Leanna-Chapter 211: [Platonic] [Let Go]

[Zoe’s POV]

[Platonic]

I stood and circled my way. Before they could ask what I was doing, I sat beside Lawrence in front of Sophia.

"Lawrence, it’s cold there. Scoot over," I commanded and shoved Lawrence to the left.

The two watched in astonishment while Lawrence didn’t say anything as he scooted over with a hint of a smile on his lips until he was in front of Nicholas.

After Sophia and Nicholas ordered, they started small talk between the two of us.

"So, Lawrence, right? I never thought Leanna has a handsome man as a brother and two at that." Sophia sweetly smiled. The whole time, her hawk-like eyes stayed glued on him.

Lawrence politely smiled and resumed eating his food in silence.

My lips quirked up at Sophia when her smile fell, but this woman was persistent tonight while Nicholas conversed with me. But every time he opened his mouth, Lawrence would put meat on the hot pot –– blocking me from Nicholas’s view, not giving the man a chance to open up a conversation with me, which I secretly giggled in delight.

"So . . . Lawrence, I heard you and Zoe are close friends. I’m surprised that my sister here didn’t attack you with how handsome you look and all."

"Zoe and I are just friends," Lawrence replied merely.

Which caused my heart to tighten.

You wanted this.

Sophia’s eyes flashed with excitement as she held her chin with two hands.

"Is that so . . . I’m so envious of my sister here. She’s so lucky. To have Elliot as a boyfriend and you as a friend."

I frowned, especially when she emphasized the ’friend’ part.

"Well, Zoe deserves the best of both worlds."

Lawrence’s face didn’t change one bit as he continued to eat with a smile on his face. He was so professional in dealing with different kinds of people. While me, on the other hand, was frowning and glaring at the two nonstop.

"Of course she does," Sophia chimed, yet she didn’t bother to look at me.

"Only that, other girls would think you’re taken." She giggled while I rolled my eyes, and I was not afraid to show it.

Lawrence stopped eating. He glanced at me with a doting look on his face that I couldn’t help but blush.

"It’s alright. I don’t need other girls. Zoe is already a handful enough." He then winked at me and resumed eating.

. . .

. . .

It’s just not the two who were stunned, I was paralyzed as well.

My face flared.

I pretended to eat as if nothing happened.

Sophia’s brows twitched, but her angelic smile stayed plastered on her pretty face while Nicholas cleared his throat, ready to say something.

"Zoe, there––"

"Oh, that’s right! Zoe, do you remember that cat we saw the other day?"

Lawrence interjected Nicholas yet again, which caused the latter’s face to flushed red from anger, which was amusing, to say the least.

"Yeah, what about it?" I answered, holding my laughter.

"Someone already adopted him."

"What!"

"Yeah, we were too late. I told you to buy him there and then." Lawrence grinned, yet all I did was frown.

I like that cat we saw at the pet shop we stumbled upon when he and I took our usual morning stroll and decided to take the other way around.

I sighed in acceptance.

That was when Nicholas gulped his food and opened his mouth. But before he could utter a word –– Lawrence beat him to it again.

Like that, the whole dinner, Lawrence and I talked about the things that only we knew, not giving Nicholas and Sophia any chance to converse with us. Even with all the talking, we still managed to finish everything while Nicholas and Sophia watched us in astonishment and disgust as we talked even with our mouths full. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Lawrence and I didn’t need manners in front of these people.

Eventually, we said our goodbyes when we finished our meal, but the two wanted to invite us out in a club.

"Sorry. Zoe and I have something urgent to do."

It was Lawrence who answered. I glanced at him with questioning eyes.

"Oh, what kind of something?" Sophia’s eyes flashed with mischievousness while she brought her fingers to her chin.

Lawrence bit his lower lip, looking cute much to my annoyance.

"It’s a . . . secret."

Lawrence whispered, and I saw from the corner of my eyes how Sophia pressed her legs together.

This slut!

She was probably aroused at Lawrence’s alluring face and voice.

Grr!

"What kind of . . . secret?" Sophia mirrored his voice, and I wanted to grab a bottle and smash it on her face.

"Well . . . Zoe and I will prank this person. We’ll go to her place and put hair remover into her shampoo. Keep it a secret, alright?" Lawrence shot Sophia his killer smile, and winked at her.

Sophia’s color went white. Her sweet smile froze on her face while Nicholas choked in shock.

I held my mouth when I was on the verge of giving in to laughter.

I told Lawrence all about myself and about my family. But the thing was, until today, Sophia and that two-faced bitch Emma didn’t know who the culprit was who put hair removal in their shampoo. They simply thought they had suffered some kind of scalp disease.

But now they know.

I don’t care.

I’m done with them anyway.

