Lunchtime, hospital cafeteria.
Sitting across from Gia, Lola was barely eating her food.
Gia looked at Lola with a worried expression, as if sensing that she was troubled, poking at her rice as if counting the grains.
“Why? Are you not hungry?”
“Gia.”
After calling her name, Lola hesitated again.
Aliza had called her, and she was supposed to tell Gia that they would meet after work, but should she say it or not?
Knowing Gia’s personality, it was obvious she would make a fuss about it, which made Lola hesitate.
“Why? Do you have something to tell me?”
As Lola hesitated, Gia asked again.
“No, it’s not that.”
After much deliberation, Lola ultimately decided not to tell Gia and subtly changed the subject.
“Gia, how was your love with Hamza?”
The question that suddenly popped out of Lola’s mouth was somewhat unexpected.
Why is she asking this all of a sudden?
Although she felt suspicious, Gia had no reason not to answer, so she shrugged lightly and began to speak.
“I’m only telling you this now that I’ve come, but I cried a lot at first because of him.”
Lola’s eyes widened in surprise.
No, Hamza’s gaze towards Gia was filled with love.
She couldn’t believe Gia’s words.
“You cried a lot? Why?”
“Because he made me cry. Do you know how many tears I shed because of him? It was enough to fill the Orange River.”
Lola’s expression turned incredulous, still finding it hard to believe.
“You probably don’t know how arrogant, rude, and mean he was at first. Living with him felt like my insides were rotting away.”
“I’ve never heard this before. You must have gone through quite a bit. I thought you and Hamza were fated to be together and living happily.”
As Gia recalled past memories, a myriad of emotions crossed her face.
“I’m happy now. He’s still arrogant and proud, but he treats me well.”
“Yeah, it seemed that way. Hamza’s gaze towards you was filled with love.”
At Lola’s words, Gia smiled softly and, in passing, asked lightly. “What about your love with my brother? Is it complicated like mine?”
“I’d say he’s like a deadly poison to me. It feels like a swamp I can’t escape from.”
Lola said honestly while fiddling with her spoon. Gia sighed softly.
“What’s going to happen to our Lola? You’re really in deep with my brother. That’s truly dangerous.”
Like Gia said, Lola couldn’t deny that she was deeply in love with Dylan Eve.
Lola awkwardly smiled and muttered softly.
“So sometimes I feel anxious.”
Fearing that everything she had with him might just be a dream.
Feeling uneasy whenever women related to Dylan Eve suddenly appeared.
Worried that he, being so handsome and capable, might be taken away by another woman.
For a brief moment, Gia’s gaze, quietly observing Lola’s face as numerous expressions flickered across it, also appeared complex and anxious.
After a moment’s pause,
“Lola, let me tell you this as someone with experience: love is like that. When two people live together and love each other, there are bound to be trials. If you can’t overcome those trials, you’ll probably have to part ways. But even if trials come, there’s no need to be scared in advance.”
Gia’s words carried a significant weight.
Lola listened quietly.
“So don’t ever be afraid. Not now, not in the future. Whatever you love, whatever you cherish, protect it at all costs! Protecting it is also a form of love.”
Protecting it is also a form of love.
It was a subtly stirring statement.
Lola quietly repeated Gia’s last words in her mind.
She didn’t know how the topic of love came up while they were eating, but after listening to Gia’s long story, Lola finally felt at peace.
She had boldly agreed to meet Aliza after receiving her call, but in reality, she was anxious and unsure.
However, now she felt a bit of the tiger spirit to confront Aliza.
When she met that woman later, she had to clearly tell her not to meddle.
To not come near Dylan Eve again!
Dylan Eve, that man is mine, so don’t even think about it.
******
Star Hotel coffee shop.
A moment of silence passed between the two women sitting across from each other at the table. Steam filled the air from the mugs on the table, carrying the sweet aroma of coffee.
Aliza’s lips twisted as she observed Lola closely.
Dressed in a light makeup and an ivory-colored dress paired with matching sandals, Lola appeared elegant and graceful.
Today, she’s somewhat tolerable.
Aliza, snickering softly while looking at Lola, wore a smirk that seemed to mock her.
“Why did you want to see me?”
The woman’s gaze, which clung to her like skin, was terrifyingly persistent.
