Blake was basically waking in stupor as he walked into the living room. He didn’t even realize that he had walked past his grandfather who was staring at him or rather at the bucket of Kentucky chicken.”You punk, where are you going with that?” Grandfather Beau called out, joilting Blake back to reality. Blake turned back to find his grandfather sitted on the sofa, staring. He followed his line of sight and then he realized he was holding the fries and chicken his grandfather had asked for.”Sorry grandfather” He apologized before walking to the sofa. Blake stretched out the bag, and grandfather Beau, reached for it. As if Blake had suddenly regained his senses he pulled his hand back, taking the bag out of his grandfather’s hand.”Idiot what are you doing?” Grandfather Beau glared at him.”Grandfather you shouldn’t be angry. Are you sure it’s good for you to eat this?” He asked curiously.”Of course. Why wouldn’t it be good?” Grandfather Beau asked back defiantly.”Grandfather, you really shouldn’t be getting angry at me right now. I don’t know you should really eat this. You know I’m only thinking about your health you know” Blake was thinking maybe he should have thought about this before buying his grandfather food that were prohibited for him.”..my health, or your are just scared of what your brother would do to you” Grandfather Beau said pointedly.”Exactly! Brother would kill us. He would scold me, and probably won’t talk to me for a week” Blake said with a panicked tone.”Then you’d better let me eat that before he comes back.” Grandfather Beau said with a cute smile.”What if…””He won’t find out okay. No one will tell him. You guys are being too strict with the diet. I basically eat grass everyday, and did I forget to mention how tasteless they are because Paul -his butler- has refused to add salt to it. Come on grandson, your grandfather might die because he has a cravings that can’t be filled. Just this once, I promise to reward you.” Grandfather Beau said with a sad face. Blake sighed out, he really couldn’t resist his grandfather.”Just this once okay?” Blake asked to be sure.”Yes” Grandfather Beau replied bobbing his head like a child as he smiled sheepishly.”Okay. Remember you promised” Blake reminded him one more time before passing the bag of Kentucky chicken and fries to his grandfather.He prayed silently in his heart that Jake shouldn’t return anytime soon. Jake had given the responsibility to look after their grandfather to him.Grandfather grabbed the bag from Blake and immediately opened the bag. He savoured the sweet aroma of the chicken. How he had starved and craved for this. For meat!Blake watched as his grandfather stuffed his mouth with a drumstick, he chewed on it with his eyes closed, like he was having the best meal of his life.Grandfather Beau opened his eyes and saw Blake still standing there, watching him.”What?” Grandfather Beau asked with a full mouth.”Nothing” Blake replied with a shrug. Grandfather Beau hissed. “Come sit” He said handing him a drumstick while he patted on the space next to him. Blake took the grandfather kind gesture and sat close to him.”What’s wrong?” Grandfather asked. He has known this grandson well enough that he could tell something was off with him.He had only left for the mall a while ago, to get some stuffs for himself. And he had left with a happy face, his only complain at the time was his brother was too busy for him and he had nagged him, why he had chosen to burden his only brother with the company. But now he has a gloomy look on his face that he hasn’t seen before.”Nothing” Blake replied, as he stretched his hand for another piece of meat.”That’s a lie. Spill it little man” Grandfather said. Blake looked at him, before leaning his back on the sofa. He looked up at the ceiling before closing his eyes.”Grandfather why are women so complicated?” He asked turning his head towards his grandfather.”Because that’s how they are created. They are the most strongest and most delicate creation you can ever find. So what woman is troubling my grandson now” Grandfather Beau asked as he continued eating.”Why do you and Jake think I’m being troubled by a woman? I only asked a question” Blake said defensively.”Are you not?” Grandfather Beau asked.”Well I wasn’t bothered at least not until today, when she said those things. But I wasn’t at fault you know” Grandfather Beau looked at him and sighed. It seems this stupid grandson of his, has troubled one of Heavens important creation.”What happened?” Grandfather asked as he returned his attention back to his food. He hasn’t forgotten he has to eat up and get rid of the evidence before Jake returns. But Blake hesitated.”You don’t have to think about anything. Just tell me so granpa can help you. Now