GEM arrived in Tavis City some days ago. She has been engrossed with her work as usual. She admits she's a workaholic—an unashamed, unsaveable one. Moreover, she has a justifiable reason for being a workaholic.
*****
She had her heart broken in college, by her high school sweetheart. Gem and Zach started dating in the tenth grade. They were the private couple whom everyone knew about and loved, but knew nothing about their business. Their relationship was blissful. It was both of them against the world. In their senior year, they were crowned Prom King and Prom Queen.
They chose to study at the same university. Their relationship had seamlessly lingered in college. They received the Best Couple award in their freshman and sophomore years.
In their third college year—the fifth year of their relationship, Zach suddenly and gradually became distant. He stopped reaching out, he missed out on their traditions—going on dates at designated times of the month, organising a two-man games night for themselves, and exchanging gifts. To top it all, he started avoiding Gem. Whenever she went to visit him, he would find some trifling excuse to ward her off…neither did he visit her. Whenever he bumped into her on campus, he greeted her like an acquaintance and walked on.
Gem suspected Zach had developed an interest in another lady. To her astonishment, she had found no traces of any other girl with Zach. All Zach did was attend classes and hang out with his new roommate, Cedes. Cedes was an introvert. Gem had met him the day he moved into Zach's room, he was really shy. She didn't know much about Cedes, as Zach had been unavailable since Cedes moved in. Frustrated, Gem had stopped attempting to reach out to Zach.
He will communicate when he's ready. Even if he doesn't want me anymore, I deserve closure and clarification at the very least. I will let him be; she had concluded.
Two months later, Zach had texted her out of the blue. He pleaded that she met with him but she ignored his message. After pleading to no avail, Zach ambushed Gem in front of her dormitory. On sighting him, Gem walked in the opposite direction.
"Gemmie, we have to talk. Please." Zach shouted from a distance.
Gem continued walking. He had nicknamed her Gemmie. He told her she was a gem like her name indicated and the "mie" behind it stood for "my", so Gemmie translated into "my gem".
"For the sake of your first love, please!" Zach shouted again.
Gem stopped walking. She turned to face him. She glanced at him from where she stood, then she walked towards him.
"That's blackmail! You know you are my first love." Gem sneered.
"I know, baby. I also know I have done you wrong. I'm so sorry. I can explain, please. You deserve an explanation." Zach pleaded.
"I'd agree with that. Took you long enough." Gem said, folding her arms across her chest.
"I'm sorry. Please, sit. It is more than a chitchat."
Gem rolled her eyes. "Make it fast. I'm busy."
"Busy for Zach?" Zach frowned.
"The same Zach who ignored and neglected me for the past two months?" Gem scoffed. "Oh please! Busiest for Zach, in fact."
"I understand how you feel. I deserve the coldness. But I still have to do right by you, and that entails clarification."
"Zach. Get to the point, will you?" Gem sat.
"The thing is…" Zach paused. "…I've been seeing someone else. Please, don't misconstrue—you are the best I ever had. But I found a different desire, a desire that you don't possess."
"Right, I thought as much. And this new person possesses this different desire, doesn't she?" Gem asked.
Zach sighed. "It's not a she."
"I don't understand. Did you get a pet or what?"
"Not that either. Him. Him, Gemmie. I've been seeing a guy."
Gem was stupefied.
"Is that even possible? You dated me for five years. You orgasmed—from me, by me, with me. How is it possible that you are gay after all our straight sexual escapades?"
"I'd say bisexual. My reality has secluded my identity all my life. I like women. I loved you. I still love you. I will always love you. Notwithstanding, it's high time I embraced the other side of me…I like men too. I didn't reveal it to you earlier because I was scared to come out. I was reluctant to proclaim my bisexuality. But now, I'm proud to say that I'm bisexual. I don't care whatever consequences might follow. Still, I'm sorry, Gemmie. I'm deeply remorseful for everything. I know we both wanted to be together forever, but—now that I've rediscovered myself—it won't be fair to deceive you. Kindly find it in your heart to forgive me, please."
"I'm…flabbergasted…utterly. I don't even know what to say. I mean, I appreciate that you clarified everything. However, this is overwhelming. This new guy, do I know him?"
"Cedes."
"Cedes? Who is that?"
