Chapter 20: The New Beginning
3 years later…
"Momma, didn't I told you not to move and just rest?"
Grandma Ruby pouted and left the dishes. "But pumpkin, I can definitely do it." She flexes her muscles and patted it. "See that? I'm still strong!"
Riley sighed and shook her head on her grandma who's really a hard-headed one. She continued to wash her grandma's dishes and afterwards, she cooked for her lunch.
She glanced at her wrist watch. "Momma, my Master Jake will fetch me up today. We're going to the amusement park." She kissed her cheeks. "See you later."
"Take care, pumpkin!"
"I will! Don't work yourself!" She reminded her before leaving the apartment near the mansion where she works.
A smile crept on her lips when a Tesla car stopped in front of her then the driver stepped out of the vehicle.
"Wow. You use your Tesla now?"
Jake grinned and fixed his necktie on his suit. Then he winked at her. "Yep. It's our first date, remember? I have to make a good impression."
Her eyes dropped down on the simple crop top, ripped jeans partner with leather boots and leather jacket.
She glanced at him and asked. "Should I change?"
Jake smiled. "Nope. Don't. You look incredible. Like a real badass girl."
"Yeah, right. And you look like a businessman who's attending a meeting." She crossed her arms over her shoulders. "Didn't you said we're going to the amusement park?"
Jake scratched his nape. "Yeah?"
"Well, I'm not saying that you have to change but, have you noticed that that's not a proper outfit depending on where we are going?"
Jake sighed. "Yes but I didn't know what to wear. I've never been on dates or with a woman. And you're my first."
"Wow. With a flirt like you, you've never been on dates with a woman before?" She was shaking her head in disbelief.
"Ahm, nope. Never." He opened the door of the passenger seat for her. "Hop in, Madame."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't call me that."
He knew that she hates being called 'Madame' so he always teases her with that word that wrecks her eardrum.
She heard Jake chuckled as he went back to the driver's seat. "Okay. Sweetie then."
Riley smiled. "Better."
Like Jake said, they went to the amusement park to start their first date.
They were taking some random stuff and joking around when she saw the condo where she stayed for a week three years ago.
And then all of a sudden, he showed up in her mind.
I wonder where you are…
In those three years, she had never seen Jay after she left him at the top hill where his mirror tree house was located. She visits there every weekend assuming that she'll see him there.
But she never sees him there and she stops when she gets busy now that she's back on schooling. She's now studying college Nursing, big thanks to her Masters and Madame Lacey who supported her and her finances.
She promised to her grandma when she finished her surgery that she will become a surgeon someday and treat people who need her help.
And someday, I'll be able to find you where you were. Please be safe.
Partly, she blames herself that her Master Jay's disappeared just like that. If she weren't left him there, maybe he's still here where she sees him.
Madame Lacey and her Masters also didn't know where Jay was. But Ethan always tells her that he's somewhere safe and happy. It's a relief for her to hear that but somehow, she misses his presence at the mansion. How he bullies her, makes fun of her and teases her. She missed all of that. But she had no rights to demand. It's her fault why he disappeared like that after all.
"Hey! Earth to Riley!"
"H-Huh?"
She just realised that the car stopped at the parking lot.
"We're here. But it seems like you're on another planet." Jake said.
"Sorry, I think I'm just hungry."
He stepped out and opened the door for her. "Did you eat breakfast?"
She smirked. "Ahm, no."
He tsked and held her hand then he pulled her to the stool of food.
"Pick what you want and I'll buy it." He pointed to the stool of hotdogs. "How about that? Oh, I think your stomach wouldn't be full when you eat hotdogs."
He pulled her again to look at others when her eyes caught something.
"Wait. I want that." She pulled him at the corn stool.
"Sweet corn? Since when did you like corn?"
Since the first day I saw his grumpy face and brought him some.
"Well, I'm just craving."
She felt relieved when Jake didn't ask anymore. Jake stepped out and said he's going to buy a fruit shake so they parted ways while she's waiting for her sweet corn.
"One order, please."
Her eyes widened when she heard a very familiar voice beside her. She turned her head to see the person who ordered beside her.
Her heart suddenly beat faster than normal when she saw the man that always bothered her mind within three years.
The man felt her presence so he faced her. Doubled the fast beat of her heart.
But what shocked her is that, he just threw him a glance and looked away like she's just a stranger to him.
W-What change?
The only change to him is his hair. Last time she saw him three years ago it was black hair. And now, it's blonde. His jawline becomes more proud and pointed. His lips were still reddish and his eyebrows… It's still the same as before.
His intimidating looks… He still looks like an angry bird.
"Here you go, ma'am."
The lady that sells corn handed her order. She takes the corn and grabs her wallet inside her pocket while didn't taking her eyes off the man.
Her eyebrows furrowed when she didn't feel something inside her pocket.
Oh, God… I forgot my wallet!
Shit! What do I do! Jake's still not here!
Her heart is now palpitating in so much embarrassment while the lady was waiting for her payment and other customers were looking at her including the man's intimidating eyes on her.
"U-Uhm, I-I forgot my wallet, I'm sorry." She looked down. "I will not take it."
She was about to leave when someone spoke.
"Take it, Miss. I'll pay for it."
She gasped and faced him. "N-No need…" She stilled when he's staring at her. "Jay…"
His eyebrows tugged up. "Do you know me?"
"W-What?"
"I said, do you know me? You just mentioned my name if I did not misheard it." He handed the money to the lady and gave her the corn she ordered. "Here. Take it, Miss. You look like you didn't eat for decades." He examined her from head to toe and he shook his head.
Riley stood at where she stands while holding the corn. Until the man disappeared from her sight, she still couldn't move. She's like a statue holding a corn.
"Riley!"
She came back from her senses when she heard Jake called her. He handed her the fruit shake.
"Sorry to let you wait. Come on, let's start our date."
She nodded. Still spacing out.
After they eat their food, they walk inside the amusement park to dissolve the food they eat.
Then Jake asked her to ride the Viking Pirate Ship. She nodded and let him drag her. When they sat at the very top of the ship, Jake made sure that she's safe and secured while he held her right hand.
"If you're afraid, shout. If you feel dizzy, just close your eyes and I'll hug you. Okay?" he reminded her.
She smiled and nodded. "Okay."
This is easy peasy.
She was ready and excited to start the ride when someone seated opposite to them and in front of them. He's on the left side and the very top of the Viking. Exactly parallel to her.
Why does it have to be now?
Now she felt nervous all of a sudden.
Then the ride starts. Her hand was sweating cold and all she did was gulp her own saliva.
"Woooo! This is fun!" Jake shouted while his other hand was in the air and the other was holding her hand.
Riley bit her lower lip when the ride swung high and low. And when she glanced at the man, he was smirking while looking at her.
Maybe my eyes are making fun of me.
He didn't remember her, right? So why would he laugh at her? But the question is, is he pretending that he didn't know her?
Oh you wanna play? Then let's play.
Smirked and shouted. "Waaaa! Higher!" She raised her both hands to the air. "More! Higher! Waaaa!"
She was laughing until the ride stopped. Jake can't help but to laugh too because of her.
"Let's try another ride?" He asked.
"Oh bring it on, babeh!"
She will definitely have fun today. If he wants to have fun, then she will too. If he plays that he didn't know her, then so be it. This is the start of their new beginning.
I will let him taste his own medicine.
~amph1trite~