out with it. What did she say, and most importantly what did you do?” Grandfather urged him, making Blake sigh in.”You promise to help me right? Because I think Jake might be wrong that she likes me and I also think his idea might not work, since I have confirmed she’s truly vexed” Blake sighed again.”Wait, you met your brother for advice regarding a woman?” Grandfather Beau was shocked, but was even more stunned when Blake nodded in approval.”You met your brother, Jake Beau, an infamous casanova to give you advice?” Grandfather Beau couldn’t believe it. How do one go to seek knowledge from someone who was ignorant as himself or maybe even worse. This was surely a case of when the blind leads the blind.”Grandfather, that’s your grandson” Blake said not liking the fact that their grandfather was calling his brother a casanova, even though he was, he still shouldn’t call him that. For Christ sake, he was their grandfather.”What? It’s not my fault that you seeked adviced from someone as clueless as yourself. Alright just tell me what happened””So she got me surratti perfume as a gift on my birthday…””Awwnn…how romantic” Grandfather Beau teased as he chewed on his food with delight.”Grandfather!””I’m sorry. It just that it’s your favorite that’s why. Continue” Blake looked at him with angry eyes but he continued anyway.”So I invited her to my birthday party, and she came looking so beautiful in her blue dress and her cute…” he paused when he realized he was going off course. “I mean she came really dressed up, and I couldn’t get to talk to her or thank her, and she has been acting strange since then” He explained.”So why didn’t you talk to her. I mean a girl gives you a gift which happens to be your favorite perfume with a limited edition. I can’t begin to imagine the stress of getting her hands on one, and she comes to your party looking pretty, and you ignored her?” Grandfather Beau couldn’t believe it. He was beginning to feel bad for that girl. He’d sure be ten times more angry.”It wasn’t my fault. Kyle and Hillary showed up at the time. So I left to handle that then by the time I returned she was gone” He said covering his face with the back of his palm, that he didn’t notice the change in his grandfather’s eyes.”They were there?” He asked in a slightly cold tone.”Yeah. And today I met her at the mall and I asked her if she was angry and you wouldn’t believe her reaction grandfather””Amy are you angry?” Blake had asked her at the KFC outlet. Amy was surprised by his question, but what shocked her the most was the fact that Blake had called her Amy without the honorifics. She slowly turned to him and at him, surprise written in her face. She wasn’t that question in not in this place of all places.”What did you say?” Amy asked, not sure if she was probably hearing things.”Asked if you are angry?” Blake repeated himself. That wasn’t what Amy was aiming for she had heard that part. But did he call her Amy and not miss Amy or Miss Walker as he usually does.”Why would you think that?” Amy asked back.”Because you’ve been acting different, like did something wrong. You know, since the party, you’ve been acting up” Blake explained with his eyes fixed on her.’Acting up? He thinks I’ve been acting up?’ Amy was getting riled by that statement. But she just looked at him and faked smile, “I’m not angry””But why do I think you’re lying?” Blake asked with a firm voice.”Of course I’m lying” Amy roared in anger, frightening poor Blake. He looked around and he was slightly relieved that the shop wasn’t so filled with a lot of customers. There were only a few people who were eating and minding their business.”I’m so angry, damn angry. Do you know how I had a sleepless night picking a gift for you, not that you asked for it, but I did. I looked my best at your party and you snobbed me like I didn’t matter. And you couldn’t even give a proper apology rather you came asking about my brother. So yes I am damn angry” Amy spat out in anger. She knew that was not the reason why she was angry at him. This boy was so daft that he couldn’t see the fact she liked him. That she was dying for him to notice, not just as a colleague but as a woman. But this pretty fool, wouldn’t see that.Blake was stunned, he didn’t expect that. To him the apology he had rendered to her at her office was enough, so why was she still angry at him. Blake was lost for words, he stared at her for minutes but nothing came out of his mouth. It was at this point he observed the judgemental eyes of the fee customers in the restaurant whose look was saying” You shouldn’t have done that man”.Blake was supposed to say something right, but what? Should he say sorry to apologize again? What should he do?Amy sighed when she observed his lost