We're finally here.

"So, we finally meet," Stacy started.

"Yeah," I replied. "We're finally here."

Stacy smiled. "I've always been curious about you."

"Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?" I said as I smiled back.

She laughed. "Really? You're curious about me?"

"Yes," I answered. "You were Matt's precious little thing."

The smile that lit her face suddenly disappeared. She straightened her back, flipped her hair, and looked almost ready to strike. Our coffee and cake arrived and we diverted all our attention to the hot brew in front of us.

"That was a dark time in my life," she said in a serious tone. She didn't look at me.

"Dark?"

"Aren't you Matt's ex-girlfriend?" she fired back. "Then you should know what I'm talking about."

I thought for a while and then replied, "I'm not even sure we were a couple."

Stacy sipped her coffee and shrugged. "Should have known."

Should have known. Does she mean "I should have known" or "You should have known [better]"? I didn't ask, but either way she meant it, it still stung.

And then we were both silent, unsure of when to speak again. It's almost ironic how you spend almost half your life waiting for a moment to happen, rehearsing what you'd say to a person you've always wanted to meet, but when you're finally living it, you can't wait to get it over with.

"Matt told me about you," I continued softly. "He told me about the proposal, the engagement ring, and how you left him and went to the U.S."

"He did, did he?" she said. "What else did he tell you?

I began telling Stacy what I knew--the college romance, Matt's little black book, the on-and-off thing they had in college, how Matt told her to erase her social media accounts, and even how Matt attempted to get her back. I also told her I knew how he used to go to her house everyday to look for her, and how their friends kept mum about Stacy leaving for abroad.


To be continued…