[kiasusam]

Being a millennial, I posted a Facebook status, ranting about what to wear for Halloween. Within an hour, I got numerous replies from close friends, ranging from the troll-ish suggestions of ‘birthday suit’, ‘life-sized dildo’, ‘Elsa from Frozen’ to feasible ones like ‘Dracula’ and ‘zombies from The Walking Dead’.

Out of the blue, I received a Facebook message notification, from someone I honestly thought I wouldn’t be talking to again.

Lydia.

‘Vin, you are looking for costumes too? I need one ASAP. Wanna meet up and help each other? Been ages.’

Lydia was my ex. We lost contact with each other after we broke up, although we ended things on mutual terms. We simply lost the spark and enlisting into the army did not help matters. We agreed to end things and go our separate ways, although I felt bitter about it. The last I heard she broke up with her new boyfriend and was single as far as I was aware.

Honestly taken aback and surprised that she would contact me after so many years, I was unsure on the appropriate response. But fuck it, can’t hurt to meet up with an old friend I supposed.

‘Sure. Thursday night, around 7?’

‘Sounds good. Your number hasn’t changed right?’

‘Yea, unchanged.’

‘Cool. See you this Thursday! (:’

I woke up on Thursday, troubled… Over what to wear. Wearing too nice and putting too much effort might come across as trying too hard to impress an ex-girlfriend. As if she would care… Then again, maybe she would. This whole episode played out in my head, where I envisioned an angel and a devil debating on my choice of attire. Which ultimately resulted in me being late for work.

Fortunately, Olivia did not seem to mind. Clad in a black and white spaghetti zig zag strap dress, she looked stunning. She was wearing the same earrings she wore when we went gym-ing together and her makeup was immaculately done, giving her smoky eyes and enhancing her already seductive and kissable lips. Melanie caught me staring for a bit too long and swiftly poked me in the stomach with her pen, rolling her eyes.

Sitting down, I received a whatsapp text from Melanie.

‘You should wait till she turns around, a free show for all.’

Eventually… It was inevitable, Olivia excused herself to use the ladies. She walked past me and Melanie. Behold, she was bareback… I didn’t see any bra straps, so she was either using tape or going braless. Her toned back and smooth skin were evident, she had a slight tan overnight that seemed to heighten her alluring vibe. Probably visited a tanning salon. She seemed way, way too overdressed for work.

Melanie and I looked at each other. She stuck out her tongue and grinned, as if to say ‘told you so’. Pity our friendship was now in shambles.

Surprisingly, Olivia joined the two of us for lunch, declining offers to join her other colleagues.

It was honestly awkward, the three of us walking together to my car. Olivia spoke to Melanie only and I was like a third wheel in some relationship. Melanie, aware of the whole situation because I had confided in her, occasionally poked me, urging me to speak to Olivia. Thankfully, she restrained her straightforward nature and opt not to say anything about it.

We went off to a nearby Moroccan cafe, it wasn’t too crowded, but I honestly felt like some tree in a high speed expressway, completely overlooked and ignored. It was evident that the diners there were checking the two of them out. Melanie, with her model like looks and figure, and Olivia with her sexy outfit.

We placed our orders and started talking. I kept quiet for the most part whenever Olivia talked, seeing how awkward it was between us. Olivia apologized for not being able to hang out and ‘take care’ of her interns the past few weeks. Laughing it off, Melanie questioned her on her outfit.

“Hey Olivia, what’s up with your outfit today? Why so sexy? Haha. Vin kept on staring when he came in this morning.”

I stared at Melanie murderously. You pesky little devil.

Olivia‘s lips widened into a small smile and she looked at me, her eyes soften for a bit, as if she was recalling our sexcapade. She briefly gave me a longing look before she replied.

“Nah. Going out with my husband tonight. Vin, shouldn’t you be chasing girls around your age? I am gonna be an aunty soon.”

Glad and relieved that she was finally speaking directly to me, I eased up and stopped being so tense.

“You? Aunty? I don’t think so. And the problem with girls my age? All the good ones are already taken. The ones left are extremely… Disappointing.” I said this while looking at Melanie, unable to contain my laughter.

“Fuck you.” Pointing her middle finger at me, Melanie proceeded to jab me endlessly with her finger.

“That’s your cue, Vin. She says to fuck her. I will just stand and watch. Or film it if you two want to review your ‘performance’.”

Cracking up in laughter, the lunch went by in a light hearted and easy going manner. The two ladies ordered a kebab each to share amongst us three, citing a desire to lose weight as a reason for their underwhelming appetite. I went for the chicken couscous, which came with a generous amount of vegetables and almonds on the side.

After lunch, we walked around, entering shopping malls and window shopping. Melanie received a call from her friend, regarding her party this Sunday. She started to lag behind us, talking to her friend about the details and whatnot… Leaving just me and Olivia.

“Vin, sorry about the whole… The way things turned out. I… Did not mean for our friendship to be tarnished.”

“Yeah, I know. I am at fault too. I should have spoken to you about this… Clear the air. Take the initiative to do that.”

Silence fell between us, only interrupted by Melanie‘s voice every now and then when she replied to her friend.

Reaching my car, I looked at Olivia.

“We cool?”

“Yea, hah. Good to have you back in my life, V.”

With that, I drove us back to E Corp.