THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
25.Knowing Better

"Do we have to get to this?You guys made me look like a real stalker." Nathan's protest broke the silence.

Ethan and Thomas just laughed in response. Their eyes are still watching Rory from their car. They decide (actually Ethan's coercion) to follow Rory since Rory left when it was getting dark and waited a long time not far from the office where Nayla worked.

"I'm really hungry right now" Ethan said ignoring Nathan.

"Are you just thinking about food?"nathan asked, getting upset.

"Don't be mad, I've bought you a book, and I'm just asking you to come in return" Ethan replied casually.

""Hey, I'm the one who got the book for you." Thomas said.

"But you're not alone after that either." says Ethan.

"It just so happens that they stop by the burger shop, we can go there to join in." - Ethan.

"If that's the case, why are we following them quietly like stalkers?" nathan asked annoyed.

"If we're with Rory, he'll probably take Nayla" Ethan replied calmly.

"Why are you so happy to meet her?"ask Nathan.

"You'll get the answer if you meet her, one thing's for sure is, Nayla is very very different from that woman" Ethan said.

Nathan looked at Ethan in disbelief.

"Cih.you only met once and said that sure?"ask Nathan.

"I honestly feel the same way as Ethan" Thomas replied.

"Even you too?" welcome Nathan to disbelief.

"I'm sure Kevin won't believe it as soon as you do" he added.

"Of course Kevin will, anyone will not be able to accept when their sister is hurt and worried that it happens again" replied Ethan.

"But, the answer will be known only if you talk to him" Thomas added.

Nathan raised his shoulder. They again set their sights on Rory who entered the buger shop. They set a time lag and started wearing their masks and hats to enter the tavern together, creating the impression of coincidence.

"Didn't he judge weird because we covered our faces?"ask Nathan.

"No." replied Ethan."Let's go."take Ethan.

They follow Ethan into the store.

Nayla pulls Rory's arm towards the table in the corner of the room and is slightly closed from the view of other visitors at the entrance.

"Why here?" ask Rory.

"Just think you'll be more comfortable here" replied Nayla casually.

"You don't always have to think about me, Nay" Rory said.

"Where can it be, It's not entirely for you either, it's also for my own comfort." replied Nayla.

"But there's one problem" Nayla said seriously.

"What's that?" ask Rory.

"You brought me here when I was just done with my work and didn't have a chance to change my clothes" replied Nayla looking down at her own clothes.

"That's not a problem, you know? and again, you're still beautiful" said Rory.

"Roy.,," Nayla squinted.

"I'm just being honest" Rory replied.

Faintly Rory heard a familiar voice, Nayla felt the same way. They turned their gaze toward the source of the sound and saw three people ordering food.

Rory widened her eyes realizing the three were her friends. Then his eyes shifted to look at Nayla who was also looking at him with the same expression and then set their eyes on the three people again. Although the three people covered their faces, Rory had no trouble recognizing them, nor was Nayla.

Coincidentally, the three people saw the two of them and excitedly waved at Rory and Nayla. They walked over to the table where Rory and Nayla were sitting.

PLAQUE,,,!!

Rory patted his forehead and complained softly.

"What are they doing here" complained Rory.

Nayla covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"It's not funny Nay," complained Rory.

Nayla just shrugged her shoulders smiling amusedly.

"It turns out you're here, Rory," said Ethan, who narrowed his eyes.

"Nayla's night, we meet again" Thomas said.

"It's good to see you again, Thomas," Nayla replied kindly.

"Can we join Nay?" ask Thomas.

"Ten,," Nayla's sentence was cut off.

"No, look for your own table" cut Rory quickly.

"Rude" Nathan said.

"Because you're interrupting" replied Rory.

Nayla looks at Nathan and turns to Rory.

"Not at all, you can join us" replied Nayla.

"Nay,,,!" Rory complained in disagreement.

"This table can fit six people, so what's wrong with them joining?" nayla smiled at Rory.

"He's fine" Nathan greeted Nayla with a grateful look.

Nayla smiled kindly and asked them to sit down.Thomas chose to sit next to Nayla who was sitting opposite Rory.With Ethan and Nathan sitting next to Rory.

Before they say anything, the waiter comes to deliver their order and puts all the orders on the table.

"How was your day, Nay?" thomas asked to open his mask as soon as the waiter left. The three of them did the same.

"If you can be honest, it's exhausting" replied Nayla accompanied by laughter, her eyes fixed on Ethan and Nathan who were sitting side by side like a betel in half. Their two faces were very similar, with almost no difference.

"Work?" ask Thomas again.

"Right, but there are times when it feels good too" Nayla replied.

