Cocoa face to face with Shayla

  The humid Miami air hung thick and heavy, clinging to Cocoa like a second skin. She dabbed at the bead of sweat trickling down her temple with the back of her hand, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She'd been pacing the small, brightly painted cafe for the last fifteen minutes, a lukewarm cafe con leche untouched beside her. Today was the day. Today, she would finally face Shayla.

Shayla. Just the name was enough to send a shiver down Cocoa's spine, a mix of fear and resentment coiling in her stomach. Shayla, the reason her life had taken the unexpected, agonizing turn it had. Shayla, the woman who had broken her best friend, Luna's, heart into a million irreparable pieces. 

Luna was Cocoa's rock, her sister in spirit, the peanut butter to her jelly, the sunshine after the rain. When Luna had met Shayla, Cocoa had been cautiously optimistic. Shayla was charismatic, ambitious, and initially, seemed genuinely smitten with Luna. But then, the whispers started. The late nights, the vague excuses, the haunted look that had slowly crept into Luna's usually bright eyes. And then, the devastating confession: Shayla was seeing someone else. Leaving Luna shattered and adrift.

Cocoa had sworn then and there that she wouldn't let Shayla get away with it. She'd spent months tracking her down, using every connection and digital skill she possessed until she finally found her: working as a real estate agent in Miami.

Now, here she was, waiting   The bell above the door jingled, and Cocoa's head snapped up. There she was. Shayla. Even from this distance, Cocoa could see the effortless elegance, the perfectly coiffed hair, the designer handbag casually slung over her shoulder. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a magazine, radiating success and confidence. 

Cocoa stood up, her hands clammy. Shayla paused, scanning the cafe with a practiced air of nonchalance. Their eyes met. Cocoa saw a flicker of recognition, followed by a carefully constructed mask of politeness.

"Cocoa, isn't it?" Shayla's voice was smooth and professional, like warmed honey. "What a surprise to see you here."

"Not really a surprise, Shayla," Cocoa said, her voice tighter than she intended.

Shayla raised an eyebrow, pulling out the chair opposite Cocoa. "Please, sit. Is there something I can help you with?"

Cocoa remained standing. "You can start by telling me why you did it." 

Shayla feigned confusion. "Did what? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play coy with me," Cocoa snapped. "You know exactly what I mean. Luna. You broke her heart. You lied to her. You used her.  Shayla sighed, a dramatic, world-weary sigh. "Luna and I... things didn't work out. These things happen. It was a mutual decision."

"Mutual? Don't insult my intelligence," Cocoa retorted. "Luna was devastated. She's still picking up the pieces. You left her for someone else!"

Shayla leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Look, Cocoa, I understand you're upset. But you don't know the whole story. Luna and I were at different stages in our lives. We wanted different things."

"And the 'different thing' you wanted was someone with more money?" Cocoa accused, her voice trembling with anger.

Shayla's face hardened. "That's not fair. And it's none of your business."

"It is my business when it hurts my best friend!" Cocoa slammed her hand on the table, making the cafe con leche slosh precariously close to the edge.

Shayla didn't flinch. "Look, Cocoa, I'm sorry if Luna was hurt. But I can't be responsible for her feelings. I made a decision that was right for me. And frankly, I don't owe you or her an explanation."

Cocoa stared at her, her anger slowly transforming into a cold, hard resolve. She realized that Shayla wasn't remorseful. She wasn't even a little bit sorry. She saw Luna as collateral damage, a footnote in her grand plan for success.

"You know," Cocoa said, her voice quiet now, almost chillingly so. "I came here hoping for an apology. Hoping for some kind of acknowledgement of the pain you caused. But I see now that I was wrong. You're not capable of it."

Shayla smirked. "Good. Then we understand each other  Cocoa leaned in, her eyes locking with Shayla's. "No, you don't understand. I'm not going to let you get away with this. I'm going to make sure everyone knows exactly the kind of person you are. I'm going to use everything I have to expose you. You may think you're untouchable, Shayla, but you're wrong. Justice will prevail."

She turned and walked away, leaving Shayla sitting alone at the table, the smirk slowly fading from her face. The Miami sun still beat down, but Cocoa felt a strange sense of lightness. She didn't know exactly how she was going to do it, but she knew one thing: Shayla had underestimated her. And she was about to pay the price. The fight for Luna had just begun