"Did you come here willingly or was Abs' life depends on it?" Milla asked cynically.

"So, you are intrigued," I gave a smug. We headed for the outdoor stairs that were connected to the terrace leading down towards the back garden.

"Things have escalated since the last time I saw you. So, yeah I was curious," Milla affirmed. "So, what debt did you owe to Nick?"

"For believing that he's the antagonist to Abs story," I replied. "When all along Abs is the villain to mine." I left a pause for some response but Milla looked down at the stairs we were plodding. "I was expecting 'I told you so' from you."

"Nah, I'll pass," Milla answered. "Your conscious is already aware that Abs' a jackass, it's just what your heart said otherwise. So, what happened to Abs now?"

We reached the bottom of the stairs and walked on the grass areas towards the canopy. Our breaths fogged up to visible wisps of smoke.

"I don't know, he can go to hell for all I care," I shrugged bitterly. Milla turned to face me, raising her right eyebrow indicating she was confused. "We broke up," I clarified.

"So you came to Nick for redemption? Or for rebound?" she interrogated.

Her questions caused me to hold my breath, feeling that she was piecing some puzzles in her head. Was she sensing my initial intention to my newfound friendship? Or was she genuinely asking because those were the possible missing links?

"I just want to establish a treaty to clear off my debt," I responded. "That's my new year's resolution."

"Okay. I hope you meant what you said," Milla said in a relief tone. "Not that I am judging but he has gone through a lot of heartbreak trusting people. It made him to become the person he wasn't."

"How was he any different?" I asked. I was aware that Nick's outer layer was as hard as a deadly battle tank but inside he's just a caring person. He's into narcotics but with a heart of Robin Hood.

"You'll know him better once you get to know him," Milla replied. "As a matter of fact, I think you might be the right person for it."

"For what?" I asked warily.

We entered an enclosed reception area outside the marquee and resume our discussion.

"You need to talk him through his inner self, let him open up to you," Milla suggested. "And make him quit his racketeering job. Maybe he could give in to peer pressure."

"No, he told me it wasn't that simple," I shook my head.

"So he'll continue killing people?" Milla widened her eyes at me. "That place is making him sick, he's not that sort of guy. You need to take him out of there."

"It's risky for me to do it," I excused. "Why don't you talk him through? You two are best friends."

"I'm out of touch, ZJ. Besides, you're his soft spot," Milla pointed out. "Something that I didn't have. And he looks at you differently too."

"How different? He looks at everybody the same."

"Nick's not a quick-tempered guy, he just acted that way to daunt people. Agree?" she said. "But what happened back there was a different Nick I've never seen before. Even you and I felt it too."

I agree to this. What happened earlier was real and he was genuinely angry. But I would presume that it was fuelled by the presence of Idris Elba dupe causing him to feel uncomfortable. And being a supporter for equality like me, bias treatment to a non-drinker even by an effeminate waiter could cause him to cringe.

"But ZJ, if you have any other intention involving your own selfish gain, I urge you to pull out immediately because I don't want to see him hurt anymore," Milla casted a worried look at me and smiled. "So, when will you two getting hitched?"

I choked in surprise by her unexpected question. "I don't date my boss. It's against my principle."

"Some principles are manmade which can be ignored if your heart tells you, right?" she smirked cunningly."

"What about you? Was your life story not as accelerated as mine?" I changed the subject.

Milla laughed to this and drew her breath to reply, "Besides my new found passion for preloved businesses, not really."

"Is there anyone else in your life?" I asked further.

"Why would you want to know? Not that it matters."

"I just want to make sure that you are happy," I shrugged.

"Some happiness can be found when you are alone, ZJ. You should know that." She shifted her attention to the noise inside the marquee before turning to me. "Do you want to have another dance for old time sake?"

"For all time sake," I echoed.

The marquee was raving with songs from Anne Marie, Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran and Stormzy and strobe light flashing rhythmically through spaces inside this partially dimmed tent. Milla pulled me to the dance floor and let the music beat lifted our souls to move around with other raging crowd. We were reliving our last summer moments together with her hand in mine gyrating to slow and fast beats of soundwaves as we bopping our heads together in unison.

And when the songs slowed its tempo to 'Silence' by Marshmello and Khalid, I wrapped my arms around her and grooved from left to right. All the rackets around us didn't bother me. Just me, Milla and the music. I felt elated once more, I felt carefree and most of all I was ready to let go of Abs and everything about him.

After much partying, we were down to 10 more minutes to 12.00 midnight. The host went on psych us up on the countdown with much cheering and shouting for the new year and everyone returned the cheer. Then he led us into singing the 'Auld Lang Syne' where we sang our hearts out in synchronised manner despite some off tune shouting and shrieking coming from behind. That didn't matter, the crowd was exuberant. A couple of minutes to count down as we fixed our eyes at the digital clock behind the host. After the host expressed gratitude to a long list of their sponsors, we began to count the seconds in reverse.

"Six, five, four, three, two... one! Happy New Year!"

The popping sounds of confetti burst from the stage startled me. Then I heard fireworks crackle outside. Some ran out to observe, some were hugging each other and couples were kissing. I took Milla by the hand as we walked out of the tent to witness the spiralling sparkles in the dark sky. As one faded, another jet spinning splatter shot up to the sky and popped out a shimmering off-white pink blaze of fires before it dispersed into air, followed by another set of glittering glow in green and blue coiled up in the sky.s we both looked up to the sky. Then, she turned her gaze at me, the deep grey iris encircling her large pupils went deeply into mine. She was sensuously stunning. I bit my bottom lip, trying to grasp her every beauty that warmed my heart.

Without hesitation, I asked her, "For all time's sake?"

"For all time sake," she understood immediately and permitted.

Then I placed my palm gently on her nape, stroking with my thumb and tilted my head closer to hers. She casted her eyes downwards to my lips as I pressed them onto hers just long enough for me to taste the warmth of her skin and the sweet juice of caipirinha from her tongue. Then she moved her tongue into a deeper sensual kiss that she longed for. I didn't fight this time, it was the kiss she had earned and the kiss she deserved.