1 Chapter 1: The Bet

The Spot - That's the name of the newly-opened restaurant that has been the talk of the town for days. It has a cool ambience with picture-perfect aesthetics. It boasts of delicious food and great music, as well. It's fun. It's fresh. It's totally lit. One can just close her eyes and listen to the smooth yet upbeat music.

"Waaaaaah!"

Nope, that definitely does not sound pleasant.

"Waaaah!"

Jasmine Andersen opened her eyes and scanned the place, looking at where that horrible noise could possibly come from.

"Waaaaaah!"

"Ssshh. Tricia, please stop crying. People are starting to look at us", said Sasha.

Jasmine sighed and let out an adorable pout. She can't believe that Tricia and her boy problems would ruin her Friday night. She got excited when she received a text from her friends that they would meet at The Spot and have a fun girls' night out. She can't wait to meet her friends again after spending a year in a foreign country because of work. She has been staying in New York for quite a long time, doing marketing research and closing deals for ABC Corporation, the company she works in. She's happy that she got reassigned to her hometown where her families and friends are. The moment she read the text, she instantly searched for the perfect outfit that would showcase her svelte body. She decided to wear a black and gold off-shoulder top, studded leather skirt and black heels. She finished her look with sleek, straight hair and wine red lips. Just thinking about catching up with her lifelong friends, Tricia, Sasha and Leah, instantly put her in a good mood. She'll ask Tricia Baxter, an aspiring model, how many catwalks and photo shoots she's had so far. She'll remind Sasha Lee to sign the books which she authored so she can give it to her colleagues at work. Her workmates love the self-help books written by Sasha, an up and coming writer. And she'll definitely pester Leah William to give her a detailed account of her interviews with famous athletes. Being friends with a sports reporter definitely has its perks. Good food, great company and fun memories. These were what she expected to caption in the photos that she will be in with her best friends. Instead, the only words that are in her mind right now are- get over it!

"But I can't help it, Sasha. I'm in love with Anton Cruise and yet, he broke my heart", cried Tricia. "Uhm, but the two of you weren't really a couple, right? I mean you two agreed from the start that you'll both take it slow and that you're still in the getting-to-know stage, right?", Leah hesitantly reminded her of that fact.

"Getting to know stage?!". Tricia's voice seemed to get a bit louder. "As if! We have been in four official dates, five mini dates with lots of texting and calling for a span of six months already.", she reasoned out.

"What's a mini date?" Leah whispered. Sasha shrugged and rolled her eyes.

"Yes, it's true that we never kissed and he never actually told me that he loved me but I can feel it in the way he looked at me. I know that he loves me but was just too shy to admit it. I thought that he would confess his feelings to me when we met up this morning but instead, he told me that we were better off as friends. The nerve of that guy! Waaaah!". Tricia bawled her eyes out.

"Ok stop it already. Look, crying will not solve your problem.", said Leah as she comforted Tricia. "What do you want to happen? Do you want to date another guy? Or do you want to get back with him?", she asked.

"No.", Tricia answered. She composed herself and wiped the tears off her face. She fixed her hair and adjusted her blouse. She then gazed intently at her friends who were all looking back at her with their eyebrows raised.

"I don't want to get back with him." Tricia said with her back straight and chin up. "I want to get back at him."

There was silence for like two seconds.

"And what exactly do you mean by that?", Leah managed to ask.

"I want him to feel what I'm feeling right now. I want him to cry like a baby and make him feel sorry for the pain that he caused me." Tricia said while over dramatically touching her heart.

"And how do you propose to do that?", Sasha asked helplessly. She can't believe she's hearing childish things from a full-grown woman.

"Someone must date him and make him fall in love with him. And when he confesses his feelings to her, she'll tell him that it was all a bet and that she doesn't feel the same way". Tricia answered nonchalantly.

"And where will you find such girl who hasn't met with Anton yet and will agree to that petty bet?"

There was another two seconds of silence.

Then their eyes focused on Jasmine who had been silent all the while.

Jasmine gulped.