"It feels good around here. Do you come here often?" I inquired.

"Not yet. This is my first time coming around here," Mu Liam shared, offering a glimpse into his world beyond the office walls.

"I thought the world was so small that you would never have time to chat or eat with me while having to work," I said softly, feeling a pang of loneliness.

He didn't answer- he simply gazed at me. An uncomfortable silence hung between us, making me feel like I was on the verge of losing my mind.

"Let me ask you something", I hesitated.

"Go ahead", he replied curtly.

"Is Mu James really your brother?" I questioned.

"What kind of question is that?" he retorted.

"Just... I mean, he seemed more friendly when we first met, and I thought we would get along with him," I explained uncertainly.

He studied my face, which was filled with a friendly expression since he seemed less cold today. I could sense his hidden emotions—anger, irritation maybe—about what I had just said.

"What about me?" Mu Liam finally spoke up.

"You..." I paused, the words suddenly turning cold and strained. I took a deep breath before continuing, "You are... I mean, you were distant when we first talked. I felt like I was freezing because of the coldness surrounding you."

His piercing gaze met mine, and then he turned away to stare at the sea.

"Bella" a gentle voice called behind us.

My heart skipped a beat as I turned to see Jason approaching us.

"Jason" I greeted him, relief flooding through me.

Mu Liam watched our interaction before Jason spoke up, "Bella, I've been looking for you."

Concern filled my voice as I asked, "Are you alright? What happened?"

"You need to come with me-grandma is sick," Jason explained urgently.

"What?... ,How?" I gasped.

"You've been in bed, not eating or drinking. When she heard, her heart attack started," Jason explained further.

"Jason, is she alright?" I inquired anxiously.

"Yes, she's fine. She's at the hospital," he reassured.

Jason then noticed Mu Liam and asked, "This is..."

"My boss," I introduced briefly.

"And what is he doing here?" Jason pressed.

"Just getting me breakfast," I replied.

Jason introduced himself to Mu Liam, but the latter remained distant and cold.

"Bella," Mu Liam cut in suddenly, "I have to go. Don't forget to start work tomorrow."

"Okay, see you tomorrow, Mr. Mu Liam," I acknowledged.

Mu Liam simply walked away without a word.

"Did you bring your motorcycle?" I asked Jason.

"As usual, I brought it," Jason affirmed.

We made our way to the motorcycle, and I climbed onto the back, holding on tightly as we rode off into the distance.

We arrived at the hospital and walked into Ginna's room. She was awake, chatting with a nurse when we entered. I saw Ginna lying on the bed, looking a bit tired but giving me a warm smile.

"Bella, so glad you're here," she said, happy to see me.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" I asked, genuine concern in my voice.

"I'm fine now that my favorite people are here," Ginna replied with a wink.

I chuckled and glanced at Jason, who was standing silently by my side, and back at Ginna.

"Alright, dear, time for you to rest," the nurse said, motioning for us to step out of the room.

"Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on her," Jason assured the nurse, shooting me a reassuring smile.

As the nurse left, I turned to Ginna to find her already asleep. Turning to Jason, I suggested, "Let's go get some fresh air and clear our heads."

He nodded, and we made our way outside the hospital. The cool breeze was refreshing, and I couldn't help but gaze into Jason's eyes, feeling a mix of nostalgia and uncertainty.

"Jason," I started, a hint of hesitation in my voice.

"Yeah?" he replied, looking at me with a questioning expression.

In an attempt to lighten the mood, I blurted out, "You know, we argue so much that we could probably start a sitcom. 'The Bickering Duo' - starring us!"

Jason burst out laughing, the tension between us melting away.

"Yeah, we could have a theme song and everything," he joked, playing along with the idea.

"Exactly! And every episode ends with us resolving our differences with a pizza party," I added, joining in on the fun.

We both chuckled, the lighthearted banter easing any lingering doubts or fears. Maybe, just maybe, there was still something special between us, hidden beneath all the playful arguments and teasing.

"And our catchphrase can be 'I swear, we love to hate each other,'" Jason quipped, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I laughed, feeling lighter and more at ease than I had in a long time. Maybe there was hope for us yet.
As we strolled along the hospital garden, our conversation flowed effortlessly from jokes to deeper topics. I found myself opening up to Jason in a way I hadn't in a long time, and he reciprocated by sharing his own thoughts and feelings.

"Maybe we don't always see eye to eye, but our banter keeps things interesting," Jason remarked, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Yeah, I guess we have this unique dynamic that somehow works for us," I replied, feeling a sense of understanding between us.

"Who knew that arguing about pizza toppings could lead to such a strong connection," Jason joked, nudging my shoulder playfully.

I chuckled, recalling the countless debates we had over food choices and movie selections. Despite our differences, there was a sense of comfort in our familiar disagreements.

"Maybe we should trademark our bickering and turn it into a lucrative business," I teased, nudging him back.

"Ah, 'The Bickering Duo Inc.' - where arguments are our specialty and compromise is the key to success," Jason added with a grin.

We both burst into laughter, the tension and uncertainty of the past months fading into the background. In that moment, I realized that our friendship was worth more than any romantic relationship. We may not have all the answers, but we had each other - and that was enough.

"So, pizza party to celebrate Ginna's recovery?" Jason suggested, a twinkle in his eye.

"Absolutely, as long as we can agree on the toppings this time," I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

With a shared laugh and a renewed sense of camaraderie, we headed back to the hospital, ready to support Ginna and enjoy a well-deserved pizza feast.I grabbed my bag and my phone before standing up.

"Where are you going?" Jason asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Home. Mom will get worried," I replied, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving so abruptly.

"It's dark outside. What about I come with you?" Jason offered, his eyes reflecting a mix of worry and care.

"No, just take care of Ginna. I'll come to visit you tomorrow," I assured him, trying to offer a small smile.

He returned the smile, a gesture that made my heart flutter. "See you tomorrow, Emily."

I returned the smile, nodding, before turning to leave the room. As I walked out of the hospital, I scanned the parking lot, only to find no taxis in sight. Taking a deep breath, I made the decision to brave the dark and start walking along the side of the road, trying to push away my fear.Despite my uneasiness, a thought crossed my mind, and a small chuckle escaped my lips. 

"Emily, you just went on two dates in one day," I murmured to myself, a hint of amusement in my voice.

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled by the sound of a car approaching from behind me. I turned to see a sleek black luxury car pulling up beside me, the back window rolling down.

"Get in," a familiar voice called out from inside the car.

*******

Author's note: Tell me your choice in this comment. Choose between Mu, Liam, or Jason - which character did you love the most?

If you think I deserve the vote, then you can vote :)