Chapter 1

That was a very long meeting, I said with a sigh, stretching my arms behind my head and

tilting my head left and right. The conference room had been stuffy, filled with the hum

of air conditioning and the dull thrum of fluorescent lights overhead. The walls were

lined with dull gray panels, and the long table in the center was cluttered with papers and

half-empty coffee cups.

"Yeah, I know," came the tired reply from Sam, one of my colleagues and a friend of

mine. "Want to grab a coffee?" he asked, pointing with his thumb toward the nearby

office cafeteria.

Sam and I work in the same corporate office in the finance department. I am a 23-year-

old woman, unmarried, and Sam is also a colleague in the same department. Balancing

the demands of work and personal life can be challenging, but having a friendly face like

Sam’s around makes it a bit easier.

"Yes, please," I replied lazily, standing up from my chair and stretching again. "Before I

fall asleep here."

He chuckled lightly, and we headed to the cafeteria, a small, cozy space just outside our

office. The cafeteria had a warm ambiance with soft lighting and comfortable seating.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of pastries and sandwiches.

The place was a welcome change from the sterile office environment.

I felt a rumbling in my stomach, reminding me of my hunger. I ordered a chocolate latte

with whipped cream and a serving of waffles. The rich, sweet smell of the latte was

comforting. Sam, on the other hand, opted for a cup of black coffee. As we collected our

orders, I could see the garden outside through the large glass windows. The garden was

lush and vibrant, with tall trees swaying gently in the breeze. The sight of the greenery

was soothing after a long day of meetings.

We found a seat by the window, and I sank into the comfortable chair, feeling the tension

slowly ease from my shoulders. I took a sip of my latte, the sweetness and creaminess blending perfectly, and cut a piece of waffle to pop into my mouth. The waffle was light

and crispy, and I savored each bite as I looked out at the serene garden.

"I don’t understand how anyone can drink such bitter coffee," I remarked, making a face

of disgust as I watched Sam take a sip of his black coffee. His expression was one of

calm enjoyment, and it was clear he appreciated the bitterness.

"Actually, you want to try it, don’t you?" he said with a smirk, bringing the coffee close

to my face. The strong, pungent aroma of the coffee made me wince.

"Get lost," I said, turning my head away with a playful grin. I took another bite of waffle,

enjoying the view of the garden. The setting sun cast a golden hue over the trees, creating

a peaceful atmosphere.

Sam smiled as he watched me, but I chose to ignore him, focusing on the tranquil scene

outside. Just as I was beginning to relax, my phone rang, breaking the calm. I glanced at

the screen and saw an unknown number flashing.

"Hey, you go back. I’ll take this call and catch up with you later," I said, answering the

phone. Sam nodded, finished his coffee, and stood up to leave.

I walked towards the washbasin to wash my hands, holding the phone between my face

and neck. The soft hum of the cafeteria and the distant clatter of dishes provided a

background to the conversation.

"Hello, who is this?" I asked, my voice echoing slightly in the quiet space.

"It’s me," came the blunt response. The voice was familiar, and a chill ran down my spine.

I didn’t want to reveal that I recognized it.

"And who is ‘me’?" I asked, pressing the word "me" with irritation, hoping to mask my

recognition.

"I’m Rylan," he said gruffly. The name hit me like a wave, stirring up a storm of

emotions. I knew it was him, but I didn’t want him to know that I still remembered his

voice so clearly.

"Rylan? Which Rylan?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"I know you remember me, so don’t act like you don’t," he said, his tone sharp and

knowing. His arrogance was infuriating.

"So what? Are you going to give me an award for still remembering you?" I said, my

anger rising.

"I want us to meet," he said, sounding more like he was issuing a command than making

a request.

"Is that an order? Do you still think you have the right to order me around?" I replied, my

voice icy. "Anyway, I’m busy right now, so keep this elsewhere."

I was about to hang up when his voice came through again.

"I guess you don’t want to know the reason we broke up," he said, which only fueled my

frustration.

"I don’t have time for these useless things," I said coldly.

"Come on, don’t act like that," he pushed, trying to provoke me. "I know how much you

were hurt when I left. Don’t you want to know why we broke up?"

His words struck a nerve, pushing me to the edge of my emotions.

"Text me the place and time now. Goodbye," I said in one breath and hung up before he

could say more.

I reassured myself that meeting him wouldn’t be problematic since I no longer had

romantic feelings for him. I had told myself this many times, but deep down, I knew I

could never truly forget him. He would always be my first and last love.

As these thoughts swirled in my mind, memories of our past began to surface. The dark

times of my life, the happy times of my life. A mixture of many emotions and memories

which hold during that time. Which I can never forget in my life.

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