We need to talk

Later that night, Joyce went back to her place and started to have her much needed rest. She was exhausted. Everything happened so suddenly that she felt like she had been running a marathon non-stop ever since her Sport Competition Day.

After knowing Lily's condition that afternoon, Joyce has been contemplating seriously about Jayden and her.

After changing into her pyjamas, Joyce sat down with a sigh. She rest her face on one of her hand, staring into space. Wondering what would be the best decision for all of them. She knew intuitively that whatever decision she made, somebody was bound to be hurt. Sighing loudly, she pinch the flesh in between her brow. Friendship and Love do give people a lot of headache....

Before sleeping, Joyce took out her mobile phone and send a text message to Jayden.

Joyce: Hi, Are you asleep yet?

Jayden: Nope. Wassup?

Joyce: Are you free tomorrow? I have something to discuss with you. I think we need to talk.

Jayden: Hmm.. Sure. After school at the bus-stop nesr your place? Can?

Joyce: Okay. Sure.

-------

Joyce was standing near the door of the bus. Getting ready to get off the bus. She saw a familiar figure sitting at the bus-stop that she was stopping.

She wondered what good things had she done in her previous life for her to deserve such a good person to like her. However thinking about what she was going to tell him made her sighed loudly. She dreaded this moment the most.

She was going to ask for the impossible from Jay and she didn't know how he would react to this.... She already felt like she was betraying him before she asked.

Sighed.... She tried to put on a smiling face and greeted him once the door of the bus opened.

"Hi!" She greeted him with a tight smile.

"Hey!" Jayden looked up to her from the book that he was reading... He immediately sensed that something was wrong since he saw that her smile doesn't reached her eyes and was a little tense.

"Have you waited for long?"

"Only for about 5 minutes. You had your lunch already?" Jayden asked her.

"Yeah... I ate at the canteen just now. You?"

"Already did." But actually he was so nervous wondering about what she was going to say that he could not eat anything.

"So... Where should we talk? Here? or Is there any place we can talk more comfortably?" Jayden asked.

"Hmmm.... Let's go to the public park over there. There' s small park not far away... we can sit on the bench and chat. What do you say?"

"Sure! No problem..."

Both tried to make small talk to ease the uneasiness however both failed miserably because they were too nervous to really concentrate on their conversation. In the end they just walked in comfortable silence. Each with their own thought.

Could this mean she would finally give me a chance to be closer to her??? Or would she refuse...??? Is what keeps repeating itself in Jayden's mind.

How to tell him so that he would understand? It's so hard to say this to him... Is what Joyce keep on thinking.

Finally, they both arrived at the park. Both found the bench and invited each other to sit first. Both stayed silence waiting for the other to start. Finally.... Joyce sighed loudly and blurted out, " Please help Lily!" Joyce looked at Jayden expectantly after saying that.

"Huh?" Jayden looked at Joyce stupidly because he could not comprehend why she would want him to help Lily and how in the world would he be able to help Lily? He is not a doctor and still a student.

"What do you mean by helping Lily?" he finally asked.

"You know that right now Lily need support in her lowest moment."

"And it got to do with me because...???" Jayden still confused.....

Joyce sighed.... She felt like she was invading Lily's privacy if she told Jayden about Lily's feeling. But what needs to be done, needs to be done. So....

"Lily likes you." She blurted out.

"I likes Lily too. We are all friends." He still didn't get it.

"Errrr... Why are you making this so hard?????!!!!!!! " Joyce suddenly exclaimed!

"What??!!!!!" Becoming more confused, Jayden started to get annoyed. "Be more straight forward please. I'm getting more and more confused."

"Lily has special feelings for you... I hope you can give her more attention. To makes her feel better..." Joyce gushed on and on... " ..... She is having a hard time now and the only person who can try to convince her to keep doing the treatment would be you... She will listen to you since she likes you. I know this well..."

"What about us?" Jayden suddenly asked her.

Startled with his question, Joyce kept quiet while looking down at her feet. Unwilling to show him that his question gets to her.

"How about my REAL feeling? Do you think because she is sick Lily deserved to be lied to? You are the one that I truly like. How can I fake my feeling for Lily? I can concern and care for her as a friend. But, I cannot lie to her about my real feeling." Jayden said to Joyce disappointedly. "and here I thought that you do like me too... Guess I think too much." Jayden was extremely disappointed in Joyce because of her request.

"I am sorry... I do like you. However seeing Lily like this I cannot just ignore her feeling totally and be happy with you. Then when I saw how bleak her thought of her future, I truly want to help her feel like she has hope." Joyce started sobbing while explaining to Jayden. She felt miserable because she can truly feel how disappointed Jayden was with her.

"I am sorry. Can you repeat again?" Jayden asked Joyce....

Confused, Joyce repeat herself, "I said I cannot ignore Lily's feeling totally ann...."

"Noooo... Not this one. The one before...." Jayden stopped her.

"Huh?" Joyce thought that Jayden must be shocked till he had gone a little off... Looking at him suspiciously she repeat herself... " I said I am sorry. I do like you.." Then Jayden suddenly give her a peck on her cheek.

"I like you too...." Jayden was grinning ear to ear...

SHE LIKES ME TOO!!!!!!!

He was totally elated to hear her confessed her feeling unconsciously...

Joyce blushed furiously. Her sadness disappeared without a trace. She had subconsciously tell Jayden that she likes him.... Oh God... This is soooo embarassing.... She kept looking downward and her right palm covering the cheeck that Jayden kissed just now... She was shy but at the same time feel relieved since she doesn't have to hide her real feeling anymore.

Looking at her flustered face, Jayden somehow found it endearing. He gently lifted her chin so that she was looking straight into his eye.

Looking into her eyes, he affectionately said, "Don't be embarassed.. You just gave me my happiest moment today."

" That shouldn't happen...." Joyce pouted sweetly.

"Well, it happened. So, Can you stop asking me to help lying to Lily? It won't be good to her when she find out." Jayden tried to reasoned to Joyce.

"Well, I need to think more about this." Joyce let herself be persuaded by Jayden.

"Can I kiss you now?" Jayden looked at her while carressing her cheek fondly...

"I thought you just did." Joyce scrunched her eyebrow...

"Not that kind of kiss." Jayden smiled wickedly. His face then moved closer and closer to her face until she heard him whispered, "THIS kiss" and he then slowly kissed her on her lips.

Joyce, a willing captive, was irrevocably drown into his voice and closed her eyes. Ahhh, THIS kiss... was her last thought before his lips touched hers.

It was their first kiss....

It was magical...

It was surreal...

And it felt like eternity when they finally stopped and gazed at each other...