Falling in love with Ms. Bennet

Chapter 29

Amanda absently was whipping her chocolate fudge in a clockwise. It was like bombs being thrown at her when Gorgy and Gillian did an interrogation on her. 

She really didn't know what was going on between her and Henry. Wasn't it just harmless playing? Egos bursting and firing at each other but deep inside Amanda, she knew everything has gone different the past few months.

"Tell us, Amanda." Gillian said, not pleading but demanding.

Knowing there was no way out, Amanda told them everything. She told them about the elevator incident where it all started. The trips, the visits, the calls, the paper roses and to the dates-she told them. When she was all done, she tried to catch her breath and it was the only sound they could hear apart from Julia Roberts talking to her best friend in the movie.

"You two were betting on each other?" Gorgy asked in a surprised tone.

"It sounds that way." Amanda said, looking up at the two.

"And you eventually agreed." Gillian added.

"It's not that I agreed-it was more like it was my ego that was talking and snapped at him. He irritates me so much that time."

"And now?" Gorgy asked.

"Now?"

"Does he irritates you now?"

Amanda was speechless. Does he?

"I don't know."

Amanda shook her head. I felt like a 15 year old yesterday. Although, it could have been the perfect time to talk about such things. She was still deep in her thoughts when her doorbell rang.

"Who is it?" Amanda asked, holding the doorknob. She peeked through the peephole she ordered to put on her door and her eyes widen at the sight of Henry.

"Your amazing and handsome fake lover." Amanda could hear the other side chuckling.

The moment Amanda saw the face and the sound of the chuckle, she opened the door quickly. 

"Miss me?" Henry smiled, leaning by the door jamb, arms folded, giving the teasing smile. 

She could only stare at him. Should I smile? Annoyed? Amanda was confused whether to answer, to get frustrated, or to welcome him-everything was building up, occupying her thoughts to think properly that out of her mind, she slammed the door right in front of Henry.

"No woman has ever done that to me, you know." Henry pointed out. Amanda opened the door the second time. She took a good look at Henry in his casual clothes. He looks good, as always. "Can I come in?"

Amanda stepped aside and Henry walked in. She could smell the cologne as he passed by her and felt a hint of sadness inside her. She looked at him, his back facing at her before closing the door.

 She went silent for a moment, looking at Henry, itching to ask why he showed up just now and where was he for a month. No, I won't ask. It's not my business. He's not any of my business. In fact, I don't have the right to ask him because we're not that kind of relationship -

"It's been so long since I came here." Henry said, looking around. Amanda didn't give him any reply. "Quite a memory-"

"What are you doing here?" Amanda finally asked.

Henry turned around and looked at Amanda. She look well-hair all down and uncombed, wearing a white t-shirt with a black sweatpants and some large indoor slippers-typical Amanda but he find it quite adorable. He could see some frustrations on her face and he understood perfectly well. I miss you. 

"I...just came to greet you Happy New Year." Henry said. It sounds so better in my head.

"Happy New Year too." She greeted back but it wasn't what she wanted to hear. She wanted more. She wanted to ask why he just went silent for a month, why he suddenly disappeared.

"You're cooking now?" Henry approached the chocolate fudge Amanda was making and dipped his finger into the bowl and suck them. "It's good. Really good."

"I actually baked one. Want some?" She passes by Henry, went to her refrigerator and took out the chocolate cake she baked. 

"That's a cake?" Henry pointing at the deformed cake on the marbled counter. Amanda looked at him and then to the cake and gave a light chuckle.

"It's good I swear."

"You have to pay for the medical bills if something ever happened to me."

"It's good all right? Here." Amanda sliced a cake and handed one to Henry with her fingers. He ate them, feeling a slight brush of Amanda's fingers from his lips and felt a tingle in his stomach.

They were in indeed good. "Never judge a book by its cover then. Really good."

"I told you." Amanda lifted her head with pride and smiled at him and took a piece for herself.

"You've been busy." Henry leaned on the counter, across Amanda.

"Yeah." Amanda simply answered with her back facing Henry.

Henry looked at her for a moment. They was silence between them and he felt a sting on his chest seeing her turned her back on him. "A-actually, I am just not here to greet you. Why would I come here when I can just-"

"Call? You can just call me right?" Amanda turned around. "So, why didn't you?"

I wanted to see you. Is it really that hard to say? Damn it!  "I want you to go with me." Thank god he managed to say a quarter of what he wanted to say.

"Where?"

"You see, it's my father's birthday next week and we'll have this big party and...I want you to come. Come with me."

Amanda looked at Henry. She could only look at him. 

"Well?"

"I'm not sure."

"I-I'm not pushing you though. It'll be great if you'll come. A-anyway, I have to go. James just called." Henry headed to the door and opened it to get out when Amanda stopped him.

"Do you want me to go?"

He turned around and had a good look at her. "Why not?"

"I don't have plans yet. I guess...I'll go.  Amanda said and was greatly amused when she saw Henry's face lit up. 

"Really? That's g-g-great. Really a-awesome."

"I don't like this."

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"You. I don't like this whole stuttering Henry Hudson. Had the blistering snow changed your smooth and compose attitude?"

He manage to give a half-sided smile. "You like that persona?"

"Amuse is the word. And I prefer it." Amanda leaned her head on the door, smiling that charmed Henry very much.

Oh, how much he wanted to grab her waist and plunged into her, but he have to restrain for now.

"Okay, then. I'm looking forward next week."

"Of course you do."

"Can't wait." Henry gave her a wink before he left her with a skip of a beat of her heart.

Amanda closed the door and leaned. She remembered what Gillian's last words were, the one which she couldn't give any answer yet.

"Have you fallen for him?"

She folded her arms, looking at the ceiling, biting her bottom lip. She was scared to know. Because she felt she was going to.

But, she decided to shrug it off.

"No. Get a grip, Amanda."