TAVIS CITY

GEM arrived in Tavis City some days ago. She has been engrossed with her work as usual. She admits she's a workaholic. But she couldn't help herself. Moreover, she has a reason for being workaholic.

*****

She had her heart broken in college. By her high school sweetheart. They'd started dating in tenth grade. They were the private couple that everyone knew about, and loved, but knew nothing about them. Their relationship was blissful. It was both of them against the world. They rose above challenges together. In senior year, they were crowned prom king and prom queen. That was their third year in the relationship.

They chose to study in the same college. Their relationship had seamlessly lingered when they resumed college. They received best couple award in their freshman and sophomore years.

In their third college year—fifth year of their relationship, Zach had become distant. He stopped calling. He missed their traditions like going for dinner on designated dates, organizing a two-man games night for only themselves, exchanging gifts. He started avoiding Gem. When she went visiting him, he would find some trifling excuse to ward her off. He stopped visiting her. When he bumped into her, he greeted her like an acquaintance and walked on.

Gem suspected Zach had developed an interest in another lady. To her astonishment, she had found no traces of any other girl with Zach. All Zach did was attend classes and hang out with his new roommate, Cedez. Cedez was an introvert. Gem had met him the day he moved into Zach's room. He was really shy. She didn't know much about Cedez as Zach had been unavailable since Cedez moved in. Frustrated, Gem had stopped attempting to reach out to Zach.

He will communicate when he's ready. If we will be breaking up, I deserve closure and clarification. I will let him be. She had concluded.

Two months later, Zach had texted her. He pleaded that she met with him. Gem didn't respond, neither did she agree to meet with him. After pleading to no avail, Zach had ambushed Gem in front of her dormitory. On sighting him, Gem walked in the opposite direction.

"Gemmie, we have to talk. Please." Zach shouted.

Gem continued walking.

He had nicknamed her Gemmie. He told her she was a gem like her name indicated and the "mie" behind it stood for "my", so Gemmie translated into "my gem".

"For the sake of your first love, please!" Zach shouted again.

Gem stopped walking. She turned to face him. She glanced at him. Then she walked towards him.

"That's a blackmail. You know you are my first love." Gem sneered.

"I know, baby. I also know I have done you wrong. I'm so sorry. I can explain, please. You deserve an explanation."

"I'd agree with that. Took you long enough."

"I'm sorry. Please, sit. It won't be a quick convo."

Gem rolled her eyes. "Run it up. I'm busy."

"Busy for Zach?" Zach frowned.

Gem scoffed. "Same Zach that ignored me for the past two months. Oh please. Busiest for Zach, in fact."

"I understand how you feel. I deserve it or worse. But I still have to do right by you and that entails clarification."

"Zach. Get to the point, will you?" Gem sat.

"I've been seeing someone else. Don't misconstrue. You are the best I ever had. But I found a different desire. A desire you don't possess."

"This new person possesses this different desire, doesn't she?"

"Exactly my point. It's not a she."

"I don't understand. Did you get a pet or what?"

"Not that. Him. Him, Gemmie. I've been seeing a guy."

Gem was stupefied.

"You are gay? You dated me for five years. You orgasmed—from me, with me, by me. How is it possible that you are gay after all our sexual escapades?"

"I'd say bisexual. My identity has secluded my reality all my life. I like women. I loved you. I still love you. I will always love you. Notwithstanding, it's high time I embraced the other side of me… I like men too. I didn't reveal to you earlier because I was scared to come out. I was reluctant to proclaim my sexuality. Now I'm proud to say that I'm bisexual. I don't mind whatever consequences might be caused. Still, I'm sorry. Gemmie, I'm greatly remorseful for everything. I know we purported to be together forever. But it won't be fair to deceive you. Find it in your heart to forgive me. Please."

"I'm flabbergasted. Ultimately knackered. I don't even know what to say. I mean, I appreciate that you clarified everything. Howbeit, this is overwhelming. And this guy, do I know him?"

"Cedez."

"Cedez? Who is that?"

"My…"

"Oh!" Gem interrupted. "Your new roommate! Gosh. Didn't you meet him like only two months ago; when the session started? You are leaving me for him just like that?"

