For a split second, I turn around to make sure. The sight of Kystan hugging Belle so close and looking at her with so much adoration, brings a sour taste to my mouth. To think that just a week ago, I was kissing him like a fool and now here he is with a gorgeous woman on his arm. I am so embarrassed. I turn around and look away.

Cynthia notices my change of mood. "Should we go back downstairs?" She asks with confusion.

"Yeah. That would be great." She says goodbye to the people she was talking to. Sadly, I have to pass by Kystan on my way out. With my gaze trained down, I refrain from looking at them, it's better if Kystan doesn't know that I am here. Why does my first day have to be this bad?

"In the afternoon, there is a Vogue cover shoot upstairs. You'll have to go to see how that goes." Cynthia says as we ride in the elevator. My mind is preoccupied with thoughts of Kystan and Belle. Is she his girlfriend? I take too long to answer. Cynthia looks at me with worry. "Is that not okay with you?"

I snap out of it and give her a reassuring smile. "That's amazing." I try hard to divert my mind to the exciting prospects of working on a vogue photoshoot. Time for the shoot comes so fast, I barely do anything. Many designers on our floor head upstairs with clothes for the models and once there they get straight to dressing their models. I only stand to observe as they prepare for the shoot, doing makeup and discussing the order of shoot.

In no time the once calm lounge is as loud as the design floor. Everyone is in a flurry as the cameras start rolling and the photos are taken. I am left to roam wherever I want. I enter the dressing rooms to see the clothes there. After two hours of the shoot, I am hungry. I was too jittery to eat earlier, so I stayed behind as Cynthia went to a nearby restaurant.

I remember that I saw a refreshments bar as I was touring. I head that way. The food there is not to my taste; diet sodas, salads, low fat snacks, worst of all plant based burgers. I pick up a soda and snacks. Which I devour on the spot. Even though taste is lacking, it fills me up instantly. I turn to get the trash and notice a pair of eyes looking at me.

The moment he notices that I have seen him, Kystan approaches. "I thought I saw you earlier." he comments and grabs a snack of his own. He is clad in crimson wide leg pants with a matching deep v neck waistcoat. Part of his chest is bare which makes it even harder to look at him.

I am fighting my will to snap but I remind myself that whatever happened between us was my doing not his. "Yeah, I was here." My voice has a snappish quality to it.

He takes a huge bite, "Do you work for Vogue?" He asks, referring to the shoot happening around us.

"I am interning here actually." I want this conversation to end badly before I embarrass myself.

His face lights up. "Cool. See you around." He throws the wrapper into the trash can and returns to the studio.

Luckily, I leave work before we meet again. I am once again reminded that I have to move out of Jade's house. I start house hunting the moment I reach home. My search produces no results, I want to tear my hair out. Everything I see is either too expensive or miles away. To cool off, I decide to go for a run. I am not a sports person, but getting some fresh air may help.

I put on a grey sweatshirt, bralette and leggings ensemble and tie my hair in a ponytail, then I am good to go. I head left towards Hyde park in a sprint. I will be running along the famous Hyde park Half marathon route which goes along the Serpentine and around the park. I take a break by the Serpentine. Cool air rolling off the water cools down my body. I take a seat on a nearby bench watching ducks float on the water and people heading home from work. I remove the sweatshirt and drape it around my shoulders getting cozier.

"Liza." I hear a voice near me. It takes a while for my brain to register that I am the one being called. I dozed off on the bench; I must look flustered and stupid right now. It gets even worse, when I see Kystan peering at me with concern. Talk about deja vu.

I lean forward and stretch my arms. "Oh hi." I am really tired and after an hour of running I smell putrid.

"Fancy meeting you here."

"I feel like you have been avoiding me lately." He comments while taking a seat beside me. Judging by the sports shorts and running shoes, he is here for a run too. He doesn't seem to notice how sweaty I am.

"I've been busy." Typical lie, don't you think? He is incredulous I can tell.

"Noticeably. You seem to have a lot on your mind." He says more to himself but I still hear him. "Want to go for a drink?" He asks.

"Like beer kind of drink or..."

"No, the other kind. There is a parcafe outside the park." He suggests good heartedly. I am hesitant for a minute, because who knows if the party won't come up.

Stop being stupid, I mentally tell myself, what better way to spend your evening than getting free coffee? "Sure, why not." I get up and tie the sweatshirt around my waist as we go. We decide to jog there instead of walking to complete the trail. I am itching to address the elephant in the room as we run. I keep glancing at him to see if he is as bothered as I am but he looks as calm as the monk.

We reach there in a few minutes. I am surprised to see many joggers sitting at tables around the room. I no longer feel self conscious about my scent. Kystan chooses a seat by the window, facing Hyde park across the street. We take a few minutes to catch our breath before putting in our orders.

Something about an out of breath Kystan has me staring. His sharp breaths, the way he leans back in the chair making his body look at ease but at the same time bringing out how defined his muscles are. His eyes are half open as he looks around the room. Out of habit, he rakes his hand through his hair, making his muscles bulge enticingly. A dew of perspiration coats his forehead and his neck making them a tone darker. I am pulled in when he catches my eye as I ogle him.

I can't avert my gaze. For a moment we are stuck in a loop of time, where the din of conversation around us does not exist. I feel like I can read him wholly, the crinkle in his eye when he smiles despite a silent hurt and longing present in his eyes. I find myself smiling back.

"What can I get for you?" A server comes up to our table to get our order. I am snapped out of the moment. It takes me a moment to grasp what to order.

"Um, iced coffee for me." Kystan replies.

"I'll take a cold brew." I am not much of a coffee gal, so that's the best I can handle. She leaves after noting down our orders.

I watch as Kystan picks up a napkin and instead of using it on himself, he starts dabbing at sweat on my forehead. This draws the attention of an older lady sitting behind us. Her unabashed stares make me embarrassed. I try to pry the napkin out of Kystan's hands. "I'll do it." He lets me do it.

"I wager you don't usually run." he comments with amusement.

"Why not?" I ask with mock defensiveness.

"You were panting the entire way." Geez, you did not have to say it like that.

"Come on. It wasn't that bad." I reply with a chuckle. He raises his right eyebrows with disbelief. "I don't exercise that much. I needed to clear my head today." I add. The server brings our orders.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He says earnestly. His hand finds mine. He holds my hand to encourage me.

A frown mulls my face. "I don't know." I am hesitant to talk about it. I start to talk and pretty soon I have told him everything. Kystan tries to reassure that it'll be okay.

"Is something wrong, Lizzie?" Someone says to my left. I turn around and come face to face with Glen. It's at that moment I also feel a tear rolling down my cheek. I hurriedly wipe it away even though they have both seen it. "Is he bothering you?"

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