Poisonous Love

Chapter 5

Past

Jane

Days went by. I started seeing a lot of Mr. gray eyes. Yeah, I still don't know his name. How messed up is that? He would be there outside my lecture halls staring at me with that penetrating gaze. He never came up to talk to me. Never once. And I had no reason to talk to someone else's man, but I never saw his girlfriend around whenever he used to wait in the hallways outside my lecture halls. I wonder how he knows my schedule? What was he doing there? Seriously, didn't he have anywhere else to be?

Now I have got used to him being outside. First semester exams are coming up and Jas and I are freaking out. Luca became our good friend for the time being. We hang out all the time. We went to the movies and shopping together. Life is good right now, minus that guy and exams.

Today we decided to do a group study at the university library. I and Jas gathered our books and wandered to the library. Luca was already there waiting for us. We waved to him and moved to where he was seated. After making ourselves comfortable.

''Hey, Luca. Can you help me with this question? It took all my energy and time to find the right answer.'' I groaned at the question which I had been trying to answer since the morning.

''What are you telling me this now? You should have asked me if you had any questions.'' Jas chided from beside me.

''I thought I would solve it myself. You were studying with full concentration. I didn't want to disturb you,'' I replied sheepishly.

''Okay, but ask me next time if you have any questions,'' Jas said with a tone that says 'I dare you to repeat the same mistake again.'

''Okay.'' I nodded like an obedient child. Jas sometimes behaves like my mother. I love her. It's because of her I could settle in here without any problem.

''Let's focus guys,'' Lucas called out for us to start the study session. We studied for two whole hours before our stomachs started growling. Mine and Jas's mainly. Luca doesn't have embarrassing moments, he is the epitome of perfection. I wonder how he doesn't have a girlfriend yet. It's not like he lacks in any department. Girls throw themselves at him but he doesn't give anyone his time of day. Maybe he has someone special back home.

First, we went to our dorm to drop off the books, then we made our way to the cafe where Jas and Andrew work. It's been a while since I met him. Luca and I sat at the table for two as Jas wouldn't be joining us. Her shift starts now. After five minutes, Jas was there at our table with two menus in her hand.

''Where is Andrew? I was hoping to see him.'' I asked Jas when I saw there were no signs of Andrew.

''He is on leave. He had some important work today.'' Jas replied.

''So what would you like to have?''

''I'll have a chocolate shake,'' I said," I love chocolate. And they serve the best chocolate shake in town.

''I'll have an ice tea,'' Luca said. Jas stutters away with our orders. Luca and I chatted for some time while finishing our drinks. Just as we were about to leave Jas's ex-boyfriend, Jake entered the Cafe. Jas told me how Jake annoys her whenever he visits her. I think he visits her only to annoy Jas. Well, he doesn't do anything special to annoy her, he will just appear here with his flavor of the month and that thing alone annoys Jas. I wonder if she still loves him.

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Jasmine

What is this jerk doing here? Today he will surely rub it in my face as Drew isn't here either. How will I take my revenge? He will surely bask in my misery. The icing on the cake is I have to serve him too. Any other time he used to come, I make Drew serve him, but today I am alone so I have to take care of all the customers. The owner would have appointed a helper but because of the exams, today there will be fewer visitors. I myself assured her that I would handle it on my own. Way to go Jas. Way to go.

I hate it when he shows up with some girl. A girl is always with him, no matter what.

Like you are the one to talk who always clings to her boyfriend just to rub it in his face. My mind always has to be the voice of justice.

But I have my reasons, after breaking up when he started to come off too strong. I knew I had to do something before I'd give in. Our relationship was just toxic.

And real. there goes my mind again.

So what if our emotions were too strong and real for each other. I couldn't handle the trust issues and violence on a daily basis. I knew I had to leave. Drew is sweet, nothing like Jake who was intense, no sweetness, there was just raw intensity and desire. Our love was the rare kind.

