"Didn't you hear the latest news? There's a new associate on the 10th floor."

"Girl, you're late to the party. Everyone's already talking about him!"

"I did a little digging. Googled him, actually. He's quite popular for a rookie lawyer. Won a few big cases before he took a break to the US..."

"Duh. Law school class valedictorian and the son of a previous cabinet minister? And he has this authority vibe in him, y'know? Total package. Like he could ask me to do..."

"Ssh! NSFW!"

"But you agree! Damn. What a catch."

Julian exhales sharply through his nose, his hands balling into fists under his desk. He wants to block out the noise with earplugs, but at the same time, his senses are heightened, curiosity gluing him in his place. It's maddening.

"But I heard he keeps a picture of a baby in his office."

"A baby?! Maybe it's his baby photo?"

"Who would do that? I bet it's his kid..."

Julian's typing halts, eyes dropping to the keyboard, torn between ignoring them and asking them to shut it down. Thankfully, their direct supervisor, Stefanie, intervenes first. "Don't we have a deadline to meet? No?"

The noise finally dissipates, the hush bringing him relief. It is short-lived, however, as the word 'baby' echoes in his ears.

A baby? Joaquin has a baby? With whom? Could it be one of his matches? But doesn't he live alone? Did he have a ring? Where's the mother? The baby?

He's unraveling. It's one step forward and two steps back. He came to work with high hopes of getting a breather. But how could he when he's surrounded by coworkers who wouldn't stop fawning and speculating about his ex?!

A walk and some caffeine. Those are what he needs. After sending the report to Stefanie, he invites Myka out.

******

Myka steps onto the main floor, her heels clicking crisply with every step as if announcing her arrival. She's barely masking her frustration with how the trial turned out. They'd exhaustively prepared the witness for cross-examination, but the opposing counsel had a trick up his sleeve, blindsiding them like they were amateurs.

How had she missed such a small, crucial detail? The battle isn't over, but it's beginning to stress her out.

She rides the elevator and sends a quick response to Julian, who seems equally desperate to get away. Though unaware of what it is about exactly, she suspects it's linked to Joaquin. Julian's been on edge ever since he'd come across him, like a volcano erupting after a long period of dormancy.

Huh. Myka has lots of pent-up energy to rechannel... Perhaps she could help Julian instead. Forget her case.

Her mind reels. What if she gets them together in one room? It would break the ice. Might desensitize Julian. Exposure therapy, as he'd once put it when he shared about what transpired with Alexander.

Just then, the elevator doors pause to admit a passenger, and Myka stiffens in recognition. Long balayage blonde hair tied up into a high ponytail, impeccable cat-eye makeup, and expertly contoured cheeks.

It's her. Joaquin's 'other woman'. Sort of.

Myka had googled her once, not long after Julian had opened up about what happened between him and Joaquin, a few months after the latter graduated. She remembers her as a daughter of a government figure. Her name? Kaye? Something like that?

Well, up close, she is even more gorgeous.

"Is there something on my face?"

Myka swiftly averts his gaze, cheeks burning. "Uh, n-no. Sorry."

Katie pivots, arms folded against her chest. "Or do you know me?"

Even though embarrassed, Myka knows better than to lie. If she is here and headed to the same floor, she's acquainted with someone from Jimenez. Is she a client? Doesn't seem like it.

There's only one prospective associate...

"Are you here to see Joaquin?"

Katie slants her head and eyes Myka, who flinches slightly at the intensity of her gaze. "So, you do know me."

"I don't," Myka answers firmly. "I've seen you somewhere with him. He's my colleague and was my senior at university."

Katie uncrosses her arms. "Okay, then let me introduce myself." She extends her hand. "I'm Katie."

Myka arches an eyebrow, taken aback, but reluctantly takes Katie's hand. "Oh, um, Myka."

"Myka," Katie repeats thoughtfully. "Pleasure to meet you."

When the elevators open, Katie steps out first, throwing Myka one last unreadable smile before sashaying down the hall.

As Myka makes her way to her office, she pulls out her phone and types a quick message to Julian.

Julian's response pops up instantly, making her frown at the screen.

"A mom? What the heck...?" Julian must be on narcotics. He's saying all these arbitrary words.

No, Katie does not strike Myka as maternal. Not that someone as intimidating, slim, and attractive is disqualified from motherhood. She just doesn't give the vibe that she has attachments.

Myka shakes her head. What does she know, anyway? Seriously, Julian needs to get a grip. It's amusing to watch him this ruffled, considering how little his other exes affected him. But there's a part of her that worries. Because what if Katie and Joaquin are still a thing?

Returning to her desk, she checks her emails, prints a case to review, and then heads off to the cafe.

******

"Hello there," Katie greets, lounging comfortably in one of the client chairs across from Joaquin's desk. "Nice office, by the way."

"Hey, you made it," Joaquin replies and glances up briefly, proceeding to organize sheets of paper, his attention split between the pile and his desktop. "Sorry. I'll be done in just a second."

"No worries. This is a last-minute thing, anyway. I was in the area and thought we could get lunch. My treat. A little welcome back gesture."

"Thanks, Katie. You really don't have to."

"Mm," she hums, her idle gaze flicking to the door she's kept ajar. "Ran into one of your friends on the way here."

