"Are you okay, Em?"

Emma fixed her face within a second.

She caught her, didn't she?

Some days, you have a mask on, the everything is okay mask and without you being aware of it. .the mask slips off sometimes.

You get caught. People catch it.

And the next second you paste a smile.

"I'm as happy as happy can get." Emma grinned cheekily.

Diana kept looking at her, unsure.

The tiny frown lines between her eyebrows telling Emma . .Diana had caught her.

She didn't believe her but for her sake she didn't prod her further.

"If you say so. ." She said , wiping her hands off on the apron she had on.

They were in the sleek kitchen.

Diana felt like baking a cake and Emma had gladly joined in. Though she did ask her why work when you have servants around to do your bidding?

While cracking an egg open, Diana had chuckled . "I know I know. It's hard for the layman to understand but sometime somewhere we were also mango people , you know. Mango people with mango jobs and houses. I'm just trying to be . . trying to make myself nostalgic of those time. .when things were simple. One cake could bring out smiles and I would bake all the time for Max. It's so—"

Diana kept going but Emma's heart got stuck on that one name.

Max.

Max.

Max. . .

"Careful, daydreamer!"

Diana's warning made her realize she had been standing way too close to the stove. Hastily, she stepped back. Looking sheepish.

Diana shook her head in disapproval.

"Get the chocolate and melt it down in the bowl." She instructed her , giving her a worried glance as she turned back to her station.

Emma got the bars of dark chocolate and melted it. .all this time thinking about that one man she couldn't seem to get rid of.

Maybe it was the regret eating away at her heart...

Did he really kick out Laura? Because of something she had said? Did she really character assassinated a person she knew nothing of?

Well, color me judgmental, Emma thought whipping the chocolate.

Let me actually show you what this word represents.

Emma's hand stopped.

Why the hell did she cry over that? Did she get scare? Did she think he was going to—

No.

The empty threat reminded her of the harrowing day she almost got—Jake almost—

Why was it so hard to utter that word?

If the word was so dark, imagine it happening to a body.

"Guess I should break the news ." Diana suddenly said.

Emma was so thankful for her interruption. For pulling her out of the morbid thoughts.

"Yeah? What is it?" Emma asked, wiping off the sheen on her forehead.

Diana turned at her.

The soft curls in her hair bouncing, she had a smile big enough to crack at anyone's heart. Her cheeks had a lovely rosy flush.

"I'm getting engaged!" She clapped a hand over her mouth, screaming in it while Emma was gladly surprise. But then she had seen it coming. Knowing bits and pieces of Diana's love life, she knew something big was around the corner.

Emma couldn't help but move towards her , her arms going around her in a loose hug. Trying to give her the warmest hug of all time.

"So so happy for you! You deserve everything, Diana! " Emma gushed, pulling back , suddenly forgetting about her own woes for a moment.

Diana had a tender smile on her face as she tucked away a stray hair off Emma's face.

"Thank you, little one. You'll be meeting him very soon. Oh! You would love him, Em!"

"I know I'll. How can I not?" Emma said softly. Excited and happy for the person she cared deeply for.

Diana ,maybe, was the only person she cared hard enough to exchange her life for. She seemed like a lost big sister to her. She had taken her under the wing when she had been nothing but a stray cat.

Having her in life was like those YouTube videos where good humans are caught on camera and the video is tittled as faith on humanity, restored.

"I'm ready to break this news to my brother. I think I should tell him right about now before I chicken out." Diana joked.

Emma nodded eagerly. Stepping back and watching a jittery Diana muttering to herself ,"You can do it. Don't forget, you're the superior sibling."

Emma gave her a thumbs as she moved towards the door.

"Ah! I need all the luck in the world."

Emma had laughed at her sour face.

×××××××××

Oh my God! Diana was getting engaged!

Emma couldn't recall the last time she had gotten a happy news. Her life had been all about survival without a survival guide . .it seemed strange to feel happy after so long.

Seemed like she had forgotten all about the happy feeling.

Her hand coated in liquid chocolate, she had a faraway look on her face as she imagined Diana walking on the aisle with a gorgeous white—

Someone cleared their throat.

And Emma whipped around.

She got caught, again!

But not by the sister this time. .

It had to be him. . catching her in ridiculous positions. His green eyes went from her face down to her arms and . . liquid coated hands.

Whatever had happened between them, the moment seemed to be hanging heavily in the air over Emma like a sword. .but Maximus? He seemed as in control as ever.

How long had he been standing on the back? Watching her?

She was frozen.

While Maxmius let out a breath, as he pushed his hand in his hair and turned around to leave—

Emma's heart came to life.

Wild like a fire.

Her heart snivelled at seeing his back and she blurted out.

"Wait!!"

He stopped in his tracks.

His broad shoulders stiffening under the dress shirt.

"Can you not give me your back?" Emma asked in a quiet voice.

A few moments passed before he turned around slowly. .towards her. Dark eyebrows raising at her confidence.

Emma had long forgotten about her coated hands as she twisted her hands.

Say it!

"I'm sorry. For-for coming at you." She let it out and he watched her turning red from head to toe.

She felt like she shouldn't shut up and keep going when she had the chance.

"Please get Laura back." She whispered , seeing his jaw twitch and . .he crossed his hands over this hard chest as he leaned against the fridge.

"I would have but she has a boyfriend." He stated in a casual manner.

Emma almost felt like he was joking around with her?

"What?!"

Emma sounded crestfallen.

He nodded.

Emma couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Laura cheating on her boyfriend—

Who exactly was her boyfriend? Was it Maximus or—

Who was cheating on who?!

Her head gave up.

Emma swallowed. "I'm sorry for being a judgemental person. I have never judged anyone, I swear!" She touched her jugular vein. " It's just that—i'll be honest. I got pissed off at seeing you coming at me and," she touched her forehead in a worried manner ," I should never have said those words. . ." She trailed off, ending her speech.

Her eyes were earnest as she silently begged him to forgive her and he—he had an amused smile on his face that brought even more attention to his green eyes. His face transforming in front of her. Going from a dark gargoyle to a Hollywood celebrity. . .Emma couldn't feel her heart.

"You have an interesting way of conveying your apology. " He cracked a smile. "Do you normally drown yourself in chocolate while apologizing?" He asked in a genuinely curious manner but Emma could see the smile in his eyes. .

She felt so out of the loop.

"I don't. . understand. ."

He flipped her whole around around when he let out a soft male chuckle.

"You'll when you see a mirror. Also don't stuff your head into things you don't understand."

×××××××××××××