33.

Next day all of us decided to visit a local fruit market. Since we were staying in the outskirts of Medillin, we thought it'd be a good idea to explore the city. The others had been there yesterday so they decided to stay back. It was just Amy, Alex, Leo and I who were off to the city. I wore one of my bright flowy top and jeans. I memorised Leo's instructions of not doing anything too touristy to attract attention. I applied slight makeup and adjusted my top. I twirled in front of Leo to flaunt my outfit.

"Perfect." He said. I noticed that he was in a very casual attire, he was wearing linen shirt with rolled up sleeves. Not that I mind his well-fitted suits but his casuals were a nice change.

"Listen, I'm going to try and set up Amy and Alex so you better help me."

Leo raised his palms in defiance. "I don't interfere in people's love life."

"Oh shut up." I rolled my eye. "Stop being so boring, besides I think they do want to be with each other. All they need is a little push."

"Fine I'll go along your childish plan." He grumbled.

We rushed down the stairs and got in the car, where Amy and Alex were already waiting for us.

Alex was driving us. Amy sat next to him while Leo and I piled in the back seat.

"So... I never really figured how you both knew each other."

Leo rolled his eyes. He pulled me close and whispered, "Real subtle, Meg."

Amy sighed, "Some things are better left unsaid."

Alex blurted, "Of course, it is totally healthy to ghost someone. Like that's not a toxic behaviour to be distant and not communicate."

"You don't talk about being distant!" Amy snapped.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Leo glaring at me. Ugh great, just great. There was a stunned silence in the car. I should really stop being so awkward and ruining everything.

"The fact that you guys are hurt about it means somewhere deep down you both still care." Leo said. "I get pissed off when Meg acts silly because I care about her. If I didn't I wouldn't give a shit."

"Real subtle." It was my turn to roll my eyes.

"Actually..." Amy said. "You may have a point. Even if I believe talking is fuitile and there's nothing that we can do to change it. I still think I need to get stuff sorted for the sake of closure."

"I admit, a lot has been left unsaid." Alex said.

"So you guys can start by saying your perspectives. Amy, you go first since Alex is driving.

Amy took a deep breath and started her story.

Years ago, she doing an assignment on corrupt corporations in Japan. Amy flew to Tokyo for an assignment. A huge multinational company had been a front for a smuggling operation. When Amy was uncovering that, the company sought help from a Yakuza clan to get Amy out of the way. Alex's father sent him to get rid of Amy. However, after hearing about Amy's research, Alex had a change of heart and decided to support and protect her to take down the corrupt corporation. While they were busting this, they got close and ended up having a fling while denying their feelings. For Amy, getting involved with Alex meant straying away from her ideals. When Alex confessed his feelings for her, all she could do was run away because she didn't know what to do. Amy almost came on the verge of tears while narrating her story.

Suddenly, Alex blurted, "Are you telling me the reason you left me was that you had feelings for me?"

She nodded a yes and sniffled. "Tell me what was I supposed to do? You went against your father for me. I couldn't ask more from you so I left. You deserved so much more than a lousy fling."

Alex clutched the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles went white.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, I'd rather be with you than with anyone else?" He said, choking up.

Amy turned away to face outside the window and hide her tears. Alex too avoided speaking and discreetly wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

What did I do? I hope I did the right thing.

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After a rather silent and awkward trip we reached Medillin. After Alex parked the car, all of us decided to go to a cafe. There was a lot bothering Alex and Amy and it was better if we used this trip to help them sort their baggage. We walked into the cafe and sat on a table. Leo placed our order and returned back to the seat. Thank god he was besides me. I don't think I'd be able to handle this tension.

"Amy had her side to say and I hope I can say my side too." Alex said.

He told how he's genuienly fallen for Amy and wished he could be with her despite the opposition. He could never really get away from his family but he was willing to make a new start. However, Amy never told him what was wrong between them. She started becoming distant and it hurt him. When he confessed her of his love for her, she left him. It had hurt in very badly. He wished she could've told him the reason why she abandoned him like that.

Alex's story made me emotional as well. As someone who had a similar experience with Samar I knew how heartbreaking it was. That kind of thing messes with your esteem and leaves you questioning everything. After Alex was done, Amy looked up. She had tears streaming down her eyes.

Amy blurted, "Because I love you so much it confuses the hell out of me and I don't know what to do. It was so scary and so exciting at the same time. I didn't know what to do then, I don't know what to do now."

"You what?" He said, clearly surprised.

We were interrupted by the waiter who kept our orders. Leo and I grabbed our coffees and sipped it. As I was sipping the coffee, I felt Leo lean closer to me. I felt his breath on my neck.

