(Aiden’s POV)
“Your friend, Deborah... She doesn’t seem to like me,” I said, following Jessamine into her bedroom and closing the door.
“Don’t!” Her eyes were wide as she chuckled, stopping me from closing it. “You’ll only make her fret more about us. She’s not done with me yet.”
“What do you mean she’s not done with you yet?” I lifted an eyebrow as I asked.
I watched her smiling while looking around her bedroom, perhaps wondering where to put my luggage. Sighing, I took the handle from her and rolled it near the coffee table. Her bedroom was the main room in the apartment, making it bigger than Deborah’s. She didn’t have much furniture, so her bedroom looked more spacious with just the queen-size pulled-out bed, a full-length mirror wall between the bed and the way toward her bathroom, and a coffee table with two chairs on the far end of the room.
The six-drawer dresser on the opposite end of her bed took my attention. I walked toward it and found a few business books and novels on top. Sometimes I wished Sonia, Jessamine’s mother, would see her daughter not as the black sheep in the family but as another angel. My best friend had a strong passion for business but was often not supported because her mother believed she should have been a doctor or a lawyer.
“What have you done this time?” I asked Jessamine, eyeing her curiously when she sat on the edge of the bed. I walked toward her and sat, facing her. “Why is Deborah worried about you?”
She pursed her lips and shook her head.
“Come on, Jessamine. Your roomie’s ready to strangle me, thinking I’m here to take advantage of you. Is there something I should know?” I grabbed her hand and looked at her worriedly. “Are you... are you getting married? Did you do something horrible?”
“God, no! Let’s not talk about that, okay?” She chuckled and looked at our hands as I intertwined our fingers. She heaved a deep sigh and met my eyes. “I was furious with my boss yesterday, and guess what?”
“You quit,” I laughed briefly when she nodded. “Good for you. You never like working with Trina anyway.”
She nodded, half-smiling. “Then, I... I went to the club last night, got myself drunk... Really, drunk, and met these two attractive guys -”
“Why is it that I don’t like where your story is going?” I knitted my eyebrows, cutting her.
“Let me finish, okay? I’ve been trying to reflect on it and... I am trying very hard to remember everything.” She heaved a sigh. “Only I can’t.” Her lips curved into a smile, beaming. “The good thing is...” she bit her lower lip, sighing before she continued. “I wasn’t with two guys last night. Just one.” She squinted her eyes, hissing as she continued. “Yet I still don’t remember which of the two guys.”
My eyes narrowed, studying her face because of the hint of worry flustering across her face.
“There’s more, right? Say it,” I said, my voice now serious and filled with concern.
She bit her bottom lip and looked at our hands again.
“Aiden, I couldn’t remember a thing, but I knew something happened last night. Umm...” She closed her eyes and tilted her head. “I wasn’t sure if he used protection last night. If not, I’d be doomed because I stopped using pills two months ago. If I get pregnant, Mom will happily print me a diploma for being the most stupid daughter in the world.”
I did not laugh this time. I raised my hand, my index finger lifting her chin to meet my eyes.
“Well, first, you’re indeed stupid for drinking that much, but not to be considered the most stupid daughter in the world.” I sighed, eyeing her bewitching and divine face. “You remember what I always say?”
The corners of her mouth lifted, nodding. “Don’t cross the bridge until you get there.”
“Good! So, for now, don’t worry about it. Don’t even overthink, okay?” I said, pulling her to me.
Jessamine leaned on my shoulder and anchored her arm on mine. “I’m glad you’re here, Aiden. With you, I don’t feel alone. It’s like home finally came to me. I have a family, but why do I feel like a lost sheep even when I’m with them?” she muttered sadly.
“Even Benjamin makes you feel like that?” I asked curiously about her quiet but kind father.
She craned her neck. “Nah! Dad’s the best,” she grinned happily. “Did you know he still secretly gives me money whenever I visit home?” She moved back slightly. “I’m keeping the money, saving it for his retirement. You know how mom talks about retirement to him like it was a big deal.”
“How’s his business?” Sonia was a school principal, while Benjamin proudly owned a small car repair shop.
She wrinkled her nose. “He doesn’t accept many clients these days. Only the regulars. Mom wanted him to close down his business, but you know how much he loves it. What would he do if he shut the business down? The repair shop is already part of him.”
“Jessamine, Aiden,” called Deborah after knocking softly at the open door.
We both turned our heads at her.
“The food is here. By the way, Xavier’s dropping by to see you.” When I raised my eyebrows, she scoffed. “Not you, Aiden. Jessamine.” She rolled her eyes at me and turned around, walking back to the living room.
