Chapter 11
Zachary stared at Anthony’s message, his finger hovering over the screen without replying. Anthony had never known that his secret girlfriend was Yasmine, as Zachary had never told him for some reason.
Finally, he tapped the screen and sent back a simple, “Yeah.”
The next second, he quickly switched out of the chat and opened Instagram. The post he’d just shared was still accumulating likes and comments, mostly teasing remarks and congratulations from his friends.
Zachary stared at the post for a few seconds, then suddenly opened his settings and adjusted his Instagram privacy. He blocked Yasmine from viewing his content. After doing this, he froze for a moment. What the hell was he doing? Did he not want her to see it? Or was he afraid to let her see it?
He’d gotten what he wanted–he was back together with Queenie. So, why couldn’t he bring himself to break up with Yasmine? Was he being fair to Queenie this way?
It felt like something was squeezing his heart tightly, making his chest ache. Zachary ran his hands through his hair in frustration and called one of his friends. “Let’s go drinking at the usual place.”
Half an hour later, he pushed open the door to a private room at the bar, and the deafening music instantly drowned out his thoughts. Through the haze of smoke, several familiar faces waved him over, but the most surprising sight was Anthony sitting in the center of the group.
His mind was such a mess that he’d forgotten they shared the same social circle. When his friend had gotten his call, he must have naturally invited Anthony along. “Zach!” Anthony grinned and slung an arm around his shoulder. “What’s with the sudden party? Are you so happy about getting back together with Queenie that you wanted to celebrate?”
Zachary tensed as he forced a weak smile. “Yeah.”
Looking at Anthony’s face, which was so similar to Yasmine’s, he instinctively pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts until big
her name.
He wanted to see her. The thought startled him the moment it crossed his mind.
Zach?” Anthony looked over curiously. “What are you looking at?”
Zachary quickly locked his phone and forced out another smile, shoving it back into his pocket. “It’s nothing.”
finger stopped on
Anthony didn’t think much of it and poured Zachary a drink, his tone unusually serious. “Honestly, you and Queenie have been on and off for years. Now that you’re finally back together, I’m happy for you, man. But…
“What about that secret girlfriend of yours? She’s probably heartbroken from getting dumped out of nowhere, right? I think you should at least make it up to her somehow. Don’t mess things up so badly that you become total strangers.”
Zac
On his glass tightened until his knuckles went white. “Would she really be that upset?”
His voice came out hoarse, and it felt as if he were asking Anthony but also questioning himself.
“Of course she would be!” Anthony’s eyes widened. “Women are way more sensitive about this stuff. I mean, I’ve never dated anyone, but I have a sister, so who knows women better than I? She always says that sudden breakups hurt the most.”
Zachary froze, his throat constricting. Was Yasmine hurting right now, too?
He suddenly remembered her carrying her suitcase earlier and the way she’d looked at him one last time. It was so calm and detached, as if he were just some stranger.
“Listen, Zach. Do what I’m telling you and make things right with her.” Anthony patted his shoulder. “You’re the one who screwed her over, after all.
“And even though I don’t know who your secret girlfriend is, she’s probably from our social circle. Don’t mess this up so badly that she does something you can’t take back.”
Zachary threw back his drink in one gulp, the alcohol burning his throat. Even so, it couldn’t suppress the emotions churning in his chest. “I… I got it.”
