The sun is up when Belle and Matthew decided to go to Ced's house since they didn't notice the girl in her office.
Now they're in the living room talking to Rosalinda.

“Good morning ma'am,sir.” Greets Rosalinda.

“Good morning,is Ced here?She's not in the office,it's late.” Asks Belle.

“She hasn't woken up,ma'am.”

That's strange.

She arrives late sometimes but she'll surely inform her secretary.

“Is she sick?Can you give me the key to her room?”

“I don't think she is,ma'am.Maybe she fell asleep late.I'll go get the key,make yourself comfortable ma'am,sir.”

When Rosalinda left,Belle turns her body to Matthew who sits on the couch in a figure-four leg lock position.

“Our friend must've had the best sex last night that she got knocked out up until now.” Matthew said laughing.

“Language,Matt.” Belle said hitting her bag on Matthew's chest.

“What?She's a grown up lady.”

“Growing up doesn't mean turning yourself into someone you're not.”

“She got almost everything in this life,we can never forget to take in consideration if someone would want to hook up with her,she also has her needs.”

“Is that what you become after breaking up with your stupid ex?”

Before Matthew can speak,Rosalinda came back with the key in her hand.She gave it to Belle who's now walking upstairs.

She knocked three times but got no answer so she uses the key to open the door.

“Ced,I keep knocking but you're not–”

She wasn't able to finish her statement when she sees Ced with a familiar woman cuddling.

It's not the first time she gets herself in to her best friend's room without its permission but she has never seen her with someone in the bed.

In her house.

This late.

Looking so sweet like a couple.

She walks closer trying to have a clearer look on whoever her bestfriend's with but she still couldn't,the woman's face is in the crook of Ced's neck covered with her hair.

She gets startled when a phone rings.

The two move away from each other's arms as Gab slowly opens her eyes.Ced on the other hand is touching her hair with a little bit of annoyance.

Gab gets up groping her phone from the bedside table,but a figure standing caught her attention.

She looks up.

She knows her.She remembers her.

She felt her throat dry just by the look Ced's friend is giving her.

“Why didn't you answer the phone?It might be important.” Ced said clearly unaware of what's going on.

Until Belle faked a cough getting her attention.

“Belle,what are you doing here?”

Why do they feel like they did something wrong when the truth is they didn't?

Their facial expressions are putting them in trouble.

The phone rings once again saving Gab from being swallowed by the total embarrassment.

“I'll just go to the bathroom.” She said to Ced almost jumping off the bed and going to the bathroom taking longer than she's supposed to.

“It's not what you think,Belle.”

First things first — defensive.

She spoke again when her friend remained silent.

“So,care to answer my question?”

“Oh..uhm…I went to your office but you were not there,your secretary told me she hasn't heard anything from you so we decided to come here.Matt is also here,waiting downstairs.”

Matt?

Nice!

Now he's got the chance to see the woman he's dying to meet again.

“Okay,give me a minute to fix myself.”

“Alright,we'll wait.” Belle said, getting out, closing the door.

Like some kind of a perfect timing,Gab gets out of the bathroom.

“Was that your mom?” She asks her.

“Yeah she asked me if I'll go to my shop.I texted Khate telling her I'm coming.”

“But you haven't eaten breakfast yet.”

“Yeah,in fact I'm hungry,plus I haven't taken a shower.”

“Can you take a day off?”

“A day off?”

Didn't they just spend the whole night together,sleep and wake up late,now she's asking her to take a day off with a possibility of spending it together,again?

Not that she's complaining.

“Yeah,I mean..what time is it?”

“Eleven twenty four.”

“Exactly,I won't go to my office too since I'm hella late and don't have much work to do there.You can join me for breakfast,I have plenty of never been used clothes in my closet and then I can drop you home later without us having to hurry.”

A brilliant idea.Hope she won't regret it.

Gab is looking at her thinking of what she said.

“I'm fine with that,but only if the shop is not busy and Khate agrees.”

“Deal.”

Gab is now calling her cousin.

“I see,wanna spend more time with me huh.” She jokes.

She absent-mindedly jumps back on the bed.Her head on top of Ced's thigh that's covered with comforter.

Ced is shocked at what she did but the faint blush on her cheeks show she likes it.

When Gab realizes her action,she immediately gets up sitting properly.

“I'll wash my face,let's go downstairs together.”

She said then got up.

“Hey,cous.”

“Your mom told me where you are and I have a feeling you're gonna ask me a favor so I'll make it quick,yes.Spend time with your girlfriend.It's fine with me but double my salary today because my boyfriend and I's monthsary is getting near,I have to give him something else aside from my beautiful body.”

Guess everything is set.

“Gosh,cous!Thank you,but she's not my girlfr–”

Khate hung up the phone but texted her right after.

