Three weeks laterZoe stood behind the stage, sweat dripping off her face and her palms getting moist. Even when AC was available, she still felt hot.It was time, the day she had been preparing for but it felt like she had never been ready for it. She walks and takes a seat on the sofa, with a deep sigh, she bows her head trying to keep her cool.She is the next step on stage after the ongoing contestants are done and she is trying her best to be her utmost best but things seem to be taking a different part.There is nothing she could think of but Arabella, ever since that incident happened, they haven't had much to discuss and it's pretty frustrating.She isn't sure if Arabella will attend, but deep down she hopes she does."You'll get there in five minutes!" A brown hair man of about his thirties informs.Zoe nods, "Thanks" She grabs the bottle of water by the side and gulps it down.A few minutes passed and it was time for her to go on stage, As she walks in, she never stopped gla
"Zoe?" Arabella calls running up to her, "hold on, please" she pleads Zoe, who wasn't expecting anyone, was stunned to see her chasing breathlessly. "Rabella!?" She calls out, surprising evidence in her voice."God!, I feel like I just ran a thousand miles," Arabella exclaims, hands resting on her thighs."What's up? " Zoe asked, with a slight frown on her face.Arabella flashes her a smile, " that was pretty awesome back there " she starts, standing up straight.Zoe nods, lips forming a thin line. " Thanks" she had nothing to say."Did you have to risk it all? " Arabella couldn't help but ask, she isn't a fool not to know what Zoe did back there."Somethings are worth risking " Zoe force a smile, " and I don't regret it, never will" Arabella nods in understanding, " thank you" she voiced.Zoe Bobs in response, turned and was about to leave when Arabella spoke out" I'm sorry!" She breathes out."You shouldn't be ...And I'm ok with your decision" Zoe didn't want her feeling bad and
People change, desires differ from the usual and the heart yearns for something else, that's what we all are made to believe but then, it seems as though things get to take effect only if we condition our mind to believe in it.It's been two years now but Zoe was still the same, thinking about the same person and her heart keeps yearning without ceasing.She stood before the tall building, lost in thought while staring at the black clouds that sprawl across the sky, billowing in from the east. The air grows heavy and the humidity presses down suffocating everything beneath it. The scent of rain is dark and heady, the stillness falls over the street and in the silence comes a low crackle of thunder rolling across rooftops to the patterning of tiny raindrops.For a moment, everything stops, even the wind holding its breath. A streak of hot silver splits the sky and the downpour begins The weather was as gloomy as how Zoe felt she stood like a statue oblivious of her surroundings and e
While Evie was preparing to leave her dorm, a knock came bringing her attention to the door. She places her bag on the bed and heads for the door."Hi!" Came Zoe's greetings with a smiley face.Evie wasn't expecting her to come by this soon, she blinked trying to hide her surprised and flushed face but she wasn't good at masking her feelings as Zoe could tell with just a glance."Hi!" Evie responds shyly, clueless about what to do."I am here to refund your umbrella and to help you out with your project" Zoe informs and offers her the umbrella."Oh!" As all Evie could say, she takes the umbrella."Thanks for lending it to me, it greatly helped" Zoe sounded grateful.Evie nods with a smile and quickly averts her gaze to the floor. She doesn't know why she feels so shy talking to her, it's unlike her being shy and conserving. She's always open and more of the adventurer type.Silent engulfed the place as both stood there staring at each other awkwardly.Zoe gave a light cough and asked,
"What's with the look?" Evie grumbles feeling uneasy under Amanda's glare."Nothing" Amanda shrugs, turns and picks up the teacups taking them to the sink."Is there something you wish to talk about?" Evie couldn't understand why she would call her in without any reason."Why does it seem like you are in a haste to go?" Amanda retorts with a question."Of course I am, why won't I?" Evie foolishly answered without thinking." Oh!" Amanda exclaims and faces her with lowered gaze, Is my little niece perhaps in love? " She raises a brow." Jezz, Aunt, what's come over you? " Evie exclaims, almost shouting. Face red in embarrassment." There, I said it... I knew it" Amanda said with a satisfied look seeing Evie's red cheeks." You are truly in love" she adds, concluding her observations." Can you stop? I'm not, ok, we are just friends " Evie tries to deny but her face sold her off."Friends that love each other" Amanda chuckles, shaking her head."No, we don't!" Evie denies."Yes, Evie...
