Ethan's POV -

I'm sitting at my mahogany desk, surrounded by the familiar comforts of my law office.The soft glow of the desk lamp cast a warm light on the stacks of files and legal texts that cluttered my workplace

My eyes scanned the pages of the brief, my mind racing with strategies and counterarguments as i delved deeper into the case, my expression turned intent , my jaw set in determination

The world outside the office faded away, leaving only the law, the facts, and my unwavering commitment to my client. Just as i was about to crack the code on the case, my best friend, Andre , burst into the office, a whirlwind of energy and chaos

"Dude, i just got the tickets to the upcoming basketball game !" Andre exclaimed, waving the tickets in the air like a triumphant flag

My eyes rolled heavenward as Andre plopped down in the chair across from me, completely unaware of the intense focus he had just distrupted. "That's great, man !" i said, trying to hide my frustration

" but i'm kind of in the middle of something here". But Andre was undeterred, launching into a detailed analysis of the team's chances and their star player's stats

My attention began to fray as Andre's words dripped like honey into my ears, sweet but distracting. And before i knew it, i was sucked into a discussion about merits of various pizza toppings, my mind wandering far from the case at hand

The papers on my desk begun to blur together as i laughed and joked with Andre, the tension in my shoulders easing

Just then a soothing voice of a young lady, maybe 24 years of age came from the door side of my room. We both turned our gaze to see,'Bianca' standing near the jamb of the door with an alluring smile struck on her face

She jerked inside the room and flopped herself on the chair before us. "Guys, there is an art exhibition which is going to be held on the following weekend and you guys are going with me there " She cried out

Andre and i shared a look showing equal disappointment from both the sides. "Oh ,no no no, don't you both say that you are not coming with me!" she declared with dismay

Andre tried to make her understand but it seems she is determined that she will never agree to what we say. "You guys always do that ! Is your basketball match more important than me ?" she voiced with tender sorrow

And, at last we both agreed to go with her. Ah ! she always wins with her cute and innocent face. "Yay ! Now we are going to the exhibition " she popped up with excitement. Bianca is our childhood friend

The three of us are best friends since childhood and studied law together and are now working together. So, Bianca's happiness is most precious for me and Andre

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I turn my head down to see my watch, 'Its 5:00pm', time for me to go home. I get off from my desk and take my coat

I scan my desk if any important thing left, and fortuitously my gaze goes towards a piece of paper which was hung between some books, a little part of that paper was out towards the spring and the rest in between the books heavy with dust

I walk towards the shelf to see what kind of paper is it because in that shelf I only keep some love poems books and some diaries containing the poems written by me

I slowly take out the paper and clean the dust from it and just as I'm about to open it , A text pops on my phone screen. 'Andre' name shows up on the display of the phone

Andre ~ Hey dude, are you free right now?

Ethan ~ yes, I'm...

Andre ~ That's great man, how about a dinner tonight ?

Ethan ~yeah sure, where to come ?

Andre ~ i will send you the location, be at sharp 7:00pm there.

Ethan ~ As you say sir



I end up the call and keep the phone on the right pocket of my pant. I again divert my attention towards the work on hand and start to open it

As i unfold the every side of the paper I begun to realise what it is and ...as I thought. A tear of sorrow drops from my red eyes tracing every corner of my right cheek

The photo in front of me is making my heart beg on my knees to stop hurting me like this

This is the photo that can make me cry for hours after seeing it and this is the photo that I don't want it to be away from me , this is the photo who still gives me strength to fight with this ruthless world and this is the photo that can make me a lifeless body with a living soul

This photo, is not a normal photo, this is a photo who contain love and pain both in one frame. This is 'My mother's ' photo which I will always keep near to my heart and will never let it burn by people's words and my feelings

Even if the whole fucking world is saying that she is dead, she will never be dead to me. She will always be alive in my heart

Suddenly, i remember my mother's words.. she always used to say that- "When we have love, we don't value it and when it's gone, we beg for it but this time it doesn't come back.

