Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

The car was coasting down the same street where we'd seen Medsafe Liyah Inc. when suddenly, I spotted Renata's sleek sedan pulling out of the parking garage, a shadowy figure sitting shotgun. "Look, there's Renata's ride," I blurted out to Hannah.

"I see it. What are the odds?" Hannah chuckled, "Talk about perfect timing. We wrap up our errands and so do they?"

I ignored her jest, urging her on, "There's someone with her. Slow down, can we tail them and get a look at this guy? If the timing's right, he's probably her latest fling. I've got to see who it is." As I spoke, Renata's car zipped in front of us.

Hannah, instantly thrilled by the prospect, exclaimed, "Roger that."

We followed Renata's car discreetly, but the chase took an interesting turn as she headed towards the municipal office district. She didn't stop out front but looped around to the secluded garden area in the back.

"Damn, must be someone from the building," Hannah murmured under her breath.

We hung back, parking across from a row of flagpoles.

Hannah whipped out her smartphone, snapping photos of Renata's car relentlessly.

After an age, the passenger door swung open, and a man stepped out. He was cautious, darting across the green space to a path on the other side.

Renata's car didn't linger, taking off down the road and out of the garden area of the office complex.

I lost interest in Renata's departure, fixated on the man who had exited her car. His back was to us as he strode towards the office building. Something about him seemed familiar.

"I know him from somewhere," I muttered, unable to place him without seeing his face.

Hannah, still capturing the scene on her phone, heard me and offered, "Should I go for a closer look?"

"No time. Look, he's about to go inside," I replied with a hint of regret, "We'll have to zoom in on those photos later. But I swear he looks so familiar."

Just as I was about to divert my gaze, as the man reached the entrance, he glanced back over his shoulder, as if to double-check his trail.

That one look sent shivers down my spine. Frozen, I stared at the man who'd already turned away and slipped inside the building.

Hannah lowered her phone, her eyes locked on the same spot, "No way, did I just see that?"

Our eyes met, both of us dumbstruck.

A moment later, Hannah frantically scrolled through the images for the one where the man looked back. I leaned in as she zoomed in on the pivotal frame, then passed the phone to me in disbelief. "It really is him."

I snatched the phone, zooming in further and holding it at arm's length.

Then, my arm slumped down limply.

My brain was in a tailspin.

I slumped back in my seat, clutching my hands tightly as a torrent of dreadful thoughts flooded my mind.

Hannah looked at me, helpless, murmuring, "Allie, what do we do?"

It took ages for me to gather my thoughts, my grip tightening before I handed back the phone. After a long silence, I finally said, "Let's not talk about it now. I need to think."

After a while, I told Hannah, "Let's head back."

She started the car, and we drove in silence back to Serene Garden Homes. Neither of us spoke a word the entire way.

This was a devastating revelation, and I had no idea how to handle it.