Lethner's Service

Chapter 06 - Double Invitation

Quinn's POV

After few weeks from hearing Mr. Lethner’s confession that shocked my nerves, I’m happy that I’m okay now. I know that...that something he said isn’t just something. It’s confidential and might ruin his reputation if ever it leaks. Good thing, I’m not like my best friend, Enid. I’m a secret keeper although I admit his confession’s been bugging and bothering my mind and soul for almost two weeks.

And thank God Almighty, our paths never crossed after that day. I’m okay now. I maybe kind of rude for leaving him inside the coffee shop but I now realize he’s just human and whatever his reasons why he entered that kind of job, will do no harm to me. It’s his life, his decision, and I shouldn’t be bothered.

Well, I am a bit.

“Here’s your hot salami, cheese pizza, gooey butter cake, blueberry chips, toasted rav and root beer float ladies. Enjoy your meal!” the waiter politely interrupts with my thoughts.

Paula immediately grabs one of the blueberry chips from the plate and brings it in her mouth. She ordered everything and she really hasn’t changed her taste when it comes to foods. She still loves sweets ever since we’ve met in college.

Paula is my block mate in college and is also a great friend to me, my partner in all crimes, and my ex-future-sister-in-law. So to summarize things, Paula is my ex boyfriend’s sister.

“Now what Bree?” she pleads with her puppy eyes and pouting lips.

“I’m used to be convinced by that gesture. Stop that, will you? It isn’t working this time.” I roll my eyes while picking up some cheese pizza from the plate.

I really love to eat this one. It may look like a glorified cheese and crackers for outsiders but to locals like me, its pizza. It’s my favorite pizza simply because the pie is just so crispy and surprisingly flavorful –plus it has a hundred percent provel cheese.

“Are you sure about that? Can’t you remember the day during our college? We’re inside the cafeteria drinking our coffee jellies and in front of the table, in front of me, and all the wiggling jellies inside your drink, you swore to me with your palms facing my beautiful pores that you’ll attend my special day. You promised!” her forehead wrinkles and her upper lip smirks.

“You don’t make your promises!” she rolls her eyes as if she’s despising me for the rest of her life.

Now tell me, how can I say no to this adorable bride-to-be in front of me? How? We’ve been sisters by heart years from now and my conscience is bugging me whenever I try to say no. I tried turning down her invitation but she’s been very consistent in convincing me to attend her wedding –consistent for three months from now.

What if I’ll just say yes then I’ll boycott her special day saying I’m having an upset stomach resulting to low bowel movement which I think is a real valid reason?

“Universe, galaxy, and f*****g earth to Briella Quinn!” she lightly pinches my nose bringing my senses back.

“I know you’re having second thoughts about attending my wedding because my dear brother or shall I reword my statement?” she clears her throat and continues her speech, “I mean your dear ex boyfriend will be there.” she really emphasized the word ex boyfriend for her malicious intentions.

Well she really got it right. I don’t want to attend her wedding for I don’t want to see Frazer.

“See? You’re just eating that freaking cheese pizza and not answering me. Speak up Briella, I’m waiting for your answer.” Paula’s voice is turning to be irritated now. She is obviously getting impatient.

I finish eating the piece of cheese pizza on my hand and look at her. I caress her right hand which is on top of the table.

“Paula listen, I’m sorry but I can’t –”

“Who says you can’t?” She cuts me off which is a normal thing for her to do whenever we have our conversation. She is rude.

“Oh God Paula please, let me finish, will you?”

“You’re not saying no because I’m obviously not accepting a no for an answer. Give me thirteen reasons why aren’t you attending my wedding?”

I want to grab the plate from the table and just slam it on her face. This freak!

“Why thirteen and not just one reason? You think this is some kind of dramatic and heart breaking movie series you’re watching in Netflix? What is it with me that I have to attend your wedding?” I answer in utter disgust.

“Can’t you just walk down the aisle with your parents and just say that sweet freaking I do in front of the altar without me? I mean...I am not the freaking priest for Pete’s sake, girl you can be married without me!”

She rolls her eyes again. This time, it’s a five hundred and forty degree turn.

“You haven’t moved on from my brother.”

“What? Say that again?” my voice raises a bit the moment I heard her statement. I imagine my pupils dilating and my nostrils puffing out a smoke like I’m a bull.

“See? Your gestures Briella. It’s someone’s reaction when she’s asked if she had moved on from her two year relationship. You look defensive.”

“Do you want me to leave you here?”

