Chapter 3

Marvina was pulling a long face when Jennet arrived at the promised place. She was standing outside a food stall while crossing her arms over her chest.

"You're still alive. I thought the reaper took you to their world." She said half-mocking while staring at the gasping friend who came running towards her from the parking area.

Jennet looked at her with a guilty expression. "Marvina, I am so, so sorry! I overslept. Last night, I was busy unpacking my stuff and I forgot to set my alarm." She explained while catching her breath. Beads of sweat were all over her forehead and she immediately wiped it using a handkerchief.

Marvina glared at her, walked forwards and immediately hooked her arms around hers. Jennet gulped, waiting for her to say words of curses, but…

"Hurry up, order something," Marvina spoke. Her voice softened as she smiled widely.

Jennet looked at her, still feeling guilty for being late. But, at the same time, she was confused. "Are you not angry at me? You know, I was late for nearly three hours." She said.

Marvina inhaled a deep breath and said, "Do you want me to get angry then?" She looked straight into her brown eyes.

Jennet shook her head. "No." She never dreams to see her friend getting angry.

Marvina inhaled a deep breath and smiled, "Then, don't ask me to get angry at you. I understand you were tired. Moving house and stuff tires everyone. Since I was not there to help you moving house yesterday, I, too felt guilty. So, I am not angry with you for being late. I was just worried about your safety." She explained.

The minute Marvina finish explaining, Jennet smiled widely. "Thank you, Marvina!"

She hugged Marvina's arm tightly as if her arm was a balm for her uneasy heart. But then, she frowned when Marvina’s stomach growled.

Jennet raised her head and said, "I’m sorry for keeping you wait for too long.”

Marvina's face turned bright red as she covered her stomach with her hands. Her stomach was continuously making loud noises!

"It's not like I can make my stomach stop growling. I haven't had any breakfast since this morning because I thought you would be coming on time." She said, pointing at Jennet, blaming her for the cause of her hunger.

Jennet smiled, showing her perfect white teeth as she let go of her arm. "Then, let's go into the food stall and order your favourite grill meat."

"I want a thick layer of meat and it must be a grade A grilled meat and you are paying for all of it," Marvina said, voicing out her preference as they walked together into the food stall that has been their favourite place to hang out.

"Sure, order as much as you want," Jennet said with a smile.

They headed straight to the counter and ordered grilled meats and drinks before sitting on a bench outside the stall.

"So, how is your new house?" Marvina asked. She poked on a slice of thick meat and stuffed it inside her mouth. Since it was freshly grilled, it was sizzling hot inside her mouth. Her eyes watered. But, since she was too hungry, she braced her heart.

"Superb! It is glass-walled and it has a pool. I even spent time in the huge bathtub. I can finally enjoy a luxurious life, all alone." Jennet said while giggling happily. She remembered the amazing bathtub and the pool!

"Okay. But, you must show me your house next time." Marvina reminded her as she drank sipped on the iced lemon tea to soothe the hot feeling in her mouth.

"No problem." Jennet smiled while holding a thumb up. She placed few slices of meat into Marvina's plate.

"By the way, do you plan to settle down by having a family after moving to your new home?" Marvina asked while stuffing another savoury and sweetmeat into her mouth.

Jennet shook her head. "Nope. Nah, I don't think so. I didn't plan to get married yet because I want to stay away from everyone. I want to have some peace on my own." She replied with a smile. She took a slice of meat and stuffed it inside her mouth. Her left cheek was full as she slowly munching it.

"I was finally able to breathe properly after going through agonising life for five years. Saving money just to stay away from those foul mouth women was very hard." She added and stuffed another meat into her mouth and munched them happily.

Marvina took her iced lemon tea again and sipped it slowly. She placed the glass on the table. "Life is meant to be enjoyed to the fullest while we still have the time. But that doesn't mean we have to neglect the course of fate." She said while eyeing Jennet's plate of meat. She took a slice and immediately put it inside her mouth.

"Yeah, I know. Don't worry about me. I will settle down when my heart wants to." Jennet said.

She patted Marvina's hand, assuring her not to worry very much. "I will be just fine Marvina. You should be focusing more on your relationship with your boyfriend though." She smiled.

"Our relationship is just fine. I am concern about you. You're already 25 but never once do I see you date a man. Is it that you're too picky or is it that your taste is slightly or different from what I expected?" Marvina furrowed her brows while looking at her friend.

Jennet rolled her eyes widely at her friend's words. She immediately grabbed a napkin and hit her shoulder with it.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Of course, I desire men but my heart is not ready for anything as serious as love yet. You can say I am picky but being picky is the only way for me to know if he is meant for me." She puffed.

