The very moment we stand face to face with our past and all the truth lies right infront of us. All the feeling of anger and uncertainty may or may not occur but all that matters after all is healing.
Lia's POV.
I just stood there frozen as i stared at him immensely. Was i drunk? Has all the drama going on here suddenly affected my mental health? Was i really seeing things? Or was he really here? No! I definitely heard him say lia. He is real he's right infront of me. Wait no! This is similar. This occurence had happened before, me thinking a complete stranger was sanè and i already hugged the confused person before realizing i was bat shit crazy and imagining things.
"Miss Manuel-Antonio! Are you okay?"
Kate yelled as she grabbed my arms really tight.
"Yes! Yes I'm"
I replied her still trying to study sanè.
He was really here and i couldn't do anything but stare at him and watch him look at me in disbelieve. I guess he was also shocked to see me. Well he did a crazy good job in avoiding me all these years.
"Lia is that really you?"
He asked as he closed in for a really tight hug and i just let myself feel everything.
I had missed him so much. No day went by without me reading his letter all over again. It was like a resurrection call for me to keep going on no matter how hard things were. "Do it for sanè" ,"he'll be back for both of us" " he promised" . I had chanted all those years until it seemed like he was really not coming back and here he was right in front of me holding me so tight. He was really back.
"Do you know each other?"
Cole sprout asked obviously trying to make sense out of the situation.
"Uhm yeah. Yeah she's-"
Sanè was about to say something before i cut him off.
"We ran into each other some time ago. I didn't know he was the CEO we had been expecting"
I said trying to prevent my personal life from clashing with work.
I really couldn't wait to talk to him after all of this. I had so many questions to ask. So many things to say and i have so many feelings i want to express and truth is i didn't even no where to start from. It was like i suddenly felt light and i was floating in uncertainties.
"Can i talk to miss Manuel-Antonio alone about the case?"
Sanè asked.
"I'm afraid mr Aguerò. She has been removed from the case. Anything you need you can get from Miss kate powers over here or myself"
Cole sprout replied and i was utterly disgusted. How could i be removed from the case? The case i had been working on for over a month. I had worked my butt off for this opportunity in my career and he was just going to kick me to the curb.
"Well, If that's the case I'm dropping your law firm as my representative"
Sanè replied and i could see the anger arising on Cole's face. Why exactly was sanè doing this? I wasn't even a hundred percent sure i could do this with him.
"Mr Aguerò you don't have to do that. She's back on the case and she will be your go to consultant"
Kate replied and cole wasn't in the littlest bit happy about any of that.
I wonder why he was such a cry baby. Let it go!! Gosh! I get he hates me but he's making it hella obvious. He's not even being professional about anything.
"So can we have the room?"
Sanè said and cole gave up and left angrily with kate.
I just stood there and watched him. He looked perfect in his coral blue suit and his tattoos were hiding beneath his clear white shirt. His hair was styled nicely and his aura filled the air quickly and a deafening silence took over. He was different, Really really different. He looked mean and grumpy behind how extremely ravishing he looked right now and just like the first time i met him there's still sadness under those beautiful brown eyes.
He began to approach me and i was really uncertain about so many things at once. It was like my head was about to explode and i couldn't stand straight.
"Woah! Lia you gonna fall"
He said as he helped me get my grip and provided a chair for me to sit on.
"It's really you sanè"
I said as tears fell from my eyes. All the emotions i have piled up for seven years began to surface.
"Yeah I've missed you so much"
He said as he leaned in for another hug but i was really confused. Where the hell was he for seven years?!.
"Missed me? You left seven years ago and now you're just going to say 'you missed me'. Yes of course you should. It was seven fucking years sanè!"
I yelled.
"I'm sorry lia"
He said and i just felt more anger.
"Sorry?! you're just going to say sorry. Many things have changed while you were away. I'm no longer your lia."
I spat angrily.
"I looked for you all over lia. I've been looking for you for over three years now but i don't know it's like you were hiding"
He said through his tears.
He was looking for me? Three years??!! How could he have been looking for me it's not like i went to space or something. I just needed something more credible to explain where the hell he was like maybe he was in a coma or something or he suffered from amnesia.
"Sanè I'm sorry but what you want is long gone"
I said while trying my best to hold back all my tears.
"Lia I'm really sorry. I tried. I swear i really did"
He said and i watched him break down in pieces right in front of me.
"I've to go. Those are the files you need right there"
I said as i immediately ran out of the office. I couldn't control my tears and the longer i stayed with him the longer i would hurt keith and everything i have built for over seven years.
I stood on the rooftop of my workplace and i cried myself to the extent where it was really hard to breathe.
