Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Is something going on between the two of you?" James curiously inquired.

"No," Tina shook her head. "We are just friends."

"Alright, since your friend is here, I will take my leave," he remarked. "I'll see you in the morning."

After James left, Tina approached Ben.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" She questioned him. It would be a lie if she said she wasn't happy to see him.

After he cleared things out with her, they weren't in touch anymore. Neither he messaged her, nor she did. It was like they had mutually agreed to maintain distance between them.

Though Tina was very disappointed and hurt, she managed to embrace her emotions and continue with her daily activities. She knew since the very beginning that there was a very slim chance of things working out between them.

It was sad that things ended between them before it even started but maybe it was for the best. Maybe it was never meant to be.

"I was just passing by so I just dropped by," he lied. He had taken the route to her office because he wanted to see her.

After learning that she was going on a business trip starting tomorrow from Rachael, Ben felt very restless and the urge to see her before she leaves kept intensifying to a point where he couldn't resist it. And before he could figure things out, he sound himself standing in front of her office.

"I see," She smiled. "I thought you wanted to tell me something."

Before he could answer, she added, "Anyway, I should go now."

When she was about to leave, he stopped her. "Let me drop you home."

"That's alright, I can just take a cab," she turned him down. "I don't wanna trouble you."

"Why would you take a cab when I am already here?" He frowned. He didn't like how formal she was trying to be with him. He wasn't liking the feeling.

"I take a cab home everyday," she remarked.

"Come with me today, you can take a cab home tomorrow." When he tried to grab her hand, she took a step back.

"Ben, I don't know about you but I am still in the process of getting over us which probably never existed." When he retreated his hand back, she added, "Seeing you still makes me feel awkward."

Pausing for a while, she said, "I think it's best if we avoid seeing each other for a few weeks."

Ben pursed his lips as she silently listened to what she had to say.

"Well—" Tina shrugged her shoulders. "Bumping into each other shouldn't be a problem as I won't be around for at least a couple of weeks. I am going on a business trip with my team tomorrow."

"Tina, when I told you nothing can happen between us, I didn't mean we couldn't be friends—"

"I know," she nodded. "We can be friends but not yet. I need some time to sort out my feelings and emotions."

"The day I talk to you on my own without any awkwardness, you can assume that I am over everything and I am ready to be your friend, okay?" She smiled.

Without waiting for his reply, she walked away.

Ben stood there as he watched her hail a cab and leave. He tried to control the overwhelming surge of emotions that he was feeling but no matter how hard tried, he couldn't. The feeling kept getting intense, making him feel angry and hurt at the same time.

He wanted to stick firm with his decision of not getting involved in form or relationship but whenever he saw Tina, he found himself questioning everything.

Had he even done the right thing?

...

[Next Day, Collin's Mansion]

"What happened? Why are you sulking early in the morning?" Andrew curiously inquired.

Unlike the other days when Owen did not raid their kitchen like he always did. Instead, he was sitting on the couch with a very gloomy expression.

This sudden changed attitude of his was not only weird but also concerning to Andrew.

When Owen refused to open his mouth, he sighed, "If you don't tell me, how will I know?"

"I'll tell you." Justin entered the mansion with a huge grin on his face. He sat right next to Owen and patted his back.. "It's alright buddy, you can tell Andrew. He will not judge or laugh at you."

When Owen did not say anything, he looked at Andrew. "He got robbed."

"What?" Andrew widened his eyes in shock. "When? How? What the fuck happened?"

Justin pursed his lips to stop himself from laughing.

Owen gritted his teeth and smacked his arm. "You promised you won't tell anyone."

"What?" Justin shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't tell anyone. Except, Elsa knows and now Andrew too."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Owen snapped. "Why the hell did you tell Elsa?"

"We are going to be husband and wife soon," he remarked. "And husband and wife aren't supposed to keep secrets."

"Oh is it?" Owen raised his brows. "Then I think it's time to tell Elsa and Rachael what happened during Daniel's bachelorette party."

"Dude—" Justin widened his eyes in shock. "Do you wanna break my engagement or something?"

"Why the hell are you dragging me in this?" Andrew frowned. "I don't even know what happened to you in the first place."

Pausing for a while, he asked, "Did you really get robbed?"

"Yes I did, okay?" Owen yelled. "I got robbed."

"What?" Rachael widened her eyes in shock. "Who robbed you? What happened?" She quickly approached him.

"Oh my God, Owen—" She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Rach—" He hugged her tightly. "You are the first person who asked me this. And no, I am not okay."

Rachael sighed and patted his back to comfort him. "It's alright, it must have been very traumatizing for you."

"Traumatizing?" Justin scoffed. "The woman he had sex with last night robbed him in the morning."

Rachael: " "

Andrew: " "

….