Icing on the Cake

TWENTY

Jaden watched Sylvia through the glass walls that surrounded the room. She was staring at something in one of the show glasses. He narrowed his eyes and saw that she was looking at a piece of jewelry. Then, the attendant came up behind her and asked her something. He saw her shake her head and say something. The attendant replied her and they talked for a while before she gestured towards the door. He took it that they were through so he turned and walked to the door. He entered the room and got to where they stood.

The attendant saw him and Sylvia, noticing that the attendant looked up, knew Jaden was standing behind her. Besides, she could feel his presence. She took a deep breath before turning to face him.

“Are you done?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I was just about to call you.”

He scanned her hands, twisted his mouth, and asked, “Are you sure you selected all you want?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re not my guardian, Jade. You don’t have to buy me all I want.”

He snorted lightly. “I guess they’re still some things you forgot to add. Let’s just go through the clothes again,” he said in one breath, quickly held her hand and took her to the rows of clothes again.

“Jade. My hands are full.”

He chose a black sleeveless gown. “Of course, I can see it.”

“I thought you said we were running out of time.”

“This wouldn’t waste time.”

“I think it would.”

He selected another dress. “It wouldn’t.”

“It would.”

“It would if you don’t cooperate and continue whining.” He showed her a dress and she shook her head. “Why? It’s going to look nice on you.”

She made a face at him. “It’s too... revealing.”

“That’s the beauty of it.” She didn’t look convinced. He gave it a last look, shrugged, and kept it back on the hangers.

Then, they proceeded to the other parts. He selected two shirts, a beautiful pink platform, ballet flats, and a blue shiny purse. Then, they went to the counter.

“You enjoy ballet dance.”

She looked at him. “How’d you know? And don’t tell me it’s because I’m popular.”

He smiled. “You didn’t complain when I selected the ballet flats.”

“Oh. I enjoy the dance but I don’t know how to.”

The cashier told Jaden the price of everything. Sylvia gasped a little and was about to suggest that she returned some of them when Jaden pulled out a check and gave the cashier. Then, the attendant quickly wrapped all their items into bags.

“Jade...”

“Go on and enter the car. I’m coming.”

Jaden turned and walked into the room. Sylvia stared at his back till he disappeared among the crowd in the room and then exhaled. She looked at the attendant and then, they went out of the room. They got to the car and she dropped the bags inside the car and thanked the attendant, reminding her to please keep the jewelry as she had promised she would come back later in the evening to buy it.

Few minutes later, Jaden came back and entered the car, startling Sylvia.

“Ah!” she screamed her hand on her chest.

“I’m not a ghost,” Jaden said, putting the car key into the ignition hole and starting the car.

Sylvia relaxed. “I called Sally. She said she’s already at a restaurant with Sandra. They’re the ones I was supposed to go out with today.”

Jaden nodded. “So, what did you tell them?”

“That I was with you and I’ll have to ask you where we’re going next.”

He glanced at her. He thought she would decide for herself and not put him in consideration. Well, she always happened to act different from what he expected. “Does the restaurant happen to be the new one at Beltway Street?”

She looked at him. “Yeah, it is.”

Thank God, he muttered. “That’s where we’re going next.”

“Really? Wow, that’s nice. Looks like you have brains after all.”

He opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t think of anything to say. Then, he chuckled. “You really are fun to be with, Sylvia.”

“It comes with the whole package.”

Jaden glanced at her and smiled. He realized now that when he’ll get home, there will be no Sylvia and he was going to miss her. If he told that to Keith, he was sure he would be laughed at. The both of them had promised that they would never fall in love, but it seems like he was breaking that promise. Well, he was not going to fall in love with Sylvia of course. He would certainly not do that.

“Jade?”

He looked at her. Her tone was suddenly soft. He wondered why.

“Thank you.”

Oh. That was why. He guessed it was for the surprise. “So you finally said it. I was about to call you ungrateful...”

He didn’t finish his insult as she smacked him on his shoulder.

“Ow!”

“Good thing it hurt you.”

“Why’d you hit me?”

“Don’t you know you’re not supposed to open that big mouth of yours every time?”

