Jeri

"Sam, just go away, I can go home!" said Jasmine slowly.

Sam's secretary had just come to tell Sam that their client had suddenly pushed the schedule forward.

Jasmine had asked Sam to leave quickly, but the man seemed reluctant to leave Jasmine.

Sam took a deep breath, he approached Jasmine and sat next to the girl.

Jasmine did not know if Sam could be this adorable. Again and again, the man sighed, grumbled, and even pursed his lips in annoyance. Very funny.

"Don't go home! Come with me! You can wait at the restaurant or walk around while I have a meeting. After that, we can go to the place I promised!"

"Um, alright!"

***

Jasmine decided to take a walk at the mall not far from Sam's meeting place. It's a great place. There's a lot of good stuff and great food. Jasmine is considering, should she buy something? Ah no. The stuff here must be expensive.

The girl thought, instead of throwing money away, she'd better send everything she had to her grandparents in the village.

Oh? Ice cream.

Jasmine moves automatically into a cafe that sells various kinds of ice cream. She ordered some and sat down sweetly enjoying the softness and sweetness of the ice in her hands.

If the Bagaskara brothers found out she was eating ice cream, they would throw a tantrum and start lecturing about what she could and shouldn't eat. Seriously, they even asked Jasmine to diet beforehand.

Jasmine must shape and care for her body to look sexy. That's the sentence they always emphasize. Sexy!

That's enough.

Hmm, this is delicious.

'I will take you home.'

Wait.

That voice...

It had been a year since Jasmine had last heard that voice.

'Don't you have a meeting after this, Babe? Don't worry, I can go home alone. You don't get tired.'

'No! I will take you home!'

That's Jeri. Jasmine was very sure that the voice she heard just now belonged to Jeri.

Jasmine immediately stood up and looked around the cafe.

Jasmine left her ice cream on the table and then ran in a hurry when she saw a familiar man walking out of the cafe.

Jasmine followed him.

She was silent looking at the back of Jeri who continued to walk away. Ah! Also, his hand was holding the waist possessively of the girl beside him.

'They're dating? Does that mean our relationship is really over?' Jasmine thought.

To be honest, no one ever ended this relationship. Neither Jasmine nor Jeri, neither of them ever said anything about separation. Only, suddenly Jeri left. He left without saying anything to Jasmine.

Jeri and his family left the village. Jasmine is too upset and sad to find out where they went, all she does is pretend it's over and keep their beautiful memories in her heart.

But...

"Jeri!" call Jasmine.

Her voice sounded hoarse and weak now.

The man she called stopped in his tracks, he slowly turned around.

The two of them stared at each other in silence.

"Em, sorry, looks like you have to go home alone for now. I will call you later." Jeri gently patted the arm of the girl beside him and then looked back at Jasmine.

"Oh? Okay. But you owe me an explanation!" replied the girl next to him, glancing cynically at Jasmine.

Jeri smiled, he then gently stroked the top of the girl's head before the girl left them.

"Hi, Jasmine," he said stiffly.

Jeri slowly walked over to Jasmine.

"You here? Did something happen?" he asked casually.

"If I told you, I went to Jakarta to look for you, would you believe it?" cynical Jasmine.

"Come on! No kidding!"

Jasmine smiled. Although she won't know what that forced smile looks like.

"But, if you came here to look for me, we can chat for a bit. After that, I'll take you back to the village."

Jasmine's chest suddenly became tight hearing Jeri's words. Chat for a while? Isn't that too evil?

That guy, he just left, and when they met, he only gave a minute to chat?

"If you wanted to end our relationship and leave, you should have found me and said goodbye, you bastard!"

This is the first time Jasmine has cursed Jeri harshly. He deserves the nickname asshole, right?

Jeri looked at Jasmine so flatly.

"After I left, what did you do? You didn't wait for me as a fool did you? When I leave, it means our relationship is over. You should find a replacement for me and move on with your life happily!" said Jeri so flatly.

Jasmine smiled faintly.

'Why does every word that comes out of his lips sound so evil now? He should have felt guilty and apologized, or else he should have given me a reasonable enough reason not to get hurt.'

"After you left, I had a boyfriend and lived my life well. It's just that this is so burdensome for me. I keep wondering if I made a mistake that suddenly you left me! If you're bored, just say it! Don't burden me like that." said Jasmine, emphasizing every word.

She had to lie so as not to look pathetic in front of Jeri. She's been dumped. She didn't want to make things worse by looking pathetic.

Jeri's hand reached out and gently stroked the top of Jasmine's head.

"You didn't do anything wrong. You're a good girl, I'm lucky to have been the man you love!"

"So? Why did you leave?"

"Because you are too kind!"

"What?" shrieked Jasmine in disbelief.

Is Jeri playing with her? That guy dumped her because she was too nice?

"Jasmine, our family moved to Jakarta. If I say this, you'll just smile and say that you'll be waiting for me! I don't want you to wait for me! Here, I'll meet new people. New friends, girls, and family, I'm not sure if I can continue to love you while we're so far away!"

Jasmine's chest was getting tighter and hotter. Now she knew what it was like to be dumped by someone.

'Oh. Of course. He's quite handsome! He will meet many beautiful girls here. Then me? Who am I! An uneducated village girl who can't dress up. I won't be able to beat myself up for him! Great choice, Jeri! Go if that's what's best for you.'

"Jasmine, I've been looking for you everywhere!"

An outstretched hand grabbed Jasmine's waist and embraced her.

Sam.

Somehow Jasmine was so relieved to see Sam here. She wanted to get out of Jeri's presence if her legs didn't go limp like this.

"Sorry Sam, I met an old friend and we chatted for a while."

Sam smiled and turned to look at Jeri.

"Jeri? How are you?"

How are you? Does Sam know Jeri?

"I'm fine. How are you? Everything okay?" replied Jeri with eyes that never let go of Sam's hand wrapped around Jasmine's waist.

"Yeah, I always have to be okay. Isn't that right?" said Sam.

"Yes. How's Bara?"

Jasmine gawked, did Jeri know Bara too?

"Messy, as usual!"

Jeri laughed and agreed with Sam's words.

"So, you two are dating?" Jeri looked at Jasmine and Sam alternately.

"Yes!" Sam answered curtly.

Sam's words succeeded in making Jasmine and Jeri freeze on the spot. They exchanged glances for a moment before finally looking back at Sam.

"Hum, yeah. That's great. Jasmine is a good girl and you're a good man. You guys match." said Jeri slowly

"You old friends?" Sam asked because he sensed something was off.

"He's from the same village as me. We've been friends for a long time." Jasmine interrupted before Jeri spoke up.

Jeri smiled sadly, he looked at Jasmine with a look that didn't know what it meant. However, after that, he smiled warmly.

"We're pretty close. So make sure you don't hurt her, Sam! Or I'll get back at you later!" Jeri lightly punched Sam's arm.

"Yes, you can find me if something happens to Jasmine!"

What kind of situation is this? None of the three of them spoke the truth.

"Okay, then, I'll take it off, I have some things to take care of!"

"Okay."

Jeri smiled once more before finally leaving.

'Go. Go as far as possible before I take all my cursing and anger on you, Jeri!' Jasmine thought.