Chapter 14
Mysterious man
Jade and Aisha were sitting on the bench at the deck outside the hall, facing the massive maze garden with multi-colour outdoor spotlights dispersed among the hedge. The guys were encompassed by the mass of people, so engaged with shaking hands and receiving compliments from the people. Women of all ages were leaning so close to Lukah that he almost keeled over.
“Well Jade, I’m sorry. It looks like they are stuck with those people forever,” Aisha said with a miserable puff.
“Hey, it doesn’t matter. I really enjoy the night with you,” Jade jabbed Aisha on her cheek. “Thanks for everything. I really appreciate what you did for me.”
Aisha smiled without saying anything. The mite of disappointment shown on her face unintentionally gave out a warm feeling. It revealed her honest concern about patching her and Gerome up. Aisha was more eager than Jade for something magical to happen tonight. It is something you can only see in true friend, helping you without a pinch of selfishness or jealousy.
The girls could see the guys through the large glass windows. Aamali and Xara were inseparable. Xara was wearing a long white dress with printed light purple floral. Her hand hooked onto Aamali’s elbow, never parted, chatting and laughing with the coaches. The couple was in high spirit tonight.
Their eyes landed involuntarily on a nubile lady with an alluring off-shoulder red bodycon dress involuntarily. She had attractive sharp features, a foxy kind of beauty. Her slinky dress was offset by her auburn or brown hair in curls, in which skillfully soften the luscious look. She was standing alone at the corner, with a wine glass on her hand. Her eyes were firmly fixed on the guys, or one of the guys.
“Did you see that woman in red? She’s hot alright,” Aisha asked Jade.
“She looks… kind of familiar. I know I’ve seen her somewhere. Let me think.”
School? No. School gym? No. School lecturer? Don’t think so.
Archery class.
“I remember now. She was a senior in archery class. I saw her couple of times before,” Jade said. “I thought that auburn hair looks familiar.”
“I think it’s brown,” Aisha said. “Or perhaps, dark auburn on second thought. What’s her name?”
Jade shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never talked to her before.”
Jade and Aisha were watching the lady closely. “She’s looking at the guys. I don’t mind if she’s interested in Luke. But I’ll kick her butt if she wants to get close to Romey,” Aisha said, twitching her lips in disguise.
The lady placed her wine glass down onto a table and mingled into the crowd. She was not walking towards Gerome or Lukah. She was walking towards Judah. They both started talking to each other as if they know each other already.
“It looks like her target is your brother. Not bad for Jude, he has been single for some time. Do you think Jude is going to like her?” Aisha asked with an impatient frown in her brows. Jade shrugged and remained silent, still pondering about their relationship. Come to think of it, Judah had been single for years. Why would a fine looking man like him be single for so long? She wondered.
They spotted another familiar face, walking towards Gerome.
“Okay. Now, who is that?” Aisha pointed to the girl in a white, low cut dress.
“Ira.” Jade gets huffy whenever she sees Ira. She found it simple distasteful the fact that Ira had always taken interests in the Onyx family. Sighing silently, she had to admit, Ira was looking her best tonight. She had her light brown hair adorned with tiny flowers, modest yet attractive. Just the type of girl Gerome would like, she guessed.
“Oh yeah, I think I’ve seen her before at your place. She lives nearby, doesn’t she?” Aisha studied her every gestures. “I quite like her hair though.”
Jade placed her hands on her laps, clenching her dress in tad annoyance. “Not in our area, but close to. Honestly, I don’t like her a bit.”
“Why?” Aisha’s eyes widen, waiting to hear more.
Jade rolled her eyes in revulsion. “I think she is interested in Romey.”
Indeed, Ira was talking to Gerome, followed by a patent motive to ask him for a dance.
They danced.
It made Jade livid. She felt as if her nerves are going to burst anytime. Her eyes were shooting invisible deadly arrows towards Ira.
“She’s one bold rival,” Aisha said, fraught by what she was seeing.
But Jade just turned her head away. It was such a pain to see the man that she loves dancing with a much-hated competitor.
“Come on, we should get back and cut in.” Aisha gave a soft pull on Jade’s elbow.
“Nevermind, Aisha. I am just… tired,” Jade spoke warily. “I don’t even want to see them.”