"What's with that face?" Amanda asked, turning away from the coffee machine."Nothing" Evie's tone was low and soft, saying out her inner feelings.Amanda knew it wasn't simply nothing, her niece that she knows can't quit and sulk to herself. Something is wrong.Amanda exhales heavily, staring at Evie and then the cup of coffee in her hands. "I'll be back!" She quickly excuses herself to serve the coffee.In about a few minutes, she walks back in and takes a seat next to Evie. "When you are little, no matter what is eating you up or who is bugging you, you always run to me and complain. You never let your mom know a thing, 'cause according to you, she will scold you if you are wrong and console you less if you are hurt but me, I'd always side with you and pet you to the fullest." She reaches for Evie's hands."I can tell when you are and you ain't fine, those sad eyes say it all even though you try to hide it." She gulps down her saliva, "You are all grown up, so many things have happ
"Where do you wanna go?" Zoe asked from behind, putting on her shoes.Evie's attention was on the picture on the table. It was the picture of both Zoe and Arabella, they look so happy and inseparable that Evie found herself feeling jealous."I don't know!" Her voice was soft, she lowered her head not wanting to look anymore.Deep down, she wants to ask who she is but she dares not. It's not like they are close friends anyways."What about I take you for lunch?" Zoe proposed."I've been eating too much lately" came Evie's short denial."Drink?" Zoe asked."I'm too young to drink, Aunt has specifically warned me not to" Evie grumbles in her stomach, she doesn't understand why Amanda keeps on setting rules for her.Though she has never minded any of it until now, it's suddenly becoming a hindrance for her when it comes to Zoe."What then should we do?" Zoe didn't know how to go about celebrating her when all the things she has in mind are impossible to do."Guess we'll just walk around,
"wow!!" Evie exclaimed in awe at the beautiful sight of the waterfall, the earthy smell of water and green leaves brought a wave of comfort to her being."It's beautiful!" She adds, unable to take her eyes off the falling water, "How come I've never known of this place?" She turns to Zoe who was busily resting her butts on the rock while admiring the view."Cause no one has ever brought you here," Zoe said."Right!" Evie agrees and makes herself comfortable next to her. "It's so refreshing," she murmurs.Zoe smiles, "It'd be more when you get into the water" She stood up and started pulling off her pants."Huh? What are you doing?" Even though Evie knew exactly what she was about to do, she still asked anyway."Going for a swim," Zoe said, reaching for her t-shirt and taking it off."Come one, join me" Zoe urges, standing on the edge of the rock ready to dive into the water."No, thanks. I'd rather watch" Evie denies, "moreover, the water is too cold for me" she adds."Ok, if you say
"what are you thinking?" Zoe asked, walking out of the bath with a hand towel as she wiped on her hair."Nothing" Arabella denies, running her hands through her hair. She stood up and walked to the cupboard by the side, pulling out the hair dryer."Let me," Zoe offers, takes the hand dryer and starts to blow dry her hair."There is nothing to worry about, everything has been taken care of" Zoe assures.Silent engulfed the room for a few seconds before Arabella demanded, "Did Ms Amanda understand the situation?" She is worried they might be offended by their relationship."Hmmm, she is always understanding," Zoe explains.Arabella nodded but didn't say anything even though she so much wanted to.Zoe could tell from her look that something is eating her up, she spines the chair over making her face her completely."She is understanding as well, but not as forgiven as her aunt. I don't blame her, I'm pretty sure everyone in her shoes would do the same." Zoe starts."I hurt her, Zoe. " Ar
"Why did you lie to her and make her believe she was the one you loved? Why did you do all those things only to let her down at the tail end? Why Zoe? " She yells, demanding an answer." I'm sorry aunt," Zoe said, tears running down her cheeks. She understands all that it means, the feeling of being lied to and she is more than sorry."I honestly thought I could keep her, that we could be something more but then, I realized I am not deserving of her love. " Zoe explains, "It was never my intention to hurt her, I swear, aunt, there has never been a thought in my head other than protecting her and taking care of her" she said with all honesty." Is that so? Why then did you hurt her this much? " Amanda demands furiously."The heart doesn't lie, you can be the judge of that yourself. I can't choose whom to love and neither can I tell my heart whom to beat for. I sincerely apologize for everything, most especially for toiling with your trust and love. I know how important Evie is to you,
"I'm sorry for hurting you all these years, for judging you and leaving you when you needed me most" Arabella cries in pity."You did nothing wrong" Zoe tries to coax but Arabella is way too out of the league."No, I'm a bad person. I ignored your love for another, I bluntly hurt your feelings saying there will never be an Us. I caused you pain for years yet you never curse or judge me. I walk away from your life but you always stood by me and never made me feel less of the person I've always been to you" she explains in tears."You were doing just fine without me, so I was until I saw you after years of distance looking so happy with Evie. I didn't know why but I felt jealous, I felt hurt. Maybe I'm just selfish, maybe I just want everything for me" she cries."I never realized until I saw you two, just then I understood how egoist I am. Seeing you two made me feel things I've never felt before, not even for Rowan or Jack. I couldn't stand you two, that's why I left when you were sin
