Oh shit!" He ran towards her. "Mia, Mia are you okay?!" He said, running to her. "Universe." He stooped helping her sit up. "Universe I'm so sorry. Did you hurt yourself? Are you okay?" He asked, extremely worried. He checked for signs of injury or bruises on her body.

     "I'm okay." Mia said to him.

    "Are you sure? Oh thank God." He heaved for relief. "You got me so worried."

     Mia giggled slightly... "I'm sorry. You should have seen your face, it was cute though." Mia smiled, placing her hands over his cheeks. "Don't worry I'm fine, it's just a few scratches that's all." She told him. Not denying it, she loved it when he was super sweet and worried.

     "But why did you flee like that?" He asked in amusement.

     "You make me nervous." She shrugged. "I didn't want you to see me like that."

    Ryan finally laughed... "Good to know I make you nervous. Come on, let's get you up." Ryan said as he pulled her up.

   Mia lost her balance, bumping her body into his. She quickly hugged him, clutching her arms around his neck.

     "Easy." Ryan cooed with his hand firmly holding her waist.

   Mia chuckled... "Sorry. I'm so clumsy." She loosened her grip and inched away, this time she was closer to his face. "Thank you." She whispered.

     "Don't thank me, you're my universe. My baby, my mate, you're my Soph sweetheart." He said slowly, staring intently into her eyes.

   "We shouldn't..." Her eyes trailed his lips.

    "I know." He smiled... "You might actually get what you're asking for if you don't stop staring at my lips."

   Mia looked back at his face and shrugged.

     "I missed you. Everything about you, and it's driving me crazy that you're going out with David. I don't want anyone else to have your heart, kiss your lips, be in your arms, be the one you love. I don't want anyone taking my place. Why won't you choose me? Let's go far away... Somewhere it's just two of us... There's so much I wanna tell you... There's so much I want you to know... Universe you hold a special place in my heart and I wish you'd let me show you how much you mean to me." Ryan wanted her to know the truth but he was scared of losing her for the second time.

    "So much is at stake here... Layla, David, my mom and—" Mia's interrupted by someone who cleared his throat.

     Mia immediately broke away from Ryan when she saw Layla and David looking at them.

     "There you are." Layla managed to smile amidst the awkward moment.

     "I-I-I didn't know you both were here." Mia swallowed, trying to keep her composure.

      "That's because you both were carried away by the intense conversation. Mind sharing?" Layla kept on smiling.

      "She fell. I only caught her." Ryan looked at David. "I think you should help Mia, she's not able to stand on her own." He then turned to Layla. "We should get going, it's late already." He glanced at David and then looked at Mia who was more than nervous. "Goodnight." He hugged her and then whispered secretly into her ear. "Relax, I've got this."

      His voice calmed her down a bit but when he leaves with Layla, facing David who was frowning at her was making her panic. They had started driving in silence, Mia didn't dare look at David while David kept his eyes on the road.

     Then he finally spoke... "You seem to be shivering, are you cold?" He asked her when he noticed her hands shaking as she laced them.

      "I'm fine." Mia said to him.

     "Do your knees still hurt?" He asked again.

     "No."

     "Wanna talk about what happened earlier? You and Ryan." He asked again.

      "Ryan already said what happened. I don't wanna talk about it." Mia said calmly.

     "I saw what I saw. Your lips were almost touching il mio amore. Even a blind man would know something was going on."

     "Nothing's going on David. It just happens you came at that time and had seen us in that awkward position." Mia explained.

      "Are you sure?" David glanced at her.

     "I'm sure. Now can we drop the topic?"

     David sighed... "I'm sorry."

      "No no, it's fine. You only wanted to know. Anyway, thanks for taking me out, I really loved it." Mia smiled at him.

     "You're welcome my love." David grinned.

     Mia heaved inwardly, she didn't want to stress on the topic and also a good thing David was understanding.
✴✴✴✴✴
    
     Ryan laid on his side, facing his back at Layla. He was thinking about Mia when he felt soft light kisses on his arm. He turned over and his eyes met Layla, he slightly pushed her away and sat up.

     "What are you doing?" He asked softly.

      "What do you mean by that?" She giggled, moving in on him.

      "No no no, Layla..." He tried to stop her but she straddled him. "Layla... Layla wait." He tried to pry her off him but Layla kept kissing his entire face.

  "I want you. I want you so much." She mumbled out her words, placing deep kisses in his mouth.

    "Layla... Layla.... Layla... Layla stop. I can't... I can't do this." He said, pulling her away gently.

    Layla looked at him... "But why? Ryan what's going on? Don't you want me anymore?" Layla said sadly.

       "It's not that. I'm tired and I can't." Ryan said, getting up from the bed.

     "Did I do something wrong?" Layla's eyes became moist.

     "It's not you. Layla I'm going through something I told you." Ryan could see she was upset.

