The news about Dean's and Susie's breakup still hung heavy in my head.

I wasn't sure what to feel about the fact that I was the constant reason for the downfall of Dean's love life. Every girl who wanted to date him exclusively had to accept me as if I was attached by the hip to him as if we were a package deal. But no girl could handle that. Even Susie, the person he'd ever truly fallen in love with at some point, also the girl who had put up with his antics for far too long, decided to leave.

The buzzing phone in my pocket pulled me out of my thoughts, throwing me back to the campus library.

Old Fart: Still at the library?

Me: Yes. Almost done. Sup?

Old Fart: Dinner?

Dinner meant we were going to order food and eat it at his place. One thing led to another and I would probably leave his place at eight in the morning.

Me: Just dinner. No funny business.

Old Fart: Ouch. You poked where it hurts.

Me: I'm serious. Need to see my advisor tomorrow and I haven't got the shit done. I can't stay long.

Old Fart: It's fine :) Call me when you're ready.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket as I watched Dean talk to a tall blonde who he probably met at one of those parties. They sat next to my table, whispering at each other but I could easily listen to them given how quiet the room was. He went along with the flirt she insinuated but when she came up with the idea of hitting a food truck together, he winced.

"Can I take a rain check?" Dean glanced at me. "I need to give Jen a lift home tonight."

Okay. That was fast. Back in the days, Dean often used me as an escape if he was not interested enough in the girls. But most of the time, he would keep me hidden for a while, at least until he was done messing around with them a bit. Was she that bad? Or did Dean find this game not fun anymore?

When Bree frowned, I interjected. "Oh no, you don't need to give me a lift today. My boyfriend is picking me up." I cringed inwardly when I said the taboo word out loud, but it was worth it.

Dean narrowed his eyes at me, but I stared back at him innocently, stifling my laugh. Payback is bitch.

Eating Chinese take-out while devouring it on the couch was the plan. Blake and I had been seeing each other for almost two months now but we only used his dining table once. It was when he decided to cook for my birthday.

I smiled at the memory. I came to his place on Friday night just to find his dining table was already decorated; a red plaid table runner, a couple of dinner candles, a silver ice bucket for the Champagne bottle, and two balloons tied up at the corner of the table. He made stuffed chicken with baked potatoes and mixed veggies. It was a simple meal but he went through all the trouble to cook for me.

Sadly, it was only a one-time thing, but I couldn't complain because it would be dangerous for my plan to be casual with him.

My thesis was going through its final revision, and next week I would be submitting it for the final test where a group of professors would be appointed to rip me off during the presentation. It was mind-blowingly scary but it was the ticket to my graduation, the door to my dream life.

"My presentation is probably in three weeks."

"That's fast." Blake frowned. "Are you even ready for that?"

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter if I take it now or later in June. I will never be ready. I just want to get it done."

Blake nodded. "True." He absentmindedly stabbed a chunk of chicken with his fork before bringing it into his mouth.

Blake was quieter and rather occupied lately. It must have had something to do with the problems he was dealing with the approaching date of his business launch. Silently, we resumed eating while our eyes were on the TV screen. A stupid talk show was playing and I had no idea why we were watching it.

Once we finished our food, I brought our trash to the bin and washed the cutlery we used. Since Blake refused to share the dinner bill, cleaning up was the least I could do. I sauntered to the couch with two puddings in my hands before snuggling back next to him.

"What's your plan after graduation?"

"Get a job of course."

"I mean, don't you want to have a break or go on a vacation before diving into a boring working life?"

I bit my inner cheek. "Nah, I don't think I'm going to do that."

"What kind of job are you interested in then?"

"I'm not sure yet but I'm aiming for a Management Trainee program. There I can learn what my strong points are before deciding what's best for my lifetime career."

"There are not a lot of companies offering that program here."

"I know," I replied, chugging down the rest of my chocolate pudding. "I've been checking some MT openings and none of them are from around here. But beggars can't be choosers, can they? Going to start applying once I pass the final presentation."

Blake didn't respond right away, taking his time in processing my reply. "So, say you're accepted, you're going to move away?" he finally asked.

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

"But your entire life is here, your family, your friends..."

"I know."

"Yet, you're going to fly to the other side of the country alone." When he saw me nod again, he continued, "Do you have friends or maybe family there?"

He wouldn't be happy if he knew Eric lived there now. The boy would be more than happy to show me around if I asked him to, but I wasn't planning on doing that. "Not really."

"Do you know how hard that can be?"

"I know it's going to be hard. But I've been wanting to do this." I paused, thinking about what I was going to say. "To be honest, I don't even know if I'm qualified to enter the program. The competition level is high, but at least I want to try it first and see what happens. I just want to see how much I'm worth and how far I could push it, you know?" I didn't need to explain myself to him, but somehow I found his response important.

After a long thirty seconds that felt like forever, he replied, "Okay."

I bumped my shoulder toward him teasingly, trying to break the tension. "You're going to miss me, aren't you? I know I'm too awesome to forget."

Blake didn't laugh at my dry joke, not even smiled.