"It's not about him. Not about you either. It's about myself, my interest. I didn't leave you for him. I can never hurt you like that. I knew him about a year ago, truth be told. We worked our way into being roommates. I wrote the dormitory authorities about falsified reasons why we would prefer to be roommates for the session. He has a relative that works with the authorities. Our request was granted."

"Wait. You were cheating—on me—with him?"

"Never. I respect you too much. I had only been chatting to him. We had decided to live together to know ourselves better. I wanted to be confident on my decision before telling you. Those times that I was avoiding you, things were escalating between me and him. Since I wasn't ready to reveal to you, I couldn't bring myself to lie either. That was why I ghosted like that. My relationship with him became official yesterday. I can't date two people at the same time, Gemmie. I know you probably comprehended a termination to our relationship beforehand. I've come here to actualize and finalize that. I'm sorry, Gemmie. You will always be Gemmie to me. I'm sure you will find your soulmate. You are the sweetest."

Gem wiped a tear off her face. She nodded. "Congrats, Zach. I wish you luck." She sobbed.

Zach hugged her.

That was how Zach and Gem became estranged. Zach's love with Cedez was fiery. Gem wasn't surprised. Zach was an acute afficionado of feelings. Zach and Cedez had gotten married a week after their graduation, subsequent to dating for two years.

Both of them had visited her to drop her an invite.

"I'd really appreciate your presence there, Gemmie. You are my first love. Your blessing for this knot is required." Zach mentioned.

"He always talks about you. It's one of his greatest wishes that you attend our wedding. Please, grant him this wish." Cedez pleaded.

"This will be your way to prove that you've forgiven me." Zach reinstated.

Gem smiled. "I will try my best to attend."

"Do more than try." Zach recoiled.

Gem had attended their wedding. She missed Zach immensely. But she was happy for him. If his happiness wasn't with her, there was nothing she could do. She had to accept fate.

*****

Zach and Cedez have now adopted two adorable children. Gem, on the contrary, never pursued a relationship since Zach left her. She has admirers. She has dalliances that she runs to whenever she needs to get some. But she runs away at the possibility of a relationship. She's lonely, that's why she's engrossed with her work. She can't afford to be heartbroken a second time and she believes her work will never break her heart. Hence, the reason she smothered herself with work.

"Jane!" Someone interrupts her thoughts by barging into her temporary office in Tavis City. Gem glimpses at him. He's handsome. Really handsome.

"Are you Jane?" The young man asks in anger.

"No, I'm not Jane. Jane is…"

"Where is she then?!" The man snarls.

"What supplies you the audacity to be so rude? You barged into my office, I overlooked it. Why are you raising your voice at me? Get out of my office." Gem snaps.

"You will explain yourself later." The man grunts and walks out of Gem's office.

Who is this psycho? Too rude. Imagine being handsome but mannerless. He even left my office door open. Idiot.

Work is over for the day. Gem is in front of her car when she notices a figure beside her car. It is the man that barged into her office. Gem stands still, raises her neck and folds her arms across her ribs so he'd know she is displeased to see him.

"Gem, right?" The man speaks. "I conflated your name with Jane's. I apologize for that. In addition, I'm sorry for barging into your office. Jane lied against me to the director. My transfer was at stake. That was why I was grumpily looking for Jane. I'm usually not like that. I apologize again. My name is Var."

"I could have sworn you were derailed." Gem giggles. "Nice to meet you. Problem solved, yeah?"

"Yes. Sorry for the misconception."

"It's cool. Have a nice day." Gem unlocks her car and opens the door to the driver's seat.

"If you don't mind, how about we go to lunch together tomorrow?" Var requests.

"Where to?"

"Any place of your choice."

"Holla at my office when you're ready."

"You live here?" Var inquires.

"In the office?"

"No. Like do you live in this city?"

"I know what you meant. I just wanted to pull your legs." Gem grins. "Negative. I'm here on an official assignment. I like in Wess."

"Really? I'm from there too. But I've been living here for a while. The director says my transfer to Wess starts when your team completes their official assignment here."

