6. DEJA VU

Eric and Daniele's mood is still not improving after going through a long debate about the rumors that befell their company. As a result, Zoe was forced to accept the lunch menu she hated the most. Nigiri Sushi.

Sushi served with rice topped with chunks of raw fish: salmon, tuna, squid, eel, or octopus. Zoe really had to fight against the fishy smell when she put the food in her mouth in the name of being uncomfortable, because she solved all the problems on her own.

"So what did you do with that jerk last night?" 

Daniele pointed at Zoe who was on his right side with the chopsticks pinned in his left hand.

Eric rolled his eyes when he heard Daniele's question sounding so ridiculous.

"Disgusting, Daniele," said Eric annoyed. "We're in the middle of lunch"

Zoe chuckled as she shifted her dinner plate in front of Daniele. "It's brunch for me. And I hate all this fishy smelling food, Daniele, Eric." It's rough. "Give me a hotdog with extra mustard, please!"

Daniele again shifted the 3 pieces of Nigiri Sushi in front of Zoe. "Here's your hotdog for today, sweetie."

Daniele took the piece that was in the middle and shoved it into Zoe's mouth, which was open as she was about to utter some curses.

Zoe closed her eyes as a piece of fresh salmon slipped into her mouth. With great difficulty she had to chew and swallow it, because, if she dared to throw it up let alone throw it away, her two best friends would lecture at length about how bad people are to waste food.

"Good." said Daniele and Eric at the same time.

The two of them chuckled softly before Eric finally returned to enjoying his Sashimi, and Daniele who had just devoured the last bit of his Nigiri shifted his seat to face Zoe on his right.

"So... You didn't sleep with him, did you?" said Daniele.

The intonation is relaxed but deep. His sharp glare managed to change the annoying atmosphere Zoe was facing. In an instant she looked like a rapist about to be judged.

Zoe shook her head and rolled her eyes as the man to her left continued to question her.

"I've never been with anyone, guys. That is something you are aware of." As a concluding sentence, Zoe mentioned an asymmetrical smile.

"But they —" Eric interjected with a chuckle. Eric gestured with his chopsticks to the room's far right corner.

A large table was filled with wealthy men in ties who appeared to be engaged in some sort of conversation. Everything appeared normal, and there was no reason to be suspicious of the group of attractive men on the other end of the line. However, when they heard a name they had called, the mood changed.

"They're bragging and defending about how they fuck you, Zoe." Eric placed his chopsticks hastily on the table.

The owner of the deep baritone voice appeared exasperated to hear his best friend's name mentioned in the qualityless ribbing of the men in ties, whom Zoe had dated some time ago.

Eric stood up from the wooden chair he was sitting in, his hands clenched in rage, as the conversation at the table became noisy and uncertain.

When Eric was willing to turn and look at her, Zoe immediately grabbed one of Eric's hands and rubbed it with a small smile.

"It's all right. They do not even deserve to talk about me like that." Zoe spoke quietly.

Eric shook his head. "You didn't even sleep with them, Zoe," Eric emphasized. "Shouldn't I shut them up?"

"No, Eric. Don't." Eric's annoyance drew a small nod from Zoe.

Eric was only trying to straighten her out and defend her, she realized. It's just that it's not necessary. Because no one will care and no one will believe all of his rebuttals.

Daniele stood up from his seat and walked past Zoe in the next split second. And, once again, with all her agility, she managed to catch one of Daniele's hands—just as she had done with Eric before.

"It's all right, Daniele, Eric." Zoe examined the expressions of her two best friends in turn. "I've got this. You two please sit."

Zoe waltzed—carrying her legs over to a large table with a group of handsome men who were none other than the ex she'd dated in a short time—after successfully ordering Daniele and Eric to their respective places.

"Hi?" Zoe addressed and inspected the four men in front of her one by one.

The four men appeared nervous as they suddenly realised the woman they were describing earlier was in the same room they were in.

"Hi, Waisglass," the four men said in unison.

Zoe couldn't help but tug at the corners of her lips, forming a smile as her ears caught the greeting, which sounded like a group of choirs harmonizing.

Her full name is Zoe Waisglass. She never let the men she dated call her by her first name, Zoe.

It's too personal for her when someone who isn't close to her refers to her by her first name. Despite the fact that they were labeled as boyfriends, Zoe never considered them to be a part of her home.

Boyfriends are just a place to have fun and play. Never more than that—at least not yet.

"So, other than eating sushi, what are you guys up to?" Zoe alternated between looking at the plates and the men in front of her. "Should I give you the sperm you spilled in my mouth?"

"What?" said the four men in unison, their eyes wide. 

Zoe laughed at all the surprises her four ex-boyfriends had in store for her.