The next week went in a blur. My final revision was finally approved and I got my name scheduled for a presentation in the next three weeks. Had I not been occupied with the preparation to move into my mom's place, I would've been a complete nervous wreck right now. Sorting out my stuff had become my little distraction.

The mix of excitement and anxiety about the major life-changing consumed me and my whole sanity. I was indeed happy that my super-long journey called school was now almost at its finishing line. But what was there in store for me after I graduated? I had no clue. Would I be able to land the job I wanted? Or would I need to settle with the second-best? Or worse, would I end up working as an admin staff in a small company just to keep up with my bills? Man, the uncertainty sucked.

Since I was a kid, I'd always dreamed of living in a big city, having a prospective career in an established multinational company, and owning a luxurious condo with a beautiful husband who eagerly pampered me every evening. Well, at least now I could scratch the husband part. However, the big city and an excellent career were still on my list.

Anyway, Mom believed I could find a proper job around here and live my dream life. She kept stressing that with the degree I had, I got plenty of choices without having to fly to a new city, far from home. She was probably just not ready to be parted with her only daughter. Dad, on the other hand, supported my decision, but he didn't want to openly contradict my mom's opinion either.

In the beginning, Mom was subtly trying to talk me out of this big city plan. It sounded more like random friendly opinions before it escalated into a terror. I never heard the end of it now. She regularly sent me a few links to job information in town that I could consider. It bothered the crap out of me, but I couldn't bring it up to her. I hadn't even passed my final test yet, and fighting with my mom would just add extra unnecessary stress.

"I know she's worried about me. The idea of me living in a big city alone and far from her scares her. But she knows what I've been wanting since I was a kid. How can she do this to me now?" I confided in Blake while he ran his fingers over my naked back.

It was Saturday morning. After getting off the climax we just shared, we stayed longer in bed, sprawling with our legs tangled and having a pillow talk. As we both went through a hectic week, we decided to have a lazy weekend this time. Probably a lot of sleep with food and sex in between.

"And I can't confront her. Not now, because it's going to be a drama. Since the divorce, she only has her job and me. She does have friends, but she always keeps them at arm's length. I believe this was what she learned during her childhood in an orphanage: never let people in."

"That's understandable," Blake mumbled as his hand roamed dangerously low before starting to caress my bottoms.

I sighed and turned myself to lay on my back, making his hand fall on my hip before it moved up to my abdomen. "I haven't even checked all those links she sent me."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't like it. She's using her marketing trick on me now."

"Oh?"

"By repeating the same subject like a broken record. She's trying to brainwash me."

Blake raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "Are you afraid that she will change your mind?" Blake's fingers traveled up to my chest, tracing the line between the swells of my breast and resting on my chin.

"It's not that I'm afraid of it, but it's my future. She should be supporting me now, not weighing down my decision."

"Maybe she doesn't see it like that..." Blake's voice trailed off. "Maybe she just wants what's best for you, in her version."

"Maybe." I shrugged.

I turned my head to him and I was met with a pair of midnight blue eyes staring back at me. My heart leaped. Despite the exhaustion that now blanketed his face, he still had this effect on me, as if he could see right through me, caging my soul.

"How are things with the business launch? Did you sort out the problem with the team?"

Blake nodded. "Pretty much. The opening date can't be postponed. We need to roll with or without a complete team because everything has been set. Otherwise, we would suffer a big loss on the operational cost." He paused, looking hesitant to continue. "Daphne has decided to help out by the way."

"What do you mean by helping out?"

"She took the Financial and Accounting Chief position."

"She did?" I asked, trying to sound unfazed.

"Yeah." Blake broke our eye contact as he pulled the cover over my body, probably blocking his eyes from the distraction.

"What about her job?"

"She's quitting. She's been complaining about the inhuman workload her firm keeps throwing at her. She needs a break from that horrendous financial analyst job."

"Good for her then." I forced a smile.

This shouldn't bother me. Blake and his team had to take some major decisions to carry on with their company establishment plans. In a month or so, I would be out of his hair anyway. I wouldn't need to deal with the idea of Daphne seeing him every day while I only had his weekends.

For the first time, I realized the gap that grew between our worlds had become painfully lucid.

As my presentation day was drawing near, the situation between Mom and me had not yet improved. She was still adamant that joining a Management Trainee program could bite me in the ass. The program would take the whole year with an elimination system for every three-month evaluation. The competition would be stiff. Not to mention that I had to adjust to a new environment and new people. She was afraid it would be too much for me to handle alone.

So much for having faith in her own daughter.

At the same time, Blake grew quieter and more distant after our last weekend together. To be truthful, I needed him more than I ever did this time. With the test coming in over a week and the random emails from my mom over new job openings, it felt like I was going to explode. But learning that the date of the business launch was only in a few weeks, I couldn't ask for more from him. All I could do was wait patiently for the weekend to come, then I could have him for myself.

Just right when I counted every hour before I could spend my Friday night with Blake, he canceled our weekend due to urgent business meetings. Being such a good secret lover I was, I shot the sweetest text to reply to him, saying: It's okay. I also need to focus on my presentation anyway. I hope the meetings go well :)

Deciding not to sit alone at home in my foul mood, I took Ashley and Betty's invitation for having some drinks at one of the bars downtowns. They had this routine where they went out to chill every last Friday of the month, after payday, and this would be the first time I joined in.