     "Then tell me what it is. You barely touch me, you don't want me anymore, you keep things away from me, you shut me out. You make me look like a total stranger. What's happening? Ryan what is going on? Why won't you touch me? Why won't you have sex with me, you never complained. Tell me what I have to do to make us go back to the way we were before I left for Italy. Was it because I left? Ryan I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Layla began to cry.

     "Layla... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for making you feel this way." He sat back on the bed and she crawled into his arms. "Forgive me. It's not you, it's me."

      "Don't say that. It's like saying you don't need me anymore. Ryan... I know that you don't really want anything from this relationship but you should know I still have a heart. I might have agreed to have no feelings attached but Ryan.... This is two years.... Two years Ryan." Layla looked up at him. "Ryan I fell in love. I fell in love with you. I tried so hard to fight the feelings but it just couldn't go away. I'm hurting because I know you'll never feel that way about me, and that I am only temporary." She said, sobbing uncontrollably.

      Ryan kept looking at her... "Layla I'd always remain grateful for staying with someone as damaged as me. You helped me so much."

     "But yet I can't have your heart." She said amidst her tears. "Have... Have you finally found her? The one you've been looking for, the one that complements you?" She asked him.

     Ryan gaped.... "You remembered?" He wasn't even sure she had heard him when he said that when they first met.

        During their first meeting, Ryan had told her that he was in search of the one that complements him and Layla replied that she was gonna be stuck with him until he found the one he's looking for.

      Ryan nodded slowly, wiping away her tears with his finger. "I did."

     "I knew the day would come but I didn't expect it to be sooner." Layla smiled genuinely. "Introduce me to her okay?"

     "I will." He slightly smiled at her as she hugged him. If Sophie hadn't shown up, maybe, he would have considered starting a family with Layla. But as they say, the heart wants what it wants.... His heart, soul, body, chose his highschool sweetheart.... His Soph.
✴✴✴✴✴✴✴

     Andrew entered Mia's room, finding her laying on her stomach on the bed.

     "You, what's wrong? You've been in bed all day." Andrew asked her.

     "Cramps." Mia said to him.

    "Oh. Do you need anything?" Andrew asked her.

    "No thank you."

     "So no Ryan's party after all." Andrew smiled at her.

    "I had no plans on going anyway." She told him.

   "Have you told David?"

     "I'll send him a text that I won't be coming."

       "I'm going to the studio, you sure you don't need anything?" He asked to be sure.

     "Yeah."

   "Okay. I'll be out late today." He said to her, turning to leave.

      "Okay bye." She said.

     Andrew took his leave, leaving Mia alone in the house. Soon after he left, Mia received a call. It was from Ryan.

    "Good afternoon Mia."

    "Oh hi."

    "I just wanted to thank you. News just came to me that you had gifted the foundation with presents. Thank you."

     "That was nothing, besides, it was David and I." Mia smiled. "I know it's not a lot but please bear with me."

     "Are you kidding?! That was more than anything! Thank you so much Mia."

    "You're welcome. I'd be happy to do more." She said to him. "If that's all, I'll hang up now."

     "Wait! How are you?" He stopped her.

        "I'm doing fine. Oh yeah... I'm so sorry, it just skipped my mind. Happy birthday Ryan." She said to him.

      "Thanks. Are you gonna come for the celebration?"

     "Um... No. Something came up and I don't think I'll make it."

    "Oh. Okay."

   "Can we talk later? I'm in the middle of something right now." Mia lied. She quickly hung up, clutching her stomach.
✳✳✳✳✳

       Dressed in her a long red bodycon thigh high slit dress, Layla found her way through the guest.

     "Layla!" Someone called her.

    "Oh hi Stephan. Hope you're enjoying the evening." Layla smiled at him. She had wanted the party to be the best and invited friends to grace the evening. It was an evening party and everyone was dressed in formal attires.

     "Yes. Very classy, I love it." Stephan said to her. He was gay.

    Layla smiled at him. Everyone commented on how beautiful the house was since it was the first time most of them were allowed into the house.

     "Although Ryan's a bit scarce around here huh." Stephan smiled.

     "Enjoy the party okay." Layla managed to smile at him before taking her leave. Stephan wasn't wrong, Ryan was always slipping away from the gathering and people were asking questions.

     "There you are! Where's Ryan?" Another guest asked her. "I haven't seen him since I arrived."

     "He's just around. Maybe you missed him, excuse me please." Layla quickly excused herself. She sighed sadly as she wasn't expecting Ryan to just enter ghost mood. She finally saw Natalie talking to someone, she called for her attention.

     "Okay you look stressed, what's going on?" Natalie asked her.

    "I can't seem to find Ryan, people are beginning to ask questions. Have you seen him?" Layla said to her.

     "Not since I arrived. Don't get worked up, he's around."

     "What if he left? What if he isn't here?" Layla panicked.

    "What? This is his party, he can't leave. Why... Why would you say that?" Natalie raised a brow at Layla. "What's going on?" She looked concerned.

