Day Two

It was Bao's idea to eat as soon as we were out of the dispensary lab. I agreed because he looked so hungry that I worried I'd be eaten if we didn't get to a restaurant quickly enough.

It was my idea to go to Menya. One place that couldn't remind me of Jez.

The newly-reunited Mylinh and Derek joined us. All three pairs of eyes were on me. I wasn't sure whether I could talk about it - not because I wasn't comfortable confiding in them, but because I didn't know what to say.

From the random words that tumbled out of my mouth and the look on my face, they had the general gist of it.

Possibly due to their own recent issues, Mylinh and Derek had a lot of advice to give. I had never seem them to serious.

"It's all about compromise." Derek said.

Derek had compromised by allowing Mylinh to stay in touch with all of her male friends. The reason they broke up was his attempt at banning her from speaking to any boys at all.

I sighed.

Jez's compromise to me was to try to grow up my way - by staying together. My compromise to him was letting us go because my way crashed and burned.

This was the only solution, and once I explained it to them, they understood.

Derek bought a drink from Easy Way after dinner. Bao and I stood around while it was being made.

"Aren't you getting a drink?" He asked.

"No, it's too cold." I didn't want to remember the last time I felt warm.

"Cold-hearted." He teased.

How many times can a heart be broken before it turns cold?

"Ice-box." I said.