CHAPTER 37

We looked at Zion and Jessica exiting from the cafeteria. It irritated Nicole and Cassy when they saw them together.

"Friend, are you numb? Didn't you feel irritated or jealous when seeing them together?"

"Slight?"

"Slight!?" Cassy and Nicole said it at the same time.

"Can I become a war freak in your place, friend?"

"No! Hahaha! I mean, I know you are both concerned about me, but Zion already told me everything, and I trusted him, though I felt irritated, not because I was jealous."

"Then, what makes you irritated?"

"I don't know, friend. I can't explain it. Do you think being in love makes you dumb? Hahaha! I felt many emotions, but I can't describe them one by one. Did you feel this way, Nicole, with Lawrence? What about you, friend?"

"Yes, I just kept it to myself because I had no trusted friends before, but it was different now, until I met you and Cassy. I can share my feelings now."

"I don't think I feel that way. Every time I see Jake, my heart beats fast and I feel happy and excited. That's all. Let's just wait until we become a couple. Hehehe!"

"Let's continue this topic next time. Time to go back to our class." I reminded them.

When we were exiting the cafeteria, I received a message from Zion saying, "Lake". I told Cassy and Nicole I was going to meet Zion for a while.

I saw Zion sitting under the tree beside the lake when I arrived at the lake.

"Zion was sleeping?" I approached Zion to check if he was asleep.

"Zion, if you don't wake up now, I will go back to my class."

"Let me see your face closely, Arien." Zion pulled me to lie down beside him and kissed my cheek. He whispered in my ear, "I miss you." Zion held my hand.

"I miss you more, Zion. Anyway, what did Jessica say to you earlier?"

"Why? Are you jealous?"

"No, you already told me everything about your situation. I don't worry when she approaches you."

"She's asking for Rie's information. That's all. I thought you were jealous."

"Hey! What's with that disappointed face of yours? Are you expecting me to get jealous?"

"Yes, because I want to see your sulking face. Hahaha!"

"OK, next time. Not only a sulking face, but also, I won't talk to you for ten years. Hahaha!"

"No way! Don't ever do that to me, Arien. I promise, I won't do anything to make you jealous."

"Hahaha! Geez, I'm only joking with you, Zion. Anyway, I need to go back now. My class will start in a few minutes."

"OK. Can I see you after school?"

"Nope! I rushed that hour to get to my work. I'll go now. See you tomorrow." I kissed Zion on his lips before I left him.

"Cute!" Zion giggled and stared at me, leaving him.

Afternoon classes ended. As usual, I rushed to get to work.

It surprised me when I arrived at the coffee shop full of customers.

"What happened?" I mumbled.

"Rie, hurry and change into your uniform." Clint grabbed me and brought me to the locker.

"Rie, the manager, said that you should stand at the counter as a cashier for exposure."

"But I am a server today."

"Well, the thing is, you're the reason we had a lot of customers and they were asking for a sign from you on their cups."

"I am confused, but OK."

All the customers came one after another, and my hands tired of signing their cups.

I didn't expect the next customer to turn out to be Jessica.

"I don't need your signature. Do you have time later, Rie, after you get your work done? I am going to wait for you." Jessica stated.

I am so nervous now. I don't know what Jessica needs me for. Now I have lost my focus on doing my work and Clint noticed it. He told me to take a rest first at the vacant table and he would be the cashier for the time being.

I rested at the bar area since there was no vacant table. I spaced out, thinking about what Jessica had told me.

"Dude, the rumors were true. She's beautiful with or without make-up."

"She's more beautiful than Jessica. It's true that she looked like an angel because of her innocent face."

While spacing out, two men approached me.

"Excuse me, Ms. Rie. May I know what school you attended?"

"Unfamiliar school, you might not know about it." I answered.

"Wow, you have a soft voice. Anyway, where do you live?"

"I'm afraid I can't give you an answer to that."

"It's OK, Ms. Rie, just keep this note." A man gave me a paper with his number. And everybody was following his lead. I received a lot of phone numbers today.

Time passed, and it was getting dark. Jessica is still waiting for me.

When all the customers left our shops, Jessica dragged me forcefully to her car. My co-staff just watched me and couldn't help me because they knew Jessica very well as a bully wherever she went. Jessica brought me to an abandoned warehouse and covered my mouth.

Jessica squeezed my face so hard and said, "Maybe you wondered why I abducted you, Rie. I abducted you because I hate you! That's the only reason. And I want to destroy you! Do you want to become a model? Let's see if you can continue your dream after I scratched your beautiful face. I thought we could be friends, but I changed my mind because you ruined the rumors I made about Zion and I being a sweet couple." Jessica shoved me to the floor, then she called someone on the phone and invited them to come.

At the coffee shop, everyone was panicked. Luckily, Dave showed up at the shop.

"What happened here? Where's Rie?" Dave asked.

"Jessica dragged her earlier, and we didn't know where she would take Rie." Clint responded to Dave.

Dave called Jessica, but Jessica rejected his call. Dave had no choice and called Zion to ask for help.

"Bro, I need your help." Dave said.

"What happened, Dave?"

"Please convince Jessica to release Rie. She abducted Rie earlier."

"OK, bro. I will call her right away. I'll call you back."

Zion called Jessica.

Dave hoped Jessica would answer Zion's call.