Eternal Love

Chapter 3

Jhie’s POV

I was so shocked when that man suddenly called me his future wife! How crazy is that? And what made it even worse was he actually kissed me on the lips! Who does he think he is? Is he out of his mind? Why would he kiss me and say something like that?

If he was a decent man, he would never do what he just did. I only met him today! I don’t even know who he is. And because of what happened, my co-workers started teasing me nonstop. Why did he have to pick me to mess around with? This is so annoying! I hope I never have to see that arrogant jerk ever again.

I was really fuming mad at what he did, but I had to compose myself. It was work hours after all, and I couldn’t let what happened earlier affect my job.

Before long, things got really busy. More and more customers started coming in, especially since it was the time when students were going home from school, and since our shop was located inside a mall, we were running around everywhere trying to keep up. I was scheduled to work the whole day tomorrow since it’s Sunday. I don’t have classes on that day.

On Saturdays, I have ROTC training in the morning, and when I get home later, I still have to do my laundry. Every little bit helps when it comes to my expenses. Especially since next week, I need to pay for my boarding house rent. The good thing being a college student isn’t too heavy on my pocket.

Aside from being a scholar, I also receive a small allowance to cover other school expenses. And whatever I earn from working here goes straight to my rent and food. I’m really lucky I was able to find a bed spacer that’s affordable and near my school. Living in Makati is really expensive, after all.

I Sigh. Just a little over two more years and you’ll finally be free from all this, self. Just be patient a little while longer. We can do this, everything will be worth it, I told myself to keep my spirits up.

At exactly 7:00 PM, it was finally my break time. I was surprised when one of my co-workers handed me a big paper bag filled with food. It smelled so good, like everything was freshly cooked.

I didn’t accept it right away. First of all, I didn’t buy it, and I had no idea who sent it. Even when my co-worker told me it was from the man who called me his future husband earlier, I still refused. Hello… I don’t even know who that guy is!

But I eventually had no choice but to take it. My co-worker was already turning pale and looking really nervous because I kept declining the food.

“Come on, Jhie. Just accept it, will you?” he pleaded with me.

I got curious and asked her why she looked so terrified.

“Why do you look like that? Why are you so pale and why do you keep looking back over your shoulder?”

“It’s because… If you don’t accept what that man gave you, I’m going to lose my job tomorrow. You know how important this work is for people like us, right?”

She explained everything to me, and she was already on the verge of crying. I felt so guilty. I had no other choice, so I took the bag and placed it on the table.

She let out a huge sigh of relief the moment I accepted it. I opened the bag and my eyes widened in amazement. There was so much food inside, and it was obvious that these were all ordered from expensive restaurants. Wow… that’s a lot.

Since there was way too much for me to finish alone, I offered some to my co-workers. They were all so happy because they got to taste food that only wealthy people usually eat.

But what I didn’t know was that the man was actually watching me from inside his car. He had his dinner there too, because he planned to wait until my shift was over.

He felt happy just watching me eat and laugh while chatting with my co-workers. Time passed quickly until our break was over, and we fixed ourselves up and went back to our respective stations.

** Jake’s POV **

After eating my dinner, I busied myself with my laptop so I wouldn’t get bored while waiting for Jhie. I didn’t even notice that it was already 9:00 PM. I saw the staff starting to close up the shop, so I quickly fixed my things. I closed my laptop, got out of the car, and walked toward her.

I needed to invite her so I could drive her home. This was just the start of everything I planned to do. When I saw her step out of the shop, I called her name.

“Jhie,” I said to get her attention.

She turned around and looked at me with confusion written all over her face.

“Let me drive you home, hon.”

“Ahm… no thank you, sir. My place is really close by, it’s just walking distance from here. And thank you very much for the food you sent earlier.”

She said it politely but refused my offer right away. My mood instantly turned sour. There was no way I was letting her go home alone. I wanted to see exactly where she lived. And knowing how persistent I am. I always get what I want.

“No, honey. I insist,” I said firmly, though my voice remained low and calm.

“Sorry, sir. I don’t even know you, so there’s no way I’m going anywhere with you,” she insisted stubbornly.

“Don’t call me sir! Call me honey. We’re going to be husband and wife soon anyway,” I said coolly.

Her eyes widened in shock. She never expected me to say that again, especially in front of her co-workers. My God! Is this man out of his mind? I could almost hear her screaming inside her head.

“No way!”

“Don’t make this difficult for yourself. Unless you want me to just drag you or carry you and throw you inside my car?”

“Wow! Now you’re threatening me? Who do you think you are?! And you even threatened my co-worker just to get what you want!” she snapped at me angrily.

“So what? I will actually do it if you don’t do as I say, Jhie Ann Loraine Ocenar Nacario.”

She froze the moment I said her full name. “How do you know my full name? You’re a stalker, aren’t you?!”

She asked me suspiciously, narrowing her eyes at me. She was clearly furious. “Who is this rude man? Why does he keep bothering me?” I knew exactly what she was thinking.

“So what if I am? And I have plenty of ways to get anything I want… Including you, my dear future wife.”

I whispered to her as I moved closer, then wrapped my arm firmly around her waist. I breathed in her scent. “I love how you smell… It’s so addicting,” I murmured against her ear, biting it gently.

She flinched at my touch. I just smiled. If anyone looked at us, we looked like such a sweet couple. No one would ever guess that we were practically strangers. Well… She is the only one who thinks that way. I know absolutely everything about her.

“So? Are you coming with me quietly and without any complaints? Or do I have to carry you like a sack of rice?” I asked her decisively.

She shot me a death glare, but I just winked at her before glancing over at her friends.

“Uhm… guys, you can go ahead first. I’ll take care of my future wife here,” I told them with a wide smile.

They just nodded, thinking we really knew each other and were in a relationship, then left us alone. Jhie had no choice but to stay, no matter how angry and frustrated she was. I held her tightly against me like a snake coiling around its prey. She glared at me again.

“What?” I asked, pretending to be innocent, though a playful smirk was playing on my lips.

“You should be thankful I’m only carrying you to my car. What if I carry you straight to the church instead? There’s no escape for you if I decide to do that.”

As if she could ever get away from me.

She was left standing there stunned, blinking repeatedly. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing from this man—someone whose name she didn’t even know a single letter of!