Ara was on duty and she was busy reading when she felt someone sitting in the chair in front of her.
Jenny's heart sank quickly after she inhaled a familiar scent of men's cologne. But despite her desire to look up to smile at him, she chose not to. It's not that she's narrow-minded but she's still really upset about him because for a few days he's been angry for a reason that he doesn't explain.
"Sweetheart," he whispered to her with that familiar endearment, and whether she would admit it or not she really loved hearing that from the young man.
She did not say a word. She also did not move and instead remained reading the book in front of her. But during that very moment, Jenny knew and could feel the intense romance thrill. Sometimes it's good to play a little hard to get so that the man can be challenged a bit.
"Pay attention to me," Jason pleaded then stood up and moved to the seat next to her. "I'm sorry, I'm just really concerned about you," he insisted in a low tone as he bowed to her.
At that time, Jenny decided to talk to the young man. "I'm not doing anything bad. And I don't have a crush on Leo, I don't even feel any romantic excitement for him," she admitted and then looked back at what she was reading.
Because of what she did Jenny was unable to see the strange spark of happiness in Jason's eyes on what she said.
"Really? Well then, who do you feel romantic excitement for, me?" Jason's consecutive questions in a tone that was really so happy that Jenny couldn't help but laugh softly.
"O-Of course not, why would I be thrilled with you when you're not like that? And one more thing, you are my older brother aren't you? And I'm your little sister that you need to protect so that no one can make her cry, right, big brother?" she lied in a teasing tone.
"Big brother?" with his brow knit that is what Jason asked her.
Jenny nodded with a smile. "You're older than me, aren't you? All right, if that's not your reason why you don't want any guy to court me? What's the real reason?" she challenged him.
For a moment she saw Jason was silent and seemed to be thinking of an answer to her. Then smiling he also replied later.
"Secret," he replied laughing.
Jenny bit her lower lip because of that. "So you can flirt with any woman endlessly, then I'm not allowed to date?"
Then the young man's thick and beautiful eyebrows moved a few times. The truth is that Jason was very handsome, despite his brown complexion, she really couldn't help but intensify the admiration she feels for her best friend.
"So the truth finally came out, you want to have a boyfriend?" he asked her.
Jenny shook her head one after another. "No, of course not! I'm just saying why can you do what you want? You've been texting and dating whoever you want but I'm limited in what I can do. Then when a male classmate came to approach me you easily get angry?"
"Great, a very long complain, huh," Jason laughed softly.
"I'm just telling the truth!"
"Because I'm a man! As for you, when you fall in love with whoever he may be and he finally got what he wants from you, I know you will be hurt. You are important to me, more than you can imagine and I can explain, so I don't want to hurt you, and as much as I can I really want to protect you," the young man pinched her cheek afterward.
Jenny was taken aback by what she heard. Ara seems to be right in what she said earlier. Jason seems to have no plans to admit to her right now in case he has any feelings in store for her. So the better thing she should do is not to hope first, because just like her best friend's advice to her earlier, maybe she and Daniel are also wrong in their suspicion.
*****
"Tomorrow I'll pick you up so that your mother won't worry about you," was Jason's stern command before he left her right in front of the gate of their house.
"All right, thank you," Jenny replied, waving a hand at her best friend.
"Is that Jason, sweetheart?" that was a question from her mother Rowena whom she did not notice to be standing behind her.
Jenny was shocked that she even placed a hand on her chest unknowingly. "Ma, you scared me!" she complained laughing.
"Is Jason courting you?" Rowena followed her as soon as she entered the house and right after closing their gate.
Jenny was immediately stunned by her mother's question. "Oh no, Mama, we're just friends!" she replied abruptly that is why she was unable to notice her defensive tone.
"What's wrong with you?" her mother laughing softly. "I just asked, why do you seem so scared?" she said, the amused smile on her lips still lingered.
Jenny bowed her head in embarrassment at her mother's reaction. "I-I'm sorry, I was just shocked," she explained telling the truth. "Besides, Jason is not courting me, we're just really friends," she added in a more serious tone that was immediately noticed by her mother.
"I know you like him," she heard her mother say to her great surprise.
"H-How did you find out?" Jenny asked in surprise.
Rowena shrugged her shoulders. "I notice that sweetie, in the way your eyes twinkle, in the sweetness and beauty of your smiles when we talk about him, and most of all because of how often you are telling me stories about him, in other words, he is the word of your mouth," her mother said with a smile.
Soon Rowena approached her and hugged her tightly. "Hey, my daughter is now a real lady, she knows how to fall in love. But I hope that in case Jason started courting you, don't neglect your studies, I want you to make him a good inspiration for you to do more good things that can help you develop as a person," her mother then kissed her on the forehead.
Jenny nodded. "T-Tomorrow Mama, Jason, and I will be leaving, is that okay with you? Daniel invited us to have lunch at their house," eventually, Jenny decided to tell her mother about that.
"Sure, I trust you. You are not just beautiful but very smart also. I know in many cases you will still be choosing to use your head and think about something first before doing it. If that would bring you good or bad, you know what to do," Rowena's meaningful statement.
"Thank you so much, Mama," Jenny replied.
"The truth is that I like Jason. I like him for you because I can see how he takes care of you and how he worries about you. So I hope if God could only permit, I want Jason to be the man that you can be with in the future because I'm sure he will always put you first. So when the time comes that I have to leave I do not have to worry about you anymore, I know you'll be fine because you have him."
It was so sweet to feel that her mother liked Jason. But the young man didn't admit anything to her so it was still hard to expect, because just in case when she expected anything, that would be the reason for her to be completely hurt, and that is what she avoids.