But Jake Hill has to go and ruin it all with his insecurities and possessiveness. I kind of enjoyed his possessiveness at the start, but he got kind of overbearing by the end. I tried to assure him. I tried to give him all the time he needed, all the attention he needed, but he still couldn't trust me. And I couldn't hold onto our relationship more than that. It was slipping out of my hand. It was like the more tight the hold was the harder it was to mend. We both tried to hold on but couldn't.

With a deep breath, I went to Jake's table with two menus for him and his date for today. Wait a minute. It looks like I know her isn't she in my sociology class. Well, now he is going after my classmates. What the hell she is my project partner dude? And she is a sweet girl. I don't want her to be heartbroken because of this stupid guy she is here with. Didn't she know he never goes out with girls? He changes them like a girl changes clothes. Oh god, this day couldn't get worse.

''Hi, Claire, who are you here with?'' I asked her in my fake polite voice which is reserved for customers. Completely ignoring Jake.

''Oh, Hi Jasmine. I didn't know you worked here. I am here with my friend Jake.'' She motioned to Jake who was already busy drilling holes in my face. I nodded to him and continued to talk to her.

''Yeah, no one knows. I like to keep it that way.'' I told her in a quiet voice like I was telling her a secret. The truth is, only a handful of people know that I work here, so it's more or less true.

''My mouth is sealed,'' she told me in a dork kind of way which made me laugh. A genuine laugh since this ordeal took place.

''Okay, I'll leave you to it. I'll be back in a few for your order.'' smiling politely at Claire I made my way to the other table. Phew so good so far. There was no touching so far. No shoving the tongue in another's throat. All will be good if there is no touching involved. Waiting for five minutes, I made my way to their table again.

''Have you guys decided what you would like to drink?'' I asked Claire. Again, totally ignoring Jake. As long as I don't look at him, it will be all good.

''Yup, we will have Iced Americano and a red velvet cheesecake swirl brownie,'' she said with a sweet smile and glint in her eyes. She wasn't looking at me, no she was looking at Jake. With those love-filled eyes. And that was like a sucker punch in my gut. Oh god, I thought I would be used to this by now, but it's like the first time he went out with a girl. Before I gave myself away, I rushed from there to the kitchen to get their orders.

It would take about 10 to 15 minutes for their order to get ready, so I took that time to rush to the washroom. I splashed cold water on my face. Why? Why dammit? Why do I still love him? Why can't I see him with anyone else? As I was busy with self-loathing, my phone pinged.

I picked up my phone to see if any of the staff messaged me, but no. It was from Jake.

You can stop this hurting.

No, no, no. He shouldn't know I am hurting. He shouldn't. Another message popped on my screen.

Just say yes.

No, I will never say yes. Why can't he leave me alone? I don't want him. Damn Andrew, if he had been here all this would never have happened. After regaining my composure, I took their order and went to their table. The plate which had the brownie on it was about to slip from my hand when I saw the scene in front of me. Jake was kissing Claire sweetly. I don't know why it hurts. There is a burning sensation behind my eyes. I know every time he kisses someone in front of me, it happens. I moved to their table with heavy steps. And knocked on their table to take them out of their eating each other face session.

I put their order on the table and smiled at them. When all I wanted to do was cry my heart out. Why can't I move on from him?

''Enjoy'' I said with my hoarse voice and rushed from there. I went on with my work because of Jake. I didn't want to get scolded by the owner. Jake didn't leave even after Claire did. He kept on ordering different coffees to spend time here. When my shift ended, only then did he move outside. But when I made my way to leave for my dorm he was there outside the cafe waiting for me.

It's his thing first he hurt me with his dates, then he will spend his time alone until my shift ends. And when we leave he will follow me silently to my dorm. Only when I moved inside then would he leave from there. I know it's weird, right? But I didn't have the courage to say no to him. I know if I talked to him ever I don't know what I would do. That's why I avoid talking to him at all costs.