???: Ashton?
Ashton:..!
My heart almost leaps out my chest at the sound of the familiar voice behind me. I turn around to see the last person I would want to tell what's bothering me right now....
Ashton: You...
Claire: It really is you, I didn't expect to see you... here.
The person standing behind me is Claire. What's she doing here? I instinctively hide my left hand.
Ashton: I was just passing by.
Claire: I see. Is this seat empty?
She glances at the seat in front of me.
Ashton: Yeah.
Claire: Don't mind me then.
She sits down across from me.
Ashton: You have sharp eyes.
She recognized me just like that, without even looking at my face first.
Claire: I've got used to seeing you like this during the interview sessions so..
Both:....
I'm scared to talk to her, I feel like if I talk to her, I might spill everything. I don't want her to know about this for some reason. Just then, the waitress comes back with my order.
Mia: Here you go, one black coffee and one mini bitter chocolate tart.
She places the coffee in front of me and the dessert in front of Claire.
Claire: This...
Claire awkwardly smiles and slides the little plate over to me.
Mia: Ah, sorry! I thought you ordered it for your wife..!
Claire:..?!
Claire's eyes go wide in surprise... Oh, crap. She must've seen my ring and thought that I was waiting for my 'wife', Claire, who's also wearing a ring. I nervously look over to Claire. She isn't suspicious, right?
Ashton: It's.. not like that.
If I deny it, the situation would look weird; what's a married man doing with an engaged woman? Although it is the truth, I can't take any chances.
Mia: T-Then, what would be your order, ma'am?
She turns towards Claire, flustered. Claire places an order for a blueberry muffin as usual and the waitress leaves.
Claire: That was a little weird.
She's suspecting something..!
Ashton: What?
Well, way to go, you socially awkward person! Couldn't I think of a better response?!
Claire: Didn't you hear? She thought that we're a married couple.
Ashton: She must've seen your ring.
Claire: That's ridiculous, this is clearly an engagement ring. At most, she should've though that we're just engaged.
Ashton:....
Journalists don't miss any details, do they.. Well, it's not like I can hide this from her forever. I decide to come clean with it.
Ashton:.. The thing is..
I break eye contact with her and keep my previously hidden left hand on the table. She looks at it and gasps in disbelief. What does she think of it?
Claire: Wha... When did...
Ashton:...
There's more to the emotion her voice than I can guess, I can't put a finger on it.
Claire:... You didn't say anything about this when we last met.
Ashton: I didn't know it then.
Claire: What do mean?
Ashton:....
I know what to say but somehow, I can't bring myself to tell her.
Claire: Look at me in the eye.
Ashton:..!
She places her hand on mine and leans closer, her eyebrows knitted in frustration. I turn to look at her being caught off guard and once I do, I'm unable to look away. Just then, the waitress comes back and places Claire's order on the table.
Mia: Enjoy your treats...
She narrates her dialogue with an awkward smile and scurries back to the counter when she senses the tension between us.
Claire: Say something!
Ashton:... What do you want me to say? There's nothing more to it.
Claire: How can you say that? Why-
Ashton: I never asked you why you got engaged so, you don't need to bother about this either.
Claire:..!
Before I know it, I'm already letting out the thoughts I had buried in my mind on the day I met her again at the party and it comes out in harsher words than I expected. I feel the hand she kept on mine flitch. I shouldn't have said that... at least, not in this way.
Ashton: I..
Claire: It's okay.
Ashton: What?
She pulls her hand away from mine with a sad smile. Seeing her like that makes my heart drop for some reason.
Claire: We just became.. friends, I shouldn't dig too much into your personal business.
Ashton:....
She distracts herself by eating her food and I timidly follow the suit. I take a tiny spoonful of the dessert and my face scrunches up a little. Seeing this, she let's out a giggle with her chin propped up on her hand.
Claire: Too sweet?
Ashton:.. It's supposed to be bitter.
Claire: Well, it's been a very long time since you last came here, lots of things have changed.
Ashton: I guess you're right.
I put the piece of cutlery back on the table and take a sip of my coffee to wash out the sweetness. It's just a small slice and yet, I can't finish this. Why does everything have to be sweet?
Claire: Don't make that stressful face. How about this, we split these two up? That way, you don't waste anything.
She's right, we should split this sweetened... thing with the muffin. Today's really not my day with food; first Leah's questionable smoothie and now this tart. We split the two and Claire tastes the tart.
Speaking of Leah, I should clear things up with her tomorrow.
Claire: For something that's supposed to be bitter, this is really sweet.
Ashton: I know, right?
We spend the rest of the time talking about all things other than... our personal arrangements and before I know it, all my anxiety from earlier fades away slowly. Weird, I thought things might be awkward between us after everything that's happened and telling her about my marriage but, it's not.
She doesn't even bring it up just as I don't bring up her engagement or show another emotion on her face. Either we've both long moved on or we're just very good at disguising our emotions...