Jessamine stood up and walked toward her closet, opening the doors wide, and then she began moving her clothes to empty two shelves and two drawers. Her lips curved into a grin as she turned to me.
“What do you like to do first? Eat lunch? Change your clothes? Or... sleep?” She chuckled at the last option.
“Sleep? I’m not good at dealing with jetlag, Jess. It’ll probably take days.” Staying in one room with Jessamine was the most difficult to deal with. I rose to my feet and walked to get my luggage. “I’ll just shower, change clothes, and then let’s eat. I can close the door when I shower, right?” I smirked at her.
Jessamine laughed briefly, unsure why she blushed. “Of course. Just don’t take me with you, or you’ll find Deborah banging the door. She’s one protective sister.”
I watched her walk toward the door, but she turned to me before she exited her room.
“I’m really happy you’re here, Aiden. I don’t know why, but having you here with me, makes me feel safe and complete.” Her cheeks turned red as she smiled shyly at me.
“You know what I feel now? I’m finally home, Jessamine,” I muttered honestly, stopping myself from pulling her to me. “I had never met another friend like you. You’re the only best friend I had.”
I didn’t know why I had to add that. Maybe it was my way of assuring her that we would never cross the boundary of becoming more than best friends.
“Me, too, Aiden,” she murmured, smiling sheepishly as she exited the door and slowly closing the door behind her.
As soon as I was alone, I took my phone and sent the same message to two people.
Me: Here now at Carterville. Don’t call me or text me. I’ll call you. Much love -A.
Knowing Paige and Simone, they would not dare reply to a message like that. I sighed deeply and turned off my phone before entering Jessamine’s bathroom.
(Jessamine’s POV)Swaying my head and humming Jason Chen’s Best Friend song, I walked toward the dining table. I was all smiling, dancing to the imaginary beat of the song as I stepped toward the refrigerator to get water.“I’ve never seen you this happy, Jessamine,” Deborah’s eyes were on the food box. “Do you even know the lyrics of the song?”I grinned, shaking my head. “It’s the song in the taxi this morning, and the melody just keeps popping into my mind.” I shrugged my shoulders.Deborah knew I loved listening to music, but I was never into shredding the words of the song, knowing its meaning. For me, as long as the melody was sweet and agreeable to my ears, I would keep listening to it.“And I don’t know how it ends, girl... But I fell in love with my Best Friend,” Deborah grinned as she sang the lyrics to me, emphasizing the last words to me. “Are you?” She chuckled.I blinked, slowly pulling out the chair. “Dangerous song, then.” I curled my lips, propping my elbows on the t
(Jessamine’s POV)“Stop it, Xavier!” I hissed at Deborah’s boyfriend.He looked funny, eyeing Aiden as if studying a witness on the stand, but my best friend didn’t flinch. He raised his head and caught him staring at him, then half-smiled. Shrugging, he continued to eat his lunch.“He looked familiar, that’s all,” he lied, squinting his eyes and shifting his focus from Aiden to me.“Everyone looked familiar to you,” I muttered and smiled as I took a picture of my Chow Mein. “If Aiden’s tummy gets upset later, it’ll all be your fault,” I joked. My eyes brightened as I posted the picture on my social media page with many hashtag words I could think of.“Honey,” Deborah hissed, nudging her elbow on Xavier’s arm. “I already explained to you why he’s here.”“And why he’ll stay here for a while.” Xavier pursed his lips and looked down to focus on his food. “Smooth move,” he murmured in his usual irksome tone.This time, Aiden raised his head and furrowed his forehead, not liking what Xavie
(Jessamine’s POV)“Did something happen between you and Aiden?” Deborah asked.I understood her worries because I had been quiet since we left for the supermarket. Silence accompanied us even on our way back, and for a chatter like me, I looked like someone had abducted my mouth. I was already parking her sedan in the apartments’ parking space when she asked.“Why?” I pretended to focus on the key and gave it to her.Without answering my question, my housemate got off the car and took the paper bags from the trunk. I looked heavenward, glancing at the cloudy sky and sighing as I thought of Aiden. The clouds looked heavy and promised torrential rain later in the evening. It was a good sign because I could cry tonight, along with the weather, without Aiden noticing me… that is, if my best friend decided to stay for tonight.After our conversation in the bedroom, we rarely looked at each other. The joke about me proposing to anyone made it worse. The last conversation we had was about hi
