Nana's hardened jaw slightly relaxed as soon as her mind took control of her heart. She convinced herself that they parted peacefully so there was no reason for her to act hostile towards him.
But, it couldn't be helped. Even when they parted peacefully, she really didn't want to meet this man again.
He was the memory she wished she could forget but she couldn't.
"Long time no see, indeed." Her voice nearly choked from how fast she tried to change her mood.
"How are you doing?" Wira, her ex, asked gently.
"Good." Shrugging her shoulders, Nana was trying to give a nonchalant look but she wasn't sure if it gave her the effect she wanted or not in his eyes.
"That's good to hear." Wira nodded his head. "When did you come? I didn't get the news that you're coming."
Nana arched her eyebrow as soon as those words left his mouth. Wira seemed to realize his mistakes as he hastily straightened himself and corrected himself.
"Ah, I mean, no one told me that you're coming. I mean..." No matter what he said, he would always sound like a stalker.
And Nana knew that. There was a mixed feeling as soon as she realized that her ex was still paying attention to her, but another feeling of discomfort surfaced.
Was he really stalking her? Since when? How long had he been doing that? Were there other people working with him in monitoring her every move?
Those questions invaded her mind and she couldn't stop it. There was no anger, just uncomfortable feeling. Even so, she didn't want to talk about it. Talking about it only meant a prolong conversation between the two of them.
"Alright. I know what you mean." She waved her hands helplessly.
"I'm sorry." It came almost like a whisper, guilt laced his voice as his head bowed in shame of what he had done.
He was still quickly to admit his mistake and wouldn't be shy to ask for an apology. It was one of the traits Nana liked from him, and what made her unable to find another man after they broke up.
Mu Yang was like that, too. He would quickly admit his fault and ask for her forgiveness. He wouldn't try to reason with her or try to shift the blame to her. Now that she thought about it, probably it was one of the reason why she didn't leave him after he came to cling to her.
"If there's nothing that you want to say, I'll leave." There was no reason for her to keep staying, and she wasn't really comfortable in the presence of her ex. Finding excuses to leave him as soon as possible was probably the best thing to do.
"Ah..." Wira was startled. He was about to hold her back, but his voice was choked in his throat.
"Are you going back already? Should I give you a ride?" Another voice chimed in and Kevin, who was supposed to be with his friends, appeared with a fake smile on his face.
Nana was eyeing him suspiciously. This man was nothing looked like the man from before who confronted her. That fake smile on his face, what did he mean by that?
"Wira? I thought you're going home already. Why are you still here?"
Nana had the urge to roll her eyes. Kevin's acting was too comical to see. Why did he act like he didn't see him when the path was clearly straight from where he was standing? If he could see her at the first glance, why didn't he see Wira, too? It was clearly an act, a poor act laced with mocking intention.
"Wait, you two know each other? I didn't know that." Kevin continued his shameless act as he put himself between Nana and Wira casually.
Nana blinked her eyes in confusion as her head popped from Kevin's back. She witnessed how Wira's expression changed into displeasure. His slightly awkward yet gentle gaze was there no more. He turned from a cautious young man into a dangerous leopard in a second. His head was lifted bravely as he met Kevin's provocation head on.
But, what happened to this man that he suddenly acted this way?
If only Nana knew that the reason he was doing that because of the sudden displeasure gnawing at his heart the moment he realized one of his friends actually knew the girl he had just met and was close to her...
But, what would his reaction if he knew the said friend was actually the young woman's ex-boyfriend?
She was his best memory, and he was her best ex-boyfriend.
Kevin knew that Wira was still single because he couldn't move on from his ex, but he didn't know the said ex that he was curious to meet long ago was the young woman he had just met today. The one that his mother wanted him to know more.
"It's none of your business." The usually warm and calm Wira turned cold because of a girl, it was something that was rare for Kevin to see.
If it was in any other occasion where he wasn't involved, Kevin would be intrigued to ask about their relationship. However, he knew that he was the one who provoked the man in front of him, there was no way he could suddenly come out of character and interrogate him.
The stern atmosphere continued for a while until Nana couldn't take it anymore. It didn't take long for her to snap out of her curiosity and straightened her back.
"You two talk. I'll go back first. Let's not meet again." She started walking out casually, totally ignoring the change in their faces.
"Ah wait, I'll take you back." Kevin reached out to her.
"No need." Nana stopped and looked at him dead in the eyes. "We're not that close."
"Then, let me..." Wira was about to take a step closer when Nana's indifferent gaze was directed at him.
"No need. I want to go back alone."
Wira stopped moving and looked at her in frustration. Her casual demeanor when she was talking to him was hurting him a bit. It was as if he was any other stranger to her.
Leaving the two men behind, Nana hastened her steps without looking back. Once she was out of their sight, she slowed down and let out a sigh of relief. Even though Kevin acted a bit weird, his appearance had helped her to think properly. The slight discomfort she felt when she talked to Wira disappeared with Kevin's arrival.
Now that she knew the both of them were friends, she would make sure to avoid them. Fortunately, she wouldn't stay long in this place. She would return to her hometown tomorrow, means their meeting tonight was the last meeting she would ever have with them.
That's right, she wouldn't need to face them anymore. She wouldn't have to meet them.
As soon as this thought entered her mind, the mixed feelings inside her eased up. Her steps felt lighter and she even smiled slightly. Soon, she reached her hotel room and laid down on her bed. The coldness of the bed sheet sipped into her skin, it reminded her the times when she was with Mu Yang. The coldness felt so much more comfortable with him around. This time, it felt slightly biting to her skin.
Mu Yang. How is he now? He must be busy with his new contract, right? He... Has he forgotten about her? It's only been a day, but it felt like they have been separated for months.
While Nana was drowned in her silent heartache for missing Mu Yang, the said man wasn't doing any better in his sleep either.
He kept tossing and turning on his bed. It wasn't because his bed wasn't big enough for him. His bed was big, big enough for three adult people, but he only occupied half of it. It wasn't because his bed wasn't comfortable. It was really comfortable, he had no problem sleeping on it before. It's just, he felt that something was missing and he knew exactly what it was.
Pulling out his phone, his hand scrolled on the pictures he treasured so much. The longing in his eyes was abundant, but the girl he was longing for was nowhere to be found. She even didn't read his messages and it drove him mad.
What should he do to get her back?