Zoe by Miu

*sigh . . .

*sigh . . .

*sigh . . .

That's it.

I surrendered and put the brush down.

Inspiration was distant nowadays.

It was already a week since my gallery opened, and Elliot was back to his usual busy schedule. He was now in China to do business and would stay there for a week.

I'm so bored.

Honestly, after opening my gallery in New Haven, I wanted to roam around the world while painting at the same time. My earnings already allow me to do that. But I had a change of heart and wanted to stick another month or two in New Haven, and I knew the reason why.

Lawrence . . .

*sigh . . .

This is wrong.

This is so wrong.

I knew that I should have emptied my feelings for Lawrence, but seeing him in the flesh brought it all back, and what was more complicated was that, I learned to like Elliot and didn't want to betray him.

Is it possible to like two guys at the same time?

I sighed again more massive than the last.

This thought was tormenting me from the moment I saw Lawrence again.

I had to choose one, or else, I'd hurt both.

I smiled at myself.

What's there to choose?

It was clear as day that I should be with Elliot. He's my boyfriend, after all.

These past few days, I hadn't heard anything from Lawrence. I guess he was just in the area and congratulated me out of politeness.

Forget him.

Forget him already!

I already have Elliot.

What was there to think about?

I like Elliot, so it should be Elliot.

I made up my mind and went to my bedroom to pack up my things so I could leave first thing tomorrow. The earliest, the better so I wouldn't be tormented by these conflicting feelings. Once I was away from Lawrence, everything would be back to normal.

I smiled.

That's right.

Everything will be back to normal once I don't see him anymore.

Bzt!

The buzzing sound of the intercom startled me. I then hurried towards the door, and almost fell on my knees, when outside of my unit in the hall stood Lawrence with a simple black t-shirt and pants and sports shoes with a jacket wrapped around his waist. He was roaming his innocent eyes at the interior of the hallway.

I chewed on my lips.

Partly I stayed because my unit was in Azure Sky, where Lawrence and Lance were staying.

Part of me was overjoyed because admit it or not, I was hoping in secret that he would come and visit me.

Fudge!

Are you cheating behind Elliot's back?

The thought filled me with guilt and shame, but even so, I checked my appearance. I was wearing my usual home clothes, loose long sleeve red chequered shirt, and short jeans and slippers.

Lawrence and I are friends now. Whatever we have, we already ended it in the past.

Yeah right. Keep saying that to yourself.

I bit my lips and opened the door.

"Hi."

It was a good thing I was holding the door handle, or else, I would have been knocked back by that invincible force radiating from his shining smile.

"H-hi . . . h-how did you know I'm staying here?" I asked stupidly. Of course, he knew. I bet Leanna told him.

"Well, the truth is, these past few years . . . I've been secretly gathering information about you . . . so I know everything it is to know when it comes to you."

. . .

. . .

Everything stopped. My brain, my breathing, my heart. I look at him with a dropped jaw.

We continued to stare at each other in silence before he burst out laughing –– hard.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Zoe, I never thought that you're this gullible."

He patted my shoulder and grinned. I couldn't help but smile at his mischievousness.

"You got me good, and here I am happy knowing it's not only me who is secretly gathering information about you these past few years," I replied with a giggle.