Chapter 32: Dating Tips From Lucas
1324 Words
***
Later That Evening...
They were seated in the bars, taking champagne.
Lucas had a lot to drink because of the Chairman's words. Jade on the other hand didn't feel like drinking so much.
"What's up, Lucas? Why did you call me?" Jade asked as he watched Lucas sip through the last drop of champagne in his glassy, wine cup.
"The chairman asked if I'm a double agent working for you."
"What a hypocrite! He's doing the same with Mr. Tim to me." Jade mouthed.
Lucas scoffed at his friend then a smile followed. "So you knew all these while, huh?"
"Do you think I'm a fool? How could I not know? Why would he fire Secretary Ferdinand, when he have been working for him for so long."
"Anyway... Because of that, I have a message for you." Lucas faced his friend as he addressed the issue.
"Stop avoiding the subject of what happened at the hotel-sponsored events."
"Did he say something?"
"Yes, of course!" Lucas replied and adjusted his tie.
"Geez! Just hearing him speak was so pathetic. You brought her to the Cinema to preview that space documentary? You took her to the music concert and the art gallery? Geez! Just date like everyone does, okay?" Lucas begged.
"I am though." Jade innocently defended himself.
"Let me tell you something dude. What you're doing isn't dating. It's just working, pure and simple." Hearing Lucas's advice, Jade remembered when Sapphire told him...
'Nobody is stingy with the time when seeing someone they love. If anything, people go out of their way to make time...'
"Jade, there are lots of things a man and a woman are supposed to do when dating." Lucas muttered drunkenly.
"f**k you! Hope you're not asking me to sleep with her?!" Jade busted. "Well, it's a bit too soon for that. It would take a lot of time to seduce Sapphire. She's not an easy person to deal with."
"Hey, no! I'm not advising you to sleep with her." Lucas whirred. "I just wanted to give you tips for a better relationship."
"Whatever, what's the difference. It'll all end up on the bed anyway so why beating around the bush?!"
"Geez! Have you two seen a film together?" Lucas questioned. "An humorous, romance film at that."
"What's that?" Jade frowned. "I don't watch movies."
"I'm not expecting you to take her to an amusement park, with your temper. Do you even text her at night? What about flowers? Have you bought her any? Have you two ever walked together while holding hands? Goodness gracious! This is what dating is, i***t! So, what have you been doing all these while?" Lucas eyed Jade like a peacock.
"Like seriously? How pathetic." Lucas hissed as Jade gulped down his first cup of champagne.
Just now, Jade began to realize how much he had missed.
***
Getting home, Jade admired the pink, keyholders she got for him and then, the box of model toys.
His mind went to Lucas advised again.
'I'm not expecting you to take her to an amusement park, with your temper. Do you even text her at night?'
Remembering this, Jade went upstairs into this room with his mobile phone. He had a shower, changed into nice clothes and climbed his bed.
***
11:00 p.m
Sapphire was in her room playing with the golden letters on her blue keyholder. The letters J and D.
Just then, her phone rang, and she picked up.
"Hello Gabby!"
"Hello Sapphire! There's an equation I I couldn't solve."
"Tell me the problem that you don't know how to solve."
She opened a mathematics textbook and started solving the equation, explaining everything to him on phone.
Meanwhile, Jade tried to get to her, but the electrical voice said.
"The person you're trying to reach is on the phone with someone else at this time. You will be connected to their voice mailbox." Hearing this, a deep frown appeared on Jade's face.
"Who could she be talking to at this time of the night?" He wondered.
***
Back To Sapphire
11: 37 p.m
"Do you understand it now?"
"Yes sis! Thanks so much." Gabby's excited voice muttered over the phone.
"You're welcome darling. Study hard since you have free time now." She advised. "And call me again if there's anything you don't know or understand. Okay?
"Okay sis. But I'll be having a concert on Saturday." Gabby brought up.
"Wow! Saturday when?" She jerked over the call with excitement.
"Yes, in the morning."
"Okay, how about you spend sometime with me in the library before you leave on Saturday morning?" Sapphire suggested.
"That would be difficult but sure. I'll definitely meet up." He replied to her obediently.
"Okay then. Bye now."
"Bye." She ended the call and continued playing with the teddy on the keyholder."
Her phone rang again, and she picked without looking at the name.
"Do you have another question again, my darling, Gabby?'
"So it's Gabby!" Jade's voice scorned over the phone.
Sapphire's eyes widened in shock. It's clear that she wasn't expecting Jade's call.
"Oh! It's you Mr. Jade Alejandro." She stammered.
"Why are you being so formal right now, huh? Wait, so... You've been talking to that pipsqueak this whole time? This late at night?" Jade queried.
"Well, Gabby is my---"
"I don't care if it's Gabby or his brother, Roman! Are you by chance dating that kid?" Jade muttered out of curiosity. "Are you two dating?!"
"What are you saying? Why would I date an 18- year- old? I'm just like his big sister, and he looks up to me. It's dangerous to think that of me, you know? I'm just his fan club's president, so I hold that responsibility to care for my Gabby! I can't get my darling get swept in an unnecessary scandal and perhaps, I was teaching him just now."
Jade couldn't say anything.
"But... Why are you calling me at this hour?" Sapphire asked, curiously.
"I wanted to try dating like normal people." He admitted.
"What?" She murmured, unsure if it was really Jade speaking or not.
"Like I said before... You're not allowed to see any other guys in your life. All other guys you've known before me, forget about them. I don't care whether you're their fan club's chairman or the Chairman's fan club. Or if he's your friend's brother or your brother's friend. None of them are okay, avoid them, okay?"
"Do other people date with this kind of restrictions, too?"
"I don't know. It's my first time talking on the phone this late, after all." Jade let out a shy smile.
Sapphire did the same at the other end.
***
2 Hours Later...
They were still blushing to each other's words over the call.
"Let's watch a film in the cinema next time." Jade suggested.
"How come your hotel hosts cultural events so often?"
"They are not hosted by us." He intoned.
"What? Oh... Is it an actor you know or is the director someone from your family?'
"No, it's completely not related to me! I just want to watch a romance film with you, that's all! And if you don't love romance, we could watch any movie of your choice." He explained.
A bright smile lightens up Sapphire's face as she heard this.
"Did you lock your door?" Jade asked.
"Yes." She replied with a smile.
Just then, she heard a noise at the door.
There was a loud noise as Sapphire heard someone hit the door abruptly.
She jerked off immediately and hugged her pillow in fear.
"Umm... Just a second."
"What's it? Are you alright?"
"I hear something outside. I think someone's trying to open the door!" She whined over the phone.
"Stay right there, I'll be over!" Jade whizzed in concern. "Wait, no! Call the cops first!"
Sapphire cuddled her pillow tight as she managed to peep, her whole body became sweaty as she suddenly heard...
- Writer
