Chapter 26: Date-night
"I'm so excited" chloe squealed for the 100th time as they drove to pick up Ann
"She doesn't even know yet" she added and Ethan nodded, it was a surprise party so jian was oblivious and left in the dark
"Did you send the invites" Ethan asked as he pulled over at Ann's house, chole nodded she didn't have fiona nor Seth's number so she sent it to mina and told her to forward it to seth and Fiona. She sent it to Frank but the message was still pending its either he blocked her or his phone is not working as for berlu the message got in but he hasn't even opened it. Well anyways its a them problem, she only sent it because Ethan asked that was before he knew about the whole situation. She also blocked both of them so maybe they would come if they receive it.
"Sorry, hope I didn't keep you guys waiting" Ann apologized when she got in, Ethan had informed her he was coming with a friend so she was expecting chole
"Chole right" Ann said and chloe nodded, two began chatting and realized they did have a few things in common and actually got along well. The drive from Ann's house to the center wasn't actually that far just a 20 minutes drive away, after the duo collected their results they were scared to open it themselves so they handed it to Chloe to open it and tell them the results, they held their breaths as chloe slowly opened it up building the anticipation
"Guys" she breathed and ethan and ann almost passed out thinking the worst had happened, they spend the last six months studying for this and a fail was a no
"It's a pass" she suddenly screamed and Ann an Ethan couldn't hold their joy, they immediately started cheering. Ann was so happy that just jumped up and gave Ethan a hug she only came back to her Senses when ethan hugged her back, that's when she became conscious of their position and immediately let go, ethan who was oblivious to her feelings just kept celebrating.
"Hey, we're like going to shop for Jian's surprise party, you can come along" chloe invited, she got well along with Ann so she didn't mean if she came along. Ann didn't have any plans for the day so she went along with them, soon the trio reached the mall, the moment they arrived chloe immediately ran to the decoration section in the store, there were this trendy birthday balloons and they always immediately sold out so she was in a rush
"So the big day coming" Ann said as she walked along with Ethan, ethan knew what she was implying it was about him asking jian out, he sighed before he gave her a sad smile
"Well, i kinda of had a spur of the moment and confessed" he Said Ann felt her heart drop, so it was already over for her, she smiled
"So it's official now" she asked looking down she was scared if she looked up he'll find her whole emotion on her face
"Not exactly" ethan chuckled when he saw the shocked look on Ann's face he chuckled
"Sorry, i ruined your whole master plan, wanted to get it off my chest" he said,
"Just because it didn't work out doesn't mean i give up, I'll still keep hoping" he added and Ann had the sudden urge to get it off her chest too
"I like you" she said catching ethan off guard, it took him a while to understand what ann was implying
"You like jian, i like you" Ann explained when she didn't hear anything from him, To say he was shocked was an understatement, he wasn't as dense as jian, he was actually good at telling if someone liked him but Ann he didn't expect it one bit.
"I don't want a reply now, i want to get it off my chest too" she smiled at him before walking off and Joining chloe, leaving ethan perplexed, she joined the girls and Ann acted like nothing happened so he did too, he didn't want go make things awkward between them.
"Wow" Seth exclaimed when jian walked out
"Sorry, did i take long?" She asked as she got in but instead of a reply all she got was the guy staring at her as if mesmerized and memorized he was. When jian didn't hear a reply she looked down embarrassed, she did too much, what was she making up for now look what she has done
"You look beautiful" he complimented and jian immediately looked up she couldn't help the blush, she looked calm but she was literally having a screaming match inside
"Thanks" she muttered and Seth smiled, he was pleased with her reaction to his complimented, the moment the car started, he stretched out one of his hands and held her hand, she looked up at him and noticed his smile as he focused on the road, they didn't say anything else and just enjoyed the comfortable silence until they reached the beach
"The beach" jian mumbled to herself. As soon as they got down, Seth saw her shuddering from the cold so he grabbed the extra jacket he brought
"Come" he said as he pulled her towards him and helped her wear the jacket, it looked so big on her that he couldn't help but laugh
"Shut up" jian said as she punched him. They parked the car and sat on the hood
"Why did you invite me out" jian asked as she swung her feet, it was already 10pm
"I wanted to be the first one to wish you a happy birthday" he said as jian immediately turned to face him, he knew her birthday?
"You know my birthday" she asked with pleasant shock and seth nodded
"I want to beat your that best friend at it" he added and jian laughed
"I also want to beat him at something else" he said the atmosphere turning a bit serious, jian had a feeling it was about feelings and she grew nervous
"Your a bit late" she teased
"Damn" Seth commented
"Who would have thought he liked me" jian said exasperated, she could help but rant. She was smart but her smartness was lacking in the love department. Seth looked at her as if she grew two heads, how dense was she, even him who only knew ethan for a very short time could tell that he liked her
"Wait don't tell me, you don't know i like you too" he said and Seth couldn't help laughing at the shocked expression he had on, this girl was too dense
"Whatever" jian said turning away from him, her whole face was red
"I'm guessing i won" Seth said as he stretched his neck to look at jian who was avoiding his eyes. Jian and seth just sat there enjoying the ocean and having small talk, along the way she leaned on his shoulder and he swung his arm over her shoulder by exact 12 he wished her a happy birthday, Jian happen to receive two messages at that exact time too from Chloe and Ethan and she replied their messages. Seth's phone inside the car has been ringing for the past 30 minutes but he didn't see it because it was on silence and inside the car. The duo stayed there until 1 when Susan called her daughter, she just came back from the bakery and couldn't find jian home, she didn't tell her she wss going anywhere. After assuring her mom she was find, seth drove her home.
"Bye" chole waved after Ethan dropped her off, they made plans to go early and decorate the place they rented for Jian's birthday before she was dropped off. When she got in her dad was already asleep and her mom wasn't back yet from work. She went upstairs took a shower and got ready for bed, she took out a book to read and half way, her phone started ringing, who is it she wondered, when she saw an unknown number
"Hello" she cautiously picked up
"Hey" a voice she was very familiar with answered, it was Berlu
"Berlu" she called out to confirm as she removed the phone off her ears to check the number again
"Sorry, i called with a different number, you blocked me" he said chuckling and chloe remembered that she actually blocked both of them, he asked for a few minutes to talk to her and chloe decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. He apologized and explained that he actually went back home to take his final exams and how they won't probably see each other for a very long time because he was moving to new york to start participating in the family business before he's results came out. Chloe actually decided to forgive him, she felt like if she didn't he won't get over it, she would want to punish him by not forgiving him but she couldn't,
"Um about Frank" she said and berlu understood, he was asking about frank. Berlu explained that he also came back and they bumped into each other a day before but they didn't talk, the tense was still between them
"You guys should makeup, it would make me feel bad if you guys fight because of me" chloe said, she made berlu promise her that he'll makeup with frank, the chatted for a while before saying there goodbyes. After that call chloe felt her heart feel lighter, she continued reading her book until she feel asleep.