Chapter 22: Theme: Love

Seth and jian spend the whole day studying, eating and later ended up at the beach to just relax before they headed home, Seth had sneakily held her hand and they just pretended like they're hands were not interlocked as they walked around enjoying the beach air and breeze.

"It's getting dark, i should drop you off" Seth said, jian wanted to say no she was enjoying the breeze, the waves the ocean made, the way their hands are interlocked made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, the way they walked in a steady pace as they talked about everything and anything, the way he tucked her hair behind her ears when the wind blew it over her face, how he chuckled when she said something and when she asked what was funny he'll just say she's cute, and the way he's jacket is keeping her warm, but she didn't wanna be the clingy one so she just nodded, it was getting dark so they needed to go. Seth only let go of her hand because she had to get into the car

"Do you know where i live" jian asked taking her seat belt and seth raised his eye brow at her as if asking 'i'm i stupid'

"What? You only dropped me off like once and that's like long ago?" She said laughing, when she noticed he's expression

"I have a good memory" he said giving her a thumbs up which made her laugh even harder. When they were set to go, seth took her hand again interlocking it, it looked like that was his new favorite thing, he smiled when he noticed her blush he was really itching to tease her but ultimately decided against it, he didn't want to receive a beating

"We're here" Seth said as he parked at her front gate

"Oh" jian exclamation, how was the ride so fast.

"Thank you" she said unfastening her seat belt with one hand because a certain someone was still holding onto her hand

"You have to let go of my hand" she said trying to not laugh, how was she supposed to go out when he was holding onto her hand like his life depended on it

"I don't want to" he said looking up at her as he leaned on his car seat, for some reason he looked so hot she blushed

"Geez" she scoffed and suddenly ethan sat up excited startling jian who looked at him confused, he looked like he was struck with the brightest idea or he just remembered something really important or interesting

"Oh we should trade" he said with a smirk and jian had a bad feeling about this so called trade, the type of bad feeling that gave you little butterflies in your stomach and ears red as tomatoes

"Here" he said bringing his cheeks close to her face, jian obviously knew what he was implying but she pretended not to know and just raised her brows as if questioning his sensibility, seth coughed a bit embarrassed, he was trying his luck a little too hard, he smiled at her and let go off her hand. Might aswell let her go before he'll lose his chances but again the jian full of surprises, surprised him again. He felt a pair of lips on his cheeks before he could turn around or his brain lock in the situation she was already at her front door opening it, she didn't even turn back she immediately got in locking it behind her. Seth sighed this girl and her flash kisses, he wasn't complaining though. He finally drove off after he saw her turn off the lights.

"Late again" Susan whispered behind her ear and she screamed what was with her mom and sneaking around and how come she didn't hear her walk towards her.

"Mom" she yelled frowning, what if she just fell and died from heart attack

"Who was that" she asked following her daughter around as she walked into the kitchen to get cold water to calm down her heart

"Boyfriend" she asked again

"No mom" jian replied as she walked more like ran from her questioning mom upstairs.

"Goodnight" susan wished her daughter

"Night mom" Jian said as she closed her door to rest, she had to go see Mr. Bernard, chloe's father the next day then prepare for her hangout date with Ethan. She checked her messages before retiring to bed and chloe sent her more photos of her having father-daugther time with her dad she replied to her photos, times like this she wished her father were still alive, she then replied ethan too and asked about her study session with Ann after chatting for a while, she decided it was time for bed.

"Jian" the knocking came again, why was her mom banging down her door ao early in the morning

"I'm going to the bakery okay" she said as she mumbled about how lazy her daughter was before she left. Finally jian could have some more sleep, an hour later her alarm woke her up and she decided it was time to get up, she took her shower and got ready before heading down, her mom had left her freshly baked breads she added butter to it made some tea and that was breakfast as she was munching down on it she had the front door open and someone walked in

"Did you forget something" she asked without looking back thinking it was her mom

"Yeap i forgot to take you" Ethan answered instead of her mom and she turned back so fast it was almost like a whiplash

"You" she said as ethan joined her on the table she passed him a bread and he made he's own breakfast.