"Yeah, I understand but don't be too picky. Otherwise, you will stay single until the end of your days. Plus, for your safety, you need a man with you in your new place" Marvina said.

Jennet grunted softly and looked away, "I have always been doing fine on my own even without a man in my life. I even survived the five years of agonizing life." She answered and pretending to sulk as she took a slice of meat and stuffed it inside her mouth, munching and savouring the taste at the same time.

Marvina slapped her shoulder, "Hey, are you listening to me? I am worried about you. Just think of your safety. Think on the bright side. You're all alone in your new place. At least, you should look for a housemate who can take the turn to look after the house when you're not home." She spoke.

Jennet turned her head towards her and said, "No, thank you. I prefer to be left alone." She looked away again. She giggled silently. She loved to teased Marvina with her sulking act.

"Hey, can you stop sulking? You're a grown-up woman fit to be a mother. Imagine if your child sulks like you every time you try to advise them for their good, of course, you will get mad." Marvina nagged at her like a mother hen.

"Then, I won't give birth to any," Jennet replied, still looking away. If she ever has a child on her own, she couldn't imagine how will she handle them if they pouted at her. It must be hell!

Jennet turned her head towards Marvina and showed her pouty face but then she burst into laughter when she saw Marvina making a funny face by rolling her eyes towards her nose bridge and gnashing her teeth.

"You look so hideous!" Jennet laughed and tried to hold her laughter while holding her aching stomach. All her intention to act angry was gone.

The best part about her close friend Marvina was, she will always do her best to make her laugh even if she had to lower her image to act stupid.

"Well, you should be honoured because I showed this hideous face to you. My boyfriend will get a heart attack if he sees me making that face." Said Marvina while muffling her laughter.

"Make that face again, I want to take a video of it and show it to your boyfriend," Jennet said while laughing.

"Hey!" Marvina growled at her and smiled. "Let's just finish eating all this and head home." She changed the topic.

Jennet snickered at her friend. "Make that hideous-looking face again." She pleaded to her.

Marvina rolled her eyes. "Just finish your food now." She growled.

The two close friends laughed heartily on the bench and teased each other to their heart content.

"Oh, by the way, remember, tomorrow you have to report duty. I tell you beforehand, that woman has lots of paperwork for you. She seemed to be hating you down to the core." Said Marvina, changing the topic.

Jennet just nodded her head and sipped on her soft drink. "Hmm, okay. Noted. You don't have to worry though. I will manage myself." she answered.

Marvina exhaled a deep breath. "Well, you have been keeping everything to yourself. Because of her, the other colleagues looked at you differently."

Jennet raised her head and smiled. “It’s okay. I don't care because I have moved out of the apartment. Afterwards, they won't be able to bother me after work."

"Well, since you moved out, there has been wild gossips about you becoming the mistress of the rich Mr Tybelg. They said the villa that you owned now was a gift from him." Marvina said, sharing some juicy rumour that she heard.

Jennet snorted and placed the glass on the table. She chuckled as she shook her head. "You know, I pity her. I don't understand why she hates me so much. I never hurt or annoyed her and yet she tells everyone empty lies. She annoys me and you know how hard I have been saving money in the five years I worked just to get away from them. They love to spout juicy lies just for those who love it."

Marvina patted her back. "That is why I said you should start to be serious and look for a man who you can date for real. Smash their evil ideas or plans to humiliate you." She smiled.

Jennet snickered. "I prefer to decline because they will look down on me even more. Why not you go out there and date all the bachelors in our company?"

Marvina rolled out her tongue as a protest. "You're no fun. I just want you to get revenge and make them see that you are capable to get men to fall for you. Do you want to be the Loveless Woman forever?"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Jennet rolled her big eyes at Marvina. "Stop calling me that. I am not that pitiful you know. I have my reason to stay single." She added.

Marvina inhaled a deep breath. "Fine, as long as you're happy, I won't say anything. I just hate to see you so lonely in that new house of yours."

"I am not lonely. I have my good friend by my side here. Plus, I am capable of defending myself from harm." Jennet said and smiled at her.

"Ohh..." Marvina nodded her head, then she asked, "Then, how do you defend yourself from a toad?"

"I just run away from it," Jennet answered. But then, she let out a low grunt when she found out her friend was desperately trying to muffle her laughter. Marvina was making fun of her!

Feeling furious, she said, "If you talk about toad again, I will ignore you for an entire month."

‘How dare she laugh at me!’ She felt sullen and looked away, ignoring Marvina who let out even hearty laughter.