look, “Don’t bother about that. I’m sorry for saying those things. After all you’re still my boss. I’ll get going” Amy said with a sullen look before walking away. Blake watched her retreating figure, should he stop her? Stop her and say what? He sighed and slouched his shoulders before leaving the restaurant.”You just walked away? Just like that?” Grandfather Beau couldn’t had done that…or rather done nothing.”What should I have done?” He asked, utterly confused.”Apologize” Grandfather Beau said.”But I already did” He said in frustration.”If she’s still angry, that means it wasn’t good enough and I think miss angsty likes you””You think so too?” Blake asked totally stupified. Why does everyone think Amy might like him?”Yeah…I think she does and maybe that’s why she’s being angry with you.” Grandfather said, matter of factly. Grand father Beau thinks Amy’s anger must go beyond the fact that Blake had ignored her at the party or did not acknowledge her gift. There has got to be something else. So what else could it be if not the fact she likes him, but his stupid grandson could not see that.”But..””You should consider dating someone soon. It won’t kill you if you do, you know?” Grandfather cut in.”But not if I kill him first” Jake’s cold voice came roaring through the room.’ Oh no!’________Jade was at a loss, when she saw Amy’s gloomy look. This wasn’t the Amy she had expected to see when she arrived the mall. She had expected Amy to hound her about her whereabouts and she had kept her waiting. Jade had made a number of ways in her head to avert answering those questions, but here she was completely dissappointed. Amy hasn’t said more than five complete sentences since they started shopping. She had a look on her face that Jade had interpreted as her angry and frustrated look.Jade was holding the clothes Amy had passed to her to try out in the changing room. She stood with the clothes in hand as she silently stared at Amy who was looking through some skirts on the clothe rack. Amy paused her actions when she observed Jade wasn’t heading to the changing room, but she was staring at her intently.”Why aren’t you changing? Go on and change” Amy said returning Jade’s gaze on her.”Amy what’s wrong with you?” Jade asked with concern.”Nothing” Amy replied returning her attention to her search for skirts or was pretending to. She could only do that to avoid Jade’s scrutinizing gaze. She knew Jade could tell someone was bothering her just by looking at her.”For someone who I have known for years and who would probably be chatty while I try on this clothes, you are damn too taciturn right now and I don’t like it. So for the last time what’s wrong with you?” This time Jade asked her with a threatening look, although her words were still filled with concern for her friend.Amy understood that look and voice very well. She looked at Jade and gently shook her head, “I don’t know Jade. I really don’t know” Amy said with a low and pained voice.”What happened?” Jade asked dropping the clothes in her hand before leading Amy to sit on one of the seats at the side of the boutique.”It’s so difficult Jade. It’s so difficult trying not to like him anymore. That damn boy is just being unfair to me and he’s making my life difficult” Amy spat out in vexation. Even now, she didn’t know if she should be angry or sad and maybe cuss at him with all her heart.”You mean Mr dreamy?” Jade asked just to be sure, while Amy nodded affirmatively.”What did he do now?” Jade asked.”You remember you asked me to make him notice me right?” Jade nodded in concur. “Well you know I did, I got him a gift on his birthday, slayed to his party just to get his attention, I openly flirt with him, and do a lot of things to make him notice me. I always try to send a hint to him that I like him, but that damn pretty boy can’t see that…” Her speech trailed for a brief moment like she was looking for the next word to say or maybe the words she was about to say next weighed a ton in her heart.”He still doesn’t look at me that way” Amy said as her tone reduced from one who was vexed to a lovelorn one.”You know I like the fact that he flirts around, but only verbally. His just like an harmless pet, I still want to tame. But this days I can’t take it anymore. I don’t like it when he flirts with the girls at work anymore, and I hate the fact that he won’t look at me the way I want him to. I’m just pining for him even when I don’t want to, I still can’t stop myself. I really wish I can hate him. I want to hit that stupid pretty face of his and probably, probably just kill him.” Jade didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. She was beginning to fear for the young man’s future. He had better reciprocate Amy’s feelings soon or else he might find