ZHANDER 
Standing in front of Sabrinah's apartment building, I hesitated for a moment, my hand poised to ring the doorbell. The events of the previous night replays in my mind like a whirlwind of emotions — the tension at the dinner, seeing Sabrinah with Mr. Smith, and the overwhelming relief when she left me her note.
Taking a deep breath, I pressed the doorbell, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. Moments later, Sabrinah opened the door, her expression a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. She looked breathtaking, a vision that stirred both longing and apprehension in my heart.
"Zhander," she greeted, a hint of surprise , and maybe relief too, in her voice as she stood in the doorway of her apartment. 
"Sabrinah," I whispered. 
Stepping closer, I reached out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from her face, my fingertips lingering against her cheek. Then I kissed her. 
The world around us slowly fades away as our lips met, a soft sigh escaping Sabrinah as she responded to the warmth of my touch. It was a kiss filled with longing and hope.  
When we finally pulled away, Sabrinah's eyes fluttered open, her gaze searching mine with a mixture of tenderness and uncertainty. "I miss you." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
I chuckled. "God knows I miss you more. " Her face broke into a smile. "And I still love you." I whisper before taking her lips in a brief kiss again. 
Her eyes met mine . 
"Nothing's changed?" 
"Nothing. Well, nothing except Mr Smith." I said taking her hand and head towards the couch. "He touched , and squeezed , your hand. I saw him do it." She looks me straight in the eye, as if searching for something. Then all of a sudden, she bursts into laughter. 
"You're serious." She said, amused. "We were just talking about something. Something heartbreaking." 
"Uh-huh." I deadpanned which makes her bursts into laughter again. 
Well, glad to be your  clown, wifey . 
"Seriously. Zhander, he is like a brother to me and vice versa."  
"You don't know that, Sabrinah. I'm a man; I know how a man acts." She just laughed even more. 
At least she's laughing; I missed that.
"Hate to break it to you, but you're wrong," she said, now looking serious. She moved closer to me. "Zhander, the man has a fiancée." I stared at her, not believing what she said. Then she grinned. "I love it when you're jealous. " 
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I nuzzled my head into her neck and groaned. She giggled. I hugged her closer, and we tumbled onto the couch together, her laughter still ringing in the air. We stayed just like that —me hugging her, with her head on my chest, enjoying the warmth of the moment. I run my thumb to her soft skin and, eventually, we drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms, completely at peace.
**********
SABRINAH 
I woke up from the sound of a pounding door. With sleepy eyes, I search my phone for the time. 6 a.m. 
Who in their right mind would be pounding in someone else's door at six in the morning? 
Groaning, I stood up and shuffled towards the front door, still half-asleep and annoyed at the early wake-up call. The pounding continued, growing louder and more urgent with each second.
"Wait!" I groaned. 
"You b*tch!" Ellie spat just as I opened the door. She dropped her bag, and luggage, and envelope me in a tight hug. She sniffed before she broke the hug. "How can you leave just like that? And the nerve, you even left me. You didn't brought me with you! How can you?!" 
I took a step back away from her. Staring at her face right now, I think she's about to scream my ears out. 
"Chill, girl. I said trying to calm her down. 
"Chill girl," she mimick sarcastically. "Chill? Well, my only best friend —who just had a car accident and was mourning the loss of her baby left me alone for two years. Two. Years. Try to be in my shoe and I'll tell you just how chill I am right now." 
The mention of my baby stops me in my tracks. It's been two years but the mention of the single word still breaks me. Ellie noticed it too because she stopped talking and her face shifted from anger to concerns in a flash. 
"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I-I just still can't believe you left  when you were still hurting. I wanted to be there for you because that's what friends are for, but you left instead. I'm sorry for reminding you of..." 
I gave her a half smile. "It's okay. I'm sorry too. I don't want to be a burden to the people I care and love so I just left. I'm sorry. " I met her gaze. She embraced me in a hug again, this time warmer. 
"It's water under the bridge now. I missed you b*tch. " She said between a sob. My tears fell like rain. Oh, how I miss my best friend too. 
A movement broke our girls moment. Ellie and I separated to see Zhander leaning on the bedroom door. He's probably just done showering because his hair is wet. He walked towards us. 
"I would only let this slip for now, but I don't like seeing you cry anymore. No more crying." He wiped my tears away with his thumb. I chuckled. He is just so sweet. I can feel Ellie crunching her face and rolling her eyes at us. 
I turned to Ellie. "Was he the one who told you about this place?" I asked her as I leaned to Zhander's chest. 
"Obviously." She chortled. "She walks to the door to pick up her bag. "Yesterday, he told me he found you and you know me. I don't like being kept in the dark." 
"What about your job? " 
"I resigned from it months after you left. I work for Zhander as HR Analyst now." She took off her shoes and went to the living room. "And Zhander said there was this man who always clings to you like a leech-" 
"Stop right there." Zhander interrupted. 
"What? That's what you said." Ellie raised a brow at Zhander then turned her gaze to me. "But I guess that's solved now." 
"Yes, it is. " I said, my eyes on Zhander teasingly. 
"Good. Now, I drove here right after receiving the address and I'm hungry now. " 
"I thought Mark is driving you?" Zhander asked. I looked at both of them. Mark? What did I miss?
"Mark who?" I asked confused. 
"Mark Smith. Her boyfriend." 
"What?!" I shrieked. "You got a boyfriend? And Mark Smith, my crush?" 
The room fell silent for a moment. I slapped my mouth, only registering what I just said. 
"What did you just said?" Zhander turned me around to face him. 
"I mean was. He was my crush." I looked at Ellie, silently asking for help, but the b*tch just smirked and left the room to the kitchen. 
I look up to see Zhander seriously studying me. 
"Let me explain." I started and he cut me off before I could speak again. 
"Oh, you've got a lot of explaining to do, wifey." He said and dragged me towards the bedroom door.