Lethner's Service

Chapter 08 - Vintage Meeting

Wedding Day. . The day has come!

Quinn's POV

“Your ex boyfriend’s sister is quite an eye catcher.”

I roll my eyes upon hearing Jabes’ complimenting words for Paula. If you can at least consider it a compliment. I know he’s referring to that slice in between Paula’s chests that are being emphasized because of her boobs being gripped and lifted by her strapless push up b*a.

And yes I am referring to her cleavage. Okay?

Paula wears a beautifully made white wedding gown. It’s a strapless design with a trumpet skirt, super long trains, and lots of laces. It also comes with a belt for some sparkles. She’s also accessorized with a cathedral-length veil, edged with laces, a simple pair of diamond earrings, and a wishbone bracelet. And the guy beside me is just focusing his eyes to her voluptuous body.

It’s been an hour since Jabes and I were sitting, eating, and chit chatting nonsense in front of this table decorated with vintage framed table numbers.

We’re attending a vintage themed wedding of Paula and yes you’re reading it right, I did pay him for a one day service of being my hired boyfriend. Everybody seems to be enjoying the scenery which I totally oppose.

My butt’s been itching to leave this place for Pete’s sake. I honestly find this wedding to be old for a gorgeous bride like Paula. From the silver candelabra centerpieces decorated with baby’s breath, to that four-tier cake placed on a chest of drawers, to that vintage ladder table plan, to that so-called sweets cart, and to those rustic signs everywhere.

Jeez! I find everything so out of date but in the name of love, friendship, cupid, and all the salivating foods that are served on our table, I am staying.

From a distance of two tables, my eyes settle to that guy wearing his navy blue tux and slacks with a white buttondown polo inside. He had a white rose pinned on his left chest. He never changed. He’s still handsome in his most effortless way but behind his beautiful physical features was his hidden deadly secret –and that’s cheating women who truly love him. I wonder how our relationship reached a two year contract. He fooled me, he cheated, and he wasted me, he –

“So near yet so far.” there goes Jabes interrupting me again.

I immediately glare at him while raising my left eyebrow and point the silver fork with four sharp edges exactly to his face.

“Shut the f**k up and finish your food demented!” I almost scream on top of my lungs.

Jabes is acting like he had me investigated by a CSI agent for five freaking decades. If only he knew the things I did to move on from that jerk, his ears and eyelashes would surely give me a slow clap.

“Cool down Quinn. I’m just kidding okay?” then there goes his killer smile with that cute dimple showing off from his left cheek.

“I’ll finish this one and I promise.” he then shows me his right palm, “We’ll leave.” then he munches on his chicken stuffed with mushrooms and wrapped with prosciutto dauphinoise potatoes.

I didn’t give him much attention. I just turn my eyes to that guy again.

Frazer Caleb Charls

–is now happy talking to Liana.

I think she really is someone that gives him the spark he couldn’t find in me. He looks so happy just by merely staring at his new lover. Liana gives him that kind of smile—the smile I know I never succeeded in giving him and the smile I know I’ll never be the reason of.

What’s wrong with me? Am I not enough? I loved him as much as I could and I did everything for our relationship to last. I never cheated. I never did something that’ll ruin us but still, he cheated. He told me it was a mistake but I gues it’s not.

Falling in love with another woman while you are still into a relationship is not a mistake. Discreetly exchanging messages without the knowledge of your partner is definitely not a mistake. It was a choice! It was his f*****g choice!

He’s obviously happy with her.

And me?

I’m here. Sitting beside my hired boyfriend who’s merrily enjoying the foods. Looking at her, Liana must be happy. It’s visible just by looking at the sparks of her eyes.

Congratulations dear Frazer! You finally found the spark you said you can’t find in me. Sometimes, I may sound and look bitter like I’m despising you but believe me when I say, I’m genuinely happy for the both of you.

My pillows don’t deserve to be soaked with my tears each night that I am questioning my worth. I don’t deserve to cry over a cheater. I don’t deserve to repeatedly ask myself of what’s wrong with me. I don’t deserve to compare myself with others. I deserve peace of mind. I deserve to be happy. You don’t deserve my tears. I deserve the best!