Joaquin's focus finally shifts to Katie, his busy hands stilling. "Who? Which friend?"

Katie leans back, an amused glint in her eyes. "Wait. Don't tell me... You are thinking of someone... It's exactly who I think it is, isn't it?"

Realizing his mistake, Joaquin explains, "I wanted this job, alright? It was just a coincidence that Myka brought him in first."

"Oh, sure. Purely coincidental."

"Okay, fine. Not purely," he admits, a streak of red hue spreading across his cheeks. "When I got the offer, I thought about him. But it's not like I planned it either." Joaquin rubs his right temple, continuing the task. "I don't know. I'm still figuring it out. And now, we happen to live in the same building so—"

"What? In the same building?"

"And... same floor."

"Same floor?" Katie reiterates, her cat eyes widening a fraction. "Why don't you move in with him, yeah? Complete the steps." She clicks her tongue. "Joaquin, you're a lawyer. You should know better than to blur the line into stalking territory."

He takes off his glasses and wipes them off on his sleeve. "I swear I didn't do it on purpose. I mean, I learned he lived there after I'd narrowed my choices down. The apartment itself was out of my hands. But I only signed a one-year lease. I just needed a place to stay as soon as I got back."

"Ah, so am I supposed to believe this is fate?" Katie giggles. "Years and years later, you still got it bad." She looks outside again. "And Myka. Yes, that's the old friend I bumped into."

Joaquin looks at Katie and detects something underneath her words. "Myka's my ex."

She snorts, shrugging. "Well, that changes things. I'm not into people who've been involved with friends."

"It was just like a month. Thought you should hear it from me." Joaquin gets up and grabs his bag. "And seriously? That's what you're concerned about? Not that she might not swing that way?"

"I don't waste time wondering about stuff like that. Wouldn't know until I try. Sexuality's just another excuse to say no. What's the difference, really?"

Joaquin smiles. "And this is why we get along."

"What, because I don't overanalyze things?"

"Exactly."

*******

"Why are you asking me if she looks like a mom?" Myka asks, shifting in her seat as she consumes her latte.

Julian toys with a crumpled tissue. "No particular reason."

"Wait, Julian. Do you think they're together? Like, married?"

He massages his nape, averting his gaze. "Dunno. I mean, they went on blind dates. Maybe it worked out. And then they had a... child."

"Is there some kind of story going around that I'm unaware of?" Myka snorts, snatches the crumpled tissue from Julian's fingers and tosses it to him. "You know a simple internet search or going through his social media would clear this up, right?"

Julian sighs, "Okay. The thing is, there's a rumor that he has a photo of a baby in his office."

"Oh, that one?"

He inclines forward. "So there is one?"

"Yeah, there's one. But I haven't seen it up close." Myka savors her drink, enjoying the way Julian's already round eyes widen even more. "Why are you looking at me like that? Why are you so curious?"

Julian clears his throat. "Nothing. I just enjoy... gossiping."

"No, you don't. But you can ask him later when he joins us for drinks."

He scowls. "What do you mean by that?"

"I'll invite him. Y'all can talk it out. You're colleagues and neighbors now. Be mature. Start over."

"No, we are so not starting over. We're not..."

Myka rolls her eyes. "I don't mean as boyfriends! Julian, you're very sus. Are you still into him? For real?"

Julian clears his throat and expels a peal of short, humorless laughter. "I'm intrigued. Intrigued. Why's that so wrong? Why is it okay for you to be in the loop but not me? We're both his exes!"

"Oh, please. Don't lump me with you. I never even got close to kissing him while you got close to fucking," she claims, whispering the last bit with a giggle. Julian goes bright red. "I bet one thousand pesos you two will be back together in less than six months."

"W-Why are you so confident? Did he... say anything?"

Myka can't help but snicker. Julian hasn't been this out of sync in ages.

Past Julian's shoulder, she spots Joaquin and Katie walking through the lobby, heading toward the door. She subtly juts her chin, nudging him to look.

Julian spins around, his chair creaking against the floor, his brain instantly flying back to that night. When he saw Joaquin and Katie outside the restaurant. Although he trusted Joaquin to be faithful, something had shattered in him.

Right, that's why they broke up. They weren't on the same page, and he'd felt as if he were losing pieces of who he was. Slowly, steadily, dying inside.

And whereas the baby rumor might be false, she's still here. Katie remains in his life.

"Julian?"

Good for him.

Being with a woman has probably brought Joaquin peace—something Julian couldn't offer. His father's probably content.

A strange sense of closure tiptoes to Julian's heart, overshadowing the whirlwind of emotions that have left him perplexed these past few days.

Joaquin is just a colleague. A neighbor. They will cross paths occasionally, but that's all it is. He can't allow himself to entertain irrational ideas of fate or divine providence orchestrating their reunion, nor hope that the universe has calibrated its timing in their favor the third time around. Because it's not like that.

Julian imprints the words in his head as Katie and Joaquin vanish into the distance: It didn't work out between them for a reason. They're happier apart. It's better this way.

And Julian needs to act like it. Like how Joaquin is acting like it.

He swivels his head back and meets Myka's gaze.

"So? You cool with inviting him?"

"Sure," he replies. "Time to be mature, right?"