The atmosphere had turned awkward at the mention of Julie's name and Richie fidgeted in his seat. He had not expected Emma to bring up that name. He lapsed into a short gauche silence before he spoke.
"I don't know. She left." there was a hint of melancholy in his voice, which Emma noticed and a crease appeared between his brows.
Emmanuel thought to himself if he had pressed the wrong button by asking of Richie's girlfriend. He didn't know something had gone amiss with the two love birds. He saw the dejected look that Richie held on his face.
Richie and Julie were an inseparable couple since high school. They were always together and spent most of their time with each other. Everyone on campus witnessed the love the two shared and no one ever thought in their wildest dreams that these two would separate, so hearing Richie say she left shocked Emmanuel.
"What happened?!" Emma asked in a stunned tone, he was actually surprised at the new information he was hearing.
"Her parents were moving out of town and she decided to leave with them," Richie said with the pain he felt in his heart.
"What did you expect? she couldn't have possibly stayed here alone without her parents. Even if she did, I'm pretty sure her parents would have refused outright."Emma philosophized.
Richie who was seemingly hurt by Jule's departure looked dull and his facial expression reflected the agony that was stocked in his heart ready to burst out.
"You're right," he said, his voice shaky and painful. "but she could have convinced her parents to stay for some time...she could have-" Richie almost broke down in tears but Grace who was listening to the two, stood up in time and embraced him in an act to console him and probably soothe his broken heart.
Sylvester who had been quietly listening to his friend, aware of the relationship Richie had with Julie, watched as he sobbed in Grace's arms.
Like a sudden jolt, he realized that he had been ignoring his friend who was hurting inside and had probably called them to have some fun time so that he could temporarily forget about the pain he was experiencing. He stood up from the sofa and went to stand by Richie.
Grace released Richie from the hug and saw his tear-streaked face. He looked miserable and his clear eyes glimmered with the brewing emotions inside him. It was unlike Richie to look this way, he was always the cheerful and easy-going one who always lightened up the mood of others, and now seeing him this way made his friends' hearts go out to him.
Sylvester sat by Richie and placed his right hand on his shoulder.
"Cool down Rich," Sylvester said in a flat voice but his voice held a small hint of consolation and concern which was not lost on Richie and it surprised him, as it was an unusual feature of Sly to show concern.
He stared at his eyes that did not hold the solicitude that was felt in his words a short moment ago.
Richie contemplated if he was being real and sincere right now because it was not obvious in his blue tantalising eyes.
His prying question was answered when Sylvester pulled him into a small and not-so-tight embrace.
Emma and Grace's eyes widened like they had seen a ghost.Richie was initially shocked too but he later basked into the moment, knowing that it was fleeting.This was a once in a blue moon experience.
Sylvester released Richie from the hug before he could get too comfortable.
He looked at his friend who looked less troubled than the time he relayed the news that he and Julie had broken up.Sly brought some distance between him and Richie as if he had not just hugged him just now.
"Don't get too clingy." Sly said nonchalantly.The old Sylvester was back!
Richie parted his lips to speak but no words came out."Was he being clingy? Wasn't he the one who took the step in embracing him to calm him down and comfort his troubled heart?"he thought to himself.
"Forget about what just happened.I never hugged you." Sly blurted and looked away.
"Huh! how can we forget what happened.The great aloof Sylvester embraced his friend in an effort to comfort him."Emma cut in and lowered his phone that he had used in capturing the moment.
Sylvester shot him a cold irritating glare that only made Emma grin the more.
He stood up in an attempt to snatch the phone but Emma played smart and swerved it and Sylvester missed it.
He tried again when Emma hid the phone behind him and the two were now playing snatch and dodge and they looked like two little boys who were fighting over food.The scene made Richie and Grace burst out in a loud hilarious laughter looking at the two.
Unbeknownst to the two who were fighting over the phone, they had attracted the attention of some other people in the club including Mary and Rylee.