Before I could burst out laughing, Lawrence grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the restaurant.

"Ahahahahaha! I can’t believe you said that! You’re so heartless! Ahahahahaha!" I said between laughter the moment we stepped outside.

Lawrence shook his head while smiling. "I don’t want to hear that from someone who put hair removal in someone else’s shampoo."

"Oh, my god! Ahahaha! I can’t stop laughing! Did you see her face?! It was epic! Ahahaha!" I laughed so hard I was afraid my inside would come out of my mouth.

Lawrence stared at me while shaking his head.

"I can’t believe you! You’re so . . . Ahaha! You’re so . . . Ahahaha . . . *sigh . . . That’s why I love you," I proclaimed as I collected myself and wiped my tears.

"I love you too . . ."

. . .

. . .

"I-I mean platonic . . . P-platonic k-kind of love. Y-you know . . . as friends . . . ," I corrected after the awkward silence.

"Of course. Just . . . friends. I love you as a . . . friend," he explained with a smile on his face while his eyes darkened.

"Y-yeah . . . totally . . . platonic . . ."

". . ."

". . ."

"Let’s go. It’s getting dark," he said, and before I could react, he walked towards his car, leaving me feeling guilty and ashamed.

----

[Zoe’s POV]

[Let Go]

Days past after that night and before I knew it –– it was Lawrence and Lance’s seventeenth birthday. We were at Casa Montaña in Izu Island to celebrate.

Of course, Elliot accompanied me.

These past few days, I avoided Lawrence. I didn’t know why, but I was too guilty and ashamed to face him.

Guilty and ashamed that it ate me every day.

This is what you want.

This is the consequence of your choice.

I bit my lips.

"Zoe, Come on. The party is about to start," Elliot announced outside of my bedroom door.

I grabbed my jacket and covered my body with it. I was wearing a two-piece swimsuit after all, and with this cold approaching winter air, I didn’t want to take any chances.

"Let’s go."

I said once I opened the door while I ignored the desire in Elliot’s eyes.

----

The party started in the morning and ended in the late afternoon, but of course, it had a part two when the moon rises.

It was a fun and carefree party with the twins entertaining the crowds. It was worth coming all the way here with the surprising ending that no one expected and all –– it surely was worth coming over.

What with Lance confessed to Emery Jansen as a finale no less.

But I didn’t dare to watch the twins, specifically watch Lawrence performance. Afraid Elliot would notice the adoration in my eyes.

"Hey, you okay? You’ve been quiet. Did Lance confession to Emery Jansen shock you?"

Elliot nudged me when we walked at the seashore after the party ended with a bang.

"Yeah. I mean . . . I thought Lance never like Emery . . . I guess all that chasing paid off," I lied.

"Mmm . . . Hey! What’s that!" Elliot pointed at a group of teenage girls and boys.

They seemed to be dancing and cheering.

Curious, we got closer only to have my heart break. Lawrence was singing and dancing with the crowds who were cheering and swaying to his song. But that was not what caused my heart to shatter. He was so good at dancing and singing, the only problem was . . .

He was sexy dancing as he ground with a girl who was oh so familiar with me.

Maxine . . .

The girl he used to like when he was still a kid.

The cute girl with freckles now turned into a stunning woman.

I didn’t know how did the girl appear out of nowhere. Lawrence never did once mention her to me.

But seeing how close they were, their bodies almost plastered with each other as Lawrence was smiling from ear to ear –– I assumed their relationship was no longer just friends.

"Zoe, where are you going?" Elliot grabbed my hand when I walked away.

"Sorry, I’m a little tired . . . I’ll leave first and rest."

I was surprised my voice didn’t crack, though it sounded weak.

"You alright? I’ll escort you back."

"No need . . . You go and enjoy yourself." I smiled and kissed his cheek before walking back to our hotel.

You wanted this.

This was the consequence of my actions. If I just left and never turned back and made that stupid decision to stay friends with him –– none of this would have ever happened.

I had no one to blame but myself.

I didn’t have the right to feel what I feel –– I already have Elliot. Lawrence have every right to be happy.

I bit my lips as my tears fell.

I knew I was selfish. Though I already have Elliot, I still wanted Lawrence by my side.

I wanted him mine.

Now I know how he felt every time he saw Elliot and me. The pain and unacceptance were truly unbearable. I didn’t even know how he could possibly endure it.

I closed my eyes tight.

It’s time to let him go.

It was time to set both of us free.

I should have done this a long time ago.

I wouldn’t have acknowledged the reality if it didn’t happen to me. If I did not personally experience how much Lawrence was suffering because I was together with another man.

I ripped what I sew.

But I could still fix this.

I’ll leave New Haven and never see him again.