Chapter 11 - the unwanted party guest
Kelly’s POV
“Come on Kelly! That’s enough makeover already!” shouted RJ as I was still in my room, fixed by Jelly.
“Coming!”
“Wa-wa-wa-wait. You forgot your earrings. Here, let me,” my besttie said as she handed me my accessories.
“Thanks. Are you sure you don’t want to come? I’m positive that Jake won’t mind if you come nor Nikki,” I grinned.
“As much as I want to… Sigh… I can’t. You do know that my cousins will have a sleepover tonight right?”
“Oh, yeah. I totally forgot. I really wish I could hang out with them too. Too bad I already gave my word to Jake.”
“Are you kidding me? You feel bad?” she chuckled. “Kelly you shouldn’t be. You’re beautiful tonight. Look!” I glared at the mirror near me. She’s right a little about that. I don’t look that bad at all.
“Yeah. Keep telling me that,” I answered, ignoring her compliment.
“Kelly! Grandpa’s here. We better go!” called my brother again, waiting for me with grandpa downstairs.
“I better go. Say hi to Tina for me, okay?”
“Only to Tina?” she teased.
“Alright. Tell his brother Ken too if that’s what you want. I’ll get going. Take care!” I left as I waved at
her, smiling.
-----
The ride to Jake’s grandfather’s thanksgiving party was a little nerve-wracking. I got to meet the Santiago family! Is that a good or a bad thing?!
I just hoped my outfit was suited for the occasion. I wore a dark blue dress, matched up with light yellow stilettos. Jelly settled my hair with heavy curls, making it flow down my shoulders freely. My make-up wasn’t that bad too since it was not as too much as the girls in class.
As we climbed out of the car, as expected, Nikki was already waiting for us. “Oh my Kelly! You’re gorgeous! And grandpa? Don’t worry your suit goes well too,” she complimented.
“How about me?” RJ blurted.
“Of course you’re as handsome as ever,” Nikki replied, kissing my brother. “Let’s go inside?”
I thought Jake told me they’ll only be family but from what I saw that night, it looked like there was a business gathering or something. Bachelors. Bachelorettes. Senior citizens who were classier than ever. There were people my age too but they’re interacting with the others like adults.
“Kelly this is my grandpa Richard, the birthday celebrant. I’m pretty sure you haven’t met him yet right?”
I nodded and greeted, “Good evening sir! Pleasure to meet you sir.”
“Oh don’t sir me. Just call me Richard. By the way, thank you for the composition you’ve made for my wife. It was amazing,” he complimented, smiling.
“Oh, you’re the Richard grandpa has been referring to? I’m Kelly. I’m happy you liked my work sir. I-I mean Richard,” I replied.
“So you are the Kelly that Nathan’s always talking about. My-my. You raised an excellent granddaughter there George,” he spoke as he diverted his attention to my grandfather.
“I surely did. So how about we talk about old times over there and let these kids enjoy the party. What do ya say?” grandpa suggested.
“I was thinking that too. Come on let’s go this way. Excuse us kids,” we nodded as they both left.
“Hell-O” a familiar voice suddenly appeared. I figured t’was Jake as he bumped fists with RJ. “Hi Kelly,” he smirked.
Again with the blushing, of course?! “H-hi,” I grinned. OMG! Somebody stop the stuttering!
“How about we leave these two and have time for ourselves RJ?” suggested Nikki as he kissed my brother.
“Yeah. Yeah. Go on. Just use protection, okay?” Jake teased.
“Jakey!” scolded Nikki as she slapped him in the shoulder.
“Alright. I was just teasing,” he giggled.
“Hey, no alcohol tonight,” my brother stated and I nodded as he left, together with Nikki.
I then turned my attention back to the man near me and scanned his entire look. The gray tuxedo sure snatched my attention especially with his baby blue eyes staring at me. His black hair also added to the perfection I was looking at. Now that’s what I call mesmerizing!
OMG! I shouldn’t be thinking that way. I was like turning into a stalker already! ‘More like inlove!’, my inner me answered. But honestly, he was as breathtaking as a light that shined in my eyes like a diamond.
Wait… it was not him who’s the light. In fact, it was actually a real flash!
