Forceful Tangle

gh school girls seated in a corner booth. Their eyes lit u

el?" one of

dsome," anot

third added, cle

as my father burst into the restaurant, dr

tically, then froze upon seeing me. His

face, but his expression shifted the moment his ga

hake Noah's hand. "Oh my God, it is you

d me completely, gesturing for

ed out from the kitchen,

Laura?" my mother scolded as she entere

th

squealed, rush

ighting up as she made her way over,

as they surrounded him, bo

tting nearby, giggled loudly, t

doing here?" my mom sudden

r things and leaving. My mother turned

the country," she said

answered, his smile

ically breathless with curiosity. "I remember the fi

ns," my dad chimed in, his tone light

, thank you," Noah

ere rumors at the estate that you

d, my face flushing

s unreadable. Without waiting for an answer, I

," I muttered, dragging him aw

m whispering behin

om, I released Noah a

ourself comfortable," I said,

r parents are just as fu

e relaxed but his eyes sc

to talk about?" I ask

as a lo

quietly, his gaze d

t?" I aske

ve told you to

ise. "Is that what

e thick with emotion. "My

ung in the air like a hea

ispered, my

uicide," Noah muttered,

a punch to the stoma

ll me sooner?" I m

"I needed to be alone. That's why I asked you to

words. "I just... I j

ords. "Why?" I finally managed. "Why would sh

ed to keep i

hy

said, shaking his head. "I jus

I said softly. "I just..

cere smile crossing his face. "Can we...

my heart heav

a sigh of relief. "Se

confused. "What do

tanding up abruptly.

ere my parents and Laila were

lready?" my mom asked, her voice

terjected before h

inner?" she asked, ig

t home, Mrs. Reuben,"

pushing a takeout container into his han

with my dad and Laila, be

a cryptic grin before walking to

saying Monday, is there anot

just waved again

behind me and j

ute, is

pointed toward the c

e w

trying to process what had jus

ila replied, grin

Why n

gently toward the restaurant. "But first,

d, my mom descended

l me you were comin

I said flatly. "We me

asked, setting some

His parents are well-off,"

e, Mother?" L

odel, and he's gotten t

dad said, placing a steaming p

d scoffed. My father-short, chubby, and perpetually out of b

s we sat to eat, "Laura,

n my water

er brought home a man, an

ates," Laila said, t

y-six. No boyfriend, no kids, not ev

a job soon

ain because of your t

it from

erupt like a volcano. At your age, my mother

married Dad,"

? He's cute!" she said, patti

ot at the tabl

ou, like him back. He's probably w

d for his money?"

she ye

ce you keep emphasiz

y, stood abruptly,

aid that," my dad sig

y chair, turni

at?

stifling a laugh as s

---

ays, the kind where the air was thick with the smell of grilled meat, sizzling spices, and the chatter of

the couple at the corner," my mother

oice laced with irritation. She didn't even flinch

dn't care. She had no right to interfere in my love li

ung couple sat. They were giggling and whispering to ea

said, trying to mask t

at should we order?" The m

hat should we order?" she re

ey baby," he

I come back after you two decide what to

echoed through the restaurant. The

friend here doesn't know how t

ha

your customers?" he a

verge of exploding, but before I could respond, Lail

, giving me a pointed loo

rotest, but the man ha

s voice dripping with sarcasm. "Come o

la. "Wait a minute... aren't you Laila? The one who-" she paused dr

ling the poor lad. "No wonder this place smelled like a gr

d in our direction, the air growing thick with tension. I felt my blood boil,

started, but I didn't ca

d spurted, staining the white napkins, and a collective gasp echoed around the r

alk down on my family!" I screa

ot a murderer! And if you ever come back her

ull me away, but I shoved them aside. I didn't care. The cou

muring among themselves. But just as the tension reached its peak,

eyes glinted with a mysterious gleam as he made his way toward us. His presence was

ep voice laced with an Italian ac

out to shake his hand, but he didn't take it. Instead, his gaze locked onto me, and for a

calm. Without another word, he turned and walked

man. They all looked at him in admiration as he drove of

ather asked, snappin

ied, a thoughtful look in her

I ignored my thoughts and made my way back into my room to see Laila. I got to the do

od?" I ask

airs to help mom and dad," s

the room. I could see the weight of her guilt

it, Laura. I just need som

do the trick," I

le, and I bent down to pull out an o

ding me," she said, s

one day," I said, dusting it off

ed, holding

he asked with

nt that you're the fir

owed suit, and the burn of the alcohol hit b

to blame for what happened to Allen," she said, her

aila," I said quietly,

't, he'd still be alive," she whisp

e yourself. If you don't, you won't find

p and made a disgust

't have sex. You even dropped out of college. If

nded me the bottle. "Are yo

hasn't sent me a

MS

m,

need to download a social app, people don't

g from the bottle. "I'm kin

tate his

is mothe

y, Mrs

up

s awfu

won't tell

than this. But he said his pa

rd to believe, because it wa

's the power

er did stuf

t a congressma

hy would they keep s

g to interfere with his reputati

only God knows why she

id?" Laila's

. Sui

him. He really l

hy he ghosted me that way back in

iew you had?" Laila asked, cu

yet," I replied

don't get sacked because of your temp

A text message had come in. I picked up my phone to read the message

ork on Monday morning," I announce

iddin

nt of her face so she could read the m

, laughing as I tried

rried away. We need

asked, raising

clu

opening the

work there in my absence," she said, finishin

he empty bottle upside down into my

u saying? Are we

resist her enthusi

uted, running off

There was something about him-his mysterious demeanor-that made me feel an a