Jade packed up his jacket in a bag and got herself ready. She put on a beautiful sundress and a white wedge sandal, it was among the few things Amy had forced her to buy at the last time they went shopping.”You’re going out again?” Grace asked when she noticed Jade was dressed to go out. Jade has been going out lately during the weekends. Not that she didn’t usually go out during weekends, but just that this time it felt different. Usually Jade would hang out with Amy, but then Amy always picked her up, and sometimes brought her back. But she had noticed that hasn’t been the case this past couple of weeks. And last week she had noticed a car drop Jade off.”Yeah I’m going out with a friend. I’ll be back on time” Jade said.”You’re going out with Amy and Lair?” Grace asked. She was sure that wasn’t the case, but she just wanted to ask.”Hmm..not really, but I’ll be seeing them later too” Jade explained.”Okay, so does your friend has a name? Was he the one who dropped you off the last time?” Grace asked inquisitively. She knew Jade was an adult and she could probably take care of herself, but she also wanted to know who ever her daughter has been hanging out with recently. It wouldn’t hurt to know right? After all the world was not as safe as it used to be anymore. The varieties of humans hovering around the world were to many and not all had good intentions. She was only being a mother.”His name is Jake. And yes he was the one that dropped me off””Do you mind if I see him? I mean you have been going out with this Ja..ke recently, It won’t hurt if I know whoever my daughter is hanging out with right?””Mom, he’s just a friend” Jade stated.”One which I don’t know. I haven’t seen him before. Who would I go to or who would I ask questions if something happens to you. I’m just playing my role as a mother. Don’t blame me for doing my job” Grace said in a firm tone.Jade looked at her mother intently and she could tell her mother wasn’t going to take no for an answer.”Okay fine. But don’t forget he’s just my friend and a new friend at that” Jade sounded, making Grace stare at her.”I heard you before. He’s just a friend. I won’t kill him, I promise” Grace said before returning her attention back to the ongoing soap opera she has been watching before Jade walked in.”Sis, do you think you’ll have a new boyfriend soon?” Kelvin asked innocently.”Kelvin!!” Grace and Jade called out simultaneously.”What?” Kelvin asked with an innocent look as he looked from mother to Jade.”Why would you ask your sister that?” Grace asked sternly.”I was only asking. All the girls in my grade have boyfriend and my sister so happens to be way older than them. And after all she has to move on from that ass hole who broke her right?” Kevin said. Grace was speechless after hearing him talk.Well he was kind of right though. It’s been months since Jade broke up with that silly ex boyfriend of hers…about three months if she remembered things correctly. But that two to three months wasn’t enough to get over someone she had dated for years right? And Jade had truly loved him a lot.”Just shut up and don’t ask your sister questions again” Grace chided.”Okay…I was only a caring brother. I really do need a rich brother in-law who can buy me a PS5. Not just anyone, but one with 825gb. So sis when ever you want to pick a man, please up your game and bring us a good one…”Kelvin couldn’t get to finish his statement when Jade smacked him on his arm.Jade was not so keen about her mother’s idea of meeting Jake. She was feeling kind of embarrassed, how was she going to tell Jake that her mother wanted to see him. She wasn’t ashamed of introducing her mother to him, but she just didn’t think it was necessary. She had only agreed to be his friend few hours ago, and now her mother was going to give him an interview?Jade closed her eyes as she tried not to think too much about it. It was fine. If her mother wanted to see him, then there was nothing she could do. Jade’s eyes opened when her phone started ringing, it was Jake on the line. She answered the call with her eyes fixed on her mother, who was equally looking at her.”Hey are you ready?” Came Jake’s voice from over the phone.”Uhm..yeah. Are you here now?” Jade asked, her eyes still staring intently at her mother, but Grace didn’t relent. She has made up her mind to know whoever this friend was.”Yes” Jake replied with a toothy grin. He was eager to spend the day with her.”Hold on, I’ll be with you shortly” Jade said, making a frown appear on Grace’s face.”Okay” Jake replied before disconnecting the call. His eyes scanned around Jade’s house, as he thought about who she lived with.He didn’t know anything about Jade other than the fact that she was an intern at Xenox. Since last night when she had accepted being his friend, Jake had realized that the way he missed her sort of increased. He didn’t know how to describe what he felt, but he couldn’t refrain himself from calling her the moment he got out of bed. And now here he was, right in front of her house on a Sunday morning.”Why are you going when you’re supposed to ask him to come in” Grace asked with a light frown.”That’s what I’m doing. I’m just going to do that” Jade told her. She had wanted to tell Jake to come in when he called, but she thought it was better to meet him and tell him personally. Probably explain why her mother wanted to see him, in case he asks why.”Okay” Grace nodded, while Jade made her way to the door.The moment Jake saw her walking through her door, he felt his heart skipped. This was not his first time seeing Jade in a dress, but this time it was different. The floral