I snapped out of my freakin’ imagination as soon as I hear an annoying laughter near me. “Delete it Jake! You took a photo of me without my permission! Give me that! Please, please,” I begged, jumping, as he continued to giggle raising his hand, holding his phone.
“You’re lucky you’re taller than me. ‘Cause if you’re not I’ll---”
“Well what do I say? I’m always lucky,” he winked.
“Just give me that! Give. Me. That!”
“Alright. Alright. Perhaps on one condition,” he smirked, his hand rubbing his chin like he was really thinking... Thinking my ass.
“Okay. What is it?” I asked in defeat.
I wondered what he’ll ask me. I was like O.M.G. My happy days at school, even though I barely have one, are over! I’m going to be his school slave for the rest of the school year. And guess what? It’s because of a stupid picture of me staring at him. Sigh. Get yourself ready Kelly. Here it goes.
“Can I have a photo of us together?” he finally asked.
“Okay. I’ll never be late and shall be present in every practice. I’ll always carry your things wherever you--- Wait... What? A-a ph-photo? Of-of us? That’s just it?!”
“What do you mean that’s it? And what’s with you carrying my things? Wait… You were not thinking I am going to---”
“No! O-of course I’m not th-thinking that. Me? Tss.” Yeah Kelly. Keep telling yourself that.
“Th-then wh-why a-are y-you s-stuttering?” he laughed.
“Oh shut up.”
“Okay. Okay. I’m sorry,” he chuckled. “So what do you say? A photo? With… me?”
Was he ever serious? But oh well. I’d rather let him keep a photo of mine smiling than the other one. “Um. Yeah.”
“Nice,” he grinned. “Excuse me. Can you take a photo of us please?” he told the photographer near us.
I smiled at him lightly before looking on the camera. Gosh, he’s making me redder! His hand on my waist and our bodies touching just made my heartbeat fast. It was like five times faster than before. No, maybe even ten times faster!
“Say cheese!” the photographer said.
“Cheese! But I’d rather eat donut!” spoke Jake while smiling. I chuckled a little when he said that. He then thanked the man who took the photo.
“Donut?” I asked curiously.
“You caught that huh. Well let’s just say I like donut better than cheese.”
“Alright. Now delete the first photo.”
“Already done,” he smirked.
“Excuse me Sir Jonathan. Your grandfather is looking for you. He said he’s going to introduce you to his guests,” interrupted a man. I think he’s their butler.
“Tell him to wait,” Jake replied, ignoring the man.
“No! U-um… This is his night Jake. You should go,” I suggested.
“Sigh. I guess you’re right. I’m gonna go get us a drink after. What would you want?”
“Orange juice will be fine.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in a bit. Are you gonna be alright here?”
“Yeah. It’s not like someone’s gonna kidnap me right?” I teased. “Go on. He’s waiting for you.”
So yeah, Jake left and the party went on. Grandpa was with his other classmates during college, Nikki and RJ were hanging around, the guests were enjoying their own moments and guess what? There was I, all by myself. I thought maybe I shouldn’t have told Jake to go. But that would’ve made me the bad guy.
“Barbie! What a surprise!” A voice behind me greeted suddenly. I turned around to see who it was. And the last guy that I would think be in the party would unfortunately, be him. (*.*) How lucky was I that night huh?
“Oh hi Ken. I thought you were at Jelly’s” I asked, sounding unhappy to see him. I did hope he figured it.
“Well I’m going to sleep their after the party. How ‘bout you? What are you doing here?” That’s my line there mister. (T.T)
“I was invited. My grandpa is one of the college friends of the birthday celebrant.” And the conversation started. What a surprise. He didn’t talk to me since last year. Didn’t he still get it? I was giving him the just-go-away-I-don’t-want-to-talk-to-you look already.
“Me too! I mean my grandpa is, too. That’s why I’m with him. I’m his company,” he smirked at me.
“Oh really? Then why is Jelly not here? Your grandpa is her grandpa too right?”
“Actually Jelly and I are cousins on her mother’s side. The old man I’m with tonight is different. He’s from my father’s side.”
“Oh. Guess I was wrong.”
