A ridiculous laugh echoed from the other line, followed by Eva's shrieking voice.

  "Are you kidding me, Bryan? Ever since that girl is a thorn in our relationship!"

  "For god's sake, Eva! Why are you bringing up the past now? That was ages ago!"

  "She is the reason why we separated!"

  "What are you implying now? You do know how Hailey needed me that time around!" F……CK! Bryan is hardly keeping his cool arguing with Eva.

  However, Eva would take this opportunity to let out the weight she is carrying all these years. She would not let Bryan abandon her again.

  "Can't you see, Bryan? Small things, she will call on you. Over minor things, she will call on you! And you act like the Superman brother, who will grant all her capriciousness!"

  Bryan cannot control his annoyance anymore. "Dammit, Eva! You are throwing an issue during the time Hailey's grandmother died! She only called me to inform me what happened! Grandma Meredith is a wonderful woman. She always looked after me when my parents had business trips throughout Australia! Even if Hailey didn't phone me that night, I would still rush home to attend her funeral once I heard the news! Why are you so heartless?"

  "You knew it's not true, Eva! But no matter what, you don't understand. You never will!"

  "Of course, I would never accept how unfair you are to me! How many times did I phone you for a date? But it was so hard for you to visit me in New York when you are just living in a neighboring state! However, it takes only one call from her who lives in Australia! Immediately you booked a flight to comfort her, and you leave me just like that!"

  "I did not leave you, Eva. You broke up with me…… On the phone."

  "And what do you expect me to feel? Have you forgotten what happened that night? We are in the middle of lovemaking! But when your phone rang and played her favorite band as you assigned the song in her calls! You stop halfway to answer your phone and just like that! Like a snap of a finger you left!"

  "For god's sake, Eva! I just told you what I feel about that time?! Why are you doing this to us?"

  "Whatever! I don't care! My point is, you can take a flight the next day! But the moment you heard her whine. You wanted to jump off the window like if only you could fly? You already did to be with her too soon! And did you consider what I feel? Wow! My boyfriend is comforting another girl! Not only that, you are using your sweetest tone that you never use to me!"

  "That's it, Eva. Your jealousy is overboard. That was years ago!"

  "Oh, yeah? And how will you explain to me that you almost married her?"

  Bryan tightens his jaw. His head was now pounding extremely, and he wanted to get some rest. Think and enjoy a few minutes of peace.

  After a moment of silence, Bryan hurls a furious sigh before he speaks. "Do we have to discuss it over and over again? Because I am so fed up with this crap, Eva." Bryan paused for a moment, heaving a long breath once again. He thinks it is not very sensible to continue explaining things to Eva. All she did is remind him of his regrets in life. And that is not making the right choice.

  "You know what, Eva? Please don't force me to regret that I got back to you. I'm tired. I need to visit the workers in the hospital first thing in the morning. Bye, Eva."

  "Bryan! Don't……"

  Bryan hangs up on her. Eva was in disbelief that Bryan continued treating her coldly. She already wins him back. She successfully prevented Bryan from marrying that girl by destroying their relationship.

  But lately, Bryan is ignoring her again! She was afraid that Bryan was going back to that girl.

  "And I won't let that happen!" Eva shrieked. She was pacing back and forth inside her bedroom, thinking whether she will follow Bryan in Australia. And she wanted to go!

  "Hey, Eva! What's the matter with you? You were in a bad mood again," frowning, said Ruth. She could hear her screaming on her phone. Ruth is Eva's best friend, and she was hiding at her house. "It was Bryan again? Can you stop losing your head over that worthless guy?"

  "Don't you dare to call Bryan that way, Ruth!"

  "Okay! Then stop screaming, would you? What is your problem, huh? You don't want to break up with Bryan, but the two of you always fight!" And she is sick of witnessing it over again!

  "The only cause of our fight is that girl!" said Eva.

  "Who's the girl? That girl Bryan says is his little sister?"

  "That girl seduces Bryan by using her helpless state! Look what happens? Bryan is marrying her! If I didn't learn about it, I would never know and had the chance to get Bryan back!"

  Ruth shook her head as she commended. "Okay, you win! You ruin their engagement! So, what's the reason that you are always throwing a fret?"

  "Bryan is getting cold on me!"

  Ruth rolled her eyes. She gulped the beer in her hand, but Eva snatched it and emptied the bottle. "Why don't you get your beer?"