Aisha sat closer to Jade, knowing that Jade was utterly miserable inside. “I’m sorry, Jade. I wish… there is something I could do…”
Jade turned and smiled at Aisha. “You have done enough for me, Aisha. I’m glad I still have you tonight, though you should probably be dancing with Commander Pine.”
“He doesn’t even know that I exist,” Aisha groaned, mixing a bit of laughter within. “You know what, Jade? Maybe we can start planning for your coming birthday. Being 18 is a big deal. We should really celebrate, in a special way.”
“Like what? A pool side, or a beach party? I don’t have money to go for extra mile extravagant.” The thought of spending money was enough to cower her expectations.
“No, silly girl. We can probably go somewhere else for a trip. How about the ruined cathedrals in Northbelt? Or the gigantic waterfall in New Ancients? Or… to the beach! Crumbell’s beach is nice and sunny. We can chill out and drink juices in our bikinis, basking under the sun and get a temporary tan.”
Jade started to ponder on the possible places. She came out with a contented answer. “I know where I want to go. Weatherspoon.”
“Weatherspoon? Oh, I get it!” Aisha shook her head incredulously. “You are hopelessly in love, girl. You just can’t get enough with anything to do with Romey.”
Jade laughed.
Weatherspoon is the place where Gerome’s parents were buried. She had been wanting to go to the place, to see what was it like there. She had the impulse to ask Gerome to bring her along when he went to Weatherspoon. But she just couldn’t do it. She was intimidated by the thought of his rejection. She glanced to her side unintentionally and was in her utmost surprise.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!” Jade let out a squeal. Her eyes dilated with shock.
“What?” Aisha asked worriedly.
It’s him.
It was the guy that tipped her when she was working at the Buttons. He was talking to a guy who works in the SOAR stadium. Jade had the urge to go and meet him. She had to know the answer.
“I need to go, I’ve found him. The guy who tipped me,” Jade hastily explained.
“Uhh, okay...” Aisha confusedly replied.
“I’ll be right back.” Leaving Aisha behind, Jade walked over with the quickest pace she could to meet the guy near the hall entrance. Her eyes pinned precisely on him, making sure she won’t miss him again. Both the SOAR stadium worker and the tipping-guy were literally taken aback at her sudden presence.
“Hi,” she said. “Do you remember me?”
For a moment there was a hush among the three of them. The tipping-guy was stunned by her abrupt greeting. The other guy was pretty much in the same state.
“Uh, excuse me please,” the other guy sensed the queer in the air so he excused himself and left.
“Hi,” she said again. “My name is Jade. I worked at Buttons, do you remember me?”
He looked hopelessly inescapable this time. But Jade kept her eyes pierced at him, waiting for his reply.
“Yes, I do,” he finally answered with a timorous voice.
“I… uh… I want to thank you for the tips,” Jade stammered a little over her words.
He nodded shyly. “You are welcome.”
Jade’s heart was throbbing loudly inside. She inhaled and exhaled before prompting her question. “Can I know your name?”
“I’m Job,” he said. “I guess you are here to find out why I was tipping you for three continuous weeks at Buttons.”
“Yes…” Jade’s voice trailed off, her ears awaited for the answer with full anticipation.
“Well it wasn’t me. Someone asked for my help… to tip you. That’s all I can tell you.” His lips were pressed into thin line, indicating he wasn’t going to speak more than that.
Someone wanted to tip me, and doesn’t want me to know? How bizzare.
But the unsatisfied answer left her even more curious. “Is… is it someone I know?”
“Well, I might be able to loosen that a bit. Yes, it’s someone you know,” he said with an almost unnoticeable smile flickered across his face.
Jade’s mind was literally clouded with confusion. “Oh…”
“It’s nice meeting you,” Job said, reaching out his hand for a friendly handshake.
“It’s nice meeting you too. Thank you.” She shook his hand. “Please help me to thank the person, whoever that is.”
“I will,” he said. “Please excuse me.”
“Sure, bye…” her voice trailed off.
Tonight, at last, she met him, and thanked him. His name is Job, she finally knew that name. So Job was not even the actual person who tipped her. That means Job was not the angel. Job turned out to be the one sent by the angel. How could she summarize this whole crazy incident? After two years the person still remains an enigma to her. Now she was left boggling, again. However, meeting Job narrowed her scope of searching. It was someone she knew. Who could that be?