“You’re always right in my eyes Barbie,” he winked.
“Oh please. People don’t call me Barbie since… you know? And will you stop flirting?! We’re not together anymore,” sounding serious again.
“Well, it’s not their right to call you Barbie. I’m the only one who calls you that. And what makes you think I’m flirting with you? But you’re right though. You’re not my girlfriend anymore. That’s why I’m still trying.”
“Well too bad for you. You’re doing it to the wrong person.”
“I was kidding,” he chuckled as he pinched my nose. “I was just teasing you Barbie. Relax.”
“Eh! Relax my ass.”
“Want me to get a drink for you? You seem a little bored.”
“No thanks. Someone got that for me already. Oh, here he comes,” I told him as I spotted Jake coming towards me. But why did he stop? His facial expression was puzzled. I don’t know if he’s angry, disappointed or hurt. The angry part was like 65% though. But what would he be angry for? Was he pissed?
“Jake!” I called him, half-smiling.
“Hey,” he answered back as he handed my drink and not looking at me straight in the eye. In fact, he’s not looking at me at all. Ken seemed to snatch his attention just like Jake seemed to be the cause of Ken’s suddenly diverted look.
Why were they staring at each other like that? It was like a lightning was igniting between their foreheads. If looks could really kill, they were surely both unconscious by now. It was so awkward being with them that night. Hello? People? Kelly Howard here!
Cutting the silence. “Uh- Jake thanks for this drink! They even put cubed apples in it.”
“Yeah, Nikki thought it would be tastier. It was her idea,” he smirked. Thank goodness he’s back to normal.
“Who’s this Barbie?” Ken asked curiously.
“Oh I forgot. Ken this is Jake, grandson of the birthday celebrant---”
“And the brother of RJ’s girlfriend,” he said proudly as he cut me off.
“R-right.” What was that for? What’s his reason of telling Ken that? It’s not like he was bragging that he, me and RJ were close right? Right??! Not. “Anyway, Jake this is Ken, Jelly’s cousin---”
“And her boyfriend,” Ken added. What’s with them? Keep interrupting me? And what did Ken said? Boyfriend?! What the fudge!
“What?!” muttered Jake, a bit surprised.
“He’s---”
“You heard me,” Ken replied as I was about to speak.
“EX-boyfriend Ken. As in xylophone,” I finally defended, furrowing an eyebrow. What’s with Jake’s look? Was he jealous? Or hurt? Or not.
“I guess you’re mistaken there man. She spells X,” Jake quickly told him, smiling?!
“Soon she’ll be back from X to B. I’ll get going Barbie, grandpa misses me already. See you tomorrow,” Ken grinned.
“What’s tomorrow?” I questioned him.
“You promised Tina you’ll be with her next time she visits here.”
“Oh. You’re right. I almost forget that. Say hello to her for me.”
“I will. Gotta go Barbie,” I nodded as he left.
I turned my attention to Jake who I almost forget since he didn’t talk that much. “I-I’m sorry.”
“For what?” he asked, smiling. This was a good thing from Jake that night. His smile was not just an ordinary smile. It’s a smile that influenced or made me stretch my lips too.
“For OP-ing you.”
“Don’t be. You’re not OP-ing me. I just don’t want to pay attention to that guy.”
“Oh, okay,” I answered him, sounding disappointed, looking at the floor. I thought it was my fault.
His hand raised my chin to meet his eyes and said, “You know… I haven’t told you this yet.”
“Tell me what?”
“That you’re beautiful tonight, Kelly.”
Ignoring his compliment, I stated, “I don’t believe you.”
“I’m an honest person Kel. It’s not everyday I tell a girl she’s beautiful. And I mean what I said. You’re be-au-ti-ful,” emphasizing the last word.
Did he really mean that? Maybe? I mean when I looked in his eyes, they’re sure not kidding. “Well thanks. You too actually, I mean a lot of girls would kill just to be in my position.” I sure was blushing. I can tell.
“Oh. So you do think I’m hot.”
“What!? No! I-I don’t mean that way. I just. Um…”
“Hey, hey,” he chuckled. “It’s okay. You seem a lil bothered huh.”
