming and representing us. Let me present you, my dear friend," said the ambassador's wife as she approached alongside two women Sorell assumed were mother and daughter.

The ambassador's wife spoke with a scheme in mind. The younger woman appeared to have Sorells' and Zaras' age. One could almost see the ambassador's wife's cupid's bow; like a victorian times matchmaker, she vented compliments lady Danbury style.

"My good friend Ms. Bashi and her daughter Milan were impressed with your performance."

Ravan smiled, "I didn't do much."

"What did I tell you? See how modest he is."

"But you played well, "Ms. Bashi said," are you a professional? If you're not, you should think of it."

Ravan shook his head, "no, I don't have the ambition of becoming a professional."

"It's a shame," Milan said.

There, it wasn't Sorell but Zara who felt overshadowed by the newcomer. Like her, Milan was tall and slender. She had highly fair skin and delicate facial traits. What retained one's attention was her Aishwarya Rai green eyes that sparkled like emeralds.

Ravan was not indifferent to Milans' stare but avoided fixing her while the woman chased his gaze.

Sorell didn't know what feelings welled at that instant. Zara annoyed her, but the new woman didn't stir anything within her. All Milans' presence revealed was Ravan was a fine and desired man. Sorell didn't see the green eyes but the waist-length hair that would make a perfect 10A grade wig.

A part of Sorell wished to say hands off my- my what? The woman didn't dare spell out her thoughts, and another part thought it was for the better.

The women weren't as wealthy as her, but Milan and Zara had what she couldn't give Ravan because she still didn't have an ounce of love for herself.

She knew Ravans' feelings and could not reciprocate them. The Sorell she was then would hurt him more than she had already done.

Sorell profited from the moment to move away. Yes, she forfeited, but again she believed it was the best thing to do.

Love wasn't just about holding onto the last drop of hope. Giving up wasn't a bad option sometimes. She wished to give Raven the space to find the love he deserved because he merited all the good things in life.

Sorell began her representation tour. The subjects of geopolitics, culture, and philanthropy were always the same but remixed with the current global situation flavors: smiles, etiquette, and intellect. Everything was about being witty while giving a heads up to the orators.

Ravan tried to follow Sorells' movements. He spied how she vogued from one group to another. He hadn't seen her in weeks, and he wished to have a moment with her, even if it were for five minutes. The woman couldn't imagine how her presence dazed him. His heartbeat hopped when the woman called his name on the field. Everyone congratulated him for his game, but they needed to thank Sorell, in his opinion, as it was her who galvanized and fueled his motivation.

There Ravan knew no words would make the woman change her mind about them. Still, he desired Sorell to know her encouragements meant a lot.

Despite his good intentions, Ravan was distracted by the daughters of eminent families. Thanks to the ambassador's wife, Ravan became the most eligible bachelor at the event.

According to the whispers, Ravan was the heir of a flourishing hair franchise.

If single women were interested in him, the male family members thought business.

"Have you ever considered exporting the concept to Dubai or the French Reunion Islands?"

"Eh, my father has never had such an opportunity. We have stores in London, though."

"You should think about it. Here's my card. I export everything from wine to shoe laces. I'm open to any venture."

While Ravan found himself swamped with business proposals, Zara took a moment to approach Sorell.

It was evident that Ravan still nurtured solid feelings for the woman and vice versa. One had to be a fool or blind not to see the chemistry. It surprised Zara, though. It wasn't every day one saw an Indian man fall head over heels for a black woman, correction, an extremely dark-skinned black woman. For if there was one type of man attached to tradition and the desire of having his name carried on for centuries, it was the Indian man.

Though a doctor in exercise, Zara knew what Indian patriarchal society awaited from her. Even if Ravan was modern, he too had to bend to the customs. Sorell could be wealthy, but for Indians, her skin color was almost impious though a few had a complexion close to hers.

Most of them were of low castes, poor with a lack of education, and even if it weren't Sorells' case, many would see her as someone inferior.

The concept of light slash white skin was a norm in Indian society, just as it was considered bad luck to have daughters.

Sorell was anything except beautiful by their standards. Yet there, the anchor impressed her. Not only was Sorell classy and intelligent, but she had what Zara desired.

"Hi."

Sorell eyed the woman up and down. What did she want?

"Eh em, I thought we could have a chat," Zara replied as if she heard Sorells' inner thought.

"Really, why?"

Zara smiled nervously, "we both know Ravan."

"And?"

Sorell had no intention of making things easy for her, especially when she knew why Zara came. It was one of those novel moments where the M.C's love interest decided to distribute a warning mean girl style.

Sorell was over her fragile phase where she knelt and said amen to intimidation. She waited for the woman to begin the hostilities.

Zara sighed, "Sorell, I'm going to cut to the chase. I know about you and Ravan. He told me absolutely everything."

"Everything? Is that so," Sorell said and took a sip of her cocktail.

"Yes, he did. I know how you pushed him away. Ravan still has sentiments for you, and I have feelings for him. I'm willing to wait, and I don't want to argue or fight you because the truth is if you step in, I can't win."

Sorell lowered her eyes behind her shades. She expected anything except what Zara said right then.

She posed her drink on a passing tray, "excuse me."

"Listen, Sorell, Ravan deserves someone who has time to love and support him. He isn't a guy made for social media stardom. He has business and family responsibilities that someone like youㅡ."

"Are you trying to say I'm not good enough for him?" Sorell said and took off her glasses.

"No, it's the contrary. You're too much. You're overwhelming, and Ravan will lose a lot if he's stuck on you, but I'm sure you know that already; otherwise, you two would be together right now."

The woman was perspicuous. Sorell opened her mouth and closed it to reflect. It was a crucial moment where her words could change her world as she knew it.

Zara was sincere. Either that or she was the dumbest woman Sorell met.

"Let me rephrase," Sorell said while she waved a hand as if to say what gives. "You're literally asking me to stay away from Ravan so you can have him. May I ask you what makes you think he'll choose you? Look around you. There isn't a single woman your age who hasn't glanced at him today. He has good relations. He could,ㅡ I don't now fall for that Bashi girl we saw earlier."

Sorell was right, but Zara already had her comeback ready.

"You know how Ravan falls in love. He told me about how you met and how he grew to love you. He got accustomed to your presence. The Bashi girl or any woman here can't do that, but I can. As I said, I don't want to get caught up in a telenovela love triangle, I want to have the opportunity to win Ravans' affection, and for that, I need you to be out of the picture."

Friends,

I'm so sorry for the delay!

Oh my, I didn't think Zara would be so direct, but at the same time, I don't get why people aren't. It would make everyone's life easier.

Anyway, do any of you think Ravan should have gone after Sorell?

Thank you for reading.

Take care!