“Try me.” she raises her eyebrows like she’s challenging me for a fist fight.

“f**k you Paula!” this girl’s really getting into my nerves.

She’s rude and adorable at the same time. How is she doing it? She rolls her eyes again. She really is fond of doing that.

Dismissing that bitchy act of her, I take a slice from the gooey butter cake and savor its delicious taste.

“Briella! Just f*****g say yes!”

I remain silent eating the butter cake like I’m just sitting on a table alone. Annoyed by my response, she lets out a very deep sigh with so much irritation on her face almost blowing off the table’s mantel.

“I know it’s rude to speak when your mouth is full but damn it Briella Quinn! You’re just eating a piece of that freaking slice of butter cake and I guess it isn’t making your mouth full so why don’t you open that freaking mouth of yours and just say yes?”

As if not hearing anything from anyone, I grab the root beer float from the right side of the table, drink it, and nonchalantly answer her.

“No.”

With disappointed face and shoulders down, she takes another piece of blueberry chip from the plate and eats it. She finishes the chip in her mouth before saying something.

“Okay fine. If you’re not coming, it’s absolutely fine.” Paula’s voice sounds like she’s defeated from a debate and her life depends on it. “Just finish everything that I’ve ordered for us then I’m leaving.”

Disappointment is written on Paula’s eyes –evidence that my presence on her upcoming wedding really is a must for her. The lonely sparks of her eyes are bombarding my conscience like they’re convincing me to say yes.

I try touching her arm but she moves a little bit away from me and focuses her attention to the foods. She looks like a teenager who asked permission from her strict mom to go party in a club with friends but her mom’s kind of hitler and she wasn’t allowed to go.

“Hey...” I lightly pinch her nose but she pushes my hand away from it. “Paula please look at me. You know I love you and I really want to attend your wedding but –”

“If you love me then saying yes isn’t a hard thing for you to do. If you love me then you’ll put aside whatever’s between you and Frazer. If you really love me then you should’ve said yes the first time I invited you.” with her low voice she answers me, “I know exactly why you aren’t attending my wedding. It’s because of my brother. You’re obviously still into him and you haven’t moved on from him. I understand.”

I slap my own forehead upon hearing that moving on thing again.

“Stop insisting that I haven’t moved on from him, will you? It’s been a long time since we broke up and I am not someone who will work my butt out to win him back from that Liana. I already accepted everything. We’re done and I’m fine with that. I’m happy now. Can’t you see it?”

“You could’ve just simply said you moved on yet you chose to explain and elaborate things. You’re really defensive. I know you’re still in love with my brother.”

“Excuse me?” this time, the tables are turned. Paula’s smiling like a cat which had just finished her delicious cup of milk and I look like someone so irritated by this woman’s accusations.

So this is her way of convincing me to attend her wedding, insinuating that I haven’t moved on and I am still into that freaking brother of her.

“You heard everything Bree, I know it. Don’t pretend like I said something wrong. I know it right. You’re still in love with him.”

“The fork looks sharp and I feel like stabbing it to someone’s chest right now. What do you think?” I grab the fork and show it to her.

“Really? Well this knife looks sharper than that fork, why don’t we try it?” she takes the knife from the table and shows it to me like she’s a criminal ready to kill someone and I am her victim.

“You’re really getting into my nerves Paula. I’ve already turned down your invitation, why can’t you just say okay? And besides, I’ll be putting the blame on you. You’re just twenty three and you really are excited to get married. We promised we’ll get married at the age of twenty seven. Since when did the number twenty three become twenty seven?"

“Goodness gracious Briella! I’m old and mature enough to marry a guy. I’m just twenty three but I’m ready.”

“Ready to what? To be deflowered by JV?”

JV is short for Jeremy Van, Paula’s fiancée.

“He already deflowered me months ago.” she smiles at me like she’s really proud of what she had just confessed.

I’m not actually surprised knowing that she isn’t a virgin anymore. I had a dinner with her and JV one time and I can say something already happened between them by just merely observing their intimacy. I’m good in psychological things you know –like reading someone’s personality by just merely observing his movements.

Paula and I promised to give up our virginity to our husbands. She gave it up to her husband-to-be but we promised not to engage to pre-marital s*x. I understand the diversities and differences in everyone’s culture but I do believe that I have to be virgin until I get to marry the man of my life.

“See? You broke a lot of promises we made when we were in college, you devirginized b***h!”

“Wow! Says who? Who’s going to break her swears? We’re even!” Paula is really good in turning tables.