Embarrassed, I slapped him in the shoulder. “Ow! That hurt,” he muttered as he put his hand on his heart, trying to act like he was hurt.
“Well stop teasing!”
We just looked at each other then eventually laughed at the moment. I knew that everyone surrounding us diverted their attention to us but I didn’t care. We didn’t care.
“Let’s go,” he commanded, grabbing my hand.
“Uh. Where are we going?” I asked in confusion.
“Don’t worry,” was all he said.
Don’t worry?! He was holding my hand and I didn’t know where we were going. Also, I barely knew the structure of his house. “Jake where are we really going?” I questioned him as I noticed that I no longer recognized where we were.
He turned to me, his hands both on my shoulders, his head settled in my eye level, and said, “Trust me, okay?”
I just nodded and well yeah. I trusted him. He was still holding my hand as we headed into a big room. At last we stopped. We then climbed out of the room’s window, giving me a pretty view of the garden and the whole neighbourhood.
“This is the top most room of the house. My dad and I used to play here when I was little.”
“Used to?”
“That’s before my parents got divorced.”
“What happened?” There was silence. An understandable silence in fact. “Um. I.. You don’t have to answer that. I don’t mean to pry.”
“It’s okay. Honestly, I don’t even know what happened really. No one will tell the whole story. I just know that Dad had another woman and mom can’t forgive him. Then that’s it. But I know there’s more than that.”
Listening to Jake’s story made me worried about him. I never knew he has that side of life. I guess we all have our bright and dark times huh. Everyone sees Jake as a happy, cheerful, maybe arrogant sometimes, but they don’t see that behind that person they’re judging, lies a hole. A hole that still existed in him. A hole that’s not fixed. “I don’t know what their reason is. But one thing’s for sure Jake. Everything happens for a certain purpose. If it doesn’t, then it shouldn’t be happening.”
We just smiled at each other after I told him that. I hoped that that made the hole lessen its pain. I barely knew the real Jonathan Jake Santiago, but I liked the fact that the Jake that I figured from the past, is not the person I’m seeing now.
“You really are something Barbie,” he finally spoke.
“Oh pu-lease. Don’t. Call. Me. That,” I chuckled
“What? That’s what the guy called you right?”
“Yeah but I don’t like to be called by that anymore.”
“So he’s your ex-boyfriend?” he asked curiously.
“He was. But that was before he---,” I stopped at my sentence. Did I really want to tell him? I knew Jake confessed something really deep about him, but that did not mean I should exchange him something secret in me too. Besides, I wanted to leave everything that had past in the past.
“He?” he repeated.
“Uh- before I broke up with him,” I grinned. I wished he did get what I tried to tell him: and that’s not to ask more questions.
“Of course, silly. How can he be your ex-boyfriend if either one of you did not break up?”
“Good one! You’re not as dumb as I thought you were huh,” I giggled.
“Don’t insult me. Didn’t I tell you that my full name is Jonathan Jake Genius Santiago?” he told me, arrogantly.
I just laughed at him. “Really? Well mine is Kelly the Great Howard.”
“Ha-ha. You can say that,” he stopped for a moment, looking at the sky. “Sigh. Thank you Kelly.”
“For?”
“For not faking me. For treating me the way others should. For listening. For tonight. For being the voice and especially. For being you.”
“You are welcome. And. Thank you too.”
“For?”
“Fornotfakingme. Fortreatingmethewayothersshould. Forlistening. Fortonight. Forbeingthevoiceandespecially. For being Jake,” I finally said, hyperventilating. Phew! “I think I’m gonna need a break.”
Laughing. “That’s for not having originality.”
I’m bulletproof
Nothing to loose
Fire away, fire away.
“Hello? Oh yeah. I’m with him. Uh-huh. Yeah. Okay. Bye.”
“I’ll go now. Grandpa wants to go home already. ”
“See you at school then,” he smirked.
Seriously? I really had fun and felt good with the genius that night. I wished that that would not end. He was a friend to me and I knew that. It was a night I would never forget. A night where I discovered the Jake many don’t. And I liked that.
**********************************************************
Sorry it took so long...
I made it longer to make it up to you.
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