PRESENT DAY...
“YOU still have the courage to show up here, don't you? After what you have done to my daughter?” Rowena spoke furiously to Ryan.
"Please listen to me, I love your daughter very much," he said.
He knew he had done something wrong.
He has been married to his wife for a long time but he has not yet felt the kind of happiness he felt with Jenny. That is even though nothing happens to them other than simple kissing. But he still has to admit to himself that he has this intense desire for Jenny.
Jenny is very beautiful beyond words. She has very smooth and nice skin apart from the fact that she has always been fragrant. That is the reason why every time they kiss she awakens his libido. He is easily aroused.
"I do not want to hear anything from you and it would be much better for you to leave now. My daughter doesn't need you anymore. Go back to your family, they are the ones who need more of your love and presence, not Jenny," Jenny's mother in a tone with finality.
Ryan was speechless. Then he turned around and walked back to his car. He understands that as a mother, it is natural for Rowena to be angry with him. But as a man who loves so much, he can't accept that everything he and Jenny have ended just like that.
He will not allow it. He will not stop and he will take her back.
Jenny is for him only and nothing can stop the two of them from falling in love and being together. He does not care if his family gets family ruined, it doesn't his anyway. It was not his fault if he and Jenny met at the wrong time. The kind that they have is something that needs to be fighting for. And that is what he will do.
Just the thought of not being the man Jenny would be with for the rest of her life until the day her hair turns gray, he almost gone crazy with so much jealousy.
He loved Jenny dearly. And he knew because of how he feels, he could not allow another man to take his place. If he will not do anything he knew it would happen. Maybe not now or not next year. If will not act now, Jenny would get married, fall in love with another man and he would not like that. Just the thought of it and he is already hurting. Only now and he can already feel the pain in his heart.
"You are mine, you are mine, Jenny," he whispered before driving his car away from that place.
*****
CONSECUTIVE and loud knocks on the door woke up Jenny's deep sleep. She wiped her eyes and then went to the door. It was as if cold water had been poured all over her body when she recognized who was knocking. It was then that she completely lost the feeling of drowsiness.
"I told you I wouldn't eat lunch, did I?" she said annoyed then frowned as she entered and sat down.
She heard the faint laugh Jason released when he followed her. "I'm sorry, my mother just asked me to collect you," he explained. "Come on," he added in a tone that she did not like because apart from the fact that he seemed to be in a hurry, she seemed to have no right to refuse what he wanted to happen.
"Stop it, and don't give me an authoritative tone like that, I'm not your girlfriend or wife that you can command!" her eyes glazed over with anger as she spoke.
Jason shook his head consecutively and Jenny felt even more annoyed because of that. She did not know if it was because she was angry with the young man or because her good sleep was interrupted.
"Don't be stubborn, just follow and do what I said," Jason insisted that made her eyebrows raised even more.
“Didn't you hear what I said? And another thing, do not command me, do not use that tone of voice with me! Now, I want you to leave because I still need to rest,” Jenny said hoping that Jason would leave her but she was wrong.
It was when Jason stepped closer to her which surprised her so she quickly stood up. "W-What are you going to do?" she asked nervously.
"Are you going come with me properly or you want me to carry you?" in the tone of Jason's voice she knew she would not win over him so even though it was against her will, Jenny did nothing but give what he asked for.
“I did not see that side of yours before. You used to always be tender. You always wanted to be with me but now it seems like you just don't want to give me even a simple glance,” as they walked towards the big house that was what Jason said.
“Because I was stupid then, I didn't realize that you were just fooling me and making me a rebound girlfriend. Come on Jason after all that I have been through, do you think I do not have enough reason to change?” her sarcastic question to the young man.
Jason did not respond to what she had said and that made her secretly grateful.
"Jason told me you are not in the mood to eat lunch, sweetheart? Are you not feeling well? Are you sick?" is what Mama Loida asked her worriedly as soon as she met the woman waiting for their arrival at the dining room.
Jenny shook her head then smiled. "I'm not, maybe I'm just tired," she said reasoning.
Jason's mother smiled kindly at her. "If you need someone to talk to, darling, Jason and I are here for you," Mama Loida even reminded her as she took her hand from the top of the table and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Mama Loida's words touched Jenny's heart so she couldn't help but smile and glance at Jason who was sitting in the chair opposite her. And just like before, he is staring at her. The young man's eyes also gleam but she could not describe the mixed emotions she could see in them.
