What's After Like? |LizRei|

Blind Date

Yey a new collection!

- smooch.

=

Rei stared blankly at the restaurant table, fidgeting with a napkin. The air was thick with tension as the sound of clinking silverware echoed through the nearly empty room. She glanced around, taking in the dim lighting and the cozy atmosphere, but it did little to ease her nerves.

Liz shifted awkwardly in her seat, her eyes darting around the room. She couldn't help but notice the parallels in their surroundings—the quiet, intimate setting and the soft glow of the overhead lights mirrored the countless nights they had spent together in their own apartment.

"So.. uh.. How have you been?" Rei asked, her voice trembling slightly as she broke the silence. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, avoiding eye contact with Liz.

Liz hesitantly met her gaze, taking in Rei's nervous demeanor. She took a deep breath before replying.

"I've been okay, I guess. Just been keeping busy with work and everything." Rei nodded faintly, her fingers still fiddling with the napkin.

"Yeah, same here. Work has been nonstop lately. I feel like I'm always drowning in paperwork." She forced a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood, but it sounded hollow even to her ears.

Liz picked up her glass of water, swirling it gently as if it held all the answers to the uneasy tension.
"You always did overwork yourself," she said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of worry.

Rei's grip on the napkin tightened, her heart racing at the concern in Liz's voice. She knew her ex was right; working too much had always been her tendency, but it had gotten worse since their breakup.

"Yeah, I know. But I can handle it," she answered, attempting to sound confident but failing miserably.

Liz leaned forward slightly, resting her arms on the table.

"Can I ask you something?"
Rei hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Sure, what is it?"
Liz took a deep breath.

"Do you have any idea why our friends set us up on this blind date? It's just... kind of strange, don't you think?" Rei's eyes widened in surprise.

"Honestly, I was wondering the same thing. It's not like our friends to just randomly set us up without any warning." Liz's expression mirrored Rei's surprise.

"Exactly! I mean, they know we've been..." She trailed off, unable to bring herself to finish the sentence. Rei looked down at her lap, fiddling awkwardly with the napkin again.

"Yeah, they know we've been... going through a rough patch." Liz swallowed hard, her throat feeling tight at the mention of their recent breakup.

"Yeah, they do. So why would they do this to us? It's like they're trying to play matchmakers, but they're just making things more complicated." Rei let out a sigh.

"Maybe they think they're being helpful. They might think that if we see each other again, we'll... I don't know..." she trailed off, unable to articulate what she wanted to say.
Liz nodded, her expression laced with both hope and skepticism.

"Maybe they're hoping we'll realize we still have feelings for each other..." Rei's eyes flicked up to meet Liz's, a mixture of vulnerability and uncertainty in her gaze.

"Do you think they're right... about us still having feelings?" Liz studied Rei's face intently, trying to read the emotions beneath the surface.

"I don't know," she admitted honestly.