Rose sighed.
"I've known Lara a lot longer than you have. I've seen enough to know how she works. She's not necessarily mean every second of her life. But when she wants something, she knows exactly how to become the person she needs to be to get it."
"So her apology…"
"Could be sincere. Or it could be calculated. The two aren't mutually exclusive."
Mia stayed silent.
Rose went on:
"Lara knows Cid's weaknesses. She knows he feels guilty easily. She knows he has a hard time breaking a promise."
"That's exactly what she's doing… making him feel guilty?"
"Exactly."
Rose crossed her arms.
"And you know what bothers me the most?"
"What?"
"She didn't come just to apologize."
Mia frowned.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because if she only wanted to say she was sorry, she could have done it differently. A message. A phone call. Meeting somewhere else. But she came straight to your place."
Rose put weight on the last words.
"Your place."
Mia looked down.
"You think she wanted to see me?"
"I'm almost certain of it."
"Why?"
Rose looked at her for a long moment.
"Because you've become important to Cid."
Mia felt her heart skip a beat.
"Important?"
"Yes."
"But… we're just friends."
Rose smiled slightly.
"You know, Mia, sometimes people are the last ones to understand what they feel."
Mia quickly looked away.
"It's not that."
"I didn't claim anything."
"But you think it."
Mia said nothing and just sighed.
"I just don't want Cid to get hurt."
Rose studied her face.
This time, she didn't joke.
"Then don't let Lara decide for him."
"But maybe Cid wants to give her a second chance."
"That's possible."
Rose paused.
"But if that's the case, it'll be his decision. And most of all, don't let Lara make you believe you have to give her anything."
Mia remained silent.
"Rose…"
"Yes?"
"Do you think Lara is planning something?"
Rose answered:
"With Lara, you have to expect anything."
They stayed quiet for a few moments.
But in Mia's mind, one question remained.
Why had Lara really come back?