Legacy

2 - The Analysis

He walks to the bar with her order in mind, also her eyes and face and lips. She's a beauty alright and she has that beauty that any man would find very hard to turn his back on. So he looks back and steals a peek again in time to catch her smile as she sings along to the band's song.

That smile— his hand involuntarily flies to his chest lest his heart jumps out of it at the sight of her smile like he just witnessed a million galaxies converge into one cosmic brilliance of a smile.

He must have slipped into a trance because he didn't hear the bartender ask him something. The man had to shake his shoulder a little to call his attention.

"Huh?" He turns to the man behind the bar.

"Are you high, Boss? Where are you staring?" Keno, the bartender and also his friend, looks at the direction he's been staring. The bar is full so it takes him a while to figure out which of the young ladies in the room tonight caught Jacob's attention. "Hmmm... Which lucky lady is the boss's next target?" He chuckles.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Jacob asks coldly and glares at him.

"I am. I am very busy working, Boss. Do you need anything, Boss?"

"Coke and Nachos." He answers. "Everyone else is busy so I took someone's order."

"Coke and Nachos? Is this order for a Highschool student, Boss?" Keno snickers.

"You know very well that minors are not allowed in the bar. Stop asking too many stupid questions." He answers irritatedly. "Tell the kitchen to prepare the order and hurry up!"

"Yes, Boss." Keno nods and gives him a little salute then goes to the window behind him to relay the order to the kitchen staff on the other side.

Jacob leans on the bar as his eyes once again drift to Diana. She is still contentedly watching the band, smiling and singing. He can't help but smile at how carefree she looks. "She seems fun to be with." He thinks to himself. "That jacket she wore over her sexy outfit when she walked in though... hmmm... What is that? Lack of confidence? Self-preservation?"

He remembers their conversation earlier and how she questioned him about his qualifications to take her order. "She has the tendency to overthink though."

He notices her looking at her phone a couple of times, checking for messages. He continues his quiet analysis. "So you're not out alone. You're waiting for someone. A date? Boyfriend?" He feels a sudden and unexpected pang of jealousy. Nope. Envy. He's envious of the man who gets to stare deep into those beautiful brown eyes all night and kiss those cherry lips at the end of the date. He's envious of the hands that will get to caress her silky olive skin and explore the gentle curves of her body.

He sees her frown at her phone. "Wait. Are you being stood up? That i***t! I will be more than happy to fill his shoes, sweetheart." He smirks to himself.

"She's pretty." He hears Keno say over his shoulder. "But she's not like your other girls, Boss."

He turns to Keno with a frown, urging him to continue. The bartender shrugs and looks at the young woman again. "I don't know. There's something different about her... an air of innocence." He observes. "I thought you don't do innocent, Boss? You're scared of commitment. You sleep with someone and leave. Innocent girls tend to be clingy. That's the number One No-No in your playbook. She's not your type, Boss."

"No she's not." Jacob agrees.

"So why have you been staring at her for the last five minutes?" Keno smirks.

"I'm analyzing. She's very... interesting." Jacob says, turning to Diana just as a man walks towards her and sits on the chair beside her.

The guy is tall, about Jacob's height of 5'10". He obviously works out too judging by the toned muscles on his arms and shoulders, he has fair skin with small eyes, a slim high-bridged nose and thin lips.

"Awww... Is that her boyfriend? Not that that's stopped you before, Boss, but they do make a cute couple. He's handsome too but you're more handsome of course." Keno says and Jacob fights the urge to smack his friend with his fist while he continues to watch Diana and the other guy.

He kisses her cheek and holds her hand as he explains to her. "Don't listen to him. Push him away. He's late. He almost stood you up." Jacob thinks as if he has psychic powers that would convince her somehow.

The guy continues with his explanation, looking desperate and apologetic as Diana quietly scowls at him. "That's right. Don't forgive him. He doesn't deserve it."

She hisses a reply, twisting her hand away from his grip and hits his arm. It's hard to read her lips to figure out what she's saying but Jacob could make out the words "I hate you."

The guy then cups her cheek as he blurts out a series of I'm sorry's like a litany while she shakes her head. With one more, "I'm sorry", he stands up and gets his wallet from his back pocket. He takes a card and places it on the table in front of her. He then tells her something and leans to kiss her forehead before he walks out of the bar.

"What the f**k was that?" Keno voices out the question in Jacob's head. "You think that's a room card?" Keno gasps. "Is she his mistress? Is that why the guy was late? But she looks upset now so maybe it's just a little lover's spat? Maybe his wife called for him to come home. Maybe he left his credit card so the pretty girl could shop her heartbreak away? But isn't he too young to be her Sugar Daddy though?"

Keno blabbers on with his theories but Jacob isn't listening anymore, his focus is already on her as she gawks at the card in her hand. The kitchen doors swing open and he notices that the waiter is holding a tray with her order, he leaves Keno who is still talking nonstop. He takes the tray from the waiter and casually walks to her table.

"Are you okay?" He asks and when she looks up, he sees the tears that are brimming her eyes. He suddenly feels the urge to run after the guy and beat his face up.

She sighs. "Yeah..." He places the glass of Coke on her table. "Thank you." She whispers and takes a sip while he puts the plate of nachos in front of her.

His job of delivering her order is done but instead of leaving, he sits beside her. She looks up at him. "Do you want to talk about it?" He smiles.

His smile was warm and his voice was gentle. He seems like a nice guy and she instantly feels like she can trust him. Besides, she can really use a friend right now since her best friend decided to be a total jerk and left her.

She nods her head but she doesn't speak. After a few seconds, Jacob speaks first. "I'm sorry your boyfriend left you like that."

"He..." She shakes her head. "He's not. He's not my boyfriend." She answers.

It's not the first time Marcy was mistaken as her boyfriend, given that they're always together, how close and sweet they are to each other and that he's not openly gay.

"I see." He nods, keeping an indifferent look while trying hard to suppress a grin.

"No. I don't think you do. He's my best friend."

"Unrequited love? Bummer." He observes.

Her shoulders start shaking and he thinks she's started crying but is surprised to hear her laughing instead. "I think the world would have to end a few dozen times before that happens." She giggles.

He looks at her like she just spoke to him in an alien language.

"You see, Jacob, my so-called best friend, forced me to come here because he said he needed me to comfort him and keep him company while he got drunk to get over his breakup with his boyfriend." She tells him.

"Boyfriend?" He raises an eyebrow as he confirms what he just heard at the same time a hint of a smile plays on his lips.

"Yes. Boyfriend. Crazy enough that while I was waiting for him to get here, he bumps into his ex outside and they decide to give it another shot. Thus... he ditched me and left me his credit card." She sighs and rolls her eyes as she holds up the Visa card that he left. "What would I do with this thing?" She frowns at the plastic card.

"I say make him pay for what he did and regret leaving you like this." He says

She turns to him with curious eyes. "How?"

"I have a few ideas." He smirks.