It was around 9:35 PM, when the door bell to Filly's pub chimed. Filly was just seated at the counter with Renzo , both immediately raised their heads. Wow, they couldn't believe what their eyes. It was Malaika with another man. 'I warned you,' Renzo whispered. 'She already has someone new, she's quite something,' Renzo said in a low-tone. Malaika approached them, she was still in the western outfit she had on during the shoot.
'It's awfully quiet today,' she remarked as they each took a place by the counter. Filly didn't bother to reply forcing Renzo to reply to tone down the awkward silence '… … well, it's been like that for the last couple days.' Filly was glued to his phone. 'Umh! … err…the usual? Renzo inquired.
'Filly, you all time favorite human is here,' Malaika remarked
Mhh! He scoffed and observed some five seconds silence. 'I don't think that's the case,' glancing at the guy she was with. She surely didn't miss out on that signal.
'OMG! Don't tell me you're jealous of him,' she said pointing the so called new guy.
'Should we not be?' Renzo asked, his eyebrows raised hands crossed over his chest seizing both of them.
'Geez! This is Theo. He's my PA and Camera guy,' she clarified.
'PA!' both exclaimed in unison.
'Since when do you have one of those?' Renzo asked. Before she could answer 'Is that the new name for side nigga?' Filly breathe his jealous openly.
'What!'
'I'm not a potential threat, I am gay,' Theo clarified.
Leaning in towards Theo, Renzo flashed a wide smile ' I am Renzo but my actual name is Lorenzo. You can call me whatever makes your heart skip.' Theo didn't say anything immediately. But for a few seconds he stared him dead in the eyes. Moved closer and said 'Loren… … I'll call you Loren.'
"Loren,' Renzo mouthed nodding his head. Malaika was darting eyes from Renzo to Theo shaking her head in slow-mo. She didn't believe that Love at first sight was a thing. It was a movie/novels thing. An immediate spark ignite? Was crazy.
'Filly,' Renzo called out as he reached for the limited and special edition of Jack Daniels "2011 HOLIDAY SELECT" from the shelf. He then put some ice on the Ice can and with a thud passed Theo two glasses. '...we out,' he said walking away from the counter. '…It's on the house,' he gave Theo, a whisper of assurance. 'You're an idiot,' seems like Filly heard him. He laughed as he led Theo to the rooftop.
'What just happened?" Malaika asked
'That was quick,' He commented.
Once they had left, the loud silence between them was back on. Malaika was not left with much of an option, 'I'm sorry for my behavior and rudeness the last time we were together.'
'That's your new norm anyway, you meet up with your friends and later lash out the attitude and disappointment on me.'
'I can't justify my behavior'
'Glad to know you know,' lifting his head '…you can't'
***************************
At the rooftop, Renzo placed the bottle and ice on the floor. He rushed to the corner and struggled to pull one of the tables. Looking around in panic, he couldn't seem to get hold of whatever he was looking for. Theo was giggling hard seeing at how he was pacing around confused. 'What's wrong?' he finally asked. 'There are no chairs,' Renzo replied disappointment written all over his face.
Theo placed the glasses next to the bottle and made a few steps closer to him. He held his shoulders 'Relax' he breathed out. Staring him dead in the eyes, his hands around his neck. Renzo unable to breathe properly since Theo was so close leaving him no space he was forced to swallow saliva. His eyes shifted from Theo's eyes down to the lips. Same to Theo, his eyes were no longer on Renzo's eyes but down to his lips. Amid the tension and desire for each other, Theo pulled off Renzo's apron and took a step back. Whatever air he was holding in he was able to breathe it out at once. Theo laid the apron down besides the table and placed their drinks, glasses and ice on the table. 'Isn't it rather too early to have the wrong ideas?' he asked sitting on the apron.
'Eer… …I …I…,' rubbing the back of his head. He didn't know what to say.
'Are you not going to join me?' Theo invited him. Confidence could be detected from his tone. Without wasting time, he joined him jumpily. Opening the drink and pouring it to their glasses '… … are they a thing?' Theo asked handing Renzo his drink.
'Whom? Filly and Malaika? It's long, complicated and even twisted.'
'The night is still young,' sipping his drink. Without hesitating he surely gave the whole narrative.
Meanwhile back in the pub, Malaika was trying her best to apologize and win Filly's favor and trust back.
'…I swear, it's the truth. If you don't believe me ,' pulling out her phone she shows him,her gram's post 'look.'