The truth is always hard to accept, and difficult to come to terms with.Zoe thought she could make herself come to terms with the idea of wanting to move on but it turns out feelings are not just something one can erase.Realizing she can't live without her one true love, she decides to go for it, it's her last chance anyways.If she gets accepted, it'd be a miracle and if she gets rejected, it'll be no surprise though she will be hurt.On the other hand, Arabella lay back on the couch staring at the white ceiling above all lost in thought.Nothing had ever been the same ever since she left Zoe's apartment. She's lost everything, her fiance whom she thought loved her until it turned out the opposite and her best friend whom she has always ignored her love until things start streaming from within bringing weird feelings she's never thought she had.A knock came at the door pulling her off her thoughts, she frowned wondering who it might be.Deciding to see who it is, she carries her t
Evie sits on the table not far from the door as her gaze stays fixed at the door. "You've been sitting there all day, why not take a break?" Amanda questions walking to the table."I don't want to" Evie denies, "she promised to be here today" she adds.Amanda sighs, taking the seat next to her, "what if she's tied up with something important? She can't just rush to you because of a mere promise" she explains.Evie didn't respond, her gaze never left the entrance. Zoe promised to come over and treat her to lunch and it's almost time she hasn't shown up yet." She's gonna make it" Evie grumbles in her stomach, not willing to accept something that might be so important to keep Zoe from fulfilling her promise." So positive "Amanda chuckles." Hmm, she will come," Evie repeats, with an optimistic face.Amanda stares at her for a long time before saying, "Why not try finding out what's keeping her rather than waiting? I'm so done with that face you have on" she grumbles and leaves.Evie
It's been close to a week now and Arabella was still trying to accept herself and her mistakes. Like any other day, she was busy with work at the office while hoping the day runs off in a blink of an eye.But as it turns out, the day was against her wishes and hopes but she didn't let it get to her as she forces herself to work till there is no more strength left.It was around three in the afternoon when she decided to visit Jack, it has been a normal thing for her.She grabs her bag and carries herself out of the company, enters her car and quickly drives away.Her car slows down before a large building, and she steps out and walks in. There wasn't a doubt in her identity as she was quickly led to the elevator leading directly to the fifth floor where Jack's office is.She steps out of the elevator as soon as it stops, walks through the corridor and only stops when she is before his office door.She takes in a deep breath, calming her worried and anxious mind. There is no way she c
Can you let go and see me instead? Can I be the one you see and want to be there with all the time? Can I?" Evie asked in tears, staring at the frozen Zoe."Of course, it's a no. I've known long enough and I wonder why it hurts" She turns and starts walking away."Why me? I can't be all you want" Zoe cries out, staring at Evie's excited back."I've never wanted you to be enough or perfect 'cause I neither am... I just want you to see me, accept me and love me... Is that too much to ask for?" Evie retorts."What if it doesn't work? What if we never get an Us in this?" Zoe wasn't sure of her feelings and desires and she was scared of hurting her.Evie turns around and takes counting strides toward Zoe. "Why not try and see if we are good or not? You never know what awaits us" Zoe had always known Evie to be an optimist but never would she have thought she would willingly throw herself for an experiment they both ain't sure of the end product." But it's ok, I get it... You don't wish t
The entire room was engulfed in total silence, everyone staring, waiting for Zoe to start.Zoe glanced at Arabella before she locked gaze with Evie, the smile on Evie's face was enough to bring a simple and genuine smile to her lips.She turns her attention to the crowd, "hi" she speaks out unsure of what to say. "I-i am honored to be given a chance to sing to y'all, hope you enjoy the song".With that, she walks to where the piano lay, her long slender fingers dancing on the keys immersing the room with the sound of a beautiful melody as she sings.It was the song titled " Falling " by Harry Styles.It's been like forever since Arabella heard her best and childhood friend sing and hearing her now made her realize just how distant they've become.Without realizing it, tears rolled down her cheeks, she stayed glued to the girl on the stage. Her heart aches for unknown reasons and she can swear she never thought she'd feel this hurt.Usually, Zoe always stares at her while singing but i
"more like Zoe" Arabella mutters under her breath, eyes glued to where Zoe stood."I guess your closeness is more than just a friend" Evie blurt without thinking."Excuse me!!" Arabella was taken aback by her questions.Evie clears her throat at the realization of what she might be thinking, "not like that, what I mean is, you guys look more like sisters than besties" she explains."Oh!" Arabella exclaimed with a sigh of relief, "You can say that our years of friendship define our bond." She gave a sweet smile.Evie returns the smile, "Right"."Here is your drink" Zoe spoke out, handing Evie a soft cocktail drink. "Simple non-alcoholic drink for a softy" she teased.Evie couldn't hold her blush, "I'm not that soft you know, " she complains."Says a baby" Zoe chuckles and sips down her drink.Arabella on the other hand silently watched them talk with an expression that couldn't be described."I'm not a baby!" Evie pouts and hits lightly on Zoe's arms feeling embarrassed."Sure?" Zoe ra