“You’re delusional if you think Zeno is going back to someone like you,” Minji said, shaking her head.
Natty turned to her with a snarky gaze. “You have a lot to say about a relationship that isn’t yours. In fact, you’ve always had a lot to say, even when we were together back then. I have a feeling that you like him.”
Minji’s eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to argue, but Natty didn’t let her.
“Can’t you see? He’s still very clearly interested in me.”
Eli sighed and shook his head. “He’s just putting up with you,” he snapped. Natty laughed, throwing her head back from amusement.
“Putting up with me? He’s the one putting up with you.”
“Is there any other reason for Zeno to be here in these small ass units with the three of you? Do you think he’s going to stay here for long? Wake up. Zeno is going to leave you soon. He does not match the lifestyle you have, and sooner or later, someone will have to be there for him in his move.”
“That person would be me,” she boasted. “Zeno’s greatest love.”
The three felt frustrated. It was even more frustrating that Natty’s statement held a lot of sense. It was obvious, and all of them already knew of the possibility. His status was too high for him to stay in his shabby unit.
Just then, Zeno came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on the back of his shorts.
“What were you talking about?” Zeno asked, gazing at the four of them. He noted how his friends appeared down while Natty still had that innocent smile on her lips.
“Nothing special,” Natty smiled. “We’re just happy about your success.”
Zeno’s expression didn’t change. Instead, he glanced at the clock and noted the time.
“It’s late,” he said. “I think it’s time for you to go.”
Natty appeared disappointed, but with Zeno’s next words, she brightened up again.
“I’ll walk you out.”
His friends appeared even more disappointed when Zeno led her out of Doha’s unit. Natty walked like she had a crab between her thighs. She moved deliberately slower as they made their way down the stairs.
“This reminds me of the good old days,” she smiled, glancing up at him. However, she was surprised when he was at least three stairsteps away from him. Has he been that distant since the beginning?
Still, she tucked her hair behind her ear and continued. “You used to walk me to our house after school. Do you remember?”
“No,” Zeno deadpanned.
“Oh.”
“Then, do you remember when you covered for me because I had to join a local pageant on a school day?”
“Not at all.”
“How about when Maxie peed on me, and you scolded her?”
“I think that didn’t happen.”
Natty bit her lip, feeling frustrated. “Then, when you told me you liked me during our second month of dating?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell.”
Natty stopped walking, and Zeno did, too. She turned around again, and she saw that the gap between them was four stairsteps now.
“I guess you really need more time warming up to me,” she whispered. “Do you want to grab lunch or dinner whenever you’re free? I’m free every second of the day for you!”
“Umm, why should we do that?”
Natty was dumbfounded. “Because… you said we’ve reconnected!”
Zeno pursed his lips.”Yeah, you came and ate dinner with me and my friends. We’ve… reconnected.”
“That’s all?”
Zeno nodded without a word.
He was sure that his mission should have been finished by now. However, there must be another catch. Natty was not the right person for this mission.
Besides, after hearing what she had said to his friends, he realized he didn’t want to deal with such a person. It was a hassle!
She arrived at the bottom of the stairs. Meanwhile, Zeno still kept the gap, increasing the distance between them even more. As Natty looked up, all of the memories of their relationship bombarded her mind.
Zeno truly wasn’t anything special back then; however, as she thought about it now, he was the most secure she ever felt in a relationship. Her fists clenched on her sides.
There was no way she was going to let go of him now.
“So, you don’t really think about me anymore?”
Zen scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t think I’ve ever thought about you.”
Natty’s breath hitched, but still, she didn’t give up. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I’m speaking with my CEO.”
“Then, the day after that?”
“I’m going to call my parents.”
“The weekends?”
“I have to study acting.”
“Then, when are you free?” she asked, appearing frustrated.
“For you? Probably never.”
Natty felt like she had been hit by an eight-wheeler. “Then, why did you even invite me inside Doha’s unit in the first place?”
“We didn’t invite you. You invited yourself. As decent human beings, we offered you food and shelter because you looked cold,” Zeno honestly said.
As Zeno continued to speak, Natty realized just how much he had changed. In their relationship, he never talked back like this. He just accepted! That was why she got bored in the first place.
However, this conversation made her heart race—even if it was out of shame.
“I want to say it was good seeing you again, but then, I would be lying,” Zeno continued. “I really don’t appreciate the way you talked to my friends. No matter how much you try to bring them down with your words, at the end of the day, they’re far more important to me than you will ever be.”
“I know you have no other intentions of coming here aside from reconnecting with me. Frankly, you must regret cheating on me now that I have become an actor.”
“I don’t like that,” Zeno continued. “You didn’t want me during my slow days, so certainly, you wouldn’t want me now. You just want the glamour that comes with it.”
Natty’s mouth went agape from shock.
“I am here now,” Zeno continued a smirk appearing on his lips. Natty looked at the gap between them and saw how Zeno was high on the stairs while she was at the bottom.
“So, be grateful for the dinner.”
“That would be the last interaction you’ll be getting from me and my friends.”