Leaving.

'Leaving?'

Alex was surprised to hear Kyle's announcement. He wasn't sure he had heard clearly, but throwing a glance at Genny and seeing the confused surprise on her face, he realized he had indeed heard well and he wasn't alone in the shock effect that Kyle's announcement brought.

When Kyle said he had something he wanted to share with them, not once did he think this would be it. He paid Kyle a curious look, awaiting him to give some clarity to the words he had just muttered.

"What do you mean you're leaving?" Alex asked, his tone and voice not sounding as casual as it once was, seconds ago.

Genny also gazed at Kyle with confusion written all over her. "Yes, tell us Kyle, what do you mean by you're leaving?" She pressed.

Kyle shuttled his gaze between his friends, he was both surprised and amused to see the intense reaction etched on both their faces, especially on Genny's. She looked like she had just heard the most unpleasant news in her life.

"You both look as if you've heard a death sentence." He managed a joke, but none of them shared the humor of it. He looked underneath the table when he felt Genny uncomfortably move her legs. He slipped off his seat and went on one knee. Slowly, he helped her slip off the heels before returning to his seat.

"You wear your heels for too long." He said.

"It comes with the job, Kyle. Now, if you don't mind tell us why you're leaving?" Genny impatiently inquired.

Kyle tutted and lolled back on the chair rest, his countenance turning a bit more serious as he sipped from his glass. "I told you both about my company's expansion few months ago, right? Well, it's happening now. The board approved, so I'll be leaving to set everything in motion and it might take a while. So yeah, that's why I'm leaving." He said and took another sip from his glass.

A short wave of silence reigned across the table, with Alex and Genny intensely staring at him. They didn't know what to say. The sudden news of Kyle's departure was very surprising. And hearing him say a 'while' they feared it might be a very long time, most especially Alex. He had heard people use these words far too many times and each time, he had been disappointed.

Kyle and Alex have been friends since their freshman days in college, and Genny had only joined the trio in the last semester of their sophomore year and since then, they've spent weekends together hanging out and having whatever fun they could get, even though Alex could sometimes be overly serious with life and would chose to be a spoil sport whenever he had business in mind, but that has been the cycle of their friendships for years. None has ever been away for nothing more than a few days of work trip, so this was something new.

"How long?" Genny suddenly asked breaking the cloud of silence.

"Hmm?" Kyle mumbled.

"How long will you be gone for?" She inquired.

"A year, or maybe more."

"A year?" Genny asked in a surprised note, her brows narrowing together. She didn't think it would take that long. "Why a year?"

"Because opening a new branch in a foreign country is a rigorous process, love. Alex knows this." He said turning to Alex who had awkwardly been too silent.

Alex realized the pair of eyes staring at him and he gave a single nod, giving Genny her answer.

"So you see, It's necessary." Kyle said to Genny who clearly wasn't pleased about the news.

"But must it be you? You're the CEO, can't you recruit someone for the job, at least that's what my agency does."

"Your agency is a modelling one, baby. Mine is an IT company, it requires a different level of effort and clientele." He explained.

Genny frowned and sighed as she sipped from her drink. "Well, good luck on your expansion. I hope it goes well for you." She said.

Kyle turned towards her, his eyes keenly staring and observing her every wink and blink as he paid her an intent look. She looked clearly displeased about his departure, and he couldn't help but wonder if maybe she was more worried than she was supposed to be, "Are you going to miss me, Genny?" He asked.

Genny shot him an irritated look. "Are you trying to be stupid, Kyle?"

"You tell me." He uttered and inched closer, a playful smile tingling in his eyes shadowing the weight of intensity in his heart. "Tell me Genny, are you going to miss me? Because if you are, I might just reconsider and stay with you."

"Stay with who?" Genny cast a mock glare at him. "Just so you know, I'm glad to have your sorry ass gone. Maybe this is what you need to finally get your life straight and find yourself a girl. I'm tired of handling your single sorry ass." She nudged his head away with the tip of her finger, while Kyle chuckled.

"I've told you before, I don't want other girls. I have a girl I like." He told her.

"Yeah. The same girl who you've been jerking off to in your dreams since college, right? You need a human, not some fantasy girl from your boy magazine."

"Jer...what?!"

"Yeah, you heard me right." Genny challengingly confirmed her words.

Kyle sighed and shook his head. "There's actually a girl, Genny. A real girl and it'd be stupid of you to talk about her that way."

Genny snorted, "I'll stop talking about her that way when you show her to us." She firmly declared.

"Maybe I will when I get back from this trip. Just maybe." He muttered his last words with some sort of concealed intentions.

Genny shot him a skeptical look before lolling back on her chair. She glanced at Alex who was still maintaining an awkward silence. She shared a look with Kyle before staring back at him.

"Alex?" Genny called, snapping him out of whatever thought he had been lost in.

"What happened?"

"You've been musing."

"Just work." He dismissively said before turning to Kyle. "I hope it goes well for you. If ever you need my help you can always call me. I have a few contacts there." He said and Kyle obligingly nodded.

"I'll use the restroom, boys." Genny announced and Kyle quickly helped her slip back on her heels before pulling back her chair.

"Thank you." She sweeetly smiled at him.

"You're welcome." He smiled back as he watched her walk away.

"You'll be coming back, right?" Alex suddenly inquired.

Kyle occupied his seat and nodded. "Of course." He replied, but Alex didn't seem convinced. No one ever returned after they left, that he was sure of.

"Hmm." He nodded.

Seeing his expression, Kyle chuckled. "You don't have to sulk so badly, even Genny isn't acting like you are. And don't you think this will be good?"

"How?" Alex shot a brow at him.

"Well, since I'm the only one who knows your Babymomma, maybe I'll bump into her incase she tries to escape with our baby to another country."

Alex scowled. "She wouldn't dare." He said confidently making Kyle chortle.

"You wouldn't know what she's capable of, after all you don't know her."