"I would ask you how you feel about that but I see you are all gleeful. Means you love it in Wess."

"Absolutely. Tavis City is alluring but home is always home. Okay. I will see you tomorrow. Bye."

"Sure. Same. Bye."

The next day, Gem meets a bouquet of flowers on her office desk. A note that reads "I'm sorry about yesterday" is attached to the bouquet. Gem grins.

When it is lunch time, there is a knock on her office door.

"Come in."

"Something tells me there's flowers in here." Var jests as he walks in.

Gem laughs. "That was really thoughtful of you. Thank you so much."

"Thank you for accepting my apology, princess. So, shall we?"

"Yes, we shall."

They both giggle. Var arches his right elbow for Gem to grab onto. Gem fits her left-hand fingers around his arched elbow. Off they go, to lunch.

That was the start to a bond between Gem and Var. They went to lunch together everyday, including on weekends. At first, Gem thought she could use his company because she had no friends in Tavis City. It was the day he was absent from work that she realized she has grown fond of him.

He was dispatched to the field for a day. Gem didn't go to lunch. It didn't feel right going to buy lunch without him. She had ordered some food. Immediately work closed, she went to her lodge.

When she gets to her hotel room, she falls into a slumber. Some hours later, there is a knock on the door of her hotel room. She assumes it would be room service. No one else knows her in the city. On opening the door, she sees Var in her doorway.

"Var!" She hugs him.

"If it's not the sleeping beauty."

Gem chuckles. "I was really bored. I didn't even know when I slept. Come in."

Gem steps aside and Var enters the room. He sits on the sofa.

"How did you know my place?"

"I pick you up on weekends for lunch, remember?" Var waves his two hands.

"Not that. How did you know my room? You've never come inside the hotel with me before."

"I checked the office file that entails your details."

"You were at the office today? I thought you were out on the field? What even brings you here? Did they send you to relay that I have some assignment from work? Damn. Did they call my phone to no avail? I put it on silent." Gem picks her phone.

"I see I've gotten myself into an interrogation. Which question do I respond to first?"

"I'm sorry. Pardon my manners."

"It's fine. I'd ask the same if I was in your shoes. First of all, you have no assignment from work. You overwork yourself in that office; no one would dare bring you some work in your leisure. Definitely not me. And yes, I was at the office. I had to submit my field report. I was told you departed just before my arrival. I was worried because you don't leave that early. Then I called you to check on you. Three times; none was picked. I decided I had to come down to see for myself if you are okay."

"Thank you very much for the care. I'm sorry about the calls. I didn't know my phone was ringing. I'm good. I was bored in the office. It is now vivid to me that you are my only friend in this whole city. I returned to my room early because I felt lonely in the office. Then I slept—when I got here—out of boredom."

"I must be so influential. Mmmm," Var chuckles. "I got you something." Var brings out a paper bag and hands it to Gem.

"What's this?"

"Dinner. For you. But I don't mind a share." Var giggles.

"But you must be really tired from working on the field. I think you should go home to rest."

"I'm absolutely tired. But I just got here. Can't just head out like that. Not after you were bored all-day without your only friend." Var blushes.

"We will both be at work tomorrow. What you need now is sleep."

"I will simply lay on this couch for a while." Var lowers his neck into the arm of the couch.

"Okay, if you insist. Thank you for coming. Let me wash my hands in the bathroom so we can consume your purchased food."

Gem enters the bathroom. She had left it quite untidy before she went to work in the morning. She reckoned Var might request to use her bathroom. It would be an eyesore to let him witness her bathroom like that. She spent about ten minutes clearing the mess. Stepping back into her room, Var is sleeping. Snoring. Gem stores the paper bag in the refrigerator. She spreads a blanket over Var's body.

"Thank you for coming." She whispers.

She hops in her bed and sleeps.

Var awakes by the sound of a running shower.

I live alone. Why is my shower running? Did I leave it on overnight? Or my house was burgled? He soliloquizes.