(Aiden’s POV) The sky probably matched Jessamine’s emotions as it poured rain heavily on the ground. When I visited Mr. Douglas earlier to borrow some plumbing tools, like a weather forecaster, he told me it would rain hard and that I should close the window in Jessamine’s bedroom tonight before sleeping. No wonder she was smitten with him as the older man was funny, witty, sweet, and talked about Jessamine and Deborah with fatherly love in his tone. “God, I’m full!” Deborah chuckled as she finished her second pork burrito. “You’re really something, Aiden.” “I’m glad you like it,” I said, forcing a smile, but I couldn’t help glancing at Jessamine’s empty chair. “You can’t force her to eat,” Deborah smiled, catching my eyes on my best friend’s seat. “Don’t worry, Aiden. If she gets hungry, even at midnight, your best friend will get up and eat.” “Does this usually happen?” I asked worriedly. “I have known Jessamine since third grade, but ten years -” “Nine years, ten months, and s
(Aiden’s POV)It was past midnight when Deborah exited Jessamine’s room. She sighed, looking exhausted, as she walked toward the living room and sat in her usual place on the loveseat. She rose her feet to the sofa and hugged her knees.“What happened in there, Deb?” I darted my eyes at her, telling her I would not return to Jessamine’s bedroom without getting an answer.“It’s nothing. Your best friend was just having a nightmare, Aiden,” she sighed, obviously lying as she craned her neck to the seat’s backrest.“My best friend was screaming, squirming in bed as if she was in pain,” I gritted my teeth, holding my patience at her. “What happened to her?” My eyes were wide, horrified that she got hurt in my decade of absence.Deborah pursed her lips, looking at me while thinking, and then she shook her head and stood up. “You know what, Aiden? It’s not my story to tell. If you want to know what happened, better ask Jessamine.”My heart hammered in my chest, terrified for the first time
(Aiden’s POV)“You are really leaving me,” Jessamine murmured. Her shoulders slumped, and tears welled in her eyes as she found me sitting at the edge of her bed, ready to go.This was my desperate act of forcing her to tell me what had happened to her. I knew it was unfair to her, but I had to know. I wouldn’t take such measures, but it frightened me that Jessamine would never tell me.“I told you not to keep secrets from me, Jess.” I stood up, grabbing the handle of my luggage bag. “I’m your best friend, but -”“It happened two years ago,” she blurted out, her lips trembling, swallowing hard as she closed her eyes. She had not said anything except that, but her chest was rising and falling already.“Two years ago? What happened two years ago?” I almost smiled, thinking my tactic worked.“I… I met… I met this guy, Rick…” She was out of breath as she walked toward me, but she stopped a few steps away from me. “And… Umm…”She inhaled and puffed out the air slowly. She opened her mouth,
(Jessamine’s POV)I blinked, watching Aiden stand up immediately and grab the handle of his luggage again when my bedroom door opened, but I couldn’t say stay. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My heart pounded hard, hurting my chest as I remembered his heavenly kiss.“Oh! So, you decided to leave,” Deborah muttered, glancing at me worriedly.“Umm…” Aiden sighed, looking at me.I crawled on all fours on my bed, reaching for his arm. “Don’t go, Aiden. I promise to behave. I’ll do whatever you say. Just don’t go, please.”I didn’t know why I had to beg him. Maybe what happened between us was my fault. I must have led Aiden into a situation that made him weak and forced him to kiss me… and touch me. A guy could be like that.Right?The memory of him touching me was still burning me up. As our eyes met, there was something in his eyes that, even if uttered, was incomprehensible to me. “Are you…” His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. “Are you sure?”I nodded many times. When I
(Jessamine’s POV)“You cried,” Aiden murmured regretfully when he saw my puffy eyes.“No, I didn’t,” I denied, closing the bathroom door. I walked to the dresser to get my purse, hoping to dab some face powder to hide my awful face. He sighed. “Coming here is a mistake -”“Stop it, Aiden.” I cut him, stopping and never reaching the dresser. I faced him to meet his eyes and ensure he was not making fun of me. “You did the right thing coming here because I finally realized this is much better than your snail mail idea. We’re not completely honest with each other.” He nodded. “I haven’t told you about Charlie yet.”Charlie?My eyebrows knitted, asking myself instead of him who the heck Charlie was. “How old is this Charlie?”“Two months.” When shock registered on my face, he walked toward me and grabbed my hand. “I… I can’t just leave Charlie alone. His mother died giving birth to -”“You have a son?” I blinked, brushing his hand off. I breathed out slowly, dawning with another realiz