It was tomorrow. No, not tomorrow but today. Well, yesterday it was tomorrow but now I guess it was today. Point being, I was currently sitting in front of Enrique with a croissant in front of me. 

I didn't have time to get breakfast this morning since I was up all day looking for places to rent. I needed to get the hell out of my parents' house. I was constantly walking eggshells around them and not to mention
the repeated hints that my mother were keep throwing at me to get the hell out of her house and go back to my husband. 

Despite, I only settled on a croissant for lunch because I didn't want Enrique to think that I was a fat pig who couldn't stop stuffing her face. If he realized my skepticism, he didn't react nor comment on it.

I took a sip of the water that I got along with the croissant, looking around the cafe— just anywhere except for Enrique. He was in the middle of a phone call and I didn't want to listen in.

 When he finally ended the call, he turned his attention back towards me and sent an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry about that. Work," He provided briefly. 

Ah yes, work, that fulfilling thing that most people go to almost every day because their life had a purpose and they had worth. Yes, Enrique, I assume it must be quite tiring to run one of the largest hospitals in the state.

"It's okay," I say honestly. "Um, what did you want to talk about?"

Enrique loosened the tie around his neck a bit, trying to get comfortable in the seat judging by how his knee butted against the table due to his long legs. He seemed to think about his words, "I just wanted to make some things clear, and gain some clarity myself. I don't want there to be any misunderstandings between us."

I smiled tightly as I countered, "You don't have to—" I started but Enrique interrupted me.

"I know, but I want to," A prolonged pause and a sip of his peppermint tea — which he happened to look elegant doing— before he spoke again, "Firstly, Meghan, she's the ex-fiancée I was telling you about, the woman that accompanied me last night."

What?

Oh.

Oh.

His words were supposed to reassure me. After all, I was upstairs basically hiding in his room when she had visited and I could hear them practically chatting, laughing and flirting downstairs. Although he had made it clear that they were just that— exes — anyone who is able to date and become engaged and then break up and remain friends?— meant more to each other than they knew.

In conclusion  his words did nothing to reassure me.

"Okay," Came my lame response.

It didn't discourage him though, "Now I have a question. Are you really getting a divorce?"

I didn't hesitate, "Yeah, I am."

His response was immediate, "Why?"

I looked at him. Something tells me that he didn't care why, he only cared about one thing. Because of this, my reply either eased, or triggered his mind, "As I said before, it had nothing to do with you, Enrique."

If my answer bothered him, he showed no sign of it, probably didn't even care.

"Okay," Was his response. I couldn't detect any emotion in it. "Who are you staying with?" He asked curiously.

Before I could answer, his phone rang again but he cut it off instantly without a little glance.

"My parents," His look showed sympathy. Yes, I know.

He swiped a thumb across his lip and leaned forward so that his elbows rested on the table, "You know, you can come and stay with me for a while, it's not a problem at all."

I bit my cheek. "Um, n-no thanks," I felt my cheeks heat up at even the idea of staying with Enrique. I wanted to think that his offer meant something more, but I knew that he was aware of the problems that my parents and I faced, or use to face, and therefore I was sure that that was the only reason he even offered in the first place.

Not because he actually wanted me to stay with him.0

Even being in the same vicinity as Enrique would cause problems for me. For one, now was about me and discovering who I was without someone next to me, even if that person was Enrique, although I know he had no intentions of actually pursuing me. It was all in the kindness of his heart.

It seemed as if he wanted to push further, help an old friend out was my conclusion, but instead, he respected my answer and left it at that.

From the way he was staring at me with knitted eyebrows and a tight jaw, I know that he had something on his mind. He was a forward person (damn him for that), which meant he was going to come right out and voice his thoughts

Luckily, his phone rang once again, and interrupted him. He murmured an annoyed apology before answering. After speaking for a short while, he got off of the phone with a short huff.

"Fuck, I'm so sorry Demiah, but I have to leave, it's urgent," I wave him off just as he reaches for his blazer and throws it over his arm.

"Really, its fine," I reassure. And because I'm a walking embarrassment, I add, "I understand, you know, people dying and all."

He seemed to notice my shame at my last words, which caused him to stare amusingly at me as he pulls a couple bills out of his wallet and pays for the both of us.

I smile back awkwardly, taking a sip of my drink as I close my eyes briefly in embarrassment.

Now up from his seat and looking towards the door, he hunches over the chair so that his hands are firmly resting on it, muscles bulging through the material of his shirt, "Dinner? Next Friday night? I won't take no for an answer. My place," He tries.

I look away so that my hair could hide the blush that was forming from his insistency. It was stupidly useless since my hair was up and only two strands hung in front of my face.

"Friday sounds nice," He smiles. And it was so beautiful. I hated it. White, straight teeth and to top it off, I wish that that dimple on his right cheek would just disappear.