He opens his eyes wider and tries to decipher where he is. He has just awoken from that type of sleep whereby you wake up and wonder what your name is or if your life has been hibernated for years. He couldn't even bring himself to sit up. He simply lays—on the couch—staring at the ceiling.

"Rise and shine." A voice startles him.

He springs up on the couch in shock. "Gem? Hey. How did you enter?"

"Are you okay? You are in my room."

"What?!" Var glances around to understand. "I slept here, how? How and why am I so disconnected, please? I'm literally doubting my identity right now. Did I drink last night?"

"Hold on. Hold up. You were exhausted from your field work yesterday. When you brought me dinner, I convinced you to go home but you insisted on sharing with me. I dashed into the bathroom for a moment and before my return, you had journeyed to dreamland. I allowed you pass the night since you were too tired to drive home."

"So you were the one running the shower in the bathroom? Oh yeah. You came out of the bathroom. I thought I left the shower on overnight. My water bill would have elevated," Var giggles. "Damn. Thank you. I apologize for any inconvenience I caused you. I'd better get going. I don't want to run late for work." Var glances at the couch to ensure he's forgetting nothing.

"Are you sure you can drive? You barely even know where you are."

"That is an insult to my intelligence." Var laughs. "I will see you in a jiffy, princess." Var moves closer to Gem and kisses her on her temple. He walks outside the room after waving his hand.

Gem and Var continued with their daily joint lunch. Sometimes, they extended the lunch into a hangout. They visited arcades, parks, cinemas, museums when they had time on their hands. Somehow, Var managed to extract her out of her extreme entanglement with work.

"It has been good moments. This is my last lunch in Tavis City." Gem sighs during one of their lunches—their last lunch together.

"Last? How? It's not three months yet."

"It is. You must have lost track of time. I've completed my three-month project here. First thing tomorrow morning, I head home. Thank you for making my stay here worthwhile."

"My transfer isn't effective until next week. Why not wait until then so we shall leave together? You could request a little extension from the company."

"My brother's wedding has been fixed for next weekend."

"We will beat time."

"We?" Gem arches her eyebrows.

"Yeah? You are taking me there with you, aren't you?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Wow." Var raises his eyebrows. "Sorry."

"I have to go help with the preparations. I'm the reason the date was postponed this far."

"I'd like to come to the wedding with you."

"They will all think you are my boyfriend."

"I suppose that's no bad thing? You don't consider me a good match?"

"It's not that." Gem stands up. "I need to go to my lodge now to pack my stuff. I don't want to join traffic tomorrow."

"It's still evening. We can hang out for a little longer."

"If I don't pack early, I will sleep late. I might oversleep."

"Fair point. I will come to your hotel before you depart tomorrow."

"Nah. Don't worry yourself."

"Are you avoiding me, princess?"

Gem pecks Var on his cheek. "I will see you when I see you."

"Take care, princess."

"You too."

"I will call you when I'm in your city."

Gem nods as she walks on. Her mind is conflicted, her head is chaotic. She gets to her hotel room and collapses into the couch—thoughts reeling through her mind.

She had convinced herself to ignore reality the whole while but that reality has still tumbled upon her, eventually. Var has feelings for her. Not a mere sexual desire. A romantic interest. She feels her heart pound underneath her ribs at the realization of that. She has hung out with Var for three consecutive months and not once has he ever tried to touch her. That has never happened with any other man. She always blocks friendships with men. She always had sex and never reached out beyond that. Whenever they tried to promote things with her, she would disappear.

She knows he lusts after her. She sees how he looks at her. She can tell he is thirsty for her. But something subsides Var's lust — sincere interest. She suspects he'd prefer to do things orderly. He even nicknamed her "princess" already. Nonetheless, Var isn't the first man to have a strong desire for her. Neither is he the second or third. What worries Gem, however, is that she cares. Usually, she would never rethink it. But here she is, conflicted. Why does she care? It's only reasonable that she feels something for him too, he has been really sweet to her. She could not mention a single red flag about him. No way she will set herself up for vulnerability a second time after her situation with Zach. She decides she will do what she does best — ignore. Ignore Var. Run as she always does.

Feeling smart, she smirks. She starts packing her bags.