Lanaya stretched and yawned before getting up to top up her glass. She found it amusing reminiscing on something that felt so long ago, but the memory was still a vivid one. She settled back down in her seat at the counter and took another sip. She rested her head on her arms and smiled to herself as she remembered the awkward encounter.  

The day after her cousin’s party Lanaya found herself looking through the photos she was tagged in on her social media account. Feeling glad that she attended, she could not help scanning the photos for the mysterious stranger she bumped into.  As she scrolled through and zoomed in on the photos, Lanaya tried convincing herself that it was just curiosity and not that she had a particular interest in "Mr handsome" stranger. Believing she would not see him again, she thought it would not hurt to have known his name. She did have other means to find out but had been refraining from asking cousin Chess who would probably bombard her with twenty questions. The embarrassing moment between herself and "Mr handsome" was fortunately not witnessed by anyone else. She could look back at that moment without fully cringing, so for Chess to find out, Lanaya knew she would not be able to live that down. Little did Lanaya know, Chess had already been given the low down on the little run in by none other than "Mr Handsome".

While she scrolled  through the pictures, Lanaya received a message from Chess inviting her out for brunch to which she agreed as she had nothing planned for one of her rare days off from work. Lanaya got ready and headed to the brunch spot. She waved to Chess through the window as she walked up to the restaurant. Who was that sitting with Chess? None other than Mr Handsome himself. Lanaya tried her best to hide her shock by forcing a smile on her face, but was afraid it may have been too forced.

'Hey Chess', Lanaya glared slightly at her cousin, before purposely giving her a firmer than usual hug. 'I did not know someone else would be joining us', she squeezed out through her smile. 

Chess smiled sheepishly whilst gesturing for Lanaya to sit down.

'Guess I left out that bit. Oops’, Chess said feigning remorse.

Lanaya suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and give a sarcastic retort but instead extended a hand towards the unexpected third-wheeler. ‘Hi, I’m Lanaya, Franchesca’s cousin. Nice to meet you. And you are?’

Delroy stood up to return the handshake but Chess, having quickly gotten over the little shame she felt, said to Lanaya, ‘So we're just going to act like this is the first time you’ve met him Lan?’

Lanaya's eyebrows raised and mouth opened in shock but she could not form a response.

Chess prattled on, ‘Delroy here told me about what happened. He was all like “you know that girl who sang at the party, been trying to reach out on socials but she hasn’t responded.'' He thinks you blocked him.’

Lanaya took her hand back as she realised Delroy was still holding it during the whole exchange. 

‘Wow Chess', Delroy said. 'You’re really making me out like I'm desperate. I just wanted to say “hey”. It's not like that. She’s not my type. Ahh…’ Realising his blunder Delroy stopped talking. 

An awkward silence hung in the air. Attempting to break the silence and lighten the mood Chess jokingly said ‘She’s not my type either. Way too pretty, talented and loyal. Certainly not the type of girls I’ve seen around you Mr Delroy Williams.’

Lanaya was no longer in the mood to brunch so did not want to stick around. She tried to think of an excuse to leave but before she could gather her thoughts, Chess spoke up. 

‘Ahh man. Delly-Boy you really messed up the mood. You go order us girls some food then you may take your leave. No boys allowed.’

Delroy did what he was told knowing full well he did make the situation very awkward. After placing an order for the girls at the counter, he apologised to Lanaya and left. 

Lanaya looked towards Chess.

‘Eeeeeeeddyat!!’

The girls burst out laughing. 

‘For real though Chess, where did you find that one? Like does he not have a filter? Always the good looking ones init. Chuups.’

Chess wiped tears from her eyes from all the laughing.

 ‘Girl!  I don’t even know. I swear he wasn’t that bad. But wait! You think he’s good looking? Lan Lan. Are you over he-whose-name-shall-not-be-spoken?

‘Chess, I did not say anything about dating. But a gyal can look init?!’

Lanaya and Chess laughed and joked as they ate their meal;  their usual banter breaking up the bad vibes left by Delroy’s rather tactless comment. 

‘But Lan, on a level though, are you alright? Even I was taken back by that.’

‘Chess, seriously, I am okay. I thought it was a bit of a cheek considering I pretty much just met the guy. But it’s not like I was hoping for anything. He was the one that approached me. Oh yeah…’ Lanaya took out her phone to open her social media app. ‘You mentioned that he tried to reach me on socials. Let me check.’

Opening up her messenger app she saw a message from “Ya_boi_D.W”

‘Pfftt! Oh come on! His profile picture is of a Lamborghini. How am I supposed to know who it’s from?’ Lanaya read the message out loud. ‘“Hey you, check out this video from the party. So cool.” 

‘Is that it?’ Chess asked. ‘This could pass as spam, no wonder why it got ignored.’ 

Lanaya laughed and clicked on the video learning closer to Chess so that she could see. 

‘Oh my word!’ Lanaya moved the phone away from Chess’s view to stop her from watching the video. 

‘No don’t turn it off’, Chess objected wanting to watch the clip of Lanaya’s impromptu singing.

‘You’re never going to let me forget this, are you Chess?’

‘Nope never! Send me that clip please.’

‘Not on your life Chess’ Lanaya said, jabbing Chess playfully in the arm.

Lanaya had a good time with her cousin despite the earlier embarrassment, however, as she made her way back to her car, there was nothing to occupy her mind. Now alone with her thoughts, she started to feel her mood dip. Negative thoughts flooded her mind until she could barely catch her breath.

Lanaya quickly opened the car door  and threw her bag in the back of the car before sinking down in the driver seat. She gripped the steering wheel hard, knuckles pressing through her skin, body trembling as she finally broke down. As the tears streamed down her face, nose running, big sobs wracking her body, Lanaya gave in to the sadness. What Delroy said to her was the straw that broke the camel's back. Lanaya was already emotionally fragile due to the hurt and pain she was carrying in her heart from her last relationship. Lanaya eventually calmed down enough to fumble through the glove compartment for some tissues.  Failing to find anything, she lifted her head to check the other side of the car. Lanaya froze. Her eyes widened and her jaw clenched as she caught a glimpse of the last person she wanted to see right now.  Peering through the windscreen, was a face full of concern looking right at her. They walked over to the side where Lanaya was before tapping on the glass mouthing, ‘can we talk?’