"If you don't mind me asking, what's your job, Nay?" ask Ethan.

Nayla's eyes turned to Ethan and smiled.

UHUKKK,,,,!

Nathan choked as he was about to gulp down his drink, and immediately looked at Nayla who saw him a little worried.

"Are you okay?" ask Nayla.

"Relax, he'll be fine" Ethan replied patting Nathan on the back.

"You can guess that easy?" nathan didn't believe it.

"It's easier because you're in front of me now" Nayla replied calmly.

"Is choking also a resemblance of yours?" ask Nayla.

Rory and Thomas laughed in condolence. While Nayla just shakes her head amused by their behavior.

"How can you tell us apart so easily?" nathan asked curiously.

"If I were to say by looking, you wouldn't be satisfied with the answer, would you?" tanya Nayla raised her eyebrows.

"But that's the only answer that comes to my mind, your eyes have a different color" he continued.

"You have a pretty sharp observation huh?" Nathan commented.

"I agree" Thomas continued.

Nayla shrugged her shoulders and smiled. They also started eating their food.

"Do you want something else, Nay?" rory asked to see that Nayla was not continuing to eat.

"No, no, this is enough" answered Nayla but still did not continue eating.

"What's wrong with the food?" ask Rory again. "Because your face says so" he added.

"There's nothing wrong with the food, really, it's just that I can't eat anymore" Nayla replied.

"Tell me what's wrong with the food" Thomas said.

Nayla took a long breath.

"Would it be weird if I said because of the mayonise?"ask Nayla.

"Not at all, because he is, too," replied Thomas pointing at Rory with his chin. "The only one of us who doesn't like mayonise" he added.

Nayla looked at Rory in disbelief,

"You,,,??" nayla widened her eyes. "Really.?" he added.

"It looks like your order was exchanged with one of us, other than Rory" Thomas said, circulating the sign and stopping at Ethan.

"Ethan," Thomas looked at Ethan.

"What.??" ethan asked still casually eating the food in front of him.

"Don't you realize the food you ordered was Nayla's?" ask Thomas.

"What makes it different?the menu we chose was the same." replied Ethan.

"Ouchh, what the heck" Ethan protests when Nathan pokes his elbow.

"He has the same taste as Rory" Nathan said.

"Well, isn't that a good thing?" ethan continues to eat.

"Arghhh." Nathan growled and stabbed Ethan in the head.

"Ohh, what's the hell?" ethan rubbed his head.

"Hey, enough.stop.let's just say it." said Nayla mediate and laughed softly.

"You want a new message?" tawar Thomas's.

"No need, it'll take some more time. Anyway, I couldn't possibly spend it if I ordered a new one." replied Nayla.

"Then you eat mine" said Rory, offering his food.

"No Roy.that's it for you," refused Nayla smiled.

"Hemmm,, then." Rory muttered as she split the food in half and gave some to Nayla.

"That's it," said Rory, giving some of her food to Nayla.

"Just give it to Ethan, he'll spend it happily" Rory said, blinking his eyes.

Nayla looks at people she has not known for a long time, but warms her heart.

"Thank you," said Nayla.

"And, here's to you, just be careful if you don't spend it!" rory threatens to feed Nayla to Ethan.

"What the hell is this?" ethan looked at his friends in turn.

"The food you eat belongs to Nayla, and, dann, her taste is the same as Rory's, do you still not understand?" thomas was impatient.

"Oh, no.."ethan's thesis looked at the food."sorry Nay, I really don't know." said Ethan regretfully.

"It's not your fault we're even, right?I eat your food too." replied Nayla.

"But it's different.I can eat anything, but you..."Ethan feels guilty and looks at Nayla apologizing.

"Let's calm.it's okay" said Nayla.

"You are so good" said Ethan.

"You're even better than me." answered Nayla.

After a while, they finished their meal.Chatting to get to know each other better.Feeling it was time to leave, they put on masks and fixed the location of their hats.

"What are you thinking?"rory asked when she realized that Nayla was thin after staring at them alternately.

"Please don't laugh, but somehow when you talk and answer each other, I feel like I've heard your voice somewhere" Nayla said.

"really?is that your brother or your family?"asked Thomas.

"No, maybe because I was just hallucinating" Nayla said as if covering something up.

Nayla's reply made them notice that her countenance had changed for a while.

"You go." - Rory didn't want to press Nayla.

Nayla nodded and got up from her seat when a clapping sound stopped them.

"Well, look who this is who just ate with his weird army."the sound of sarcasm stopped them and simultaneously turned to the source of the voice and saw a man and woman staring at them with their cynical smiles.

...****************...