"Great," He beams. "Show up for real this time, would you?" He teases.

I smile awkwardly again.

'~~~~|~~~~'

I slam the door to my car, grabbing my bag and walking briskly towards the door that was in my line of sight.

Now directly in front of the door, one hand placed under the lunchbox in my hand, I use the other to fluff out my hair a bit and straighten out my outfit.

I exhale a needed breath, bouncing on the tip of my toes to relax myself as I pat my hand on the side of both of my cheeks shortly, my eyes directed upwards.

My gaze allows me to catch sight of a small object placed directly above the tall door neatly tucked in the corner. My eyebrows furrow confusedly at it for a while in curiosity before I quickly look away in the other direction, my eyes closed in blazing embarrassment.

Why must these things always happen to me? So you're telling me that each time I came to Enrique's house and subconsciously fixed my hair and attire as I did today, Enrique was basically watching me —through the camera that I was now staring right at— trying to look my best for him.

Someone shoot me now and make it painful.

I quickly move out of sight from the camera's lenses, toppling over as I stare at the ground letting out a long grunt of annoyance.

Quickly recollecting myself, I go towards the door and knock twice. I wasn't sure if I was thankful or not that Enrique took a while to. Maybe he was watching me make a fool of myself through his camera and he couldn't withstand his laughter. However, when the door opened, he hardly looked amused.

In fact, he was possibly the opposite. He looked a little nervous as he quickly opened the door and gestured for me to come in, his hand moving to the bowtie that was loosely hanging around his neck.

With two buttons undone, hair a tousled mess, and cufflinks unclipped, Enrique's hand working swiftly to fix himself but failing.

He stopped for a quick moment to acknowledge me, taking the dessert that I brought from my hands. "Sorry, Demiah," He leaned forward to gently kiss my cheek, "You look beautiful." He rushed to the kitchen, still in my sight.

I blushed, "You didn't even look at me properly," I joked.

He placed my dessert on the counter, looking back to meet my eyes for a short while as he gave a short, careless shrug, "You always look beautiful, Demiah."

There goes a blush again, "Why are you in such a rush?" Only now did I realise that the kitchen was in disarray, but boy did it smell good.

He huffed, "I had to go in the the hospital early this morning. I got back not too long ago," He explained. I sat at the island.

"Well, you could have called and cancelled, I would've understood," I reasoned as I watched him stir the pot that was on the stove.

"I know you wouldn't have minded, but I would have," He explained. "It's fine, food'll just take a bit longer, so sorry about that," He apologizes.

I nod in understanding, waving him off, "Seriously, it's fine." I say as he moves back to fix himself once again.

I shake my head over his fumbling hands, getting up from the stool to round the island to stand in front of Enrique in the kitchen. I shake my head in amusement as I shove away Enrique's hands and replace them with my own, tie a perfect knot until his attire was fixed. Running a gentle hand through his hair, I fix the mess on his head, my eyes ignoring how Enrique was staring directly at my face.

I stand back to admire my work, feeling a bit underdressed as I stare how how immaculate Enrique stood in front of me. Why was he so goddamn handsome?

"Yeah?" He questioned as he spread his arms up so that I could properly see him. 

I nod my head, trying to refrain from blushing, "Yeah, all fixed."

He smiles a breathtaking smile at me as he pulls his blazer closer to his form. Releasing a tired huff, his eyes slowly rake down and afterward, back up my form before he places his hands lowly on his hips and lets out a low whistle with a shake of his head

"Welp, you were right, I didn't look at you and now I was proven wrong. You don't look beautiful at all," He says disappointedly as if he was very upset that I hadn't meet up with his standards.

I bite my cheek, looking down at my figure and the clothes that I wore. I was in a blue body fitting dress with a sweetheart neckline with a matching blue purse and white heels. I knew that I never should have worn it. No matter how much I sucked in my stomach, there was still a lump of fat protruding through the front of the dress.

My teeth rubbed together as I stumbled for words to say. However, he cut in before I could get anything out, "You look absolutely gorgeous."

I bit down on my top lip, looking down at the floor. I was never usually at the lost for words, nor would I describe myself as shy but for some reason, I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. There was a large part of me that was bothered by how dejected I felt when I heard what Enrique first said. I shouldn't care what Enrique thought of me, especially with having to put up with Titus for years on end.

"Thank you," I sputtered. He didn't seem to realize the effect his words had on me.

"So," He clasped his hands loudly. "I'll grab the wine."

'~~~~|~~~~'

I wipe the wine from the corner of my lips that slipped out as I hold back an unattractive snort, "Ugh, stop it," I threw my head back and laughed. "You're gonna make me drop my glass."

