(Jonathan POV)
The clang of the bell above the café door echoed in my ears as I stepped inside, the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the scent of pastries. As I scanned the room, the flickering light over the barista's station caught my eye, momentarily drawing me into its mundane charm. But today, I was here for a different reason a reunion with a ghost from my past.
I walked inside the cafe slowly and with calculated steps as I moved deeper inside. I looked around my eyes scanning over people and couples alike, I spotted a familiar face deep in the back.
Jake sat in the corner, hunched over a table that bore no remnants of the laughter we once shared as children. The last vestiges of sunlight filtered through the café windows, casting long shadows across his face, shadowing the jealousy he wore like a badge of honor. I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me as memories rushed back of building forts in the woods, racing our bikes down hills, and days when life was simpler and happiness came easy.
But things had changed between us.
I approached him cautiously, my expression cold and distant. "Hey, Jake."
His eyes flicked up, meeting mine with a coldness that unfazed me since it was expected. "Jonathan," he replied flatly, without the warmth of a smile. The spaces between us felt pale with tension, as if unspoken words hung in the air, demanding to be addressed but repressed by our shared history.
"Mind if I join you?" I asked, already sliding into the seat opposite him before waiting for an answer.
He shrugged, picked at his coffee cup, and let a heavy silence settle between us. "So, how's the big CEO life treating you?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
I clenched my jaw, suppressing the urge to say something back to defend myself. The truth was, the role of CEO weighed on me like a leaden shroud. It had been just over a couple of years since my father's passing, a year filled with challenges I had never anticipated. Grief had forged a rift between the person I used to be and this cold, calculating shell I had become. "It has its ups and downs," I replied, my voice distant and blunt.
Jake scoffed. "Sure it does. Must be nice to inherit your father's empire while others are struggling just to make ends meet."
His bitterness was palpable. I glanced around the café, searching for a distraction, but my gaze fell back on him. He hadn't changed much; his rugged features still held that boyish charm, albeit marred by a deep-seated resentment that now seemed to define him.
"Honestly, Jake, it wasn't what I wanted. I didn't ask for any of this," I said, willing him to see the truth behind my cold facade. "Do you think I wanted my life to be defined by a family business?"
"You don't get it, do you?" His voice rose slightly, catching the attention of a couple seated nearby.
"You're sitting there with your tailored suits and your corner office, while the rest of us have to scrape by. You inherited everything, Jonathan. I had to fight for what little I have." He said
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "This isn't some game for me, Jake. My father died, and I'm trying to keep the company afloat. It's not easy, and it hasn't been since the day I took over."
"Excuses," he shot back. "You act like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. But all I see is a guy who had everything handed to him." He leaned forward, his expression intense. "What do you know about struggle? About loss?"
His words struck a nerve. I could feel the anger rising within me, tempered by my desire to remain composed. "I lost my father, Jake and my mother is in a hospital, too. Do you think it's easy to step into his shoes? You think I wanted to bury him and take on these responsibilities?"
"Did you even care about him?" Jake hissed, his voice low and venomous. "Or were you just waiting to wear the crown?"
The accusation landed like a blow. Memories swirled about my father's laughter, his unwavering belief in me, and the way he'd look at me with pride. But beneath that veneer lay the truth of our strained relationship. I had failed to be the son he wanted, the son he needed when the company faced crises, always more focused on success than on family.
"I cared, Jake. More than you'll ever know," I hissed, barely maintaining control of my voice.
He leaned back, crossing his arms defiantly. "You only care about yourself."
A slight Warmth flooded my cheeks, spurred by outrage and something deeper: a sense of betrayal. "Why are you doing this? I came here hoping to reconnect, to find some common ground, and all you want to do is throw stones."
Jake remained silent, the wall between us. I glared at him with barely contained rage, he seemed unbothered and leaned back in his seat. I took a few deep breaths and shut my eyes for a moment. My eyes looked back at him and I opened my mouth for a moment to speak, no words came out but I managed to gather my thoughts.
"There will never be a common ground between and we can never be friends again, I hate you, Jonathan, with every fiber of my being," said Jake with a glare full of bitterness and hatred all pointed at me
"You were the one who sent me that text didn't you" I said without a second thought as he gave a slight smirk and stood up from his seat
"I'm going to enjoy taking everything away from you, then you'll see what it's like to lose everything and be left with nothing. See you around 'friend'" said Jake with a cold smile and walked off leaving me there to process what he said
I just sat there for a moment before standing and turning to leave. I knew Jake wasn't bluffing so I knew I had to be ready for anything and everything.