Ashley and Betty waved at me when I entered the Mexican bar where we agreed to meet up. Despite the simple and almost hidden entrance, the bar interior was surprisingly impressive. The room was painted in bold red and green with several cowboy hats hanging on the focus wall. The tables and the chairs looked rusty but they complimented the atmosphere of the old suburban bar.

"Here is my favorite girl!" Ashley squealed. Since she learned that I'd fixed her filing system and made her life ten times easier at work, I officially became her girl.

I hugged the two before settling down in my seat. Ashley had ordered a pitcher of margarita as three cocktail glasses were arranged next to it, sprinkled salt rimming the lip of every glass.

"We also ordered some Nachos to share," said Betty while pouring the margarita into our glasses. "How is it going with you, Jenny? You're going to graduate this summer, no?"

"Yep. And my final presentation is next Friday. I'm so nervous." I licked the salt on my glass before gulping down the margarita. I groaned as the alcohol entered my throat.

"You'll nail it, girl! You're one of the smartest girls I've ever known!"

I laughed at Ashley's comment. "I sense the exaggeration there, but I'll take it. I need a confidence boost right now."

"No problem, we will give it to you as much as you need it. And tomorrow your boyfriend will do the rest of the job." Ashley wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

They knew I was seeing someone but I never gave them the name. If only they knew who the person was, I wouldn't be sitting here peacefully right now. I was just hoping I wouldn't spill anything while drinking. "How's your son, Ash? He's like eight months old now?"

"He's adorable. He is teething right now but luckily we don't have to go through the drama of a cranky baby growing his first tooth. But he indeed drools a lot." Ashley's eyes twinkled with adoration. "And oh, he starts to crawl. We can't look away, literally, not even one second, or he would be across the room like in one blink of an eye!"

Once our Nachos arrived, we dug into them as we continued our catch-up. The conversation jumped from the baby topic to family drama, partner problems, and of course some gossip at work. The more we talked, the more we drank. And the later it became, the harder it was to stop giggling at every joke we had.

"You know what? We're expecting another baby in the Assessment team," Ashley slurred.

"Whoa, are you?" Betty gasped, eyeing Ashley's belly.

Ashley frowned at her, looking offended. "I'm drinking here with you. Do you think I would do it if I had a bun in my oven?"

"Right." Betty giggled. "Who is it then? Don't tell me it's Watson's wife again. With the number of kids they have now, it's enough to fill in the whole town."

"Nope. It's not that Veronica."

My eyes widened with surprise. "Do you mean Mrs. Veronica Sue?"

Ashley bobbed his head like an excited kid getting their rainbow lollipop. "She told me last Tuesday. They just found it out last week and it's already fifteen weeks old!"

"Oh wow, she's like pushing forty-five, isn't she?"

"Fifty."

"Damn." My eyes widened.

"Sometimes it's interesting how older people are still so productive while younger ones are more or more reluctant to start a family," Betty mumbled.

"Well, at least someone young in the team is now having a serious relationship and maybe he's going to start a family soon. Who knows," Ashley chirped while tossing the last piece of Nachos into her mouth.

"Who?" Betty and I chorused.

"Mr. Andrew."

"Blake?" Betty asked. "Blake is getting married?"

"No, that's not what I said," Ashley replied. "I'm just trying to put two and two together. I know he's been seeing someone for some time now. Well, he'd been dating around alright, but this one is different. He's happier, less being an ass and he's just like, becoming a whole new different person! But man is he being so secretive. We didn't get to know who the poor lady was until last week."

"Oh?"

"Who?" Betty's eyes widened with anticipation while I didn't dare to look Ashley in the eye.

"She came last Friday to pick him up for lunch. And today she popped up again. Apparently, they're leaving for a weekend getaway!" Ashley answered in one breath to give it a dramatic effect. "She introduced herself as Daphne Miller and she's gorgeous. Mr. Andrew is so lucky."

"Huh? Daffy? The tall blonde girl with big blue eyes?" Betty looked surprised followed by Ashley nodding approvingly. "So, they're getting back together?"

Betty's question piqued Ashley's interest. "Do you know her? Did they date before?"

"They were college sweethearts. Daffy was such a sweet girl. I remember she always stopped by at my desk for small talk every time she waited for Blake to finish his laboratory work. I was just joining in back then. Working as a receptionist can be lonely, you know, and Daffy was one of my first friends on campus." Betty smiled at the memory. "Too bad they broke up after Blake left for his post-grad study. I'm not sure what happened, but I've heard they're still friends. Blake has never been in a serious relationship since the breakup. Maybe he's still hanging up on her... Are you sure they're together?"

"I think so. Why else are they going on this trip with that big duffel bag in her hand? They're off for a beach house or something. So romantic." Ashley beamed.

After carrying on talking about Blake and his rendezvous for a few more minutes, the two gossip machines began to move to the next victim. Not trusting myself to speak, I just kept sipping my drink while pretending I was enjoying the rest of the evening with them.