Enrique released a deep chuckle as well, his head falling back to rest on the back of the sofa. His eyes were glazed over because he had quite the few glasses of wine. Not to mention he switched to whiskey in between.

I only had about two glasses as I had to drive home soon.

Enrique was telling me about his first few embarassing experiences as an intern at the hospital. I just never expected someone as calm and collected as Enrique was now, to be such a clutz before. I suppose he was a bit clumsy when we were together.

He hummed, rubbing a hand over his face, "Fuck, I was so scared, I was obviously the oldest intern there."

I laughed again, but quieter this time, releasing short giggles in between as I thought about the experience again.

Now staring at the ceiling, Enrique rolled his head over to face me, Adam's apple in the air and a lazy smile on his lips.

I tilt my head to the side in a reprimanding manner, my lips in an open-mouthed smile. "Oh, come on, don't look at me like that."

His smile grows lazier, his bottom lip rolling between his teeth. I don't think it was suppose to seduce me, but it did just that.

"Look at you like what?" He says right before his eyes flutter close and a satisfied smile takes over his lips.  His eyelashes kissed his cheeks as he relaxed more into the sofa. I prop my elbow on the back of the couch "I really missed you, Miah," He then murmurs in his serene state.

I found myself smiling gently at his relaxed state, and when I replied with, "I missed you too," A bit of red tinted his cheek.

Like a shy little boy, he murmured, "How much?" His body moved closer to mine on the couch as he fully turned to face me.

I snickered good-heartedly, "You're drunk, Enrique."

He hums, "I'm not," He denies.

I shake my head in amusement as I grab my bag next to us, "Let's get you upstairs, hm?" I smile.

I get up, my eyes trailing to the dishes that we left on the table. Enrique was still sitting on the couch with his back slouched and legs spread wide apart, so without much thought, I begin to the clear the table.

Upon hearing the clitter and clattering of dishes, Enrique got up without a sway as he held on to my wrist, "Oh, no, Demiah, you dont have to do that."

I shake my head, "No, seriously, it's fine. You cooked and so I can deal with the dishes," I justifed as I try to retract my hand from his grip, both of our plates already in my hand.

"Demiah," He tries again.

In a singsong voice, i mimick, "Enrique."

His voice goes lower as he comes closer to me, his hand moving from my wrist, but his fingertips trailing lesiurely up the length of my arm. In what I doubted was supposed to be a seductive, but was anyway, "Demiah,"

Carelessly, my response came in a breathless murmur as his hand stopped at the side of my face, his thumb gently rubbing over my lip, "Enrique."

His eyes fluttered as he looked at me intently.

The dishes shook in my hand.

It was barely visible, but just for a short while, his tongue shot out shortly and licked his bottom lip between his teeth.

I noticed it.

The fly in the corner noticed it.

The ant on the table noticed it.

The nosy neighbour looking through her window noticed it.

Everyone noticed it because it was just too damn sexy.

His eyes seemed to sober up as he grabbed the cutlery from my hand and placed them back on the table.

He pressed his body against me and I faltered in my stance. This again... why was it so hard for me to resist him?

"Why do you keep fighting this?" He stressed. "I really want to give you your space, Demiah, I do, but..." His breath fanned my face, his lips hovered over my own.

My voice trembled as I released a shaky breath.

I held onto his wrist on my cheek, "No buts," I said softly. "I need to figure myself out Enrique, without Titus and... without you,"

His head drooped before he looked up and released a sad smile, "And then?" He asked softly, hopefully.

"Then... I'll try to live my life," If my answer was unsatisfactory to Enrique, he didn't show it. Instead he smiled, almost encouragingly.

His hand moved from my face and used a finger to slowly tuck a hair between my ear, "My Demiah," He whispered. His body swayed a bit as he continued to tuck fallen strands of hair behind my ear.

I smiled softly, taking Enrique's hand and interlacing his fingers between mine. I quickly licked my lips and leaned closer to him, fixing his bowtie once again.

Dyring our conversation, he had gotten more relaxed and opted on untying my hard work, leave the material to hang around his neck.

He watches the action mesmerized.

My teeth sank down on my bottom lip before I reached up and slowly kissed Enrique, his lips momentarily responding to the quick but sensual action. When I pulled away, Enrique's eyes were closed for a moment longer before he fluttered them open.

Unfortunatelt, my next words caused his shoulders to slump defeatedly, his lips parting and eyes widening just a bit. Such simple words meant so much, and we both knew the significance and impact of them, "Goodbye, Enrique."

Like a scene from a movie, my hand slowly slipped from his as I looked back at him one last time.

As I opened the door and walked towards my car and drove off, my heart felt heavy, but my shoulders felt light and I somehow enjoyed the feeling.

'~~~~|~~~~'

Word Count: 3112

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~TheOfficialSinner