Being home again after almost eight months woke up the sentimental feelings. Every corner of the town reminded me of my school years; the moment I was still too ignorant about everything. I had parents who loved me dearly and lived in a beautiful house, next to Dean's which I once called home too. That was until I learned the twisted situation between my parents and Dean's mom. The bittersweet memories.

As we drove ahead, there were barely any lights coming from the buildings which lined up on either side of the street. The lamp posts illuminated dim, sometimes flickering yellow lights; enough for me to see the pavement and a small part of people's front yards. Not a lot had changed.

"I can bring you to Blake tomorrow," Mom's voice pulled me out of my inner bubbles.

"Nah. I'm not going to make you drive back and forth for two hours only to take me there," I said, pulling my cardigan tighter into my body. I should have brought a jacket instead. "And you have a breakfast appointment tomorrow."

"Oh. It's not a big deal. I told my friend you came here, so I might bail on our appointment."

I turned my head to Mom. "Friend? Who?"

"It's...Steve. From work."

I couldn't help smiling. "I knew he was doting on you."

She laughed lightly. "It's not a date, really. He's been talking about a new cafe downtown, and we decided to check it out."

"Well, still, it's awesome," I said. "I think it's time for you to go out again."

"Do you think so?"

"Of course!" I rubbed my eyes and yawned. "I'll just order an Uber in the morning. I just need my sleep now."

"You were crazy for taking the midnight flight."

"It wasn't a midnight flight. It landed at midnight."

"Yeah, okay. But Blake will be so ecstatic to see you first thing in the morning. Such a sweet weekend surprise."

I swallowed hard. "Yeah. I hope so."

I used to tell Mom everything when it came to boys. She knew I was into Dean for years, or when I dated the guy I gave my virginity to, or when I was seeing the asshole Tom during my early years in uni. I was an open book to her. But about Blake, it was different. It felt like I was stepping into a real adult life, where I was going to take full responsibility for all the good and bad decisions I made. No more Mom's involvement in the process.

Blake once offered me to keep his apartment spare keys, but I refused. Either I would lose it or it would be sitting in my drawer until he moved to my city. I saw no point in keeping it. I regret it now. He was probably still in his bed around this hour, and I could have just slipped in and joined him.

Sighing, I pressed his unit number on the call box and waited. In a few seconds, the dialing sound stopped, but the voice from the other side made my blood run cold. A woman's voice.

"Did you leave your keys behind?" The woman chuckled, followed by the buzzing sound from the glass door in front of me. "Lucky for you, I'm not in the mood of shutting you out."

I knew that voice but I didn't want to believe it. Why was Daphne in Blake's apartment this early? Bringing in breakfast for him? Or did she spend the night? Did they... My stomach churned from the thoughts. No. I shouldn't have drawn any conclusions before I knew what was going on.

Scurrying to his floor, I tried hard to control my agitation. My mind ran faster than my feet could manage. What if I found her in Blake's shirt with her glorious sex hair? Or worse, what if she was naked? Maybe it was better to turn around and leave; it would spare me the humiliation. Yet I keep walking.

When I saw Daphne in her formal attire with her perfect make-up and hairdo, the tension partly left my body. At least, I saw no signs of her spending the night in Blake's apartment.

"Jenny! I didn't know you were coming! Blake didn't warn me," Daphne shouted when she realized it was me who entered the apartment. The woman was standing behind Blake's kitchen countertop, a carafe in hand. "He'd kill me if he found out I opened the door before checking who it was. I thought it was him!"

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Preparing for the–" she paused and gasped, as if she was realizing something. "Oh, no. This is not what you think. Blake and I are going to meet a potential client this morning, and I just arrived here thirty minutes ago to prepare the documents."

"And where is he now?" I looked around. Everything was the same as when I left. The black couch where I made love with Blake countless times, the abstract rugs, the untouched kitchen, and the messy study corner.

"He had to run to the office. He left an important file, and we need it for today's meeting," Daphne replied. "You're lucky the coffee is still hot. I'll grab one for you. He will be back soon."

I walked tentatively to the kitchen, my head trying to process everything. I was glad that Daphne was here for a business purpose, but still, I hated it when she acted as if she was the host in Blake's place; as if she had a more important role in his life. And she did this from time to time.

"So, you guys are going to have a client meeting this morning? On Saturday morning?" I asked.

"A potential client," she corrected me. "Didn't Blake tell you?"

Blake barely talked about his work lately. "Ugh. Maybe he did, but it must have slipped my mind."

Her crystal blue eyes were staring at me. "I'm sure Blake doesn't know you're here. Is this supposed to be a surprise visit, or something else?"

"Uh, yeah. I was going to surprise him, but it seems like it's the other way around."

"A surprise, huh? For what occasion, if I may ask?"

I shrugged. "Nothing, really." And it's not your business.

"Jenny, Jenny." Daphne chuckled, shaking her head and bringing her mug to her lips. The same mug I always used during the short time I lived here. "D'you think I'm that clueless? You think I knew nothing about what happened between you two, don't you? You're still the same sweet and oblivious Jenny I knew."

My fingers tightened around my bag's sling, taken aback by her remark. "I'm not sure what you're trying to say."

"Gosh, Jenny, come on. You know Blake and I are always close. We had been friends since before he moved into this city. We were a couple once, remember? Even though our relationship didn't go as planned, it didn't mean our friendship ended up the same. I know him like I know the back of my palm."

