I wake up without Kystan in the house. I look everywhere but the only evidence he was even here is a blanket that smells slightly like him. I wrap myself in it, reveling in the scent. Recollection of last night come back to me. I wonder if I am even allowed to like his scent this much when I rejected him.

I lay down the blanket and resolve to pay Jade a visit, to get her insight on it.

"Ta-da." I say as I enter. Instead of a jovial welcome, I walk in on her and Asher kissing. They separate, each looking embarrassed at being caught.

"Um. I wasn't expecting you." Jade says with a sheepish face and she is blushing. Not the cherry-tomato style more like the subtle Jade style, more dignified.

"It was supposed to be a surprise." I say with emphasis on surprise. "But instead, I am the one who got a surprise." I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively.

Jade looks like she would love to be swallowed up by the earth. I, on the other hand, make myself comfortable on a sofa facing them like I am watching a movie. "By all means go on with what you were doing." I say motioning with my hand for them to go on.

Jade's eyes are daggers at that moment I may need to duck soon. Asher on the other hand is enjoying this and he is fighting the urge to burst out laughing, making his face red. Jade whispers something in his ear, and he leaves, of course not before giving her a small peck.

Jade turns to me so fast that I almost get whiplash. She charges towards me; I duck behind a pile of pillows. She still gets me and starts hitting me with a pillow. I can't stop myself from laughing. "Liza, I am going to kill you one of these days." She says as she sits beside me.

"But you love me too much." I reply in a cooing voice with a pout to top it off.

"Only if you don't pull off such stunts." She says with a pointed look.

"You know I can't promise you that, right? Besides, where is the fun in that?"

She rolls her eyes. Suddenly her energy comes back and she starts bouncing on the chair with vibrant eyes. Yeah, and my curiosity spikes up, too.

"Spill." I urge.

"You won't believe it. Asher asked me out on a second date," She says, "Right before you entered and spoiled it." She scowls at me. "It's really happening." Her bounciness increases.

"Actually I can. It won't be long before you guys get married anyways." I answer in a monotone.

She glares at me, "Way to spoil it." She crosses her arms on her chest.

"But I am happy for you, girl." I poke her on the arm and she swats me away but still returns her buoyancy. "Where is he taking you?"

"I don't know yet." She gushes. "And that's much better right? I love surprises." She is over cloud nine at this moment.

"I know you'll have a great time." I add. "Asher is a great guy and you two look so great together"

"Thank you. He is really all that." Her eyes assume a dreamy look. "By the way, what went down with your great guy?" She asks with a lot of anticipation.

I can't help sighing when I remember that dinner. "It was amazing." I answer. "Well, until he asked me to be his girlfriend. Can you believe it?"

The reaction I expected doesn't come, instead she looks like she saw it coming. "I can. It won't be long before you guys get married." She throws my words at me. I raise a disbelieving eyebrow at her. "That's great though right?" She asks.

"Well, no, because I am not ready and I explicitly told him so." I say. She looks at me like I am the densest person she has ever seen. "What? I just don't want to rush into a relationship again." I add in my defense.

She looks at me with sympathy, "That's acceptable." She is referring to Glen. "But don't be 'not ready' for long." She adds meaningfully.

I raise an eyebrow at her but rather than elaborating, she gets up and leaves. "Hey." I shout after her but she just ignores me.

I stand up too and go to the kitchen. After making us both some coffee, I sit down at the counter and go through my emails. Jade comes back in a towel, "There is a party tonight. Wanna come?"

Can I go when tomorrow is Monday, and I have work?

Fuck, it. Life is short, I am going.

"Yeah. Where?" She tells me the address. "Meet you there, I guess." She nods and leaves for the bathroom. I let myself out and walk back home. Talking with Jade didn't clear up my confusion but at least I am more cheerful. What more would I ask from my bestfriend?

I arrive at the party late. I wade through groups of people immersed in conversations and drinking heavily until I reach a back door. I open the door, but I hear Jade's voice behind me. I close it and head where her voice came from. I find her in the middle of a conversation with Cynthia.

I increase my pace. When I reach them I launch myself onto them making them almost fall. We laugh it off as we hug. "What are you doing here?" I ask Cynthia.

"I was invited." She says and sips on the contents of her plastic cup. "You know we have work tomorrow, right?" She asks me.

"Yes. That's why I am going to be alcohol free today." I reply. Both look at me with disbelief. "You don't think I can do it?" They both nod.

"I dare you" Jade says. It's on. We head to the kitchen, where they refill on some alcoholic mix, "Liz, don't want to try this strawberry, lime, vodka cocktail?" I shake my head despite how tempting such a drink is. I get a can of cola and empty it into a cup. They laugh at me but I want to win this.

Together we head to the backyard. As we approach we come upon Luca and Asher. "Luca, Asher." I say as we approach.

"Hey." Luca says as he comes up drawing it out in the funny way only he can. Asher goes to Jade's side, obviously. I find myself looking for someone else, Luca catches me doing it and laughs, "He isn't here. He is with his brother."

"Rehan?"

"The one and only." He answers without thinking much about it, but then he looks at me in quizzically, "You know about him?"

"Yeah, a bit." I answer. His attention goes back to the others around us.

"So who is this beautiful friend of yours?" I remember that I never introduced them.

"You really don't know me?" She asks, he looks at her with confusion, "I am Cynthia."

"She is my supervisor." I add but it makes him more confused.

"How come I haven't seen you at A&F then?" He asks her.

"Just call it my superpower." She replies. Gosh, are they flirting right now? I take myself away. I sit and pull out my phone. It is a few minutes before Luca joins me. He takes a seat beside me and eyes me observantly. I stare back. After a while we crack a laugh at how stupid this is. "I heard what happened on the date." He states out of the blue.

"Yeah?" I am surprised Kystan told his friends this soon. Guys aren't that different from girls after all.

"He is a great guy, you know? And he is genuine, at most." He says looking me straight in the eye. I look away.

"I know." I answer quietly.

"I don't want you to rush into anything. Just consider it, OK?" It is so nice, the way he is looking out for his best friend.

After a few moments of silence, I say, "I didn't know you were this deep" I comment and smile.

He gives me a goofy smile, "I am amazing at many things." He says and wiggles his eyebrows. I slap him softly on the arm.

Someone behind us screams, we look there, it is Cynthia and Jade who are taunting Asher. Cynthia catches us watching them and waves. I shake my head in amusement and turn my head again. Luca takes more time to turn back. The direction he is facing gets me thinking.

"What do you think about my friend?" I hope he gets what I am implying.

"She is cool." He says and I urge him to go on. "But I am not going to ask her out if it is what you are implying."

"Why?" I ask. OK, I was matchmaking, but clearly, it was not successful.

"Hopefully, I won't be here for long. I'd rather not have a relationship just to leave her in the end." He says in a serious tone which is uncharacteristic of him.

"Where are you going?"

"I am going to Rwanda for a year, to consult with local businesses." He says, "If my application is accepted of course."

"I don't even know where that is." I reply dumbly.

"It's in Africa; it is a very beautiful country." He says. "It was my and Kystan's dream to go. We will go together." Kystan is leaving?

"When are you leaving?" I don't think I want to hear the answer despite asking.

"In September." His phone rings then and he excuses himself. In all of it, I realize to Luca it's not a matter of whether I'll be hurt, he means no harm, to him it's about getting to live his best life with his best friend. But why didn't Kystan tell me? 

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