dress she had, revealed another part of her, and he has never seen it before. There was something about Jade that always changed whenever she wear particular outfit. It was more like she tried to exude the theme of whatever she had on.Jake couldn’t stop himself from admiring her, as she approached his car. Jade herself looked stunned, but not by the man, but the beast that was parked in front of her. This was different from all the cars she had seen Jake with.He must have so many collections of cars. Jade thought to herself, walking closer towards Jake.Jake jerked back to reality when Jade knocked on the door. He couldn’t believe he has been caught shameleasly staring at her.He rolled the windows, an awkward smile tugging on his face.”Sorry, business thoughts” He said, scratching the back of his neck.”It’s okay” What he didn’t notice was that Jade had not taken note of the way he had been staring at her, as her attention has been captured by his car.Jake stepped out of his car when he remembered there was something he had wanted to ask.”Mr Jake?””Jade?”They both called at the same time. They both stopped themselves from saying another word.”Go on” Jade was the first person to speak.”You’re sure?” Jake asked.”Yeah” Jade nodded. Jake looked at the house behind them, this was his third time being there but he didn’t know if she was living with her family or if she was living alone. Jade has never said anything about her family before, she hasn’t even mentioned the word, except from that time at the hospital when she had mentioned something about her late dad, being a gamer like herself. But today his curiousity was piqued.”Do you live alone?” Jake asked.”Hmm?” Jade was caught unaware by his question. She wasn’t expecting that. Why was he asking so suddenly?Jake looked at her and he saw all the silent questions in her eyes.”Well you haven’t mentioned anything about your family and I really don’t know if you live with yours. I don’t want to offend them or give them a wrong impression, that’s all” He had thought about the time he had dropped her off after their little chat last night. It was pretty late, and now that he thought of it, he was wondering if it would be okay with her family.Jade looked at him silently. She didn’t expect Jake to be that considerate towards things like this. It looked telling him about her mothers request wasn’t going to be that difficult.”Well I live with my mother and my younger brother” Jade said while Jake nodded as he returned his attention back to the house.”Actually my mum would like to see you” Jade said with her eyes closely observing him. Jake instantly returned his gaze at her. What did she just say?”What!” Jake could not believe what he just heard. Hold up! When he said was concerned about what her folks would think of him, he didn’t plan for a family meeting. Being summoned by her mother was something he didn’t anticipate. He didn’t think he was good with mothers. He lost his, when he still so young.And hold on, he came empty handed. This was impromptu. Weren’t people supposed to bring gifts when visiting their elders?Jade felt slightly confused on seeing Jake’s reaction. He looked like he was about to have a panic attack. What should she say now?”But I didn’t bring anything?” Jake blurted out. Jade heaved a sigh a relief when she realized that was what he was worried about. Her lips twitched with a smile on seeing his reactions.”Mr Jake is fine. You don’t have to worry about that” Jade assured him, in an attempt to get him relaxed.But Jake’s neurons were all firing to come up with a solution to this upcoming problem. “Wait, should I rush up to get something for her first?” Jake said. He was only getting to know Jade and trying to get her to feel relaxed around him hasn’t been easy. He didn’t want to do anything bad or take one wrong step that ruin all his efforts.He didn’t know how all this things worked. He has never had a female friend, and the only set of friends he had, he knew them since high school and their parents were sort close to each other, either as friends or as business partners. He has never been faced with such a situation before.Jade’s lips broke in to a smile as she watched Jake. She didn’t know if she should cry or laugh. In all honesty, she was slightly amused by him. She was sort of cute when he acted this way.”Mr Jake its fine, calm down.” Jade said as she took a step close to him and placed a hand on his arm.Jake was halted to a step when he felt her hand on his. He looked at her face as he waited for what she was about to say.”Its okay. It’s only a friendly visit. Not need to get her anything” Jade said in a reassuring tone.”Are you sure?” Jake asked doubtfully. He didn’t think so. His friendship was at stake.”Yeah” Jade nodded with a reassuring smile. Jake slightly felt relieved when he saw her smile.”Okay” Jake nodded. Jade led the way while Jake followed behind. Though he wasn’t feeling that nervous as he felt minutes ago, but he could still hear his heart thump.He never knew visiting a friends home would feel this tough.”Come in” Jade turned to him with a smile as she held the door open for him.Jake felt his heart rate doubled when he saw Jade’s mother standing in front of him with a stoic look on her face. He took a deep breath to calm himself down, be made a quick decision to handle this like his usual business meeting, but he try to be as polite as possible.”Good morning mo…Auntie” Jake greeted out in confusion. He didn’t know how best to address her. He cringed in his head.Grace felt slightly amused by Jake. She could see the confusion on his face. “Good morning, how