2 - A Glimpse of Tight Hugs

As if he heard someone say his name and realized someone was watching, Zero turned his gaze toward the entrance. As soon as he saw that there was a figure of Zeva staring at him, Zero immediately froze and said, "Zeva."

Instead of approaching Zero, Zeva turned around and rushed out of the cafe. This made Zero immediately get up from his seat and rush after Zeva.

"Zeva," said Zero, as soon as he grabbed Zeva's wrist, which made Zeva stop in her tracks.

"Hey, look at me," asked Zero gently while holding Zeva's chin because Zeva had been looking down as if she didn't want to look at Zero.

Once Zeva had looked at him, Zero continued to say, "Why are you running from me?"

"I should be the one asking you, why are you here?" Zeva asked back, with a breath that was still a little rushed from walking half a run.

Zero was silent for a moment. Then, Zero even smiled, which made Zeva frown.

"Why are you even smiling?" said Zeva in a curt tone.

"Don't you want to hug me before you shoot me with your questions?" said Zero.

This time it was Zeva's turn to be silent.

"Don't you miss me?" Zero asked again.

Then, Zero spread his arms, intending to give Zeva a code to hug him. However, because there was no movement from Zeva, Zero finally decided to pull Zeva into his arms.

"You don't want to hug me back, do you? Even though I hope that when we first meet again, you hug me right away, you know, instead of running away like before," said Zero, commenting on Zeva not hugging him back.

Zero hopes that at least Zeva puts her arm around his waist, so it doesn't feel like a one-sided hug.

"Okay, looks like you don't miss me. I'll just go back to the cafe, then," said Zero, as he was about to let go of his embrace on Zeva.

However, before Zero actually let go, Zeva suddenly wrapped her arms around Zero's waist. Zeva hugged Zero tightly.

Getting such treatment, made Zero startled. Then, not long after, Zero's lips immediately drew a smile and Zero also tightened his embrace again. Zeva, who buried her face in Zero's chest, enjoyed Zero's signature scent.

Meanwhile, Zero stroked Zeva's hair while enjoying the scent of her hair. They share their feelings for each other.

Then, suddenly someone interrupted their activities, "Zero."

Hearing the call, immediately Zero and Zeva compactly direct their eyes to the source of the sound. As soon as he saw who was calling him, Zero immediately let go of his embrace of Zeva and approached the caller.

"Liora, are you alright?" said Zero, who looked worried about Liora's condition.

Seeing Liora who looked like she was running out of breath, Zero immediately realized that Liora could be like that because of chasing after him. Indeed, as soon as he saw Zeva rushing out of the cafe, Zero immediately rushed after Zeva, until he forgot to say goodbye for a moment to Liora who was sitting in front of him.

"You're really bad, just leave me alone like that." Liora looked like she was about to cry.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to leave you. I was in a hurry, so I didn't have time to say goodbye to you. This is also the plan, I want to go back to the cafe to pick you up, really, " explained Zero.

"So, what makes you in a hurry? And who is that girl? Why did you hug that girl?" Liora's point of view was aimed at Zeva who was still faithfully standing at the point where she and Zero hugged earlier.

Zero also followed Liora's gaze. So worried about Liora, Zero forgot to introduce Zeva to Liora.

Then, Zero returned to Zeva.

"Come on, I want to introduce you to Liora." Zero immediately grabbed Zeva's wrist and led Zeva toward Liora.

Actually, Zeva wanted to refuse Zero's invitation, but Zeva tried suggesting that she act normal. So, Zeva just followed Zero's lead.

"Liora, this is Zeva. And Zeva, you know this is Liora." Zero introduced them to each other.

After trying to lower her ego, Zeva stretched out her hand intending to shake hands with Liora.

Instead of replying to Zeva's handshake, Liora said, "Don't tell me you're Zeva that Sky often talks about."

Finally, the sentence came out of Liora's mouth. Actually, even without being introduced by Zero, Zeva already knew that the one in front of her now was Liora. Liora was also one of the reasons why Zeva had left the cafe instead of approaching Zero.

Even though Zeva said that she had made peace with Sky, Zeva still wasn't ready to meet Sky or Liora. After all, it was the two of them who made Zeva know and feel how it feels to be heartbroken. 

Previously Zeva thought that what Zero said about Zero could be of interest to Zeva because he often heard about Zeva from Sky stories, and that was only part of Zero's swarm.

This was what Zero said exactly two months ago, on the day they spent the day together, "I've been interested in you since Sky likes to talk about you. I like you. No reason. Just like you love maple leaves. In my eyes, you and maple leaf are the same. Equally simple, but charming."

After just hearing that Liora immediately guessed who Zeva was also from the Sky story, Zeva became curious. Zeva was curious about what Sky had to say about her. Is she the protagonist or antagonist in the Sky story? Or was she even a supporting character or even a cameo?

Zeva guessed that she was the antagonist in the Sky story. Isn't everyone always an antagonist in someone else's story? But, in that case, why did Zero even claim to like her because he listened to Sky's story?

Then, what is right for Sky to make Zeva a character in his story?

Regarding Zero being able to get to know Sky, on the day they spent the whole day together, Zero admitted that he knew Zeva's problem with Sky. It turns out that Sky is Zero's classmate and close friend during high school and Liora is Zero's sister.

So basically Zero's real intention was not to use Zeva's services as his photographer during the holidays, but Zero really wanted to get close to Zeva. Of course, at first, Zeva felt Zero wanted to play with her. Zeva suspected that Zero approached her because Zero felt sorry for her because his friend and his sister had broken Zeva's heart.

However, on that day Zero immediately corrected Zeva's misunderstanding with him. Because Zeva could see that there was no lie in Zero's eyes, Zeva finally believed that Zero was sincere with her.

And to this day, Zeva's trust in Zero is still completely intact. If there is no sense of trust, how could Zeva fall in love with Zero? Shouldn't a relationship be based on trust? Yes, although, it is not yet clear what relationship Zero and Zeva are in.

Because her hand never got a handshake from Liora, finally Zeva slowly lowered her hand again. Zero had been anxiously worried about the awkward and tense situation that had been created. 

However, a few seconds later Zeva even smiled and said, "Yes, I am Zeva, Sky's childhood friend."