I was about to avert my eyes away from them when I caught him looking at me too. It was too late for me to look away so I just give him a smile and pretend like he’s just a visitor in here, and that I didn’t know him.

I almost panic when he stands up and left his girlfriend on their table. I’m a hundred fifty nine percent sure that he’s heading to our table. My heart beats faster not because of him approaching my direction but because of the things that might happen when he finally meets Jabes.

You know –things like Frazer exchanging shitty words with Jabes and they’ll be having a fist fight because of me.

Wait?

What?

Why would they punch each other for me? They’re definitely not boxers inside a ring fighting for a lightweight championship. What am I thinking of myself, a precious belt?

My thoughts are being jumbled right now.

“Calm down Quinn, I’m here.” I think Jabes saw how I reacted when I saw Frazer approaching us that’s why he quickly hastens the pace between us and gives me a quick peck on my cheek.

He also places his arms on my shoulders like he’s really my boyfriend. I already showed a picture of Frazer to him before the wedding that’s why he quickly noticed him.

I felt awkward at first but just to prove everyone wrong, I didn’t mind Jabes being so close to me right now.

Go with the flow, they say!

“Hi.” there goes his baritone and sexy voice.

I sigh before looking at the guy who’s standing in front of me.

“Oh. Hi! Frazer, it’s you!” I intentionally made my voice so energetic like I’m shocked by his presence –more like I didn’t expect him approaching us.

Can someone please award me a Grammy for being the best actress of the town?

“It’s been a while since we last talked.” Frazer offers his right hand but Jabes quickly grabs it for me.

“Hi. I’m James. Quinn’s boyfriend.” then places his arm on my waist.

Clingy huh?

“So he’s that Frazer you’re telling me about a month ago. Right baby?” Jabes turns to me and gives me a please-ride-on kind of smile.

Baby?

Did he just call me baby?

I run out of words for few seconds before I felt Jabes’ secretly pinch my waist.

“Oh? Yeah? B-baby...” I stutter, “He’s Frazer!” I turn to Frazer and introduce Jabes to him. “Frazer, this is Jabes. My boyfriend.” I swallow my saliva after saying those words.

“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.” Frazer sarcastically exclaims.

Then he puts both of his hands inside his pants’ pockets and looks at the guy beside me. He looks like annoyed by the way he examines Jabes’ facial features. He looks at him from head to toe and back to his face.

“I have four moles all over my body. One on the left side of my shoulder, one is obviously at the left side of my eyebrow, one is in between my V-line and the other one’s a secret. But for a hint, my baby Quinny here knows where that mole is located. She had already explored every inch of my body. Right baby?"

I wanted to give Jabes a hard punch on his face for those bold words he said but upon seeing Frazer’s facial reaction, I felt a bit of triumph. Seeing the way Frazer gritted his teeth, my insides are like rejoicing. He looks like someone had stepped on his ego, never did someone insulted him like what Jabes did.

“I didn’t ask where your moles are located.” Frazer tediously answers.

“The way you stare at me dude. You’re eyes seem to be scrutinizing my body. Are you fantasizing me?” Jabes chuckles in an insulting manner.

Frazer looks at him like he wants to give him a punch because of Jabes’ bold, unfiltered, and filthy mouth.

For two long years, I never gave Frazer a fiery kiss. Believe it or not, he never laid a finger on me. I belong to the conservative part of the pie chart. He had never touched me sexually and intimately and hearing from Jabes that I know where that freaking mole of him is located, it’s like someone had stepped on his ego and it was a complete insult on his part.

Frazer always want us to make love but I always end up rejecting him because I’ve clarified everything that I’m not yet ready for it. That I want our first kiss to be in front of an altar during our wedding, that I want that special moment to be done when we’re legally married.

It’s not that I’m planning to enter the convent and be a nun holding a rosary, it’s just that my first kiss and giving up my virginity are two important things for me. I know it sounds over conservative but that’s my belief. I want it to happen after my special day in the most special and romantic way.

“Good to know. You look happy.” Frazer looks at me.

I don’t know if he’s questioning me, insulting me or was it intentional?

“Why not? Everyone deserves to be happy right?” I answer with a smile.

“Yeah. After our break up, believe it or not, I wished that you find the man that deserves you. I’m happy to see you happy too. Like Liana and I, we’re both happy with each other. I’m actually here to invite you on our wedding. It’ll be next year.” he informs me with a wide smile –smile which I think, I’ll never be the reason of.

