Speed Date (II)

She walked away from the restaurant from her best friend's restaurant and let her feet lead the way. She ended up on the picnic grounds where all the family were having a good time. Her family in the past used to go to this picnic grounds with her friend, George since her parents thought of him as their son. 

And the last time she visited this place was when they celebrated a one-year anniversary. A first kiss as it blooms through the sunset and her first giving her damsel body to her first love. And for her, that was the sweetest moment she ever experienced in her entire life. She gave it all of herself to the man she ever loved and she didn't regret her decision.

At the time, she was only a young and innocent woman and didn't encounter any love in her life. She was a lucky person since she had a loving parent and a friend and it's enough for her. However, ever since Austin came into her life, it was a foreign feeling to her.

In a good way…

She smiled out of nowhere when remembering all of those past memories that even now, she kept holding on. She didn't even know how to move on to those recollections when knowing her, she loved him. 

"I don't know how I will handle this speed date. I don't even want to date anyone." She murmured to herself.

"Then don't." 

A familiar voice from behind abruptly uttered. She glanced at it and there it was, an old friend way back in college. She smiled sweetly and signed the man to sit beside her. He smiled back and strolled towards her, crouching her. 

"What are you doing here, Jayme?" He asked. 

She glanced at him, familiarizing his appearance that she nearly forgot. 'Who is he again?' She thought to herself while staring at him. He begun to chuckle and implored, 

"You don't remember me, do you?" 

She heaved a deep sigh and looked away, tapping her feet when she felt the embarrassment all over her spine. She bit her lips, reckoning his name but she really couldn't remember. She couldn't blame herself since they weren't that close in college and barely talked to each other. But, one thing she perceived was this guy was her seatmate when they were college. 

"You're cute when you are in deep thoughts," he uttered while chuckling and suddenly, he patted her head.

"Just tell me your name," she murmured but it's enough for him to hear it. 

He just chuckled and stood which made her look at him, cocking her head on the side, confused on what was doing. Thus, she asked, "Why are you leaving without telling your name?"

He leaned closer to her face with a wide smile at her and lightly pinched her cheeks. Then, he muttered, "Well… If we meet again, then I will tell you my name." 

"Why do you want to keep your name, perceiving that you know me? Can you just tell me?" She asked nicely, reckoning that he could give her a good response. 

She was wrong…

He just smiled at her, giving a quick peck on her right cheek and leaned away. She was stunned by what he did. Her eyes gazed at the familiar figure in front of her, widening eyes while caressing her right cheeks. 

"W-wha—"

And so, he made a small few steps away from her without leaving her eyes on Jayme. Then, he waved at her before finally, he quickly turned and strode away from her direction, leaving her behind. 

Bewildered…

'What was that? He gave me a quick peck right into my cheek but he didn't even give his name. And it's too unfair to me. I don't know him but he knows me.' She thought to herself. 

Thereafter, her phone rang inside her bag which startled her. She glanced at her wristwatch, widening her eyes when seeing the time. It's 7 in the evening and she wasn't there. Hastily, she grabbed her phone inside her bag and picked up the call without looking at the caller, perceiving that it's her best friend. 

"He—"

"Where are you, young lady? Did you know that we can't even start without you here? The participants are waiting for your arrival. You know that you are the star of this event." 

She couldn't even utter words when George bluntly asked her location as if it was her mother. She sighed heavily when realizing that George set this speed date for her. And so, she stood up and said, 

"I'm on my way, George. You don't have to rant like that."

George chuckled at her statement when realizing that he became a mother figure to Jayme. But he couldn't blame himself since they were very close since they were toddler and also, her mother gave a last word to him that he would be her side after she was gone forever. And for him, it was a sacred wish that he could fulfill from all the care her mother gave to him. 

And Jayme didn't know about that…

Her mother didn't want her to know her last wish knowing her own daughter. He knew that if Jayme knew about it, she would feel bad and thought of being a burden to him.

"You know I got used to it so you can't blame me so get here in five minutes or else, I will tell your son that you didn't get a new papa for him." George threatened her. 

She groaned loudly when her best friend used her son just to threaten her. "I'll be there in five minutes so tell the participants to wait." She mumbled calmly. 

But deep inside, she was in a nervous wreck and didn't know what to do or what to say in speed dating because it was her first time doing this. Besides, Austin was her lover in her entire life. 

"Good then. I can't wait to meet you, the men I invited to this event." He excitedly muttered and hung up without giving her any statement.