“Let’s just finish the foods and head home. I wish you to multiply the species of JV and have a merry life with him. Good luck.”

“Okay fine. You’re not coming. I understand you still need time to heal your heart aches from my brother. It’s okay.”

See? She really wants me to be pissed by her wrong accusations.

“How many times do I have to tell you that I already moved on?” with each word I say, I chop the toasted rav using my fork like I’m stabbing someone’s chest.

What I said visibly didn’t scare her. She just laughs in front of me –an insulting one.

“What? Mark my words Paula! I’m going to prick your eyeballs with this fork, I swear!”

She sticks out her tongue like a little girl who successfully bullies her playmate.

“Time heals all wounds Bree but healing takes time. It’s just a matter of time. So believe me when I say, you’ll move on.” she insults me more by turning her facial reactions into someone who’s feeling pity for a poor lady like me.

I dismiss her insults by taking another slice of cheese pizza from the plate. The hot salami looks so inviting to my taste buds so I bring it in my mouth too. It’s not that I’m planning to eat all the foods served on the table, it’s just that I’d rather choose to focus my attention with the foods than entertaining Paula’s haven't move on allegations. I’m happy now. I’m doing well and I am obviously okay. I already accepted everything. Yes, I admit I was really hurt big time by that break up but...

Damn it!

I am freaking done with Frazer! Is it really that difficult to understand that fact? What am I going to do to prove it?

“So?” Paula starts to utter like she’s waiting for me to add something to her line.

“So what? I know you’re expecting me to say yes but I’m sorry. It’s still a big fat no. And when I say no, it means no. I’m not coming. Get it?”

She sighs in defeat. “Okay Briella Quinn, fine. You haven’t really moved on from –“

“Shut up!”

“Then give me thirteen valid reasons why aren’t you attending my wedding.”

“One!” with so much irritation on my face, I quickly raise my index finger. “I don’t want to attend because I don’t like the theme of your wedding. Didn’t you remember I hate vintage designs?”

“Two!” then I raise my middle finger joining my index, “I’m not attending because I don’t like to be so emotional during your wedding. You know how much I love you and seeing you saying vows with JV will really bring me in tears.”

“Three!” then my ring finger joins my two raised fingers, “I hate wearing long gowns, you’re absolutely aware of that right?”

“Four.”I raise four fingers, “I can’t make it because I have a morning shift that starts from in the morning and ends at 6 at night. So how the hell will I insert your wedding day on my busy schedule? Huh?”

“Five.” with palms facing her, I continue to enumerate, “I’m not ready. I don’t have the stuffs to wear on your wedding like earrings and necklace and bracelets and all.”

“Six.” I continue to raise my fingers while discussing the issue with her. She remains silent and patiently listens to me while happily munching on her chip. “Wearing high heeled shoes on a wedding is a must for a lady like me to at least look formal because it’s basically unethical to wear sneakers and converse shoes and I’m not going to wear shining, shimmering, sparkling and splendid heels.”

“Seven.” Paula is just nonchalantly looking at me, “I hate make ups. You see, I’m just wearing light shades whenever I’m at work. I’m allergic to talc and powders.”

“Eight.” She’s nodding her head like she really understands everything, “I hate wearing false eyelashes, contact lenses, and such.”

What number am I? I'm really running out of words.

“Nine. I don’t want to eat merrily on your special day. There’ll be a lot of foods there that might ruin my diet.”

Shit!

I know this an out of nowhere kind of reason but who cares? It’s still a reason and it’s rightfully valid.

“Ten. You’ll be busy during the reception and you’ll just leave me on a table looking like an abandoned orphan. I don’t like the idea of it, so no. I’m not coming.”

Ten down, three to go.

“Eleven.” I pause when I realize that I have nothing to say now.

Someone help me! I just need three more.

“I’m not attending because....I’m...I...I’m –”

“You’re still into him.” Paula cuts me off.

She just made my blood boil in a snap. How is she doing it?

“I’m giving you five seconds to think of the remaining three and if you’re able to make it, you’re allowed to turn down my invitation.”

We look at each other like our eyeballs are almost jumping off our skulls.

“Your time starts now.” she says like she’s a teacher shooting a question to a student for an impromptu speaking contest.

“Five.” she immediately starts the countdown.

“f**k you Paula, wait!”

“Four.”

“I don’t have enough money for...the fare! I mean I’m on a tight budget. I can’t book a taxi to bring me to the church.” I quickly answer.

What kind of answer was that?

“Three.”