     "I... I need to find Ryan." Layla said before leaving.

   Layla left the building quickly, she was scared of losing him. She looked around the house, when she finally got to the garden, she met him there. Her heart stopped racing. He had his hands in his pants pockets with his back facing her.

     "How are you enjoying your birthday?" Layla said quietly, standing at a close distance.

    Ryan turned behind, seeing Layla, he sighed giving her a quick smile. Layla smiled back at him as she walked towards him, she hugged him.

     "What are you doing here? You should be inside, enjoying your party." Layla said, caressing his cheek with her finger. "Everyone is looking for you."

     "I know. I was getting quite bored and I needed some fresh air." He said, taking her finger away from his cheek.

     "I thought you'd like the setup, I guess I was wrong." Layla shrugged her shoulders.

     "There's nothing wrong with the setup, it's nice. I only wish that someone was here." Ryan said to her.

  
   "Who? I mean Alex is here, Natalie is, David, Dony, Bee.... I'm also here. There's no way in hell I'm gonna leave you all by yourself." Layla grinned. "That's because I love you."

  Ryan stepped back... "Layla..."

    "No no, it's okay. Truly, it's okay. I know my place. But I can't deny what I feel. I don't need you to feel the same way, it's just important you know what I feel." Layla explained to him. "I've got a surprise for you!" She seemed excited.

     "A surprise? Or you mean like a birthday surprise." Ryan smiled.

     "Yep!" She opened her clutch purse, revealing the black beaded bracelet she had gotten. "Tada! It's my gift to you babe." She slipped the bracelet into in wrist. "I know it's not much, it's not too cheap."

     He held his hand to his face, looking at his wrist. Carefully, he examined every bead in the bracelet, touching it. A strong feeling of nostalgia, very overwhelming, flooded his whole body.

     Layla could see the mixed emotions on face. Like it meant so much to him. "Do you like it?" Layla smiled at him as he looked like a kid that just got a new bike.

     Ryan hesitated for a while... "You got this? For me?" He turned to her. "I do like it, thank you."

    "Really? You like it! Oh my goodness, you really do like it?" Layla asked him.

     "Yeah. Actually, I'm surprised you didn't get me something that costs a fortune. This is really simple." He had to admit and Layla chuckled.

     "I know right. It's so good Mia assisted me in getting the bracelet, I actually didn't know what to—"

    "Wait, wait, what? Did you say Mia?" He frowned as he was confused.

    "Yeah, it was her idea to get the bracelet. If it were up to me, you know I wouldn't go for anything less. But it's a good thing she helped me choose and thanks to her, you like it! I mean, your expression was priceless. I should have taken a picture... "

    Ryan wasn't listening to her anymore. His thoughts were on Mia. Out of everything she could think of, why the beaded bracelet? Was it just pure coincidence or maybe her memories had something to do with it. He had to find her, he had to see her. He didn't want the day to go by without seeing her.

    "Ryan!" Layla called, snapping him out of his subconsciousnes. "Are you... Still listening to me?" She asked him.

     Ryan ran his fingers through his hair before placing his hands on her arms. "I need to go. Thanks so much for the gift. I need to leave now okay?" He said, placing a peck on her cheek. Ryan took to his heels, leaving a confused Layla shocked.

    "What?! Ry-Ryan where?!" Layla yelled out to him.

    "Don't wait out for me!" He yelled back while running.

      "But... The party! The guests!" Layla yelled frustratedly but Ryan had gone out of sight. Layla groaned. "Oh God Ryan, why do you do these things? It's like I know you then another second you're like a different person." She sighed, heading back to the house. "What am I gonna say to the guests now." 
✴✴✴✴✴✴

      "He what?!" Natalie scoffed. "Unbelievable. How could he suddenly run off?"

   "Honestly, I too am confused." Layla said drinking a glass of water as she sat.

     "There's no need to get all jumpy. Relax, I'll call him." Alex said to them, taking out his phone.

    "And he didn't say where he was off to?" Asked David who sat beside Layla trying to calm her down.

    "Nothing at all. What am I gonna say to all these people?" She said sadly.

     "But why would he do this? Why today?" David said to them.

    "The nerve of him to leave you like this. Once he gets back, I'll give him a piece of mind." Natalie said.

    "I... I should just tell the guest that an emergency came up and—"

    "Oh no! You will do no such thing Layla. You put in so much effort to make today a success and just because Ryan is being a jerk doesn't mean everything is going to be wasted." Natalie told her.

    "No need for the insults, what if he has a good reason for leaving. Besides, she said he left in a hurry." David said to Natalie.

    "Yeah, may-maybe there's a reasonable explanation." Layla agreed with David.

   Alex tried contacting Ryan but he wasn't picking his call.

    "He isn't answering is he?" Layla asked and Alex shook his head.

   "But I'll keep trying." Alex assured her.

    "Come on. Let's get you upstairs." Natalie said to her.

      "Don't worry, I'll keep the guest calm." David told the girls.