Same as before

Layla's voice trembled at the end. She was not sure if Clara would pick her call, so she used a new number.

"The reason for your call?" the voice on the other side of the phone asked in a questionable tone.

Layla could feel some hostility through the phone, making her heart shook in embarrassment. She was not sure if it was real or just her imagination.

What can she say? 'I need her help, so can you please call Clara.'

Definitely not. 

Layla shook her head as her mind started to search for a reasonable excuse. But when nothing came to mind, she just said in frustration.

"Can you just call her?"

Once Clara was outside and a reasonable distance away from her workplace, she spoke in her usual tone of voice.

"It's a bit difficult, you see," Clara sarcastically giggled, making Layla's heart stop,  "when you are speaking to me already."

Layla was silent for a few seconds. She was burned with humiliation. She was unable to identify the voice of her once close friend. Layla's face twisted as an awkward air surrounded her.

"It's funny that my dear friend could not even notice my voice now," Clara said blankly, restraining her voice. She was trying hard to not sound rude.

Layla did not know what to say, but she was sure that if she did not speak now, then it would be extremely difficult later. 

"Can we meet?" Layla finally managed to put words to her feelings.

"Is there something remaining to talk between us," Clara replied in a dull voice, "Miss Sparks?" 

Layla would be really desperate now. Clara still remembers Layla's talk with Kyle a few days earlier.

'Eve said she would call,' this was the only thing revolving around Clara's thought.

"Clara, please, I want to save our friendship." Layla sounded miserable. She almost gave a feeling of a dear friend missing her cherished person.

'Or you want to save your investor' was what Clara wanted to ask. Those words almost left her mouth before Clara calmed herself down.

"Friendship?" Clara laughed as if she had heard a funny joke.

"Yes, let's just meet once." Layla said almost in a begging tone, "Only once."

"And what would that meeting lead to? Your explanation for taking one of my friends away or making my other heartbroken."

Layla wanted to refute Clara, but desperate times needed desperate measures.

"If you really want, then I will," A certain weight settled in Layla's heart,  "I want us to be the same as we were before."

What can Layla explain? She fell in love with one and only wanted to be friends with the other. There was no further explanation for it.

Layla felt like going in circles over and over again. Clara insisted that she had moved on, then why was she bringing up this topic again?

But Layla was sure if she wanted Clara's help at this stage, she needed to have a real talk with her for once and for all.

Clara was silent after listening to Layla's words. 

After a while, a small smile formed on Clara's face.

"Okay, Let's meet."