The Forgotten love

They found themselves nestled under the comforting shade of a towering neem tree, basking in the gentle caress of the cool breeze and the warmth of the sun's rays. Jude reached into his pocket and produced a tantalizing piece of chocolate, swiftly unwrapping it and offering a taste to Juli. Just as she was about to savor the sweet delight, Jude playfully took a bite for himself, much to Juli's chagrin. In an attempt to pacify her, he presented her with a beautiful cluster of roses. However, his attention was abruptly diverted when he spotted an old friend in the distance. Ignoring Juli, he dashed towards the acquaintance with the roses in hand.

Juli, her lips pressed tightly together, watched the unfolding scene with a mix of anticipation and frustration. Her cheeks flushed with anger, and her eyes blazed with fury as she rose to her feet to get a better view. The brief sequence of events felt unbearably heavy, and the ground beneath her seemed to tremble, adding to her discomfort. A whirlwind of emotions engulfed her, yet she struggled to maintain a facade of composure, attempting to conceal the turmoil within.

Jude greeted his friend politely, "Celia, where have you been for the past few years?"

Celia was taken aback when she unexpectedly came across a stranger. She lifted her goggles to get a better look at him. His tall, lean figure captivated her attention. Jude, too, was struck by her enchanting beauty. She was in her early twenties and possessed all the qualities of a lovely, captivating young woman. Her well-defined features and smooth complexion were attractive. She was dressed in a mini skirt paired with a form-fitting top. Her curves were perfect for falling for any boy. As she stole a second glance at him, it seemed like she had recalled something significant.

She snapped her fingers, "Oh Jude, it's you?"

His joy knew no bounds at this revelation. He hugged her tightly, giving them a peck on her forehead with the bunch of roses that were for someone else in his hand.

He gifted the bunch to her, without thinking about his future, who stood behind his back saying, "It seemed it has been a long time since we last met and that's the reason you took such a long time to recognize me. I was frightened whether you would recognize me or not, but thanks to my stars, your memory is still sharp."

Celia accepted the roses with a bright vibrant smile on her face. She was flabbergasted by his hospitality, but at the same time, she doubted his intentions.

She tried to calm her inhibitions, "Yes, yes! It has been a long time, and my Russian goggles also did mischief. How come you are here, and who is that girl staring at you from behind?"

"Yup, she is my friend. Let me call her," he summoned Juli through a hand gesture to extend a hand of friendship to her.

Juli stood silently in a show to reject his offer. He called her again verbally, "Juli, don't be silly. Come here. Meet my school friend."

The phrase "school friend" brought back memories for her. Juli and Jude had been classmates often in school, but they had attended different colleges after that. Juli took a few steps towards Celia, thinking she was his childhood friend. Celia gave her a brief, disapproving look, which Juli didn't appreciate, but she tried to hide her feelings behind a friendly smile. Juli was a kind and straightforward person, always willing to trust others. Unfortunately, Jude had taken advantage of this trust many times. He knew that Juli wouldn't mind if he revealed their relationship right then and there.

Juli extended her hand for friendship, "Hello, I am Juli, Jude's best friend."

Celia replied promptly, "I am Celia, Jude's favorite childhood friend."

"That's great but how come I was unaware of it till now," Juli expressed her concern apologetically.

"If you don't mind, can I take Jude for a coffee date?" Celia questioned, chiding her inquiry.

Jude seemed worried about it. He needed to speak to avoid any misgivings.

He coughed loudly to clear his throat, "Let's plan it some other time. We are getting late. Bye, bye, see you soon."

"So, so, so..... OK, let it go! I will leave it for some other time," she showed her impatience and fled away from the place after assuring him that Jude had saved her number.

Juli and Jude waved goodbye to her. This was the first and last time Juli had met her. Jude sounded a little bit disturbed about rejecting her humble deed. Something suspicious was going on in his mind.

He fumbled, "Let's get back home. Your parents must be waiting for you eagerly."

"So soon, you want me to leave. We have arrived shortly. You look worried. Why did you cancel a coffee date with your school friend when your heart desired to...? Who am I to object?" she laughed.

"How did you know that my heart desired to be with her?" he threw a fake smile to suppress his true feelings of subdued anger.

"In short, your temper says it all," Juli concluded.

Jude was speechless. His blood was boiling inside to confront reality. After all, Juli was speaking the truth, but Jude admitted it was all a false play and took it jokingly to avoid any misunderstanding. Juli's innocent eyes welled up with tears. Her future was uncertain. It was true that she was truly in love with him, even after committing that she was not. Suddenly, she lifted her palm to touch her hair. The wet sensation brought her back to Earth. She plucked a dry towel from the hanger to dry her long tresses. Jerry, her four-legged friend, came dashing towards her wagging his tail. He lifted his legs to caress Juli. She forgot her pain in fiddling with it.

She asked Jerry, "Do you like my friend Jude?"

The dog wagged his tail forcefully and bowed its head. The other moment, he pulled her gown in a gesture to take her outside for breakfast.

"Jerry, don't do this. Give me a minute, I need to comb my hair."

The dog showed no signs of understanding, it didn't stop until it pulled her to the dining table.