  "I really, really hate that girl! She is my nightmare even when I am awake! She needs to disappear from Bryan's life! I would never let her win over me! She has to suffer! It's unfair that I am always the one who felt left off! I was the original girlfriend! Why do I have to overwork to keep Bryan stay in our relationship!?"

  "Well……" Ruth cannot say anything. She witnesses how Bryan and Eva's relationship started. They look great together. But yeah…… Bryan is somehow worrying about this teenage girl he said to his little sister, who he almost marries in the end. "You know what, Eva? My head is throbbing and spinning around every time I imagine your love life."

  Then, don't be! You need not be concerned about it. But I need to find a way to win against that girl!"

  Eva is racking her head about what she could do to earn Bryan's sympathy toward her, and he completely forgets that girl.

  She would not allow that girl to defeat her.

  *

  Meanwhile, Bryan already ended Eva's call, but he remained staring at his phone.

  Bryan was debating whether to minimize the volume of his phone. All these years, his phone set into loud tones for him to wake up every time Hailey phones him, even though, in the middle of the night or the sun has not risen yet.

  Now, Hailey never rings him anymore. So, maybe it's time to set his phone into a silent mode.

  Bryan heaves a lonely sighed. He throws his phone on the foot of the bed. His gaze wandered around his bedroom, then his eyes glued to the photo frame he placed on the right bedside table.

  He lay down on the bed and reached for the photo frame. Bryan peered at the woman wrapped around his arms.

  She was too beautiful in her white dress, tearing a sweet smile across her face.

  It was their engagement party, and it feels enchanted. It feels unreal, but it did happen. He was……

  Bryan covered his eyes with his right arm. He presses his eyelids tight. He doesn't want to remember what happened next. It was a nightmare for him.

  That night, he falls asleep, holding the photo frame in his hand. In fact, it's not a new scene. He always falls asleep holding their engagement photo frame.

  Meanwhile, Eva is trying to phone Bryan to apologize, but he was not answering her call.

  Ruth rolled her eyes when Eva threw her phone on the wall. It made her speechless to share her thoughts with Eva.

  'Couples are crazy. Better stay single.' Ruth mumbled on her head.

  * * *

  Metro City, P Country

  On her hand is a tray with a big mug and a plate of sweets she bought yesterday from her favorite Pastry Shop.

  Before she enters the study, Hailey knocks lightly on the door. Vince was typing on his computer. He stopped and lifted his head, staring at the door.

  He saw Hailey carrying a tray, and he could smell the coffee she brought over.

  "Hey, need help?" Vince was about to sit up, but Hailey stopped him.

  "It's alright!" She places the tray on the table. She told Vince, "Here, the pie is perfect! You should try their new recipe."

  "Hm…… Looks delicious, and I could smell berries."

  "Yeah! I was thrilled they start selling berries pie! Although it costs more than the prices of their local pies. But berries are the best! Well, next to pineapple…… For me!" Hailey giggled while explaining her preferences.

  Vince smiled, seeing her blush. He could now determine Hailey's natural pink cheeks. And the time she was blushing.

  Her hand or fingers would tap on the object, or she would lower her gaze, avoiding meeting his eyes.

  "So, you are planning to fatten me?" Vince is teasing Hailey, which she laughs at his jest.

  "Not really. But if you don't hit the gym once in a while? Surely, you will!" she returned the tease.

  "Hm……" Vince pretends that he was pondering something. He queried, "Do I look fat now? Someone asks me if I gain weight."

  "Oh……" Hailey carefully scanned from his face down to his broad shoulder. And then his chest, flat stomach, which is his long white sleeves perfectly fit on his body down to……

  'OMG! What am I doing?' Hailey shook her head and withdrew her gaze from Vince's body. Her face flushing red after she realized how keen she peers at him.

  Without looking at Vince, she commented. "You still fit, and you don't need to worry if you'll limit yourself doing some exercises. Anyway, I will make sure you had a proper diet. So, leave it to me!"

  It amused him watching Hailey blushing again. He muttered, "How lucky I am."

  Vince tore a big handsome smile across his face that made her heart thumped loudly.

  Biting her lower lip, Hailey retorted, "Well, I'm happy to oblige! So…… I'm going out now for you to resume working."

  "Thanks for the midnight snack," said Vince.

  "Small thing!" Hailey smiled. She turned around and headed to the door with long steps.

  "Good night, Hailey," said Vince.

  Hailey halted at the door. She glanced at him and nodded. "Good night."