THE PAST MEETS THE PRESENT

I don't expect that Edge was waiting for me outside of the function, and he handed me a delicious food bouquet as he kissed my forehead while he was proud of me and saying thank you for telling our relationship in public. I told him my plan today and invited him to join us in dinner with Director Maverick.

We went to our hotel room because I wanted to eat the food he brought me and to wear comfortable clothes. I took a shower first, and I changed into a two-piece maxi dress. I don't put on makeup and got my hair into a messy bun. I brought my phone pouch and DSLR camera.

We went to the place that they called The Cliff Lounge.

Edge excused himself. "I need to go to the restroom, and maybe you gave time to talk to some stranger that you knew. Good luck."

I confusedly looked at him before letting him go and told him that I roamed around.

And suddenly, I bumped into someone, but before I fall to the floor, he holds my waist as I cling to his shoulder to support myself.

"It's been a while, Ace." The man huskily said.

I was shocked to see him here and jumped myself to distant him, "J-Joe."

"How are you?" He asked.

I composed myself and smiled. "I'm doing great. I just finished signing my 6th contract earlier."

"I know I saw you earlier in the function room. Congrats!" He casually stated.

"Thanks. How about you, how are you? If I'm not mistaken, you worked here for years." I guessed.

"I recently promoted as head manager." He shrugged.

I nodded and shared something, "I'm with my boyfriend."

"I don't see him." He said and looked around.

"He went to the restroom." I awkwardly said.

"I see. You were still together until now?" He asked.

"Yes. How about you? From what I remembered from our last conversation, you told me you already have a girlfriend. How was she? Is she working here, too?" I casually asked.

"I was kidding back then." He answered.

"Why did you lied then?" I curiously asked as I walked on the side of the pathway.

"I don't know. Maybe I was too jealous. That's why I lied to you and to save my ass." He shrugged.

"You felt jealous of me?" I assumed.

"Not on you, but to your man." He seriously replied.

"But why?" I confusedly asked.

"I have feelings for you back then, not only as a friend but more than a friend. I am too coward and scared to confess to you." He seriously said.

I laughed in disbelief and got myself teary-eyed.

"I lied again for telling you I have a girlfriend because I know you already moved on to me, and I don't want to confuse your feelings with your man. I knew I was too late, and I had already been defeat without fighting my feelings." He continued.

"So … you were telling m-me, all those things I found out about you before was true?" I blankly confirmed to him.

"Yes, all those things that you found out before were true. I admitted I was planning it. To court and date you because I like you too. My mother knows about it. I'm a coward. I hurt you by telling you, you are my friend and ugly, but I didn't mean to tell you that. I was just scared, Ace. I know I am too late to tell you my true feelings. Please forgive me for hurting you before. And I'm sorry, Ace. I regretted not telling you anything before. I'm so sorry." He hugged me.

I was too weak to push him away from me, and I cried on his chest.

"Thank you, Joe, for hurting me before. Thank you for sharing my heart for the guy who deserves it. Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for those memories we have been through before as a friend. If you did not do that, I could not be able to find my man now. Thank you for telling your true feelings for me, but you were too late, and you already gave the spot to guy that I didn't expect to show me, not all the guy is like you. I know he is the one for me. I hope you will find yours, too. A girl who is better than me and who meant for you." I happily said and hugged him for the last time.

"LOVE!" I heard Edge running towards us.

I smiled as I waved and held Edge's right arm while looking at Joe.

"Joe meets my boyfriend, Engineer Royce Edge Sullivan of Lennox Builder and Architectural. Love meets my high school friend, Raven Joe Larson, head manager of The Oriental Bataan." I introduced them to each other.

They shook each other hands with exchanging a dangerous looks to each other.

"It's nice to finally meet you ...my future wife's ...first love." Edge suddenly commented.

My jaw dropped, but I managed to look not shocked and smiled at them.

"Nice to meet you, dude. I hope you don't hurt her, or else, I am free to get her away from you." Joe warned with a grin.

I sighed because of the tension between them. I hate it so much. So I decided to bid my goodbye to Joe as I dragged Edge.

We went to Cocoon Restaurant. The dinner with Director Maverick. We tried the Tom Yum, Hot Prawn Salad, and Dragon Balls. We had the best night staying in The Oriental Bataan.

Before driving home, we casually bumped into Joe again in the lobby. I saw how Edge dreadful stared at him as Joe grinning while stared back at him. I constantly felt irritated with them, so I go out first. I saw when Joe says something to Edge that makes him more terrible but manages not to caused trouble in the lobby.

While driving, I constantly asked him what the problem is, but he did not say anything to me as we reached my house.