LOUD knocks on her bedroom door woke Jenny up the next day.She was about to get up to find out who was knocking that she knew was her mother, Rowena. Why she didn't know since they were the only two together in the house."Mama, why is it this early? It's Saturday, isn't it?" her sleepy and calm complaint then she went back to lying on her bed and hugged her soft pillow."Get up, Jason is downstairs, waiting for you!"As soon as her mother said that, it was as if cold water had been poured on Jenny, so the intense drowsiness she was feeling quickly disappeared like a bubble."What? Why did he come so early?" she asked panicking then quickly turned to get up.Jenny heard the weak laugh that his mother let out because of what she saw of her reaction. "Get up, after all, the table is ready. I invited him to have breakfast with us. Let's eat first before you take a bath,
THE next thing they know is good news from Daniel and Ara. Officially the two are dating and as real friends, it is only right to be happy about them.Especially her, because she knows how Ara really feels for Daniel even though, in fact, being mortal enemies was how their story started."Jenny, can I invite you for a snack later?" it was Leo when they walked out the door of their classroom for their lunch break."A-Ah, y-you know ..." Jenny couldn't continue what she wanted to say when she heard the sudden ringing of her cellphone. "Excuse me," she said reading the text message that she received.It was from Jason and he said that he couldn't have lunch with her because he will be eating with his new girlfriend at the canteen.Jenny couldn't understand where the bad emotions that quickly wrapped around her chest came from because of the message she read from the young man.
"Hush now, he'll notice you cried when he sees your eyes swollen later," Ara said as she gently massaged her back.They were able to return to their classroom, their classmates just left because their teacher for their last subject was absent."I really hate him, look, he enjoys flirting with his women and then he just leaves me like that? He can go to hell for all I care but still, I won't talk to him!" Jenny in her angry tone was then forced to control the continuous flow of her tears."Do you want me to talk to him? You know I don't want to see you like that."Jenny felt the sincerity in Ara's words, enough reason for her to smile sweetly. After that, she also decided to dry her tears, stop crying and sniff."Actually you're more beautiful than the woman he's dating now, and if you just agreed you should be the representative of our college department during the last Search for Mr
JASON had even planned to call or even text Jenny but in the end, he still lost the courage to pursue it. He knew it was his fault, he admitted it but he couldn't help but lose his patience especially and the young lady seemed to be showing him that she wasn't affected by his anger. He was on duty at the baggage counter and soon his and Daniel's last period will begin. At that time no one goes to the library very much. Some of the students have returned home and others are in their respective classes. Then his cellphone rang. It was Cathy, the woman he was currently dating. She asks if he can take her home. That's when he shook his head. Cathy and he have only been together for one week but why does he feel like this? Does he seem tired right away? Because the truth is he prefers to take Jenny home. He knew that if she continued to be close to that man, Leo would soon fall in love with the young lady and everyon
Because they were both wet, Jenny decided to let Jason stay in their house. She lent him a replacement t-shirt and then took this school polo and white shirt to wash."I'll give these to you tomorrow, at school, I'll wash and dry them first," she said to the young man when she put the coffee he had mixed for him on the center table.A beautiful smile tore from Jason's lips before he thanked her for the coffee. "Where is Aunt Weng?" he asked her afterward."She's asleep already. You know she needs to wake up early because of our bakery," she replied. "Next time I'll introduce you to her as my boyfriend, is that okay with you?"Jason nodded then reached out for her hand and kissed it. "It's okay, do it when you're ready," he replied in an understanding tone.Jenny smiled at her boyfriend's answer. She was really kind and yet understanding, and even too early she knew she hadn’t m
THE NEXT DAY, as expected, she went to school with Jason because just as he said, the young man picked her up. That same day she introduced him to her mother as her boyfriend. And because she always knew that Rowena wanted Jason for her, her mother was very happy. Ara and Daniel reacted the same way when she and Jason confessed to them about the true state of their relationship. But she couldn't help but feel sorry for Leo when she told her classmate the truth. "That's why he's watching over you like that because he loves you. Then you love him too?" he said in a resentful tone. "You know Jenny, I like you too, I was really late to get close to you," his tone showed regret so she felt even more sorry for the young man. "I know one day you'll meet someone more than me that you will love more than anyone," was all she thought she could say. They had just finished their class and she and Jason are
Jenny was almost out of breath at her boyfriend's fury at that moment. But despite everything, she knew that she did not want Jason to stop what he was doing because that was what she wanted. "Jenny, I love you so much," the young man whispered to her as he released her lips so she had a chance to breathe and catch some air. "I love you so much and I'm so mad at you," he said gazing on her face before she was crushed again by another strong and earnest kiss. And just like before, she reacted the same way. She quickly lost her sanity. But this time she seemed to have had enough courage to respond in a way that she knew Jason was making a deep kiss on her in equal fire and desire. Jenny knew that Jason felt what she did that and that was probably what he was waiting for her to do because, after that, he guided her to sit on the edge of the four-poster bed that was inside his own room.
Jenny’s world and life have been so happy and colorful since that day. She felt Jason's great love for her and so did she for the young man. And all of that gave her reason to be more inspired in her studies. She knows that even if they say that they are officially dating, there are still many girls in their school who aspire to be like her, to be Jason's girlfriend. Rumors are saying they will eventually break up. Something that the young man had promised her several times would not happen to them. It was their first-month anniversary when Jason gave her a beautiful but simple pair of white gold earrings. While she bought a stainless Parker Rollerball Pen and engraved it with his boyfriend's name so it would not be lost. And because it was Saturday and there was no school, Jenny did not refuse when the young man invited her to stay at his house to have lunch there. This time she cooked, and she prepared Chicken