"My…"
"Oh!" Gem interrupted. "Your new roommate! Gosh. Didn't you meet him like only two months ago, when the session started? You are leaving me for him just like that?"
"It's not about him. Not about you either. It's about myself, my interests. I didn't leave you for him. I could never hurt you like that. I knew him since about a year ago, truth be told. We worked our way into being roommates. I wrote the dormitory authorities some false reasons why we would prefer to be roommates. On his end, he has a relative who works with the dormitory authorities. In essence, our request was granted."
"Hold up. You were cheating—on me—with him?"
"Never. I respect you too much. I had only been talking to him. Along the line, we decided to live together to know ourselves better. I wanted to be confident in my decision before telling you. Those times when I was avoiding you, things were emerging between me and him. Even though I wasn't ready to reveal to you, I couldn't bring myself to lie either. That was why I ghosted you like that. My relationship with him became official yesterday. I can't date two people at the same time, Gemmie. I know you probably suspected a termination of our relationship before today. Notwithstanding, I've come here to finalise that. You will always be Gemmie to me. I'm sure you will find your soulmate. You are the sweetest person. I'm really sorry, Gemmie."
Gem wiped a tear off her face. She nodded. "Congrats, Zach. I wish you the best." She sobbed.
Zach hugged her.
Like that, Zach and Gem became estranged. Zach's relationship with Cedes was fiery. Gem wasn't surprised. Zach had always been an aficionado of romance, that was why she had a happy relationship with him. Zach and Cedes had gotten married a week after their graduation, having dated for two years. Both of them had visited her to drop her an invite.
"I'd really appreciate your presence there, Gemmie. You are my first love, your blessing on this marital knot would be unparalleled." Zach mentioned.
"He always talks about you. It's one of his greatest wishes that you attend our wedding. Kindly grant him this wish." Cedes buttressed.
"This will be your way to prove that you've truly forgiven me." Zach teased.
Gem scoffed. "I will try my best to attend."
"Do more than try." Zach smiled.
Gem had attended their wedding. She missed Zach immensely, but she was happy for him. If his happiness wasn't with her, there was nothing she could do about it but accept fate.
*****
Zach and Cedes have now adopted two adorable children. Gem, on the contrary, never had another relationship since Zach left her. She has admirers, and she has dalliances that she goes to when she wants to get some. But she runs away from the possibility of a relationship. She's lonely, that's why she's engrossed with her work. She can't afford to be heartbroken a second time and she believes her work will never break her heart. Hence, the reason she's smothered herself with work.
"Jane!" A deep voice interrupts her thoughts as a young man barges into her temporary office in Tavis City. Gem raises her head. He's handsome, really handsome.
"Are you Jane?" The young man asks in anger.
"No, I'm not Jane. Jane is…"
"Who is Jane then?!" The man interrupts.
"Why are you so audaciously rude? You barged into my office, I overlooked it. Why are you raising your voice at me? I don't even know you! Find your way out of my office." Gem snaps.
"You will explain yourself later." The man grunts and storms out of Gem's office.
Who is this psycho? Too rude. Imagine being that handsome yet so mannerless. He even left my office door open. Idiot. Gem murmured.
Work is over for the day. Gem is walking towards her car when she notices a person standing beside her car. It is the man who barged into her office earlier. Gem stands still, raises her neck and folds her arms across her chest so he'd know she is displeased to see him.
"Gem, right?" The man speaks. "I conflated your name with Jane's. I apologize for that. In addition, I'm sorry for barging into your office. Jane lied against me to the director. My transfer was at stake. That was why I was grumpily looking for Jane. I'm usually not like that. I apologise again. My name is Var."
"I could have sworn that you were derailed." Gem giggles. "Nice to meet you. Problem solved, yeah?"
"I believe so. Sorry for the misconception."
"It's cool. Have a nice day." Gem unlocks her car and opens the door to the driver's seat.
"If you don't mind, how about I take you to lunch tomorrow? Just a little form of apology." Var requests.
"Hmmm. I have no friends in this city, so that can come in handy. Where to?"
"I will let that surprise you."
"Right. I can work with that. Just holla at my office when you're ready." Gem nods.
"You live here?" Var asks.
"In the office?"
"No." Var scoffs. "Like, do you live in this city?"