"Thank you, Mama Loida," was all Jenny thought to say.
"By the way, didn't you say that you are a chef?" it was Mama Loida when they all started eating.
Jenny nodded consecutively then glances at the woman seated at the head of the dining table. "Yes, Mama Loida? Why?"
For the first time since Jason collected her the young man finally opened his mouth to speak. "It's Mama's birthday on Sunday, she actually wants to ask for your help. You know, cooking," he said giving her a meaningful look.
“Is that so? All right Mama Loida, as long as it is for you, there is no problem,” she answered enthusiastically then shifted her gaze to Jason and his mother.
Mama Loida smiled and opened her mouth to speak. “Oh, thank you very much for that, sweetheart. If it is okay with you, please be the one to prepare for the menu, after all, you are the expert,” she added.
"All right," Jenny agreed.
Their lunch ended and Jason did not speak again. Instead, he remained listening to his mother's conversation with her.
*****
"How many guests will be there on Mama Loida's birthday?" she asked Jason after they had lunch and the young man invited her to have coffee on the terrace of their house.
He looked at her first then sipped coffee in his mug before opening his mouth to speak. "All I know is that there are no guests," he said chuckling softly and then shook his head maybe because of the amusement he felt for his own mother.
Jenny's eyebrows immediately met at what she heard. "What?"
Jason nodded. “Every year Mama prepares a private special dinner for the two of us. Of course, Malou is also included to be there,” the young man explained to her.
She did not speak that is why Jason continued with whatever else he wanted to say.
“And because it is obvious that she likes you very much, you will definitely be with her at her birthday dinner this year. That’s why she asked you to help her cook because she likes you,” Jason explained to her.
Those words from Jason were freely absorbed by Jenny's heart, the reason why she could not stop herself from cracking a smile.
"Well the feeling is mutual, I like her very much too," she said truthfully.
"Mama has been wanting you for a long time, do you know that even the first time she saw you in the picture before, that's how she reacted?"
"What do you mean?" Jenny wondered. Jason's words really aroused her curiosity.
The young man shrugged his shoulders before sipping coffee from his mug again.
"Are you sure you want to know the answer?" the way he speaks and with his tone, it looks like he is really asking for her approval. And the young man would not do that if there was no possibility of ruining the good mood that she has now.
"What do you think?" she asked the young man.
She may not have admitted it but she is really curious and it is as if some small voice is now dictating to her to find out the truth from the young man.
"I don't know about you, I'm worried because you might suddenly get angry with me again," Jason replied with amusement then followed his words with a weak laugh.
"W-Why would I be angry?"
Even though she had a hunch about what Jason was saying, she still chose to ask that question. Not for any reason but even more than the fact that that was all she thought to ask because her brain suddenly seemed to lose the capacity to think of a word to say.
"Okay, just a moment ah," the young man lowered the mug he is holding to the wooden center table then entered the house.
It didn't take long and Jason came back. "Come here," he said tapping the vacant part of the loveseat where he was sitting.
Unfortunately, Jenny also decided to follow what the young man said. She sat down next to him, but just like what she did this morning, she put the right space between the two of them. When she sat down, she noticed Jason holding a wallet.
The young man opened the wallet he was holding and then took a small prayer book from there. Jenny smiled. She also has that in her wallet.
"Oh, why are you smiling?"
She did not notice that Jason is looking at her. "Ah, nothing!" she said.
"Oh really huh?" Jason's unconvinced response.
Embarrassed Jenny laughed softly. "It's the prayer book, I also have something like that in my wallet," she said truthfully.
When she looked back at Jason she saw the beautiful sparkle in his eyes. As well as the bright aura of the young man's face because of what she said. When he did not speak, she did not say anything else. Instead, she just watched him as he opened the small prayer book to take a small picture from there and handed it to her.
"Wow, you still have this in your wallet?" Jenny asked in a tone of disbelief as she stares at the younger version of herself.
"Why not?" Jason in his low but full voice.
Jenny may not admit it but Jason's tone caused a strange sensation throughout her and that she tried so hard not to make it obvious to the man.
A few moments later she turned to Jason. It was only then that she noticed that the distance between the two of them was so small that it became easy for him to bow down to finally claim her lips.