The Nanny

Chapter 36

"But why is this picture with him?", he continues and gasps suddenly. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?!"

I keep staring at my old picture in shock. My brain is lagging again. What is going on? What is my picture doing with Stefan? Is he even aware that it's me in the picture? He called me a chipmunk!

"JESSICA!", Leo shouts and gives me a little shake. "IT MEANS STEFAN FOUND IT ON THAT DAY AND HE KEPT IT BECAUSE HE HAD A CRUSH ON YOU AS WELL!"

My heart starts beating loudly at his words. There's no way Stefan had a crush on me. It's not possible. The thought itself is absurd.

But why does he has my picture in his book? And he never even mentioned it!

"He liked you!", Leo adds further. "You have to ask him."

"Or maybe he just has it for no reason", I blurt which makes no sense. I'm shocked at the moment.

"Are you dumb?", he gives me a look of disbelief. "Why would he keep your picture for no reason? That makes no sense. A person will only keep your photo if he likes you."

"Then why he never told me?", I ponder. Was he ashamed back then that he liked me?

"Don't let your dumb brain jumps to a conclusion bitch", Leo adds quickly upon seeing my reaction. "You have to ask him first."

"I will", I murmur and whine. "Leo, he called me a chipmunk!"

"A cute one", he corrects me.

"There are so many questions going on in my mind right now", Leo concludes. "But we don't have time for that right now. We have to revise for the finals tomorrow. Get your ass on that chair and focus!"

I nod and place the picture back in the book. Leo is right. We really do not have time for this right now. I try my best to push whatever just happened in the back of my mind and give my books my full attention. Later, that night Stefan returns late because he had an important meeting. I'm already too tired and sleepy to ask him about the photo and him calling me a chipmunk. I'll just ask him later. 

"Goodnight sweetheart", he says when he gets beside me and pulls me closer. 

"Goodnight", I murmur, hugging him and falling asleep instantly.

The next day is the last day of my exams and Stefan promises to pick me up afterward to celebrate. After I'm done with my final paper, I collect my bag and search for Leo.

"Jess!", he calls out excitedly. "We are finally done!"

"Yes!", I exclaim happily and throw my arms around him. "We are done here!"

"Yes, bitch! I'm so happy. Finally out of here!"

My phone starts ringing and removing it, I see Stefan's number. Leo signals me to take it while he goes to meet his other friends. 

"Hi", I say when I answer the call.

"Hey babe", comes his husky voice. "How was your paper?"

"Good", I sigh. "I'm so happy it's finally over."

"I won't be able to pick you," he says in a tired voice. These past few days he is really overworking himself. He is hardly having a good night's sleep and we have not even speak properly since the past week. I miss him so much.

"Too much work?"

"I'm so sorry baby", he apologizes. "I know I promised to pick you up but I  have to head out of town for a really important meeting. There's this new project that I'm working on right now and it's taking all my time."