THE NEWS IS FINALLY OUT! 🎬✨
I've been holding my breath for months, but I can finally tell you: Sour Love is officially heading to the big screen! 🎞️🍿 Seeing these characters move from my late-night fever dreams to an actual shooting script has been the most surreal journey of my life. I've always said that books are a "uniquely portable magic", but seeing that magic turn into cinema is something else entirely. To every single one of you who read the book, shared it with a friend, or sent me a message about how much these characters meant to you—this is for us. We're going to the movies! 🥂✨
Tell me in the comments: Who is your DREAM CAST 🎥🎬📽
'Congratulations, I guess.'
'Uurgh! What do you mean you guess?,' with a rising tone full of disappointment
'Call's for a celebration, maybe.'
'For sanity's sake,' she yelled jumping off the stool. 'What's your problem?' she whined whilst rotating.
Just in time the door-bell chimed and Omar stepped in. Their eyes clicked. He was not alone however, he was followed by his full crew except for his girlfriend, Belinda. The moment, Filly caught sight of Omar he groaned "This Jerk again." Omar was becoming quite unbearable in Filly's life.
'Their goes woman of the hour,' Ivy squealed running towards her and hugged her as everyone else followed her.
'I remember back in the days,' Seth began 'you'd always say how you'd take a different path in life, finally it has paid off.'
She scoffed. 'At least something that is not going to backstab.' He gasped, pretending to be in shock. "Vibe Killer" he remarked and she giggled.
"Urghh!" Anna groaned rolling her eyes.
'Babe! You're misbehaving.' She immediately turned to him her eyebrows raised , her eyes flickering in disbelief. 'Wait, I'm what?' . Her voice was calm but her facials were yelling.
'OMG!, here they go again,' Ivy whispered. She whispered loud enough that Malaika overhead.
'They're still fighting?' In a slow-mo she nodded her head. Scoffing, Malaika slightly turned her head away from Ivy and there it was. The silent, yet loud smile. The evil grin full of satisfaction. The one you make when Karma slaps someone who wronged you in the face and you happen to witness it. Filly who was on the other side of the counter happened to see that smirk. In disbelief he shook his head.
'__ if only I had the capability to write, I'd make sure to kill every male in your bloodline. Perhaps that way I'd bring an end to cheating bastards,' Anna Remarked making everyone to gasp in shock as others let out funny sounds.
'You know what? Seth began. I am not in the mood to argue with you amidst Mishy's new wins,' he remarked as he grabbed Malaika's hand and pulled her out. She didn't try to resist, as a matter of fact she was lowkey having a field-day.
'OMG what level of non- chalancy is that,' Renzo commented with a sharp drank voice from behind attracting their attention. Nobody, however was interested in him that much as Omar immediately rushed after them and everyone else followed.
'Hope you haven't done anything weird yet on the rooftop?' Filly addressed Renzo and Theo.
'The night is still young,' Theo commented and walked towards the balcony with a wide mischevious grin.
Biting his lower lip, Renzo escorted him with his eyes as he disappeared to the balcony. Renzo's eyes were full of desire, they were screaming "I can't stand the heat, tonight you're the one." He giggled sheepishly.
'WTF!' Filly groaned shooting up from his chair as he grabbed one of the limited editions from the shelves and walked out also leaving him all alone swinging. Once he realized, he was all alone. He began to count his fingers "—2, 3,---6,7---9.' He then walked into the counter and grabbed nine glasses.
'So what company are you contracting with? Seth asked.
'The Imperial'
'I haven't heard of that one.'
'You're not an international BL fan,' Theo interfered.
They had pushed two tables together and the nine of the gathered round the tables. All attention was on Malaika and it's not like Anna had forgotten Seth's behavior. She was all grumpy , didn't say a word even as others were yapping.
'Let us draft your contract,' Luca suggested.
'Oh! That is already catered for,' Theo clarified.
'Who is this guy? Who invited him? Seth couldn't take him anymore.
'My BF to be,' Renzo said smilingly looking at Theo who in turn was shocked by his answer.
'Bro, why would you invite him here?' Seth asked. Malaika scoffed. 'That's my PA and Cameraman.
'How fast did you earn him?' 'Sorry man,' Luca and Seth asked at once respectively.