Liana gives him everything I can't give. We’ve been together for two years. Even if he cheated, I know he loved me. Two f*****g years and he never asked me to marry him nor talked to me about wedding plans. He’s been with Liana for just a couple of months and knowing that he has plans of marrying her, it just hurts me big time. I felt my heart broken again. Liana's so lucky. She experienced everything I never had during the times I could still call her boyfriend mine.

For that part that she was asked to be married? Well, she maybe lucky. But knowing that she got him because he cheated, I’m sorry for her.

“You look so surprised Briella. I bet you didn’t expect me marrying Liana right?”

I rolled my eyes. Why the f**k would I care about him marrying her?

“I know it’s quite fast but I Iove her so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

I don’t know if it’s the tensed atmosphere or is it just me taking that statement from my ex boyfriend as his way of making me jealous? I’m sorry but I don’t think that what I’m feeling right now is called jealous. What I feel is I hate this guy for thinking that I’m still into him. He is too much.

I place both of my hands on both sides of the table to stand up but Jabes grabs my arm and when I look at him, he smiles at me to calm me down. Somehow, it made me still.

“My girlfriend here looks surprised because we’re also planning for our wedding. What a coincidence right?” He answers Frazer proudly.

I am more surprised by Jabes’ sudden confession than the upcoming wedding of my ex boyfriend. I quickly glance at the guy on my side. My pupils are almost dilating when I gave him a what-the-f**k-are-you-talking-about? kind of look.

And to my surprise again, Jabes closes the gap between our faces, and gives me a quick peck on my cheek.

He stands up and gently pulls my arm. I wanted to push him but I know my subconscious is enjoying the scene right now so I stand up and ride on whatever plans that are running in his mind at the moment. He pulls my body closer to him by placing his right arm on my waist.

“What a clingy boyfriend you have Briella.” Frazer sarcastically says while looking at the hand of Jabes on my waist.

“I’m just being protective of my lady, dude. C’mon! Just look at her! She looks so drop dead gorgeous and I don’t want some stranger’s eyes feasting on her.” I can feel the heat between the exchanging of their words.

Are they serious?

Obviously, it's a big no, no!

Jabes is merely doing this for money and Frazer is doing this to make me feel jealous, insulted, dumped, used, fooled, unimportant, left behind, insecure, and worthless.

“Protective?” Frazer repeatedly nods and crosses his arms to his chests.

He looks at Jabes from head to toe like the guy beside me is a criminal under investigation.

“So for you, protective means not making your girlfriend shake hands with her ex boyfriend?” Frazer asks, emphasizing the last word.

“Hmm?” Jabes gestures like he’s groping for the right words to say, “Well, partly yes? But I think it’s more of protecting my girlfriend’s hand from touching any form of bacteria. She’s not allowed to touch anything that’ll make her palms dirty because she’ll be doing some special hand jobs for me later. Right baby?”

Jabes turns to me and smiles like everything he said was just normal for an inexperienced lady like me. I know what he means with those hand-jobs. I wasn’t born yesterday.

I want to kick Jabes’ balls right now. I didn’t know he has a bachelor’s degree in insulting. I’m really doing a hand job for him later and that is a big and hard slap on his face.

I fake a giggle.

“Ah yeah, sure baby. Later, I’ll be doing those hand jobs for you.”

“Oh? You’re so sweet. I love you baby.”

“Let’s go?”

“Alright.” He sighs and looks at Frazer whose facial reactions right now can’t be sketched by Leonardo nor Michael Angelo. “We have to go dude. Nice seeing you.”

And before Jabes turns his back,

“By the way, you look great with that rose pinned on your chest. I honestly thought you’re one of the food servers here.”

I want to laugh when Frazer’s wrinkles all huddle up to his forehead.

Good job Jabes!

“We have to go. Bye.”

Jabes grabs my hand and together, we triumphantly leave my ex boyfriend dumbfounded.

I wish he felt what I felt when he cheated on me, I wish that even just for a moment, he regrets everything he had done to me.

I know we’re not even and I’m not planning to do what he did to me.

But at the very least, I wish I proved him wrong.