AVOIDING ME?

Lucian took a moment to think before responding. She was still trying to sort out her emotions.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Part of me was shocked and didn't know how to react. But another part of me...felt something," Lucian admitted, her cheeks flushing at the confession.

Sarah's response was immediate. "We need to talk about this in person. Come over to my place after work. We'll order dinner and discuss everything."

Lucian tired all her possible best to avoid as for the past days

As Lucian turned the corner, she collided with a familiar figure. Ace's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

"Ace," Lucian said, her voice firm.

Ace's expression was intense. "Lucian, why have you been avoiding me?"

Lucian took a step back, her eyes flashing with a mix of shock and fear. "You know why, Ace. You're my friend's ex-lover, not his. I can't be doing this with you."

Ace's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in irritation. For a moment, Lucian thought she saw a glimmer of something else - something that looked almost like pain.

And then, Ace's expression changed. His eyes clouded over, and he muttered, "Jenny..."

Ace's gaze lingered on Lucian's face for a moment, before he turned away, his expression cold and distant. "Forget about it, Lucian," he said, his voice low and dismissive.

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lucian standing alone in the hallway. Lucian's heart sank, feeling like it had been punched in the gut. She felt a wave of pain wash over her, and she couldn't help but wonder what she had done wrong.

As she watched Ace disappear around the corner, Lucian felt a lump form in her throat. She tried to swallow, but it felt like her heart was stuck in her throat. She felt a stinging sensation in her eyes, and she knew she was on the verge of tears.

As soon as Lucian walked into her apartment, she felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She couldn't shake off the feeling of rejection and hurt that Ace's words had left her with. She decided to call her friends, Jenny and Alicia, hoping to talk to them and take her mind off things.

As she waited for them to answer, Lucian felt a pang of guilt. She had always been open and honest with her friends, but for the first time, she felt like she was hiding something from them. She didn't know how to bring up the subject of Ace and their complicated history, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to share her feelings with them.

Jenny answered first, and Lucian tried to sound cheerful, but Jenny quickly picked up on her friend's somber mood. "Hey, what's wrong?" Jenny asked, concern etched in her voice.

Lucian hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I'm just having a bad day, that's all," she said, trying to brush it off.

Alicia, who had joined the call by then, chimed in, "What happened? You can tell us, Lucian."

Lucian felt a lump form in her throat as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She knew she couldn't keep hiding the truth from her friends, but she wasn't ready to face it yet. "I'll tell you guys later, okay?" she said, trying to sound convincing.

Her friends exchanged concerned glances, even though they were on a phone call. They knew Lucian well enough to recognize that something was bothering her, and they were determined to get to the bottom of it.

Jenny and Alicia decided to drop the subject for the time being, but they made a mental note to follow up with Lucian soon. They spent the rest of the call chatting about other things, trying to lift Lucian's spirits.

After the call, Lucian felt a little better, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt for not being honest with her friends. She knew she needed to tell them about Ace and what had happened, but she was scared of their reaction.

As she lay in bed that night, Lucian's mind was racing with thoughts of Ace and their complicated history. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she had been honest with him about her feelings. Would he have felt the same way? Or would he have rejected her?

The questions swirled in her head, keeping her awake long into the night. Finally, exhaustion took over, and Lucian drifted off to sleep, her heart still heavy with emotion.