are you?” Grace asked, her eyes were closely assessing him.”I’m fine and you?” Jake asked politely. Reciprocating her question felt like the best thing to do. Before Grace could say something, Jake anxiously opened his mouth and spoke up first…”Ma, I’m sorry I came empty handed, I didn’t really know I would get the opportunity to see you today, and I must say I’m pleased to see you. And I also want to apologize for bringing Jade home late last night, I’ll try not to repeat the same mistake again and I’ll try my best to look after her whenever we hang out” Jake spluttered. His brain was blaring with alarms, when Grace just stared at him with a scrutinizing look.’Gosh! has he said too much? maybe he shouldn’t have spoken first. What if he sounded disrespectful just now’Grace continued to assess him, he looked like an okay person. And she had to give it to him, for saying the things that were actually on her mind. Saying this things showed how well brought up he was.”Firstly, you don’t have to bring anything. I just wanted to know my daughter’s friend and know who my daughter has been hanging out with. As we all know, times has changed and we parents have to be careful and try our most best to protect our children” Grace said.”So what’s your name?” She asked. Jake almost knocked himself when he realized he hasn’t introduced himself.”My name is Jake, ma. Jake Beau” He told her, while Grace nodded like she was memorizing the name. Well she was, she needed something just in case something happened to her daughter.”My name is Grace and that’s my son Kelvin” She said pointing to Kelvin who has been silently observing his mother little interrogative section going on behind him with rapt attention, finally lifted up his head.”Good morning” Kelvin waved from his seat, not daring to move, just in case his mother was willing to spank him.”Good morning” Jake greeted back with a wave and good natured smile.”I am Kelvin, Jade’s little bro and her favorite son” Kelvin said in a jocular manner, as he pointed his chin to Grace. Jake’s smile widened at Kelvin’s sense of humour. Kelvin looked like a cool kid.”And I’m Jake, Jade’s friend. Nice to meet you” Jake took a few step forward to give him a hand shake.”Nice to meet you too” Kelvin took his hand for a shake.”Well, that would be all. I’m sorry for the imprompt invite” Grace apologized. “I just wanted to see you, nothing much, and just incase something happens, I know who’s name to call” Grace said with a smile, but Jake knew she meant every word.She knew Jade’s only friends were Amy and Lair, and knowing Jade as someone who rarely made friends, she was surprised to see she had a new friend, and that was why she was interested.”I completely understand” Jake said with an understanding smile.”Okay, that’s it. I guess you both can be on your way now” She finally said. She would have resounded the need for him to take care of her daughter, but she didn’t want to sound too overprotective of her daughter, and Jade had already mentioned they were just friends, so recounting it might imply something else and that could make Jade feel embarrassed. So telling him might sound a little too much.Knowing his name was fine for now, at least that was something. And from the way he looked and talked, she could guess he was a good man.”You guys should go now” Grace urged them to leave, before Kelvin would open up his mouth and say something embarrassing. That child has no mouth filter and she see the way his mouth was twitching to say something.”Okay” Jade picked up her bag and the extra bag containing Jake’s jacket.”I’ll see you later guys okay” Jade said as she walked ahead to the door waiting for Jake to follow.”Ma, thanks for having me. Hope to see you some other time” Maybe by then he wouldn’t come empty handed.”Sure. You guys take care” Grace said with a smile, her hands were resting on her waist as she watched them leave.”Mom, doesn’t he look rich?” Kelvin asked his mother, the moment Jade and Jake walked out of the house. He hurried off to the window to take a look at them, or rather to look if Jake had come with a car.His eyes popped and almost fell out of their sockets when he saw Jake’s car leisurely packed outside their house. A deafening scream escaped his mouth startling Grace.”What is it?” Grace asked as she sprattled to her feet.”Mom, come look” Kelvin cried out excitedly. Grace suddenly felt nervous by Kelvin’s reaction. She rushed to the window to see what it was, for herself.Grace was also surprised to see the model of Jake’s car. It was one of those cars they saw their adverts on Television. She had the feeling Jake was well to do, but she didn’t know it was to this extent.She turned to Kelvin and smacked him on his arm. “Ouch…mom!” Kelvin cried out in pain.”Is this why you nearly gave me a heart attack?” Grace scolded him lightly.”I was only surprised. That’s my first time of seeing that car, it’s a Bugatti mom. Gosh it looks so cool” Kelvin chirped excitedly, completely forgetting about his hurting arm as he resumed drooling over the car.Kelvin hopped behind his mother back to the sofa “Mom do you think it’s possible if sister could date that guy. Ah! that way I can get a ride in his car” Kelvin squealed again with excitement, he could already envision himself in Jake a car… That would be awesome. He squealed in his head.Grace raised her hand to knock his head. “You’re just a little gold digger. Thank God you’re not my daughter, or else I would have been so worried about the life decisions you’ll make” Grace chided.”Mom!””What?” Grace asked back.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 68
