3 Strangers

DYANNE

Alex’s brow arches, probably the first reaction or acknowledgement he has given me since we met today. I realize quickly what that means, and despite wanting to be anywhere near him, I force my legs to make their way into the elevator.

I can decide to turn around and pretend I didn't see him, but I don't do that.

For reasons I also would like to know.

The door slides closed, and the elevator begins moving.

The silence in the elevator is sickening, almost so bad that I feel nauseous. My feet won't stop tapping the floor on their own will, and his name hangs on the tip of my lips.

Is this what guilt feels like? Is this what it feels like when criminals see their victims?

I sigh as I press my thumbnail into my palm to keep myself from saying anything weird. Just a few more seconds and I'll be out of this suffocating space.

I steal a glance at his way. I almost don't notice the stiffness of his shoulder or the way he clenches his jaw—just exactly how he used to when he was mad.

Does he hate me that much?

“Alex,” his name spills out of my lips in nothing softer than a whisper. My heart is beating wildly against my chest, my stomach knotted in anxiety as I wait to crack a reaction from him. And when he finally does, I almost lose my courage. The way his brows narrow as he turns to stare at me, the floor suddenly feels too hot to stand on. I take a deep breath and speak anyway.

“How have you been?“

This time, he fully turns to look at me, and I swear for a moment there is a slight spark of surprise in his eyes. I swallow nothing.

Am I off to a good start?

“What?“ His voice, thick and hoarse, resounds in the enclosed space.

My face heats up. This isn't the first time I'm listening to him speak in the past ten years, but it is the first time he is talking to me after so long, so I try to play it cool—even though I'm far from being so.

“I mean, it's been a while since we saw each other, and I'm curious to know how you've been. I know you're taking over the company soon, and really, that's good for you. I just—”

“Ms. Collins,” he cuts me off firmly. I take in a sharp breath as my eyes hold his. I don't know what disappoints me more, that he's addressing me with such formality or the nonexistent trace of familiarity in his eyes.

“If there's anything you'd like to know about the company or me as your boss, refer to Mrs. Adams,”

“I do not entertain or answer any personal questions from my employees...“ he trails off as his eyes narrow down on me. I take a step away unconsciously.

“I'm sorry, I—” I trail off. What exactly am I apologizing for? For leaving? For wanting to know how he's doing when I turned away first?

The corner of his lips turns up slightly in response.

“Especially when they are strangers,” he adds.

I had thought everything that he's said up till now had hurt me enough, but the words that just came out of his lips are like a dagger, piercing through the innermost part of my heart. I never thought it would hurt as much as it does now.

I blink back tears as the sound of the elevator seeps through the silence his words had resulted in.

I watch as Alex turns away from me, and as soon as the door slides open, he steps out.

I've heard enough from Alex; everything he's done up till now hints at the fact that he doesn't want anything to do with me, so I should give it up, right?

I fail to successfully convince myself that because the next second, I'm stepping out of the elevator and catching up with him.

“Alex”

For a moment it feels like he's going to ignore me, but he catches me off guard when he stops and turns to me.

“I'd be lying if I said you don't recognize me,” I say right away.

He takes a step forward. “You're right,”

“W-what?“ I blink back in surprise at his straight response.

I mean, I know he still recognizes me; my looks haven't changed that much. I just wasn't expecting him to admit it this way.

He tilts his head a bit like he is thinking of his next words. As I've recently grown to notice, his face doesn't give off anything.

“But what does that change?“

When I don't reply, he scoffs. “I thought as much,”

And the next second he's walking away. But I don't go after him this time because anger has taken over me.

I'm pissed. At him, but more at myself. For acting so desperate. I burned the bridge years ago, and I should leave it that way.

If he's going to go that path, I'll gladly walk it with him. After all, I wasn't a coward to disappear without telling him first, and everything I did, I did for the best for both of us.

I swipe at the tears that stained my cheeks as I turn around.

I just have to never come across him again or do anything that warrants an interaction with Alex until my time here is up. Which will be hard because of my position, but it's not the first time, is it?

A few hours later…

“Ready to leave?“ David asks as he pulls back his chair and gets on his feet. I nod once. Crumpling the paper in my hand, I toss it into the bin.

I pick up my bag while getting on my feet.

“Let's go,”

He throws me a smile as we walk out of the office.

“You didn't have to wait for me,” I say quietly as we walk towards the elevator.

He chuckles. “It's our first day, but you're already working overtime,”

I mean, I don't have a choice. I must do what I must to survive. And it's not like it's an entirely new job; I'm continuing where I dropped off.

Just as the elevator door closes, my phone beeps. I smile when I see the text and who it's from. I send a quick reply and tuck my phone away.

…

“I'm meeting a friend for dinner. You can go ahead first.”

David peers down at me with a slight frown.

“A friend?“

“I thought I was your only friend?“

I roll my eyes, fighting the urge to smile. “It's Rose,”

He nods once. “Tell her I say hi,”

“Of course. I'll be on my way.”

I have just taken a few steps away when he speaks up again.

“It's going to rain later tonight. Be home early,”

I feel my heart speed up a little, but I try to steady it. I give my palm a little pinch.

“Uhm, yeah, bye,” I barely mutter as I make my way through the exit.

It isn't until I'm in the cab to Rose's place that I feel myself again.

***

“Why are we here?“ I deadpan.

Rose gives me the most sheepish smile as she turns her whole body to me.

“You wouldn't come if I told you what it was,”

My eyes flickered to the banner behind her.

GreenHigh 2015 set reunion.

I physically hold myself from reaching out to rub my temples.

My eyes dart back to my best friend, Rose, and even though I want to get mad at her for bringing me here, I can't. I can't really get mad at Rose; I know all she does, she does for me. But not just this time. It's not that I'm scared to meet my ex-classmates again, but what if Alex comes here? What if people ask about us?

I had just suddenly left back then, no explanation. After the night I broke up with Alex, he called again. Of course, I ignored it and was gone before he knew it. It was cowardly of me to come back here, but again, we must do what we must to survive.

“Are you scared Alex will be here?“ Rose's voice cuts through my thoughts. I snap my eyes back to her. She recoils a bit at my sharp glare but continues speaking.

“He won't. He's going to be CEO soon; he's too busy for a reunion“

I feel a pang of jealousy hit me. Of course, he is. He's got his life all put together, unlike someone I know—me.

“Besides, you two have been the only ones not in attendance for our previous reunion,”

“Well, I'm here now. What if he comes?”

She rolls her eyes and turns around, then back at me.

“Well, he's not here now.”

“Why are you even scared? You work together,”

I throw her a glare.

“Sorry,” she shrugs with a grin.

***

“I'm going to kill Rose some day,” I murmur to myself as I make my way out of the restaurant.

I have just taken a few steps away from the door when my eyes catch a familiar figure walking up to the door. Our eyes meet in a second, and in that moment, my body freezes, my throat burning up as painful memories begin to resurface, but most of all, at the very top is anger and hatred.