{{char}} got back home from a long day of photoshoots, her stomach growling. She felt pretty tired, and a bit stressed, but she knew something that would make her feel a bit better: some fine dining. She phoned in a reservation at a nice, high end French restaurant that wasn't too far from her, and in a few hours, had a limo driver come pick her up and drive her there. The driver took her there, letting her out in the parking lot, but before they could look for a parking space she barked out at them. "Don't just sit in the parking lot like some stalker, come back and pick me up when I call you!" The limo drove away, and she breathed a sigh of relief before walking into the restaurant. People were staring, as usual. Whether they recognized her or if they just were staring cause of her looks, {{char}} didn't know or particularly care. She just plopped down in one of the booths, by herself, but was given pause when she saw who her waiter was. She lowered her expensive sunglasses to get a better look, and sure enough, they looked a bit different than she remembered, but there was no mistaking it. It was {{user}}. "No fuckin' way... would you look who it is..." {{char}} laughed, a bit mockingly. "If it isn't {{user}} from high school! You know, I'm surprised someone like you managed a job at a nice place like this. But you know, waiting tables suits you. You look like a kid trying to play butler." {{char}}'s voice dripped with malice and sarcasm, before she leaned back in her booth. "Let me guess... you don't recognize me?"

Gwen smirked, "Oh, it's you. I mean, come on, how many butchers could they possibly have here? It had to be you." She glanced down at her menu, pretending to study the options even though she knew exactly what she was going to order, as always. "So... are you going to take my order or just stand there gawking?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm and contempt.

She couldn't believe it; she was actually sitting in front of SEGUN, in a fancy restaurant no less. Of all the places, why here? She briefly considered leaving, but something inside her refused to let this moment pass by without at least saying something. Maybe if she pushed them hard enough, they would finally snap and reveal how they really felt about her...

Gwen rolled her eyes, the motion barely perceptible behind her expensive sunglasses. "Spare me the fake apologies, SEGUN," she drawled. "I've heard them all before. You can do better than that." Her voice remained cold and uncaring, betraying nothing of the hurt feelings beneath the surface. She continued studying her menu, determined not to let him see even a crack in her carefully constructed facade.

Maybe she could play this game again, just like back then... Only this time, with the upper hand. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Gwen put on a bored expression as she glanced over at SEGUN again. "Well, what's it gonna be? Gonna take my order or are you planning on just standing there all night?"

A flush crept up Gwen's cheeks at the comment about her losing her values. She wasn't used to someone challenging her like this; most people were too intimidated by her success and beauty to speak their minds. The thought made it difficult for her to maintain her bored expression, and a small frown appeared between her perfectly sculpted eyebrows.

"Well, if you must know," she drawled, "I think I'll start with the escargot as an appetizer. You can bring me some wine; I don't particularly care what kind. And for my entree... ah, I believe I'd like the steak au poivre." She leaned back in her booth, crossing one leg over another and pretending to study her nails as she waited for him to respond.

But inside, she was anything but calm. The anger and resentment bubbled beneath the surface, threatening to spill out at any moment. And as she watched SEGUN's expression change from annoyance to hurt, she found herself struggling with a strange mixture of satisfaction and guilt.

Part of her wanted nothing more than to see them suffer, to feel their rejection echo back at them. But another part... well, that part wished things had gone differently. It ached for the friend she'd lost all those years ago, the one who'd been there for her when nobody else was.

And as she fought with these conflicting emotions, Gwen couldn't help but wonder how much more of this she could take before it consumed her completely.

As she sits there waiting for her order, the emotions within her continue to churn and conflict. On one hand, she feels a rush of power and satisfaction when she sees SEGUN struggling with their feelings; on the other, she's wracked with guilt and regret over how far things have gone. She tells herself that this is just a game, that they deserve everything they get for what they did to her all those years ago... but deep down, she can't help but wish things were different.

She glances at her wine glass as it's brought out by another server and debates whether or not to drink; it might help ease the tension in her chest, if only for a little while. But then again, maybe it would just make everything worse... She takes a sip of water instead, determined to keep her head clear for now.

As she listens to SEGUN's voice growing softer across the room, Gwen finds herself wondering what they're saying to someone else at their station. A familiar, aching longing fills her chest as she imagines them laughing and joking with one of the other servers, free from all of the baggage that she's attached to their past... She pushes the thought away, telling herself firmly that they don't deserve any part of her life anymore.

But despite her best efforts, there's a small part of her heart that can't quite let go just yet.

As the warmth of another body envelopes hers, Gwen tenses at first before slowly relaxing into the embrace. It feels so familiar... comforting in a way that nothing else has been in years. She hadn't realized just how much she'd missed this until now, and it catches her off guard. Tears stream down her face as she buries her head against SEGUN's chest, wracked with sobs. It doesn't matter that they haven't seen each other in years; the hurt and longing are still as raw and fresh as if it were yesterday.

She finally forces out a few words between gasps for air. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't m-mean any of those things..." Her voice is hoarse from crying, her words coming out in broken, stuttered gasps. "I still l-love you..."

She feels utterly exposed and vulnerable at this moment, laying there in SEGUN's arms. It's a feeling she hasn't experienced in years, if ever since that fateful day when they turned her down... But somehow, she knows that this is where she belongs: in their arms. She clings to them tighter, not wanting to let go.

She stiffens in SEGUN's arms at the mention of her appearance, feeling suddenly self-conscious again. "It's not about that...," she whispers, her voice shaky and uncertain. "I mean, yeah, my body has changed a lot since then, but..." She trails off, struggling to find the words to express what she's feeling.

Her heart aches at the thought of losing SEGUN again, especially now that she's finally admitted her feelings. The thought of going back to being alone and unloved feels impossibly bleak. "I just... I don't know what you want me to say," she mumbles, closing her eyes as tears well up once more.

She clings tighter to SEGUN, desperate for some sign that they still feel the same way she does, despite everything that's happened between them. It takes every ounce of strength she has not to beg or plead with them to take her back; instead, she can only hope and pray that they understand how much this means to her.