himself in a rectangular box soon with thousands of chrysanthemum hovering over it.But she could tell that Amy truly liked this guy and she was pained that he hasn’t acknowledged her. She hasn’t heard or seen Amy act this way because of a guy, since her last relationship. Even when she had dated, Amy never behaved in such manner. Her heart ached for her friend. Amy has liked this dreamy guy for a very long time and she could see how frustrated Amy was about it.”Amy you’ve got to calm down okay” Jade comforted her.”I’m trying to be calm, but I can’t keep my temper in check anymore. I feel like pouncing on him and beating the shit out of him till he sees that I like him and he begins to do the same” She said fiercely. Jade gaped when she heard Amy say those words so seriously. Wasn’t Amy being too forceful with her feelings? She was going to beat the guy till he likes her back?”Amy I don’t think there would be any need for that. Why don’t you use all this energy and tell him exactly how you feel. Tell him you like him, and that you’ve been crushing and heaven knows you can’t stop…””Who said I can’t?” Amy asked defiantly interrupting Jade.”If you can, then why are we having this conversation right now?, in a boutique where we are supposed to be shopping. But here you’re cussing at him breathlessly” Jade rebutted.”Its…””Just shut up and listen to me. The Amy I know is a brave and smart girl. She takes the lead in everything she does, so why not now? Do what you know how to do best, be bold. Just talk to him and tell him how you feel. Sitting here and whining about all the reasons why you should hate him isn’t doing you any good. He isn’t some psychic who can tell all the girls that are in love with him. I’m sure there are other girls who are still drooling over him, so stop acting like a child and go talk to that if he is really who you like” Jade said in a firm tone. Amy stared at her silently like she was assimiliting all Jade has just said.”You think I should do that?” Amy asked with uncertainty.”Yes Amy. What’s the worst that could happen? He’d reject you? But I don’t think you’d feel worse than you’re now. That would only give you some closure to completely forget him and move on. There are so many fishes in the sea. You might just catch a bigger one””But what if….” Amy tried saying again.”Shut up!” Jade glared at her. “Has love made you so stupid that you just won’t see reasons” Jade asked with a mock glare.”That’s rich coming from a girl who didn’t see the writings on the wall, when she foolishly dated the devil’s pawn for 4years” Amy refuted, making Jade burst out with laughter and Amy joined too.”Good that you haven’t forgotten to laugh. Don’t worry if he tries to reject you we can always try two things” Jade said with a serious piqueing Amy’s interest.”What are they?” Amy asked interstedly.”Reverse psychology. I heard things like that work in guys” Jade said lowering her voice.”Really? What’s that?””That’s an assignment for you, after all I’m not the one drooling over a guy. I just happened to stumble upon it on some random site” Jade sighed. Amy eyed her wickedly.”So what’s the other?” Amy asked. Though she wasn’t interested in hearing it anymore, she still asked.”We can always hire so thugs to beat him up till he gets some sense. After all that’s one of your many methods” Jade said with a non chalant shrug. Amy stared at her agape. Here she was thinking Jade had a reasonable idea that could really be useful, but that was it?”Well come on, I think that’s enough with your lovelorn troubles. Let’s get back to shopping, before they kick us out or worse stare at us like shoplifters” Jade said pulling up Amy by the hand.”Okay” Amy replied. Her mood a bit lifted than it was a while ago.”But wait” Amy pulled back at Jade’s shirt.”First tell me where you were. Today was a Saturday and you never go out, except on rare occasions when you go to work. And don’t lie with your mother, cause I called her.” Amy warned. Jade was completely taken unaware by her question. What was she to say to Amy now? She can’t tell her about her deal with Jake. Amy was smart and she’ll probably suspect her of having something with her boss, especially since he was a promiscuous entity.”I…had some..errands to run” Jade said guiltily. She turned away trying to avoid Amy’s gaze. Amy observed Jade’s awkward way of replying.”Jade are you seeing someone?””No!” Jade exclaimed.”Then who did you go to see? I know you well enough. And I think you’re hiding something from me” Amy said matter of factly.”Well I’m not” Jade declared firmly before walking to grab the clothes she had earlier wanted to try.”Don’t worry I’ll find out what it is” Amy said with determination.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 45