"I know what you meant. I just wanted to pull your legs." Gem grins. "Negative. I'm here on an official assignment. I live in Wess."
"Really? I'm from there too. But I've been living here for a while. The director says my transfer back to Wess starts when your team completes their official assignment here." Var mentions.
"I would ask you how you feel about that but I see you are all gleeful, means you love it in Wess." Gem responds.
"Absolutely. Tavis City is cool, but home is always home. Okay. I will see you tomorrow. Bye."
"Sure. Same. Bye."
The next day, Gem meets a bouquet on her office desk. A note that reads "I'm sorry about yesterday" is attached to the bouquet. Gem grins.
When it is lunchtime, there is a knock on her office door.
"Come in."
"Something tells me there's flowers in here." Var jests as he walks in.
Gem laughs. "That was really thoughtful of you. Thank you so much."
"Thank you for accepting my apology, princess. So, shall we?" Var bows his head.
"Yes, we shall." Gem stands up and curtsies.
They both giggle. Var arches his right elbow for Gem to grab onto. Gem fits her left hand around his arched right elbow. Off they go, to lunch.
That was the start of a bond between Gem and Var. They went to lunch together every day, including on weekends. At first, Gem thought she could use his company because she had no friends in Tavis City. It wasn't until the day he was absent from work that she realised she had grown fond of him.
He was dispatched to the field for a day. Gem didn't go to lunch. It didn't feel right going to buy lunch without him. She ordered some food in her office instead. Immediately work closed, she returned to her lodge.
On getting to her hotel room, she falls into a slumber. Some hours later, there is a knock on her room door. She assumes it would be room service. No one else knows her in this city. On opening the door, she sees Var in her doorway.
"Var!" She hugs him.
"If it isn't the sleeping beauty."
Gem chuckles. "I was really bored. I didn't even know when I slept off. Come in."
Gem steps aside and Var enters the room. He sits on the sofa.
"How did you know my place?"
"I pick you up on weekends for lunch, remember?"
"Not that. How did you know my room? You've never come inside the hotel with me before."
"I checked the office file that entails your details."
"You were at the office today? I thought you were out on the field. What even brings you here? Did they send you to drop me some assignments from work? Damn, maybe they've called my phone repeatedly while I napped. I put it on silent." Gem picks up her phone.
"I see I've gotten myself into an interrogation. Which question do I respond to first?" Var smiles.
Gem sighs. "I'm sorry. Pardon my manners."
"It's fine. I'd ask the same if I was in your shoes. First of all, you have no assignment from work. You overwork yourself in that office, no one would dare bring you some work in your leisure. At least, not me. And yes, I was at the office. I had to turn in my field report. I was told you departed just before my arrival. I was concerned because you didn't usually leave that early. Then I called you to check on you…three times, but none was picked up. I decided I had to come down to see for myself if you are okay."
"Thank you very much for the care. I'm sorry about the calls, I didn't know my phone was ringing. I'm good. I was bored in the office. It is now clear to me that you are my only friend in this whole city. I returned to my room early because I felt lonely in the office. Then I slept off—out of boredom—after I got here."
"I must be so influential. Mmmm," Var chuckles. "I got you something." Var brings out a paper bag and hands it to Gem.
"What's this?"
"Dinner…for you, but I don't mind a share." Var giggles.
"But you must be really tired from working in the field. I think you should go home to rest."
"I'm absolutely tired. But I just got here. Can't just head out like that. Not after you were bored all day without your only friend." Var blushes.
"We will see each other at work tomorrow. What you need now is sleep."
"I will simply lay on this couch for a while." Var sinks his head into one arm of the couch he's been sitting on.
"Okay, if you insist. Thank you for coming. Let me wash my hands in the bathroom so we can devour your purchased food."
Gem enters the bathroom. She had left it quite untidy before she went to work in the morning. She reckoned Var might request to use her bathroom. It would be an eyesore to let him witness her bathroom like that. She spent about ten minutes clearing the mess. Stepping back into her room, Var is fast asleep…snoring lightly. Gem puts the food he brought in the refrigerator. She spreads a blanket over Var's body.
"Thank you for coming." She whispers.
She hops in her bed and sleeps.
The next morning, Var awakes to the sound of a running shower.