He laughed and glanced at her. “Your ‘thank you’ required an answer.”

“’You’re welcome’ is shorter and better than that.”

They were silent for a while. “I’m glad you liked the surprise I planned.”

She glanced at him. “Yeah, and thanks again. It was very thoughtful of you. And it showed you still have a heart.”

“But it’s not yet over.”

“What do you mean?”

He looked at her. “What do you think?”

She was silent for a while. “Don’t tell me you’re taking me somewhere else after the restaurant?”

He shrugged.

“Jade, you’ll waste a lot of money.”

“Correction. I won’t waste it. I’ll use it. And perhaps, Sally and the others might also want to go there too.”

“Where?”

“Be patient, honey.”

She blinked. He just called her... No. She shouldn’t look too much into that. Maybe that was what he called the other women he went out with too. And she was no different from them. He was probably just flirting and playing around with her. Now the question was why did she feel that he was not?

JADEN GOT TO Beltway Street and parked close to the restaurant. He and Sylvia got down and they walked to the restaurant. Sylvia was inwardly relieved that she had not worn the business suit she had planned on wearing. Instead, she had chosen a navy blue gown which was a bit too formal for the restaurant but manageable anyways.

They entered the restaurant and although she had told Jaden to let go of her hand earlier at the mall, she suddenly wished she hadn’t. They sighted Sally and Sandra at once – since Sandra waved at them – and walked towards them.

“Hi guys,” Sylvia greeted and hugged both of them.

“Hey Jaden,” Sandra greeted, smiling.

Sally was also smiling. “Hi Jaden.”

Jaden responded with his own charming smile that always won the girls.

“There’s no one here yet?” Sylvia asked as she sat down on one of the empty chairs at the table and Jaden followed suit. Sally had told her she was bringing George – her new love – and had also said Sandra was bringing someone.

“They’re here already. They just left to get us some drinks,” Sally replied.

“Hope they know we’re here?” Jaden asked.

“Of course, they knew you guys were coming.”

Sandra signaled a waiter and told him to bring more chairs to the table. Two chairs were brought just in time before two guys appeared.

“You’re here already,” one of them said as he sat down and put the drinks with him on the table.

Sylvia looked up and was glad she didn’t gasp aloud. It was Alex! She looked at Sandra who facially said she’d explain later. Sylvia nodded slightly and turned to look at the other guy. She guessed he was the George Sally always talked about.

Jaden greeted both of them and introduced himself. “Hope you didn’t wait for long?”

Alex shook his head. “No. Not at all.”

“We’re just about to start,” George said.

“Hi Sylvia. It’s been long we saw each other.”

“Yeah, hasn’t it? You practically disappeared,” Sylvia answered Alex, not knowing what else to say. “Where’ve you been?” she asked, trying to be nice.

Alex shrugged, opening the champagne in his hands. “I joined the navy after finishing from Harvard. Did all the trainings and all that, but then, that wasn’t what I wanted to do so I decided to come back.”

“Sure took you a long time to realize that, didn’t it?” Sylvia asked, forgetting to hide the anger from her voice. Joining the navy didn’t mean he had to forget everybody and of course, the woman he loved, or claimed he loved.

Jaden glanced at her, hearing the anger in her voice and tried to put two and two together. He figured that maybe, he was her ex-boyfriend and had left her without any notice, and probably had not called her throughout the time he claimed to have been in the navy. That didn’t sit well with him, but what could he do? He reached under the table and squeezed her fingers lightly. He also noticed the looks Sally and Sandra gave her, as if pleading for her to let the matter drop.

Alex looked at her and dropped the bottle. He knew he should apologize to her too because it was her friend he had hurt. “Sylvia I...”

“Let’s just forget about whatever it is and have fun okay?” Jaden interrupted. “C’mon, Alex, you were about to pop that bottle.”

Sally smiled at him sweetly and Sandra’s eyes said her thanks. Alex looked at Jaden and picked the bottle. He uncorked it slowly and the pop sound brought little cheer to the table.

“So...” Sally began in a voice a bit higher than her normal tone.

“Let the party begin!” George finished, taking the cue from Sally.