“I can’t afford an expensive wedding gift for you. I know how picky you are when it comes to gifts. I’m independently living, you know that.”

“Two.”

Holy s**t!

“Paula wait!”

“Two and a half...”

“My boyfriend will get jealous if he knows that I’ll be attending my ex boyfriend’s sister’s wedding. He’s quite possessive.”

I am hearing a sound from a bunch of crickets all over the place.

Paula and I look at each other like we’re both surprised by what I had just said. I, myself was also shocked of why my mouth suddenly said it. You can’t blame me. I’m pressured by that one remaining freaking reason and I have nothing else in my mind to say.

“Who’s that freaking f*****g lucky guy?” with eyes almost jumping off from her head, she exclaims.

I look away to avoid an eye contact with her. She might notice that I’m lying. I’m still single and I’m not yet ready to be in a relationship again. I’m really just pressured to give a reason. I don’t want to see Frazer on the wedding. I just don’t want to see him.

“Bree, eyes on me! How long have you been together?” she asks with excitement on her voice.

She even hastens the space between us and shakes my shoulders demanding for an immediate answer.

“We...we’ve been together for...like two months?” I'm stuttering and still not looking at her.

“My goodness Briella! Why didn’t you tell me? Are you serious about this? What does he look like? Is he handsome? Is he cute? Make sure he’s way better than my brother.”

“He’s actually hot and sexy?” I swallow the lump in my throat.

“And what?” she anticipates the physical description of my imaginary boyfriend.

“He’s also cute and...he loves me. He looks like...ahmm....a magazine model? I guess so? I feel like melting whenever he smiles at me. W-we...we’ve met in South Grove when I’m having a jog there.”

What the f**k am I saying? Where are all these lies coming from?

“He bumped me and I felt that spark the moment our eyes met. He’s a gentleman. You’ll be seduced just by basically hearing his sexy voice. He’s a six footer and his shoulders are broad. He has muscled arms and prominent veins and huge bulge whenever he wears his boxers.”

All those adjectives describe only one guy that I know. I’m cursing myself right now. Of course I’m describing him because honestly, he’s the first guy who entered my mind at this very moment and he looks like a perfect boyfriend figure and it’ll be weird to describe the features of Mr. Alkins as my boyfriend right?

“What the f**k!” Paula soundlessly utters in surprise, “Is your boyfriend a real human or are you just having some kind of twelve noon hallucinations?”

“I’m serious.” I look away, avoiding her eyes. “My boyfriend is really territorial. I don’t want to lie so I’m really not coming. He’ll be mad at me.”

She rolls her eyes followed by a frustrated sigh.

“What’s his name?”

“James. His name is James Jacob but I’m calling him Jabes.”

Poor Mr. Lethner, he must've slipped a hundred times for I’ve been backstabbing him a lot of times.

“I hope that your James is as hot as Jamie Dornan of the fifty shades. I want to see him.”

“What?” I exaggeratedly ask.

“Yes. I want to see him. Don’t worry Briella, I won’t eat your boyfriend. I’m getting married for Pete’s sake.”

“He’s busy. He can’t come. He works in his company.”

Yes. Company –like paying him for a night to make you feel steamy, pleasured, hot, and wet the next morning.

“If he truly loves you then he’ll set aside his appointments for you my dear Briella Quinn. Unless your Jamie-boy is an imaginary boyfriend and you’re just lying to me. You’re only saying you have a possessive boyfriend in order for you not to attend my special day.” she raises her eyebrow,

“So I challenge you to bring that lucky guy on my wedding. I want to meet him and when that happens, I promise I’ll stop teasing you with my brother. So you better bring him with you, attend my wedding, and prove me wrong. My statement is irrevocable.”

I want to shout all the cusses in the world in front of Paula. I’m starting to hate her right now. And I hate myself for pulling up that one remaining reason.

She freaking pressured me!

“I’ll try asking him.”

“If that James really does exist then you’re not going to try and ask him because you’re coming on my wedding with him. If you really moved on from Frazer then prepare yourself for you’ll be attending my special day to prove that my accusations are wrong. I’m inviting James and you so I guess...” she pauses and looks at me with a wide evil grin on her face,

“It’s a double invitation!”

I’m definitely falling into my own trap. Poor self. I sigh in nothing but pure defeat. I guess I don’t have any choice but to say yes. I’m cursing that double invitation in my mind right now.

What am I going to do now?

I really have no choice.

I guess...

...I need to pay Mr. Lethner’s service.

No!

Not the service you are thinking.

Definitely not that!