"Hello, girls," Zoe said to the four sexy-dressed women who had just arrived at the table where she was standing.

"Excuse me, who the hell is this girl?" said the tallest woman to the bald man who was pressing his right shoulder against the restaurant's wall.

Zoe opened her mouth again, feeling a void. "Oh? So you're the bald guy's date?" half-jokingly asked Zoe.

Zoe quickly silenced the tall woman as she was about to open her mouth.

"Listen, if you're looking for a guy who can satisfy you, he's not the best option," Zoe explained.

In the next split second, Zoe approached, tiptoeing into the tall girl's ear and whispering another sentence.

"He's impotent. Just for your consideration." Zoe finished her sentence with a chuckle and a seductive glance as her emerald beads met the girl in front of her slanted eyes.

"Hey, Waisglass!" rebuked the bald.

The bald-headed man spontaneously rose from his seat, his gray eyes bulging perfectly as he looked at Zoe.

Zoe winked seductively, flashing the asymmetrical smile she always wears when dealing with humans she finds annoying.

In the next split second, Zoe shifted her focus to the three other girls to the right and left of the tall girl.

"I just wanted to let you know. That black man over there will always record your activities in bed and share the video with other assholes in his group chats. Then there's the redhead, who always screams like a hungry horse when he's dealing with you. And he has a slanted eye. When you spend the night with him, you should always keep any ointment or medicine in your bag." Zoe gave a lengthy explanation to the three women who were staring at her with disregard.

And the three males she described as shameful remained still, unable to respond to Zoe's confrontational tone.

"Who's laughing now?" Zoe inquired.

When Zoe's emerald eyes caught the harsh glares of the four males she had just given a crushing blow to in front of the girls they appeared to be about to date, she sent a defiant defiance glare.

"Thank me later," she touched one of the four females across from her on the shoulder.

As she stood up and went to her table, Zoe waved her hand toward Daniele and Eric, who appeared to be about to leave the Japanese restaurant.

"Hey? You're a bunch of savages." Eric added his two cents. "As usual."

When Eric made an honest remark to Zoe, she just chuckled. Daniele, on the other hand, raised his right thumb and left palm in front of Zoe, giving her a high five in the air.

After making their payment, the trio hurriedly exited the establishment and returned to the building where they worked a block away.

"You're actually telling their weakness without actually sleeping with them, Zoe," Eric remarked bluntly, as he always does.

Zoe chuckled and shrugged her shoulders, unconcerned that she had never slept with any of the four males.

"At the very least, Eric, I can deal with my difficulties without your fists," Zoe replied quickly.

Zoe, who was sandwiched between Eric and Daniele, grasped two strong arms on her right and left and swayed smugly, her head resting on Daniele's biceps.

"Listen," Zoe said. "Thank you for always looking after me. However, I am capable of handling any situation. Okay?"

Zoe raised her eyes to the two men on her right and left who appeared to be interested in keeping their mouths shut on purpose.

"Hey?" remarked Zoe, as she awaited Eric and Daniele to say something.

"Zoe, are you sure you don't want to be in a serious relationship with the nice guy you're dating?" Daniele inquired suddenly.

Zoe hurriedly shook her head. "No. I'm capable of looking after myself."

"But you need us!" Eric exclaimed.

Those white guys looked to their right, to Zoe, who was also looking at him with her right brow arched.

"You guys have taken it to the next level. Of course, I needed your and Daniele's assistance." Zoe was straightforward.

"Yes. We know." Daniele reacted in the heat of a moment.

As they approached a crossroads, something attracted Zoe's eyes. Daniele and Eric, as well as a homeless-looking girl, strolled passed her.

Zoe didn't take her gaze away from the girl until she turned into a small alley between two apartment buildings. Eric and Daniele spontaneously stopped their respective steps, then swept their eyes looking for the source that attracted Zoe's attention.

"What is it?" Eric rubbed Zoe's arm while looking at her intently.

Zoe hesitated, then shook her head. "No. Just like... deja vu "softly

"So, let's get out of here, sweetie." Daniele patted Zoe's arm before bringing her leg a few steps ahead of the previous step.

Instead of following Daniele and Eric's orders, Zoe turned around after successfully removing her best friend's arms and approached the narrow alley where the girl had entered.

However, Zoe chose to turn around when she heard the door slam loudly, followed by a deep voice from a man in the small alley.

"Are you lost, baby girl?" inquired the baritone voice.

Zoe's breath caught, and she hurriedly brought her legs in front of Eric and Daniele, her tiny body trembling.

"It's him! He's coming. Help me!" Zoe said it all in one breath, sounding terrified and panicked. "Please get me out of here. I'm scared. Please get me out of here."