"How about this? We leave these two to catch up and sneak off somewhere?" He whispered in my ear.

"Sounds good." I said.

I turned to Amy and Alex who were still fighting.

"Leo and I are going for a walk." I said. Before any one of them would protest, Leo and I were out of the cafe.

"So what's the plan?" I asked Leo as we walked down the street.

"I was thinking we could check out the fruit market. It's just down the street." Leo said.

When we entered the market. At the corner, I saw a vendor selling some yellow stripes.

"That's Mango Biche." I exclaimed. I recall Maria talking about it. "Have you ever tried that?" I asked Leo.

"No." He said. "Let's try it."

He brought two cones of mango biche and handed one to me. The strip of raw mango seasoned with salt and lime had a certain bite to it. Besides me I saw Leo scrunch up his face.

"Sorry but how do people eat this? It is so sour."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Raw mangoes are an acquired taste. In India we make have something similar to this. Instead of lime, we season it with paprika powder."

Leo handed it to me. "Do you want it? I don't think I can eat something so sour." He said.

I gladly took it because it meant more for me.

We strolled through the fruit market. Weird and colourful fruits were there in every corner. I saw the alien-egg fruit with spiky yellow exterior. Leo asked the vendor what it was in Spanish.

"That's called Pitaya." He said.

"I didn't know they had yellow dragon fruit as well! Can we buy that please?"

Leo chuckled. "Of course. Both purple and yellow." The vendor handed us some purple and yellow dragon fruits in a cloth bag.

We strayed to another counter where a woman was selling oddly shaped green and black fruits. Leo asked the lady to try the fruit. She handed us a both halves of the custard apple along with a disposable spoon.

"That's so good." Leo said. The boy has a serious sweetooth. After a bite I handed him my piece of custard apple as well. I'd rather stick with the raw mango slices.

"It's too much effort for me." I said.

I think I just found the secret of a sucessful relationship—having drastically different tastes in food. For us it was like a win-win situation.

We strolled through the colourful and vibrant fruit market. It was now that I missed India the most. The market here was so similar to my home. The supermarkets in Trinity just weren't the same.

I glanced at Leo. I hope someday I get to vist my home with him.

#

After buying loads of fruits Leo and I again stopped by the Mango Biche seller and I got another one for me. I'd been craving for raw mango in Trinity. And, the only way I'd satiate those cravings is by eating mango pickles that my mom sent me. No doubt the pickles were good but they weren't anywhere near fresh raw mangoes.

Leo being the gentleman he is offered to carry most of our bags while I ate raw mangoes.

"You know there's this silly thing we did as children, whenever a girl used to eat tamrinds, or raw mangoes or anything sour we'd tease her by saying she's pregnant."

Leo's eyebrows shot up in amusement.

"We use craving for sour food as a metaphor for pregnancy. And also most women do crave for sour foods when they're pregnant." I explained.

Leo shook his head and laughed. "Should I be concerned that you're eating way too many raw mangoes? I hope you aren't pregnant."

I smacked his arm and he winced. God he's so dramatic at times.

"I'd actually need you and privacy for that." I taunted back.

"Hey! It's not my fault. Gardening is so exhausting. And you're the one who snores the moment you hit the bed." He shrugged.

"I don't snore." I said, crossing my arms. "You do. And you sleep talk in Italian."

"Really?" He asked. Both of us burst out in a fit of laughter. I stole a glance at Leo. His dark eyes looked so beautiful in the sun. I wished I got to see this relaxed version of Leo more.

Despite getting so less time with Leo, I wasn't upset because whatever time we got, we made the most of it. These days, I'd started feeling more connected to him. We were trying to seek refugee in an new country under a famous mafia queen. Despite all our obstacles I feel that nothing can break Leo and me.

"You know I love you, right?" I asked.

I looked up at Leo and he seemed a little distracted.

"Leo?" I asked.

He quickly pulled me back. "It's DeLuca's men... they've found us." He said.

I traced his line of vision and found a bunch of shadily dressed men loitering outside the cafe Amy and Alex were sitting.

Oh my god! What do we do now?

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A/N:

I'd been caught up with publishing and editing my new book titled 'Tabloid'. (If you've been following and reading my works since long, you might remember a story of an extra martial affair called Tabloid which I started here, and I took it down to publish it.) Since I was busy with the boring editing stuff, I didn't have time to use wattpad.  Now that Tabloid is almost set to release, I finally found time to post an update for TGWP. As a compensation, I've tried to make these three updates bigger than my previous updates.

Again thank you for being such wonderful readers.

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