Imagining Blake confiding in her like a bestie, annoyance began to poke my composure, but I wasn't going to jump the gun before knowing what she was trying to say. "Your point is?"

"I know you guys are having some issues now. A long-distance-relationship issue." She smiled sweetly but it felt venomous.

"Did Blake tell you that?"

"It doesn't take a genius to see that. Blake and I also had that problem in the past, remember? It's the part where the talk starts to dry up, the part where doubt begins to rise, and the part where you think you start losing him. Been there, done that."

I didn't want to hear any more words coming from her mouth, but my feet stayed rooted to my spot. "We have different journeys, Daphne. We all do," I mumbled, inwardly trying to believe every single word I said. "The fact that it happened to you, doesn't mean it has to happen to us."

"Your coffee is getting cold." She pointed her finger at my coffee mug which had been standing on the kitchen counter. "I guess what you said is true. But we all also agree that long-distance is not easy. More failure than success stories. And knowing that the business we are running now doesn't go as planned, you know what that means, right?"

"It's just temporary. He will fix it in no time, and everything will go back on track," I replied. Despite the doubts that started to creep into me, I refused to show her any signs.

"Blake is so blessed to have a girlfriend like you. So optimistic and trusting," Daphne said before taking another sip from her mug. "With how things are heading now, he might not be able to make his way to you, at all. Even if it happens, it will take years, or" —she shrugged— "he has to give up his passion and find a generic job in your city."

"We don't know that yet. And if anything, I will not take him away from what he's passionate about. It's downright cruel."

"Bingo." Daphne pressed her elbows against the counter, leaning in. "I'm sorry it has to turn out like this. But I knew from the start that you guys wouldn't work. If I can be honest, you're like a delicious cake for him; blissful to enjoy, but not an actual meal for him to grow into a better man. You're not what he needs. At least, not right now."

"Are you saying he needs you instead?"

"On the other hand," she continued, ignoring my remark, "you also deserve a good future. The future that you have now in your hand: a job at the top company in a big city. I'm afraid, if you two are too stubborn to see this, you guys will pull each other down."

I opened my mouth, wanting to reply to her but the clicking sound from the front door prompted us to drop the topic.

Blake's voice followed the wham of the closing door. "Got 'em. Let me have a quick shower, then we're set–" he stopped abruptly when he saw me, looking utterly confused. "Jennifer?"

"Hi," I said, smiling briskly. "I thought I would pop by to see you."

Still looking dazed, he strode towards me before pulling me into a bear hug. His scents enveloped me in an instant, and I felt relaxed all of a sudden. He looked down, grinning as his eyes twinkled, as if all the dryness between us in the last couple of days never existed. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I could have picked you up at the airport."

I shrugged. "I wanted to surprise you."

"And you did." He cupped my face and leaned in to kiss me, making me melt in his arms.

The sound of Daphne clearing her throat forced Blake to pull away. "Our appointment is in an hour. I think we don't want to be late."

"Right," Blake said, looking conflicted.

"She told me you guys have an important meeting. Go. I can wait here," I said. At least, being an understanding girlfriend was all I could do to support him now.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! Besides," I said, glancing at my surroundings, "your place needs a bit of cleaning."

He smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, I need to rush." With that, he leaned down to kiss me hard and fast before running to his bedroom.

I didn't want to be left alone with Daphne again, but Blake's apartment was not big enough to escape her, except for his bedroom. But wouldn't avoiding her make her think I admitted defeat? Before thinking twice, I grabbed the coffee mug and plopped down on the breakfast stool.

"Such a sweet scene," she said.

"What happened at work? Why is Watson leaving?" I asked, ignoring her remark. If I stayed with her here, I would want to dig for more information about their issues at work, and less about my relationship.

Daphne sighed at my question, glancing at the hall to Blake's bedroom. "I'm not sure how much he wants you to know. From what I saw, he seems to want to keep you in the dark."

"You're the one who said that I'm not what he needed. If I know exactly what's going on, at least, I will be able to see if you have your point. Because at the moment, you sound like a bitter ex who is still doting on him."

"Wow, Jenny. The big city must have taught you to be more direct. I have to say I started to like the new Jennifer."

"We don't have plenty of time. Just answer me, Daphne."

"Fine. But" —she glanced in the hall direction again— "you never hear this from me."

I made a cross sign over my chest. "Cross my heart."

"Blake has been having a little disagreement with Watson from the very start, over the clients they planned to tap and the direction of this business. They could find a common ground most of the time, but Watson is a guy who holds a grudge. At least that's what I believe."

"I never saw this part of him before."

Daphne shrugged. "A few months back he started to demand to have more voice and control. He came up with weird ideas which Blake refused without bathing his eyelashes. Then before we knew it, he declared he'd taken up an offer from a businessman who was willing to invest in his ideas."

"Who?"

"He doesn't want to reveal the identity of the person yet. But damn, they must be damn rich because Watson now has gotten the best spot in the city for his office, and also clients who came out of nowhere, including the one Blake has tapped to make his way to you. Not to mention Watson took almost half of our existing clients."

"Oh, jeez. What the hell is going on with him? A greedy bastard."

Daphne glanced at the hall again. "Watson has too many mouths to feed at home for sure." When the sound of running water stopped from Blake's bathroom, she lowered her tone. "As I said, things aren't going so great at the moment. And the last thing he needs is a needy girlfriend."