DINNER II

Ivan looked at Kaye's direction who was eating slowly as if it doesn't concern her. Truth be told, Kaye's heart was hammering in her chest. She was so nervous and scared at the same time.

Ivan thought for a while before he answered the question. Still looking at Kaye he opened his lips, "It was the atmosphere around her that allowed me to know it's her. Therese and her has the same vibe which made me realize they're one and the same."

"Why didn't you let her know?" Maggie asked again. She knew that her daughter was listening even if she looked uninterested. Since Kaye wouldn't voice out what she was thinking then she'll help her out.

"I'm sorry for keeping this a secret. I wanted to make sure it's her so I decided to go for surgery. I didn't want to scare her as well. After all, it's been so long since the last time I saw her." Ivan stared at Kaye's face. Feeling so uncomfortable with his gaze, Kaye glared at him which earned her a chuckle from Ivan.

"Look. I don't know what you guys are talking about and I don't care as well. Stop talking about Therese. She's dead a long time ago." Kaye's voice was cold that drenched the people in utter silence.

Ivan was hurt but he knew his pain wouldn't match to what the girl had experienced. "Kaye, can I talk to you later?" Ivan asked her gently. He wanted to settle this matter once and for all.

"Sure." Kaye answered indifferently before she continued eating her food.

They stopped talking about the past and chose to engage in lighter conversation like how their work or business thrive.

Kaye would sometime offer Ivan some food that she likes but nothing more than that.

After dinner, Kaye and Ivan strolled to the garden so they could talk. 'It's now or never.' Ivan thought to himself. Kaye was walking ahead of him and sat down on one of the benches at their garden.

Ivan was standing one meter away from her not knowing what to say. Kaye just eyed him up and down. 'God! I miss this bastard!' She wasn't happy with her thought at all.

"So?" she raised her eye brows slightly towards Ivan.

"I'm glad to have found you after a long time. I'm Ivan Harley. Should I say, your childhood friend?" He scratched the tip of his nose awkwardly with the brief introduction.

"Young master Harley. It's been so long. Thanks for helping me all those times in the past. This news is a little shocking to me." Instead of being happy, Kaye was even more sad now that her guess has been confirmed to be true.

"It must be fate working its ways for us. I've been looking for you all these years." Ivan has calmed down but he still couldn't decipher what Kaye is feeling at this moment.

"I doubt that." Kaye smiled but it never reached her eyes. She looked like a robot talking to him. Her voice lacked excitement that he was expecting for this little reunion and her eyes were soulless.

"Kaye. I'm sorry for leaving you so suddenly. My apology may not bring us back to the past and change it, but I want us to become how we were." Ivan told her with all sincerity she could muster.

Since he became a businessman, talking to Kaye at this moment was the most taxing thing. He didn't even know if she was happy to see him.

"What you're asking is a little difficult for me. I'm no longer the same girl as I was and you are no longer the same Harley that I used to know. Time has changed us." Kaye answered this time, the sadness in her voice was clear in Ivan's ear. 'Let's not forget, you broke my heart time and time again.' Kaye grimaced with this thought.

"I know. Can we still become friends?" Ivan didn't lose all his hope. He was still persistent.

"Why not? Just make sure that girl you like, the one you told me before, knows me. I don't want a jealous girlfriend after me." Kaye responded. 'Maybe we're good as just friends. Being on the friend zone isn't that bad.'

Ivan and Kaye talked for a little more time. Catching with the time they lost and recalling some lovely memories to share. It wasn't until ten in the evening that Miss Maine and Ivan left.

Kaye sat on her bed for a while gathering her thoughts together. "Ivan Harley. No wonder he's got the same surname. Why didn't I think of that before? So dumb!" She was scolding herself when this thought crossed her mind.

It wasn't that difficult to figure things out but she was always on guard with her heart that she didn't entertain such idea. How could that be possible?

On the other hand, Ivan was smiling like a fool. It wouldn't be that difficult to approach Kaye in the future. Since the fact that they used to be childhood friends had been established, he's thinking of visiting her to bond. He didn't know it's the opposite.

Kaye was more horrified that Ivan was the Harley she knew. She once told him that she like someone and that someone left. She only had Harley at some point and it wouldn't be difficult to get into that area of ideas. Sooner or later, Ivan would know that she likes him.

With her thoughts getting mixed up and all, Kaye was turning paler and paler as the time passed.

"This couldn't be! I really need to stay away from him." And with that being said, Kaye started to think of many ways and excuses to avoid Ivan.

Matters of the heart is never easy to understand. She loves him but she couldn't let him know. Ivan loves her but she's too oblivious to see it.

Kaye fell asleep while thinking her 100th excuse to avoid the person she wanted to see the most.