So always 'love' a person who 'loves' you..but not a person who 'likes' you." And now I understand what she meant by it

I'm sorry mother but my love was always one-sided and now how much I try i don't think she will be mine. This is the reason I left the college without anyone letting me know about it

With a deep hole of sorrow and regret in my heart, I somehow manage my emotions. I fold the paper again and keep it safely in the drawer of my desk and wipe the drops of river filled with pain from my cheeks and eyes and make myself ready to face the people

I led out of the room and the first thing I saw was 'BIANCA !!??'i was in shock, trying to figure out the thoughts in her mind right now. "Wh.. what are y..you doing here ?" I asked in hesitation

"You are crying" she said calmly. "I.. I'm not cr..crying" i don't want her to let it know about it. "C'mon Franky, don't lie to me atleast...we are childhood friends afterall" she said trying to convince me

"Okayhh...so actually" and I tell her about the photo and how much I miss my mom

Her eyes softens, she gives me a side hug and patts my back trying to console me. "You know what, Franky ? I thought you are the most strongest person I ever met but I think that today I have seen the most sensitive person I ever met" she said with a slight smile on her face

"I'm not sensitive!! " I pout. She laughs "so don't be more sad and smile" but the pain of regret is forcing my heart to not let a smile spread on my face

"Aree, c'mon smile ...ok so let's make a deal if you give me a wide smile then I will give you my favourite cheescake , ok ? Now smile ! " Her words make me let out an eco of laugh on her childish behaviour

Then we both laugh for a mere minute. After talking for some time ,we both bid goodbyes to each other and go our ways

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I'm sitting in my car driving towards the restaurant, Andre has told me about. I manage to see the time on my watch, 'Its 7:29 pm' Shit !! I'm late. He must be very mad at me by now

I move my staring wheel and enter a big yet beautiful gate. There was a guard standing near the gate I pushed the brakes and got off my car

"Here the keys, park it carefully" i lend him the keys and go towards the restaurant. It was beautiful from outside. And was giving a vintage time feeling. I enter inside the door. There was a receptionist sitting on her desk,busy in work. I go towards her

"Excuse me" i say politely. She turns her head up to see me. She leaves her work and ask me with a slight smile "Yes ?" "Im Mr. Ethan Francois and my friend Andre Martin has reserved a seat for dinner" i said calmly.. with a bit of nervousness that if she understood what I meant or not

"Ohh, so you're Mr. Ethan , wait! Olivia ! " And the word 'olivia ' echoes in my mind .. again feeling the same pain I faced the following evening."Yes, ma'am " and I out of a sudden come out from my thoughts and control my emotions

"Olivia, He is Mr. Ethan Francois..please lead him to his respective table"she pointed her hand in my direction

"Yes, sir please come this way " she said politely, and I nod and walk before her

She leds me to a table and a recognised face is visible to me. The face is looking red out of frustration. "Here's your seat, Sir ..now I will be going , and if you need anything please let me know" I nod in response and see her walking away

Then I turn my face towards Andre who was already looking at me 'IN ANGER !' I guess I'm going to be a dead meet this night. I give him a bitter smile and make myself sit on the chair before him

"Why are you late!!!??" He yelled and got up from his seat. I sensed a lot of eyes were on us. So I tried to calm him and at last calmed up a bit

I explained him the reason behind it with some excuses. And told him about the photo, the sadness, and how Bianca consoled me. So, after hearing me, his eyes softened..

i know he also felt a bit sad for me, as my mother had treated him too like her own son, he was also very sad and depressed when she was gone but he never let me know about it

He has always been strong infront of me, so that I don't cry much after seeing him also being weak. He never got a mother's love, and that's why when he met my mom he considered her his mom too

I get up from my seat and sit beside him , he looks at me with confusion. And then embrace him tightly in my arms , he also hugs me back

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Author's note 💖 :-

Hello readers ! 🤗 I hope you all liked the next chapter. And I'm extremely sorry that I didn't write the next part. Actually I was busy with my studies so, i didn't got that much time to write the part a bit fast. But no worries ... Now this part is out but I can't tell you when I will be posting the next part, so please stay tuned for the next chapter 💞. In the next chapter I will be writing about the Andre's past and all. So , please give my story your all love. Actually don't give it all love , just save some love for yourself too. And for the spoilers ,you can visit my account@Auth.orscarlet .Will meet you in the next chapter .. bye 😘 Have a nice day ahead 💖