I live alone. Why is my shower running? Did I leave it on overnight? Or my house was burgled? He soliloquises.
He opens his eyes wider and tries to decipher where he is. He just awoke from that type of slumber whereby you wake up and wonder what your name is or if your body has been hibernating for years. He couldn't bring himself to sit up. He simply lays—on the couch—staring at the ceiling.
"Rise and shine." A voice startles him.
He springs up on the couch in shock. "Gem? Hey. How did you enter?"
"Huh? You are in my room."
"What?!" Var glances around to understand. "I slept here? How? How and why am I so disconnected, please? I'm literally doubting my identity right now. Did I drink last night?"
"Hold on. Hold up. You were exhausted from your fieldwork yesterday. When you brought me dinner, I convinced you to go home but you insisted on eating with me. I dashed into the bathroom for a moment but before my return, you had journeyed to dreamland. I allowed you to pass the night because you looked too tired to drive home."
"So you were the one running the shower in the bathroom? Oh yeah. You came out of the bathroom. I thought I left the shower on overnight. My water bill would have skyrocketed," Var giggles. "Damn. Thank you. I apologise for any inconvenience I caused you. I'd better get going. I don't want to run late for work." Var glances at the couch to make sure he's not forgetting anything.
"Are you sure you can drive? You barely even know where you are."
"That is an insult to my intelligence." Var laughs. "I will see you in a jiffy, princess." Var moves closer to Gem and kisses her on her temple. He walks outside the room and waves his hand.
Gem and Var continued with their daily joint lunch. Sometimes, they extended lunch into a hangout. They visited arcades, parks, cinemas, and museums when they had time on their hands. Somehow, Var managed to extract her out of her extreme entanglement with work.
"It has been good moments. This is my last lunch in Tavis City." Gem sighs during one of their lunches—their last lunch together.
"Last? How? It's not three months yet."
"It is. You must have lost track of time. I've completed my three-month project here. First thing tomorrow morning, I head home. Thank you for making my stay here worthwhile."
"My transfer isn't effective until next week. Why not wait until then so we can leave together? You could request a little extension from the company."
"My brother's wedding has been fixed for next weekend."
"We will beat time."
"We?" Gem arches her eyebrows.
"Yeah? You are taking me there with you, aren't you?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Wow." Var raises his eyebrows. "Sorry."
"I have to go help with the preparations. I'm the reason the date was postponed this far."
"I'd like to come to the wedding with you." Var mentions.
"They will all think you are my boyfriend."
"I suppose that's no bad thing? You don't consider me a good match?"
"It's not that." Gem stands up. "I need to go to my lodge now to pack my stuff. I don't want to join traffic tomorrow."
"It's still evening. We can hang out for a little longer."
"If I don't pack early, I will sleep late. I might oversleep."
"Fair point. I will come to your hotel before you leave tomorrow."
"Nah. Don't worry yourself."
"Are you avoiding me, princess?"
Gem pecks Var on his cheek. "I will see you when I see you."
"Take care, princess."
"You too."
"I will call you when I'm back in town."
Gem nods as she walks on. Her mind is conflicted, her head is chaotic. She gets to her hotel room and collapses onto the couch—thoughts reeling through her mind.
She had convinced herself to ignore reality the whole period but that reality has finally located her. Var has feelings for her. Not a mere sexual desire, a romantic interest. She feels her heart pound at the realisation of that. She has hung out with Var for three consecutive months and not once has he ever tried to touch her. That was unprecedented for her. She always blocks friendships with men. She sometimes had sex and never allowed for more than that. Whenever the men tried to promote things with her, she would disappear.
She knows he lusts after her. She sees how he looks at her. She can tell he is thirsty for her. But something subsides Var's lust—sincere interest. She suspects he'd prefer to do things orderly. He even nicknamed her "princess" already. Nonetheless, Var isn't the first man to have a strong desire for her, neither is he the second or third.
What worries Gem, however, is that she cares. Usually, she would never concern herself with such situations. But here she is—conflicted. Why does she care? It's only reasonable that she feels something for him too, he has been really sweet to her. She could not mention a single red flag about him. But no, no way she will set herself up for vulnerability a second time—not after her situation with Zach. She decides she will do what she does best—ignore. Ignore Var. Run as she always does.
Feeling smart, she smirks. She starts packing her bags.