''Oh my God! What are all these? These pictures were taken from all angles, Natalie. Even I have to admit that Mikael is a fine breed. He looks hot from all angles'' Xia said as she scrolled through the pictures of Mikael and Susan that were uploaded on the internet.

She looked at Natalie whose eyes were still red. Xia put the phone away and asked, ''so, instead of asking him, you left the house and cried inside your car before coming here?''

''I don't know. After hearing all those things from Laura and also seeing the pictures, I suddenly didn't want to talk or see him again. I was scared''

''What are you scared about?''

''That Susan is really beautiful. Hey, do you think that he fell for me because we have a lot of similarities?''

''Susan is indeed pretty but Natalie, you are a beauty yourself. What is there to be afraid of? But… you two really look alike. As for whether he fell for you because of the similarities or not, I think that the person to answer that is Mikael''

''Natalie​, why don't you ask him? Mikael doesn't come off as a womanizer. He really cares about you. Have you thought about it this way? What if Laura wants to break you two apart because she couldn't get what she wanted? She was going away, why did she have to come and tell you about Mikael's first love? It doesn't make sense''

''Aye, I don't want to think about it. I'm going to sleep'' Natalie stood up and asked, ''did Connor move in here with you?''

''He hasn't but he spends the night here''

''Then, I have crush somewhere else. I don't want to intrude on both of you''

''No, I can't let you go in this state. Just sleep here. I will call Connor and tell him not to come''

''Best friend, thank you'' Natalie hugged Xia.

….

The Men…

''So, you didn't stop her when she was leaving? Mikael, you should have explained the situation to him properly. What if Natalie thinks it's true?'' Thomas asked as they sat around the counter. The bar wasn't open to outside people, just Mikael, Thomas, Connor and Josh.

''She was hurt and didn't want to speak to me. I need to find out what Laura told her first''

''Isn't it obvious what that woman said? She must have said something hurt Natalie. You shouldn't have let her leave the house'' Josh spoke.

''I already called Xia. She is with her. I just hope nothing happens to her and the baby''

''Natalie is pregnant?'' Connor asked.

''We haven't done the test yet but I think that she is pregnant. I went out to buy the test kit when I met Susan and Laura went to see Natalie''

''Then, you need to clear this up, it will not be good for Natalie's health and the baby if she is pregnant'' Thomas said as he took out his phone. His phone had buzzed so he took it out and looked at the moments notifications of Niania. He smiled when he saw the picture of a bowl of cold noodles that she had taken a picture of, he smiled.

Mikael's phone started ringing and he stood up to go and answer it, ''I have to take this…'' he said and went to a table and sat down.

''Sister Lylia''

'Mikael, what is going on? I was about to sleep when my phone started going off. What is going on between you and Susan?''

''There is nothing going on. I was going to call you so it's good that you called me''

''Mikael, everyone is calling you names. They are saying that you have a wife and are still cheating with your ex''

''Sister Lylia, I want you to release an official statement from the company. I do not have anything doing with Susan. This was a set up I fell in. Susan planned this''

''I thought she was in D-City? What is she doing here?''

''I don't know but it seems she is going to be in Purplebride's new script, 'At Death's Door', that's what she told me''

''But, what about Natalie? How did she take it?''

''She… she is angry with me but I will make things right''

''Do that. I will set things right over here. but, Mikael, I know you and Susan didn't have a clean closure. You should cut ties with her properly this time around so that what happened today won't repeat itself. Natalie is a woman and we women are very sensitive when it comes to such things''

''Alright, I understand'' Mikael hung up and returned to the table, ''guys, I have to go''

''Where are you going?'' Thomas asked.

''I'm going to make things right with my wife. See you later'' Mikael said and ran off.

''That's more like it. I have to go too'' Thomas stood up.

''Going to meet that woman?''

''Don't scare her, Thomas. Take things slow''

'Look who is telling me to take it slow? I am not a snail like you two brothers. I use force to break their defences. Bye'' Thomas teased them and went out.

Connor and Josh looked at each other and chuckled. Their cluck their glasses together and continued to drink.

…..

''Natalie​ go and get the door, I'm still in the bathroom'' Xia yelled out.

''Okay'' Natalie wiped her hands with the napkin and stood up from the table. She walked towards the door as she muttered, ''who could be at the door this late?''

When Natalie opened the door, she saw Mikael. ''You… what are you doing here?''

Mikael heaved a relief and pulled her into a hug, ''I'm sorry, Natie. Can we talk? I want to explain everything to you, please''

''You… were you drinking?''

''Mm, I had a little drink''

''Are you crazy? You clearly drunk and still drove here? Look at you, you seem drunk already'' Natalie hit his shoulder.

''I had just a little but I don't know why I am drunk''

''Natalie…'' Xia came out of the room and saw them, ''you are finally here? Can you set things straight, Mikael? The whole internet is talking about you already''

''Xia, he is a little drunk. I will send him home first'' Natalie said.

''Will you be alright?''

''Yes, don't worry. You… stay here, I will bring my bag'' Natalie said to him before going. She picked her bag from the room and didn't bother to change out of the pyjamas that she borrowed from Xia.

''Let's go'' she held Mikael's hand and they walked out.

….

''Here, drink some water'' Natalie said as she sat by Mikael's side on a bench at a park that she had pulled over. She was now wearing Mikael's trench coat on top of her pyjamas.

''I met Susan when I was in my first year at the University. She was my two year senior also majoring in Theatre Arts. Because of her I changed my major which was Architecture to Theatre Arts. I wanted to be with her all the time. I must have been smitten by her. I didn't see the many red flags in the air''

Mikael chuckled.

''We were moved to second year and she went to her final year, I planned to confess to her. Actually, we were not exactly lovers and we weren't friends either. It could be said that we had already passed the stage of being friends. I told Laura and she helped me to make some preparations. But, when the day finally came, I got to her apartment and she was gone. With just a note behind saying that she knew I loved her but she couldn't reject the chance of being a global star. She went away with a director she knew''

Natalie turned and looked at him. Mikael smiled and touched her hand. He lifted her hand and kissed the back of her palm.

''It is true that I fell in love with Susan. It is also true that we almost became a couple. But, it isn't true that she was my first love. I remember the first girl to make my heart skip a beat was the girl who took my umbrella and also stole my first kiss when I was in middle school and she was in senior high school''

''Natalie, I admit, meeting Susan again was quite flustering but that was it. What I feel for you is something that makes me feel happy every day. Waking up to see you sleeping next to me makes me feel satisfied. Since coming back to City X, you and I have gone through so much and all those things shaped me into a better person. We are imperfect but still I find our flaws special. I always think that it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about me. I don't care even if the world misunderstands me. But, as for Natalie, I don't want her to think of me as someone she can't trust. I don't want her to misunderstand me. I don't also want her to feel insecure. I want to be the last person to hurt her. I want to see her happy always and I want to be the reason why she is happy. I simply want to be her safe haven''