Brunch Plans, Burgundy Outfits & Brewing Tension

The morning begins with casual chatter, laughter, and friendly jabs. The girls gather, and immediately the energy feels light—everyone commenting on outfits, brunch plans, and the unexpected “burgundy memo” that apparently only half the group got. The vibe is sisterly, playful, and familiar.

But beneath the surface, there’s a thread of tension already beginning to form.

Delicia’s Absence & The Stress of Party Planning

Delicia arrives, busy, flustered, and juggling responsibilities. She announces she can’t make it to brunch, insisting her schedule is too packed. While the girls tease her—accusing her of being “too busy now”—Delicia makes it clear that Wayne’s surprise birthday party has her overwhelmed.

She wants everything perfect.
She wants the night to run smoothly.
She wants control over the smallest details.

A matcha latte feels like her only path to calm, and though the others encourage her to come eat, she chooses focus over fun. Her friends let her go, but not without a little side-eye and laughter.

The Party Conversation Takes a Sharp Turn

Just when everyone thinks the topic is shifting toward the party festivities, Shayla speaks up—hesitant, careful, but firm.
She brings up the subject: Iman.

Her question lands heavy:
“Do you really think he should come?”

The mood shifts instantly.
What was lighthearted becomes complicated.

Shayla isn’t trying to be messy—she’s concerned. She’s watched Delicia struggle emotionally when Iman is around. She’s seen how their dynamic affects her. She knows that beneath Delicia’s calm surface, there’s been real hurt.

Delicia’s Defense & Denial

But Delicia brushes it off.
“It’s not that deep.”
“He doesn’t control my life.”
“I’m fine. My mental health is fine.”

She repeats these lines like armor, determined to prove she’s unbothered. Even when Shayla reminds her of how she acts at home, how fragile she seems when it comes to him, Delicia denies everything.

She even points out that she’s still living in the house Iman bought her, as if it’s proof she’s stable—when to her friends, it’s proof she’s still entangled.

The Unspoken Truth Between Friends

Iman and Wayne are friends.
That complicates things.

Delicia invited them as a couple out of habit, not necessarily conscious choice. But now the question lingers: is she ready to see him? And is this truly the environment for that emotional collision?

Shayla presses gently.
Her concern is real.
Her tone is protective.

Delicia insists she can handle it. She even says she wants him there.
The girls exchange looks—they’ve heard this tone before.

Exits, Jokes & What’s Left Unsaid

The mood softens again with jokes about who’s “the boss” of the group, and Delicia hurries off to work, promising she’ll think about brunch next time.

But something lingers in the air as she leaves.
Something unsaid.
Something unresolved.

The party is coming.
Iman is coming.
And whether Delicia is ready or not—the night might reveal the truth she’s been avoiding.