C37 Why Name Her Monica

I quickly said. "Mom! Dad! It isn't like that." "Oh?" Mary asked. "Yesterday you told us she planned a picnic with you." Quinton laughed even harder. "And now you're denying it." I quickly realized there was no way I was winning this argument.

Without finishing my breakfast, I stood up. "Mom, Dad, I'm going to work." Their laughter followed me all the way out the door.

When I arrived at the company, Chris was already waiting outside. We greeted each other as usual. Chris immediately started talking about the latest gossip. "Brother, the wedding news is getting bigger."

I nodded. "I know. Everyone in my department has been talking about it." Chris lowered his voice. "You also heard about their baby's name?" I shook my head. "No." "Monica."

The moment I heard that name, I froze. My heartbeat quickened. Chris immediately noticed. "Brother?" I remained silent. "Don't tell me you still care about Samantha after everything."

Before I could answer, another voice came from behind us. "Why are you two standing here looking like statues?" We turned around. Alicia was standing behind us with a smile.

Apparently she had heard part of our conversation. Chris quickly explained. Then I spoke quietly. "When Samantha and I were together, we often talked about our future."

Both of them listened attentively. "One day we discussed children's names." I paused. "We agreed that if we ever had a daughter, we would name her Monica."

Alicia blinked. "Why Monica?" I smiled bitterly. "Because the name means advisor, truth, and wisdom." "It represented someone who would guide others and bring light wherever she went." Back then, Samantha loved the meaning.

The three of us fell silent. Chris was the first to react. "Wait." He pointed at me. "You two separated." "She humiliated you." "She even called us lowly born." "She said you belonged to different worlds."

He paused. "Then why would she still use the name you both chose together?" Alicia nodded. "Wouldn't naming her daughter Monica remind her of you every day?" "Why would she do that?"

The questions kept coming. Each question only confused me more. Eventually I shook my head. "I don't know." "Maybe it's just a coincidence." Neither of them looked convinced. And yet no one had answers.

After a while we entered the building and went to our respective departments. The questions remained in my mind. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't understand. Why Monica? Why that specific name? Why now? The more I thought about it, the less sense it made.

By lunchtime, Chris was already waiting at the café. The moment Alicia and I arrived, he asked, "So?" "Did you figure out any reasonable explanation?" I sat down. "No." "I've got nothing." "Besides, I've already moved on." "If she chose that name, then that's her business."

Alicia looked thoughtful. Then suddenly she asked a question neither of us expected. "How exactly did she disappear from your life?" Chris looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Alicia continued. "You two were together for years." "Did you ever sleep together?" The question nearly made me spit out my drink. Chris looked equally shocked. "What kind of question is that?" Alicia shrugged. "I'm trying to understand."

Then she lowered her voice. "If she named her child using a name you both chose..." Her eyes widened slightly. "Could the child be yours?" Both Chris and I stared at her. For a moment nobody spoke. Then I answered firmly. "No." "We never slept together."

Alicia blinked. "You didn't?" I shook my head. "To me she was pure." "We agreed to wait until marriage." For several seconds there was complete silence. Then Alicia burst out laughing. Chris followed immediately. "So you're still a virgin!" Alicia teased.

Chris nodded dramatically. "Our brother here is an endangered species." I buried my face in my hands. "Can we change the topic?" The two of them laughed even harder. Wanting to escape the embarrassment, I immediately pointed at Chris. "Speaking of secrets." "How did you explain Laura to your parents?" Alicia instantly smiled. "Oh yes." "Let's hear how our great protector failed to protect such a tiny secret."

Chris groaned. "It was an accident." He explained how Laura's name had slipped out during dinner. When he finished, both Alicia and I stared at him. He raised his hands defensively. "Come on." "It wasn't intentional." "But now they know there's a picnic." "They know Laura is coming." "And they think something suspicious is happening."

Suddenly all three of us froze. The realization hit at the same time. The picnic would only have four people. Laura. Alicia. Chris. And me. Two boys. Two girls. The atmosphere became strangely awkward.

Even Alicia looked troubled. Her brows furrowed slightly as she stared into space. Chris and I exchanged glances. "Alicia?" She snapped back to reality. "What?" "You look worried." She forced a smile. "It's nothing." "A picnic is a picnic."

She stood up confidently. "We already planned everything." "Everyone knows about it." "So we're going." Chris nodded. "Agreed." I nodded as well. Despite the strange feeling lingering in the air, none of us backed down. The picnic was happening. And for some reason, all three of us felt that this weekend would be anything but ordinary.

Alicia still thought about the picnic situation." When Mike and Laura talk about their love or maybe when he confesses, obviously he will do it not in front of us and at that time Chris will remain, does this mean I am Chris's companion?" She thought to herself.

The more she think about it, the more it became strange. But she still comforted herself. "This picnic is mainly for connecting Mike and Laura so, it us who will be helping them". She decided not to worry herself about this anymore. Lunch Ended.

The afternoon passed far more slowly than usual. Ever since lunch, rumors had been spreading throughout Wood IT Company. Every department seemed to be discussing the emergency meeting held by the higher-ups the previous day.

No one knew the exact details. Some said it involved a major overseas client. Others claimed the company had lost a large contract.