The guessing game

SHAY

It took me a whole five minutes to regain my composure. It wasn't every day that some hot-shot detective suddenly appeared out of nowhere in our apartel, twice.

"Detective Oliver." I cleared my throat. "Rafael."

The man mentioned was dressed nicely. He looked… very... charming. And there was the issue of the bouquet of blue roses.

If he was here to sweep me off my feet, it was definitely working.

The only downside was, I was in my pajamas. I somehow felt exposed.

"I had to see you." Detective Oliver said, eyeing Stella, who appeared to be uninterested, busily typing on her phone in the far corner of the kitchen but whom I knew was openly eavesdropping.

Yet, behind the grand gesture, I could sense the hidden agenda behind this surprise visit.

Detective Oliver wasn't here just to sweep me off my feet. After yesterday's revelation, I had the right to be suspicious.

I don't care if Stella would think that his motives were purely because of me. It was clearly debatable.

"And why is that?"

"I made a dinner reservation. There's something of great importance that I need to tell you." Privately, I mentally added the term.

Whatever he had to say, Stella was not allowed to hear it.

There was a hint of urgency in his voice, which instantly dispelled the idea of shooing him away from my head.

"Just give me a moment." I inched my way towards the pretending-I'm-not-here companion of mine.

"Wardrobe emergency." I whispered in Stella's ears before I could change my mind about coming with the Detective to his so-called 'reservation.'

"I thought you'd never ask." She whispered right back, dragging me towards the bedroom without a moment's hesitation.

Once the door was shut and we were out of Detective Oliver's sight, she mouthed an 'oh my gosh' and silently squealed, jumping up and down.

"He's so freaking hot. If I didn't have a boyfriend, I'd be all over him." I stared at Stella, helping myself not to cringe.

"I'm grateful that you're not single and fully committed to your relationship."

"Oh, you don't know the half of it, babe. Anyway, enough about that. You need to look absolutely perfect tonight. I am so excited."

I sometimes wish that I could just switch lives with Stella. She was a free spirit. She always seemed happy. She quickly finds her motivation whenever she has those dark days.

I wish I never had these secrets to begin with.

Maybe, just maybe… I could actually allow myself to like Detective Oliver.

--

RAFAEL

I don't think I could ever look at Shay Zephanie the same way ever again. At least, not after tonight.

Though I prefer her pajamas than the midnight blue cocktail dress that revealed the curves that she was hiding, I can't deny that she looked absolutely stunning.

"Wow." I said, unable to help myself.

"Pick up your jaw off of our floor, Detective. You have her for the entire evening." I watched Shay Zephanie nudge her friend, her cheeks flushing.

"You clean up nice, Shay." I said, wanting to alleviate her discomfort.

She smiled.

"Thanks. I couldn't wear my pajamas to the dinner with you looking like that, can I?" I wanted to tell her that it wouldn't have mattered.

However, I'd rather not let her know I liked her pajamas better than the dress she was wearing or that would send a wrong message.

"Right. Shall we then?" I extended a hand towards her as a gentlemanly gesture, making things seem reasonable in front of her too eager friend.

She gently slipped her hands in mine. It fit perfectly.

"For you." I gave her the bouquet, which was selected by Tori. I made a mental note to thank her later.

Shay Zephanie accepted the bouquet, admiring the well-arranged roses which complimented her dress before handing it over to her friend, Stella.

"My favorite color is blue." That was an unexpected response, but I found myself liking it better than the 'thank you,' which I had anticipated.

"It suits you." Shay Zephanie smiled for the second time around. I felt my heart flutter and caught myself, thinking how beautiful she looked when she was genuinely happy.

Her friend, Stella, cleared her throat. I was grateful for the distraction.

"Move along, lovebirds. You don't have all night to chit-chat. Some things are better off expressed differently other than talking." It took point zero five seconds for my brain to process what she meant.

I took that as our cue to leave before she blurted out some other 'ways' that would make this dinner date more awkward than it already was.

Once we were out of earshot, I had to remind myself of the real reason why I came all the way here. Again.

"I'm sorry for another sudden intrusion, Shay. I should have called you first. That would have been more convenient than the unannounced visit."

Shay Zephanie remained quiet as we stepped inside the elevator. Apparently, she might have been aware of that particular detail.

"There was no way you could have called me." Of course, that was a stupid statement. I have yet to ask for her number.

"Right, I haven't thought of that." I admitted.

"What is it this time, Detective?" Just like yesterday, she sure was serious about being straightforward and no stalling.

I should probably make a mental note of that to make sure I don't get on her bad side. It wouldn't do me any good if that ever happens.

"We have reasons to believe that Marcus Zephanie is not dead." Her expression remained stoic. All the smiley-friendly aurae was definitely gone.

I'm beginning to accept my assumption that she was indeed an expert in masking her emotions. I supposed it took her years of practice and self-discipline.

I'm amazed.

"Of course, you already know that, didn't you?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Pick your guess." As expected, she wouldn't simply give me a direct answer.

Unless I find something that she has yet to know of, I will have to play the guessing game with Shay Zephanie.

I just hope that I have made the right choice in undergoing all the trouble of winning her over. Because if this won't work, my plans of catching Marcus and X, would all be for nothing.