WHEN I'M WITH YOU!

FIFTEEN

"Of course, I appreciate you dragging me here, if you excuse me, Dami?" He reached out for her hand, and Damilola looked at June, who sucked in her smile but her cheeks had already exposed her. "Adela? This is Damilola, my penguin, and Dami this is Adela, my closet friend!" He said.

Everyone had remained silent and stared at Jason, whose gaze was focused on Damilola and the noise of the children playing became even louder.

"Yes, we know each other... It's been way back" Adela broke, Damilola looked at her and Jason, and she quickly managed a smile.

"Oh, I see," he said, and suddenly an elderly woman walked towards them, her voice sounding, directing her attention.

"Oh, goodness! Jason!" She called and he turned to her, walking to her open arms.

"Mrs Valentine, it's a pleasure to be here today" June looked at Dami and pulled her towards the cupcake stand.

"They are friends?" She said in a disappointed tone, Dami looked behind and her eyes met with Jason's.

"Your brother called, Jason," Adela said, he took his eyes off her and grabbed the cell phone she handed to him.

Damilola nodded, "Yes, they are... I am sure she knows his parents, I can see the brag on her face" Dami said.

"Please excuse me, Mrs Valentine," he said, holding the phone.

"Adela, your welcome to our party," Mrs Valentine said, Dami rolled her eyes and proceeded to greet her.

"Mrs Vale?" She said with a lovely smile and bent towards her.

"Damilola!" She called, "I knew you've been here since, my granddaughter had passed the information to me, I have other people coming over soon-" she stated, Dami looked towards Jason and he had his eyes on her while making his call.

"You should come out once in a while" June added.

"Dami!!!!" A little girl rushed toward her, she was quite the age of Emma— June's little sister. Her name was Kyra. "June is here too!" She paused, earning a laugh from them.

Hours later, the children began to play and gather around, and a few other people had also been invited. Dami and June stood close to the pile of cupcakes to avoid the children playing around them.

Meanwhile, Jason walked into the garden where they had a blue beautiful pool at the centre, this pool was covered in glass making it impossible for one to get inside.

He took a glass of cocktail from the waiter who was passing by. Mrs Valentine had so many friends and sponsors and they all seemed to be at the party, he had appeared outstanding in his creamy suit.

From a far distance, Jason noticed Mrs Valentine walking up to him.

"I thought you wouldn't make it!" She said as she approached him, earning a smile from him.

"It's you after all!" he teased, "I would do anything to be here" he replied.

"Oh, that's enough, I know you came because of Adela if she hadn't forced you out!" Mrs Valentine said.

Jason scoffed and looked away while he secretly scanned the party for the sight of Dami, "You wish"

"You two make a great couple," she stated.

"Me? And Adela?" He laughed, "You've got to be kidding me, Vale" he finished.

"You've known her for twenty-something years. And I see the way she's looking at you" She stated.

"I don't... besides I can't date Adela, I seeing someone else." He took a sip from his cocktail and smiled when his eyes found Dami miles away.

"Oh really!" Mrs Valentine said, Jason giggled and looked at her. "Dami? Isn't it?" She asked, prompting him to choke on his cocktail.

"What!" Jason asked.

"Here," she handed him a napkin, Jason took them and when he got himself again. He looked at valentine, confused.

"It's obvious, one could tell immediately, plus I overheard your conversation, I wouldn't say Dami is bad, but she struggles with a lot, are you ready for that?" She asked.

"You know Dami?" He asked, impressed.

"Oh, yes, Dami came to Singapore as a little depressed young lady, I had her at the orphanage for months," Mrs Valentine said, "She still struggles with that and doesn't let anyone close, I can tell she likes you" she added.

"Mrs Valentine..." He gets interrupted by the loud glass tapping.

"Hi, everyone... thank you for coming to my party" Jason's gaze fell upon Damilola, the one with the mic and she was standing right at his front looking like a damsel

"She's beautiful," Mrs Valentine says, staring at Jason who didn't take his eyes off her, he nodded in response, still focused on her.

Every nerve in his body went numb, and suddenly he felt the urge to protect her from everything she had gone through.

"It's Damilola, and I want to say a special thanks to Mrs Valentine and a happy birthday to Kyra! Our star for today's meeting!" Dami said stretching her hands to a young lady, Kyra.

"Gosh, I wish Mr Valentine would look at me just the way you look at her" Mrs Valentine's voice came from behind.

"Oh, stop it!" He laughed, He replied.

"It's written all over you," Mrs Valentine says, smiling at him.

"What?" Jason turned around, finding her smiling, everything that had just happened in a second had just dawned on him.

"Why don't you go for her, if you want her that badly, it's been five years since you look at someone like this" Mrs Valentine said with her hands at her back, he didn't know how she knew and was shocked by her word.

"And I want us to sing a lovely birthday song for this sweet little thing, your age is a blessing Kyra, and I have a little surprise for you!!!!" She screamed despite the mic.

"Gosh, she's so lively and lovely, you said she went through difficult times?" Jason whined staring at her, Mrs Valentine shook her head and looked towards Dami.

"You know you shouldn't use cheat codes because you want to know someone, get to know her or get her to open up to you, Jason," she said, Jason giggled and sipped his drink, he wasn't expecting her to tell him but would have appreciated if she did.

The song lasted for minutes, and everyone enjoyed the company she gave, suddenly Mrs Valentine came up on stage and stood beside Damilola, while June on the other hand, had the chance to gift out the packaged cupcake and the other they had to offer.

It was evening already, and June and Damilola stayed behind to do some cleaning after the event. The kids had gone inside and no one was left, Damilola and June sat on the grass, smiling and laughing. While Dami's eyes scanned around for Jason and she hoped he was still around.

"This is the best I have had today, and it's a good thing, Krya's birthday was in sync," June stated

"We have extra cupcakes" Dami sighed, and looked at the box beside her, she immediately put her hand to take out one, and June tapped her immediately.

"We should give it to them, count how many that is!" June said, Dami gawked at her and looked inside the box.

"I don't know how to count you do it," she said, disgustingly and rolled her eyes.

June sighed and crawled towards her but she immediately stopped and gulped, nervously turning to Dami who hadn't noticed yet

"You could simply just bake more if you're willing to give them, I am sure, Dami's bakery is the best for reason" Jason uttered.

Dami sighed, and held her head, "I think I am hearing his voice now," she looked at June who blinked at her severally.

"What?" June asked, and looked at Jason who remained quiet with a blushing smile.

"I mean. He had all day to walk up to me and explain and he didn't, I guess he left but suddenly I am hearing his voice, you know they say when you're angry at someone you can hear them speak" Dami complained.

June raised her gaze to her, anyone would have told her Dami was foolish she wouldn't agree, but today she had experienced this. She shook her head, and Jason unable to hold in his excitement laughed.

"That's a good thing, I guess if you're mad at me and hearing my voice," He said, following a small laugh. June sighed and shook her head.