There was silence on the other end of the phone and Miguel asked smiling, -What, you don’t have any more words?
-She’s my sister’s friend,” replied the other party after a moment of silence.
-Oh?” Miguel joked, “She is youthful and energetic, a good candidate for an old man like you.
He understood perfectly what Zain had said: he was helping one of his sister’s friends. But Miguel was amused to joke with Zain.
Poor Zain, he sighed without feeling like giving any more explanations, and limited himself to say,
-Interpret it as you like. I’ll leave you because the meeting is about to start.
-Well, remember that you owe me a favor,” said Miguel. Then he hung up the phone, while the smile on his face was disappearing. It seemed that he had become someone else.
His wife had been gone to heaven for years, and he had learned to master his emotions. He was already able to smile cheerfully without feeling any happiness inside, that is, he was masterful at hiding his true feelings. The smile only served as his disguise for the pain. His joy had been buried along with his wife….
Miguel closed his eyes and a faint smile came across his pale face.
***
Alice was surprised to hear that Yanis was going to open a restaurant, she asked him with much joy,
-When it opens, I will bring Kennedy there to support you.
Hearing Kennedy’s name, Yanis became nervous and said quietly, -Could you come alone? Kennedy? Well, I’m afraid my little tent won’t be able to accommodate the big boss?
Alice looked at Kennedy, who was taking a shower in the bathroom, and thinking of his cold face and powerful aura, she let out a laugh, and said,
-Oh… are you still so scared of him? I’ll help you control it. Don’t worry.
-Mother! I don’t believe you. Tell me seriously, are you going to bring him here?
-Of course I’m going to bring him here! The more people, the better for the inauguration.
Yanis was speechless. He looked back at his father in the room, imagining his expression at seeing Kennedy on the opening day. In the end, he compromised, saying,
-All right. By the way, you’re not mad at me, are you?
-How?” Alice thought the question very strange, “Should I be angry?
-It’s just that it’s been so long since I’ve been in touch with you. Besides, I’m going to open my own restaurant instead of coming back to help you….
-What are you saying? You don’t take me for a friend anymore? -Alice scolded, her face getting a bit serious.
-Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mean that…- Yanis heard the displeasure in Alice’s tone and immediately explained himself.
-If you consider me a friend, do what you want. Anyway, I respect your personal will, and I can’t interfere with you, let alone have the right to blame you,” said Alice. You don’t feel guilty because of me. In fact, I am the one who owes you. If you hadn’t been by my side all these years, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the happy life I have today.
-No, no,” Yanis shook his head. You have made me what I am today, and if I hadn’t been with you, I wouldn’t have made so much money….
-Yanis, we are friends. We are equal in our friendship, so don’t put yourself down,” Alice said with great sincerity. If you always consider yourself inferior, I’m afraid our friendship will be difficult to maintain.
-Don’t tell me that, Alice? I won’t be like that again,” Yanis said tearfully.
-Very good. I’m so glad. We are very close friends again.
And with that, they both laughed happily.
After hanging up the phone, Alice put it on the bedside table just as Kennedy came out of the bathroom. He asked her,
-Jack’s call?
-No, it’s from Yanis.
Kennedy showed a confused face not knowing what to say.
-Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten about it! -Alice exclaimed in disgust.
Kennedy rubbed his nose, feeling embarrassed. It wasn’t her intention to forget such an important friend to Alice, it was simply because her memory was sporadic and messy during this stage.
He had forgotten many things, and many people, except Diana, for the unforgivable thing she had done to Alice and himself. About this woman, besides the fact that he had remembered something about her, Nathan had given him information about her, and now he had a clear idea of what kind of person Diana was.
-No, I remember her,” Kennedy approached the bed, leaned close to Alice and said softly. I remember all about you, but she didn’t cross my path, so I didn’t take it to heart. Does Ms. Liliana want me to get close to her bestie?
Alice’s eyes widened as she accused him,
-What has your approaching her got to do with your forgetting her?
Kennedy let out a laugh, and clutched her chin, asking,
-Did you turn down my excuse?