"How was your study date" she asked again even though she asked last time and he said it went well

"It's not a date" ethan answered and jian rolled her eyes, this guy and his selective hearing

"Dates aren't just between lovers, like us we're going on a date today" jian explained as she walked to the sink to wash her cup

"We're going on a date" he asked as he leaned on the counter with a suggestive smirk and jian took everything in her not to spill the cup of water she was about to drink on him, he really has a severe case of selective hearing

"I'm going to see mr. Bernards you coming" jian asked changing the subject

"Yeap" Ethan answered as he finished he's breakfast, the two cleaned up and left for the Bernard household. When chloe heard a knock at the door, she knew it was jian and ethan because they informed her when they were on their way, she was excited to have them over

"Hey" she cheerfully answered the door and jian couldn't help but be cheerful too, her dad coming this time was really a perfect timing, chloe was finally getting her shine back and she was loving it even ethan noticed too. Chloe invited them in where they saw Mr.benard and martha having breakfast

"Woah" mr. Benard exclaimed when he saw jian, he haven't seen her in 8 years so she looked all grown, the last time he visited was 5 years ago and he stayed for only 2 weeks and in that 2 weeks he didn't see jian

"Hello uncle, hello aunty" both jian and ethan greated and benard pulled her for a hug

"Everything good my boy" benard said as he pat ethan on the shoulder, he actually didn't miss ethan or surprised by his growth because they see each other more often than he sees his daughter, he mentored Ethan's badge for the mathematics program in New York 5 years ago for a whole year, then again 3 years ago for 6 months, then again a year ago for 6 months and again 6 months ago for 4 months. Ethan nodded and martha offered them breakfast which they didn't decline, after breakfast they chatted and played cards a bit before jian and ethan had to leave for their themed park date and chloe had to leave with her parents to go shopping.

"You ready" ethan asked and jian nodded before she held onto his arm and they walked off, he had a good feeling about the date so he was excited.

Mina had spent the whole day and night thinking, what was she going to do she was still conflicted about what to do, should she back down or no but Fiona is her friend but she really likes Seth, her love never died from highschool until now she still held on. She should at least try and not just give up. Even though she has a feeling it wouldn't end well, there was this felling of i would regret it, if i let it go without trying too so she made up her mind. In the morning she texted ethan and asked what was his plan and if he was going with Jian, ethan had replied that he was indeed going with jian and that was the answer she needed to move forward, now all she had to do was set the scene and if it worked she'll have to be fast enough to swip in before Fiona does. She texted Fiona to ask when she'll come to pick her up and to confirm if seth was coming when Fiona confirmed it, she immediately went into dress panic mode, she had to dress to impress while still keeping casual and simple, she spent an hour picking an outfit and she finally decided on light blue off-the-shoulders dress with a elegant and femine touch to it, the dress was casual and simple yet eye catching with the off-the-shoulders neckline with a ruffled trim,long bishop sleeve that clenched at the wrist, a fitted bodice with a ruched bust and a little cute bow at the center and a clinched waistline that accentuated her figure. She looked at her self in the mirror this was perfect, both jian and Fiona had light feminine energy so he must be into those type of aesthetic and right now she fit into that so well, she added a sandal and a silver cross back, she was ready as if they were waiting for her to be done, seth and Fiona arrived

"Mina, your friends are here" he little brother called from downstairs

"Coming" she said as she ran down the stairs

"You look pretty" her brother awed and she couldn't help smile, she was sure seth was going to like it and notice her, she thanked her brother before saying goodbye to her mom who was busy in the kitchen and then left

"You look pretty" Fiona said as she gave her a hug

"Thank" she blused

"Doesn't she" Fiona turned to seth who was busying trying to book some ride tickets so they couldn't have to queue in line, the tickets were like triple the price if you want it online and they weren't cheap but seth didn't mind

"Oh yeah, you look pretty" he complimented thinking nothing of it but for mina this was what she was going to dream about for weeks, it already made her day even better

"Thanks" she shyly said and seth nodded before urging them to get in so they'll get there in time and enjoy the show.