The whole night it was shots after shots. A celebration that no one expected. The air was full of their laughter, it felt like déjà vu. They were relieving their college days again. The only difference being that they were a bit older, mature and with more friends.
We have to be on our way,' Theo cut their fun short once it struck eleven.
'Uurgh!' 'Yoo boring' 'Don't be soo uptight' all of them let out their disappointment but he kept his cool with a smile.
'I agree, Malaika began she was not even half as drunk as the rest. 'Yaay!' they were happy she wasn't leaving yet.
She was just a little bit tipsy. ' Heavy drinking is for people who have got no movies to make,' she echoed Jux's words out loudly and that made Theo proud. He couldn't hide his smile. He just darted his eyes as if telling them ' I told you.'
'It's just the other day, you were knocked out drank, and now... wow... you're grown,' Luca said. They bid them and left. 'I'll be right back,' Renzo excused himself and followed them.
'There's something weird about her,' Omar finally spoke his first words the whole night after she left.
'Can't you just be happy for her?' Anna groaned. 'Mmh' Ivy seconded. 'Are you just a hater hating?' Anna kept going.
'I agree,' Filly said. 'I've observed her the whole night and something is really off.'
'You've been her friend but you're also backbiting?' Anna asked
'I'm not up for this convo but you'll tell me one day,' he said and walked back into the counter.
'Hey, wait up,' Renzo requested Theo who was already outside. He stopped mid step and asked Malaika to get into the cub and wait for her. He then turned to him but didn't say a word.
'Soo!' he began being all clingy. His arms under his, looking him deep in the eyes as he swings his body. "Umh! … … are you not?... … you know what am talking about.' Theo shakes his head as he smiles. 'How do I put it?'
'Loren, I really have a tight schedule tomorrow,' he says looking at his wristwatch 'can you make whatever it is you want to say, quick.'
He scoffs, 'You lead me on and now you are _____' nodding his head, he stops mid-sentence then walks away. Theo also gets into their cub and driver drives off.
In the morning Malaika opened her eyes. The first thing to hit her face was the not gentle sunlight. She lunged at her phone, it was 9:45am. "No, no, no," she hissed, tangling her legs in the sheets as she scrambled out of bed. My meeting with Jux was at eight. Jux who viewed something slightly negative as a potential liability. She was one hour forty five minutes past a disaster. Halfway into a wrinkled dress shirt, heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird, she burst into the sitting room.
'What am I even doing here?' she groaned in frustration 'I Should be taking a shower.'
'Theo,' her eyes caught the sight of him. He was calmly seated and his eyes glued on the tablet. "Theo! Why didn't the alarm—why didn't you—" She fumbled with a button, her breath coming in jagged bursts. "I need to call Jux. We need to come up with a convincing lie, he must not know we were out late.'
'Relax, there's no need for that ,'he assured her with a calm tone. She shook her head like someone trying to ask "What do you mean"
He finally looked up 'Take a deep breathe, no need for convincing lies,'
'We are an hour and forty five minutes late.'
Sliding a calendar notification across his screen toward her "Jux's secretary called at 8:00. He's caught in an emergency. He was called in for another pitching .He cleared his entire schedule for the day. No meeting, no follow-up, no stress." She froze, one sleeve up, one sleeve down. The adrenaline began to drain away, leaving her feeling like a deflated balloon. "He cleared... everything?"
"Everything," he confirmed, returning to his tablet. "Go put on some sweatpants. I'll have coffee ready in ten."
She went to her room and was back in seconds. Theo was still seated on the couch, his mind, eyes body and everything focused on the tablet. 'Hey,' she called but he didn't answer. She went for the second and third time again still no answer. She approached and tapped his shoulder 'What's wrong,'
'I need your help with something, I might have fucked up yesterday.'
'You didn't you were very professional.'
'It's about Loren … … …' he explained everything that transpired without leaving a single detail out.
'That was savagery, non-chalant. A mixture of Omar, Luca and Seth.'
'Speaking of them, Loren gave me a tale. So messed up.' Just then Malaika's phone chimed. She grabbed it.
'The nerve of this bitch,' she mumbled. 'What is it?' he asked. She showed her a text
📧📧📧📧 I need your help come over to our place: Belinda.
'She really is something,' he commented eyebrows raised.
'You said you needed to speak with Loren? I know where to find him. Let's go,' lunging from her seat.
'Are you not taking a shower?'
'Do you need help or not?'
'Ok, Ok,' he hissed and they left immediately.