Nothing made sense. Why now? Of all the times he could have shown up why now sanè? I really wanted to hug him so tight and tell him how much i had missed him and how much i still love him but keith was all i could think about. Why does it always seem like everything is against me and sanè.
I watched him cry in his car for almost an hour before he finally drove away in a fit of rage. I was about to run after him and tell him everything i had felt for him and what i still feel for him when i received a call from Keith.
"Hey kate called"
Keith said as i picked up the call.
"Oh"
I replied scared that kate may have told him about sanè and how i reacted after seeing him.
"I really want to punch that douche face for treating you that way just because he is your boss"
Keith showed empathy and that only meant kate told him about the way cole sprout treated me and part of me was really grateful and some part of me just felt very guilty for not telling him about sanè.
"I would accompany you and we'll both end up in jail"
I replied through what seemed like tears and laughter coupled with self pity.
"Duo forever right?"
He laughed so hard over the phone.
"Forever"
I said and i wasn't sure i meant the word 'forever'. Forever was really a long time.
"Anne are you okay? You sound really off?"
He asked sounding really worried.
"Yeah I'm just really stressed."
I replied.
"Okay that's it. I'm going full mayweather on this cole sprout mammy"
He said and i couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay slow down fighter"
I replied and we both laughed.
"Alright. I'll pick you up by six"
He said.
"Alright. I'll be ready"
I replied sluggishly.
"Anne i love you"
He said out of nowhere.
"Bye kei"
I replied and ended the call almost immediately.
At that point i wasn't really sure if to say the words 'i love you' back was the right thing to do. It's like in a split second he arrives and everything suddenly seems so wrong. I really don't want to be caught up in the middle of it but i just can't help myself. Maybe I'm just looking for something i can't have.
*******************************************
It was 5:45 when keith arrived at my apartment along with melanie.
"Hey babe"
Keith hugged me as he entered my apartment.
"Heyy"
I replied as i returned his hug.
"Hey bestiee!!"
Melanie's bright voice was just all i needed right now.
"I've missed you so much"
I replied as i hugged her really tight and i was already beginning to tear up.
"Awn. I missed to you too but lia it's only been like 18 hours or so"
She replied trying to sound smug.
"Is it bad that i really missed you"
I asked.
"She's right you know"
Keith came to my rescue.
"Alright love birds whatever"
Melanie gave up.
"Come help me dress mel"
I asked trying to get her attention alone so i could explain every thing to her.
"Okay let's go. I'll have her ready in twenty keith"
I heard mel say as i walked into my room.
I just sat there in silence as mel dressed me up for my date and all i could think about was sanè. I wondered if he was okay. I really hope he didn't hurt himself and mostly i really hoped he didn't leave again.
"Earth to lia!"
Mel yelled taking me out of subconscious thoughts.
"He's back mel"
I said.
"Lia, Keith is waiting. He has always been waiting lia"
She replied and where she stood was pretty clear.
"I'm ready kei"
I said reluctantly as i got out of my bedroom.
"Alright let's go. We'll be back in a few melanie"
Keith said and we made our way to the car.
On our way to the restaurant, i could barely make out whatever keith was saying so i decided to sleep throughout the rest of the journey.
"Hey. We are here"
Keith woke me up as we arrived at the Yolada's restaurant.
"Kei you didn't tell me we were coming here. It's really expensive here"
I said trying not to be a burden to him.
"You've always wanted to come here so think of it as my birthday gift to you"
He said and i gave up on convincing him.
"Let's go in."
He said and we made our way inside.
As we were eating, i watched him eat and smile. He was so happy and here i was being so selfish and ungrateful. Mel was right all he did was wait and wait and he was always there unlike the one I'm really head over heels for.
"Anne i have a special gift for you"
Keith said while signaling the waiters to bring some thing.
"Kei what's that?"
I asked.
"Here you go sir"
The waiter had handed him a covered silver plate
"Anne I've always loved you from the moment i saw you walk pass me the first day i arrived at lawmen high"
He said as he opened the covered silver plate and a ring box was revealed.
No! This wasn't supposed to happen!! He isn't supposed to propose now. I couldn't do this! I can't!
"Anne i love you with all my heart and i will continue to love you for the rest of my life"
He said as he bent on one knee and revealed the bright and shinny 16 karat engagement diamond ring.
No! I can't marry keith! I didn't know what to do. I love keith but sanè is back and yes I'm a bitch for doing this but i love him and i wouldn't want decieve him for the rest of his life. Sanè is my other part not him.
"Will you marry me?"
He asked with tears looming around the corners of his eyeballs.
"Kei. Sanè is back. I'm sorry"
I said as i stood up and ran out in tears.
I was going to be selfish for just this once. I wanted to live for myself and run after the only one that made my life make sense. Sanè i love you! Just wait for me I'm coming...