“Don't say it,she might hear you and get hurt.That's not how to treat your girlfriend,
you're in her house,she might throw you out.I don't wanna see you crying like shit again.” Received.

Khate really has a lot to say.

“Are you concerned?Well,you don't have to because she's not my girlfriend and no one will be hurt.” Sent.

“Hope to hear the same thing a few months later.” Received.

She just shook her head and didn't reply.

“So…what did she say?” Ced asks combing her hair.

“She agreed.”

“Good to hear that.Let's go?”

“Let's go.”

She's holding the knob but then remembers something.She turns around bumping her chest onto Gab's face since the latter is smaller than her.

“Ouch!” Gab exclaimed, touching her nose.

“Oh my God!I'mSorry.”

“It's okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am.”

“Alright,I have to tell you that Matthew is with Belle waiting for us.Remember him?”

Hope not.

“Of course.”

They waste no time heading downstairs.
Matthew who is more than happy to find out that his crush is here — stood up and fixed the collar of his polo.

“Took a decade,thought you jumped off the window and ditched us.” Belle said, walking to the kitchen.

“You're overreacting.” Ced chuckles following her holding Gab's waist walking together.

“Thank you.” Gab said, sitting down.

They're now at the table eating brunch.
Matthew and Belle and sitting across from them.

“Thank God Rosalinda is mindful to prepare you breakfast knowing how unpredictable your shifts are or else you'll starve yourself.” Belle said.

“I know,that's why she's the best.”

“You're being extra grumpy today,Belle.Is it your time of the month?” Matthew said, putting vegetables on Gab's plate.

But before it landed on Gab's,Ced stopped him.

“She doesn't eat veggies that much.”

“Really?It's good for the body.” He insists.

Gab is speechless.She opens her mouth to speak but the suspicious look Belle is throwing at her makes her knees tremble.

“Just put that to your plate.Let her choose what she wants.” Ced said, ending the conversation.

She felt a hand on her left thigh that made her look at Gab mouthing her that it's okay.

“Bacon,for sure you like bacon.” Matthew speaks once again.

Gab still has her hand on Ced stopping her from interfering.

“Thank you.” She said to Matthew.

“Don't have to be formal,call me Matt.”

That got Ced rolling her eyes.

Thankfully,the rest of the brunch went smoothly.It was only Matthew who kept on talking,asking anything he wants to know about Gab.Although she felt a little uncomfortable,she managed to handle the situation.

“Do you have anything else planned today?” Asks Matthew

“I took a day off.” Ced plainly said.

“Great,me and Belle too.What about you,Gab?”

“She made me take a day off.” Gab replied looking at Ced.

Belle creases her forehead,looking at Ced to Gab and then back and forth.

“Let's go shopping!” He said happily.

“Do you want to?”

Ced asks Gab secretly hoping for her to say no but what she doesn't know is that Gab doesn't have the courage to turn him down in front of his friends.

“Not a bad idea.” She answered.

“Perfect!”

“Then we have to take a shower first.” Ced said standing up.

“Together?” Belle asked with a tone a little sharper than it should.

“Of course not.No more questions or else…”

“C'mon now,this is not the time to bicker.” Matthew said.

He can't afford this day to be ruined just because of his friends' unnecessary arguments.

“Be right back.”

When the two left,Matthew sat beside Belle's who's crossing her arms.

“Belle,what's the matter with you?Earlier you were so excited to come here,but now you look like you're not in the mood.”

“If you will just shut your mouth,then maybe I can clear up my mind.”

“Fine,fine!Just don't act like that,don't want to kill the vibe,it's not always that we can hangout with Gab,at least act properly.”

“Duh!What's so special with her?” She hissed inaudibly.

Back in Ced's room,Gab is the one who takes the shower first,while she lets Ced choose her outfit,the latter placed it on the bed and is just waiting for her.

After almost an hour,they're now putting some makeup on and are ready to go.

Gab is wearing a white fitted shirt and a high waisted jeans while Ced is wearing a black backless top and a cargo pants.They both wear a white Nike shoes.

“Did you match our shoes on purpose?” Gab asked.

“You look pretty.” Ced replied not answering her question.

She prefers that answer more though.

They headed downstairs and Gab meets Matthew in his awestruck era.

“Are you gonna move your ass up or I'll cancel?” It was Ced.

She doesn't like it when somebody stares at her…friend.

“Let's go,I'll drive.”

They walk to his car.Belle is sitting in the passenger seat.The two at the back.

“It's gonna be fun!” Matthew said as he started driving.

He can't contain his excitement,he already has something in mind to do when they get there.

“Stop smiling!You look crazy.” Belle said but her friend's smile grew even wider.

The two at the back remain quiet.Gab is looking outside the window,Ced is busy with her phone,or at least pretending to be busy.

Every once in a while,for some unknown reason,they find themselves stealing glances with one another.

Everytime they get caught,they simply show their smiles before looking away.

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