Chapter 19

AFTER our final exams, Bella and I already relaxed because we knew this task would be a nightmare for us. At the very least, Bella was having fun while I was working in the coffee shop where Bella's crush, Jake, was working. Jake, on the other hand, was quiet; we were not even talking to each other. It was strange that we were both working in the same shop but didn't talk to each other. I suppose he's just a shy type of person. I'm not sure what my best friend sees in him that makes her like him so much. Yes, he has good looks, but he appears to be the type of person who would rather bury his face in books all day than be in a relationship.

"Come on, bestie! Let's go to the bar!" Bella, who has dressed nicely again, grabbed my arm, but I didn't let her drag me out of her condo unit.

This is more than enough of a reason for me to look for a new place to live!

I've lost count of the number of times she's invited me back to that location, and each time I've declined. Fortunately, I work at a coffee shop, so I have a valid reason to decline her invitation. Wasn't she still there when we last went? Tss.

But, no matter how many times I turn down her offer, she never stops believing in me.

"All right, come on! It's already 5:00 p.m.!" Bella exclaimed, poutingly looking at me. "You've been at it since the morning! Isn't it time you took a break?!" she said as she continued to drag me out of her condo.

I tried to look at my best friend, who was staring at me with puppy eyes, but it didn't work. Not! If I were to go out, the last place on my list would be a bar.

I've indeed been on duty at the coffee shop since the morning, and I just came home to Bella's condo to take an hour off, but I'll also be on duty later in the evening. Because the shop was open 24 hours a day, I went there as an excuse for my obstinate best friend. I'd go to any length to avoid returning to that location!

God! Why did we rekindle our friendship? She's so obstinate. Bella had been a pain in the ass since we finished our exams. When I declined her invitations at first, she still believed my excuses and ended up going to the bar alone at 9 p.m. and returning home at dawn. But lately, it's as if she's trying to drag me there! I felt like a mother dealing with an obstinate daughter.

"Can you please calm down, girl?" I trailed off and drew my arm away from her grip. "I'm sorry if I can't accompany you; remember, I need to work to earn money." She nodded silently while pouting her lips.

"I hope you understand," I sighed deeply. "All right... let's put it this way," I paused. "Let's go to the bar after we finish this task that was assigned to us. Okay?" I added, and when she heard what I had said, she seemed to have hope in her.

Her mood improved, and she kissed me on the cheeks with a wide smile on her face.

Okay?

"I'll see you when I get home. Goodbye, Audrey!" She even winked at me, which made me shake my head silently. She waved her hand while the other was playing with the car keys on her fingers before closing the door in front of me.

I have a strange best friend. Tss.

So, once we finish the task, she'll forget what I told her, right? I sincerely hope so. If she remembers our conversation today, I'll be dead and have no choice but to follow through on what I promised her. Let's just hope she forgets about our earlier conversation.

When I left the RA tower to go to the coffee shop, it was already 7 p.m. I didn't mind taking a taxi because it was only a short distance away. As the cold night breeze blew, some strands of my hair danced in rhythm and blocked my face, I hugged myself even tighter. It's almost summer, but that doesn't change the fact that it's still a little chilly outside. It's a good thing I'm wearing a jacket at night to keep me warm.

"Good evening, Audrey," someone said as soon as I walked into the shop.

It was Jake.

Yup. Bella's ultimate nerd crush.

I was taken aback for a moment by Jake's unexpected greetings, but I quickly restrained myself. I was perplexed for a moment because I knew he was not a talkative person. Like... Okay?

"Um... Good evening?" I replied hesitantly.

Jake simply smiled at me and returned to work after hearing my response. I even blinked to see if I wasn't dreaming when he said hello for the first time. Is there something good that happened to him today that he looks like he's in the mood to greet me?

I was still perplexed as I removed my jacket and donned my apron to begin my duty. Tonight, there were three of us left in the shop. I'm curious where the others are. Lina, who was at the counter, Jake, who was in charge of cleaning and arranging the items tonight, and I, who was in charge of taking orders.

Lina hissed as Jake was rearranging the chairs after a customer left. I turned to face her, and she simply waved her hand, signaling for me to come over to her.

“What is it?”

She was looking in Jake's general direction. "Did Jake just greet you?" she said quietly as she turned her gaze to me.

"Uh... yes?”I was still perplexed. "What happened to him after I left?" I asked Lina, looking in Jake's direction. "He appears to be in a good mood to greet me for the first time, and he even smiled at me," I added.

Lina simply shrugged, "Don't ask me. When you left earlier, he appeared to be acting normally."

We were still looking in Jake's direction, who was busy arranging the table and chairs, trying to figure out why he seemed to be in a bad mood. Even though we were all working in the same shop, Jake never tried to talk to us, so our reaction was natural.

Lina poked my side and said, "Hey. Does your best friend have a crush on him?" I gave a nod. "Did they previously interact?"

Lina just wiggled her eyebrows when I looked at her, and I looked at her confused.

"I'm not sure," I mumbled. "Isn't he never the type of person who is interested? So I'm guessing they didn't have any. As far as I know, Bella was just watching him from afar," I explained, recalling how Bella used me as an excuse when she dragged me along with her to follow Jake to the school's library.

I mentally rolled my eyes as I remembered the scenario that made me want to punch my best friend.

"Or... does Jake already have a crush on someone?" Lina trailed off, and I looked at her, my brow furrowed.

"What?" she inquired, turning to face me. “Isn't that a possibility?”

My lips lift to the side. Didn't I say he's not the type of person to be interested in love?

"Girl..." Lina taps my back, "The time will come when Jake will be interested in those things as well. Let me tell you something," she said as she drew me closer to her.

"I saw him the other day at the mall with a girl,” Lina whispered in my ear just loud enough for me to hear, "They seem to be having fun, I saw them laughing with each other."

I'm not sure Jake could ever greet or smile at us again if he knew we were gossiping about him.

Lina's words, however, sparked a deep thought in me. She claimed to have seen Jake the other day at the mall with a girl. Who could it possibly be?

Is it his... girlfriend?