#THE_SACRIFICE
EPISODE 19
Lair couldn’t wait till the close of work to pick up Amy, so they could both pay Jade a surprise visit. It felt like the day was going by slowly, and with each tock of the clock the more impatient he bec@m£.
When Amy told him about everything that happened with Jade and Cale, he was mad. All he wanted at that moment was to return home and personally deal with Cale. He couldn’t believe Cale would do something that hurtful to Jade. He thought about calling her, but he had dismissed the idea because he knew he will be visiting home soon. The image of Jade crying made him uneasy.
Jade had been his best friend before he applied for medical school. He still hasn’t forgotten that fateful day, when she had helped him talk his way out from a misun-derstanding with some hoodlums who had tried has-sling him. He had the impression that she was a fearless and intelligent girl and they bec@m£ friends since then. They had bonded so well, that he had no room for other female friends.
It wasn’t until Jade gained admission in the same college as Amy, and he had introduced them to each other, did his crazy little sister poach his best friend from him. But he didn’t mind that at all, because the idea of a trio friendsh!psounded super awesome to him. And that way both girls could always look out for each other in school.
He always visited them during the weekends so they could have fun together. Those were blissful days.
But all that changed when Cale stepped into the picture. He slowly distanced himself when Cale bec@m£ uncomfortable with his proximity with Jade. Cale wasn’t comfortable with the idea of his girlfriend having a male best friend. Though he never liked Cale for Jade, but he knew Jade loved Cale, and he didn’t want to make things awkward for her by ma-king her choose between him and Cale. Amy’s dislike for Cale increa-sed a million times when he ruined their friendsh!p.
Lair was estactic when he got his leave approved, and immediately he started rescheduling his surgeries and last lectures with his students at the dep@rtment of pharmacology.
Soon he was heading for Jade’s home with Amy at the pas-s£nger’s seat. He had driven to Amy’s office to pick her up before heading there together.
Lair noticed Amy’s awkward look on him as he drove. He turned to look at her briefly before returning his attention to the road.
“Why are you giving me that look?” He asked her when he couldn’t take it anymore.
“You won’t try to steal her back from me right?” Amy asked the question that has been on her mind since Lair c@m£ to pick her up.
“What do you mean steal her from you?” He asked taking a quic-k look at her. “You poached her from me remember?” He said.
“You can’t take her back. She’s mine now! Completely mine” Amy said with a determined look ma-king Lair scoff. He couldn’t believe Amy was being insecure with him. If someone was to hear them now, he/she will think they were love rivals.
“I’m not stealing her from you okay Missy. I just missed her and I missed us hanging out together” He said. And by ‘us’ he meant all three of them.
“So you didn’t miss me?” Amy asked raising her brows at him with her arms folded across her che-st.
“Tsk. Who’d miss you with all your craziness?” He asked her with a straight face. He chuckled when he saw her glare at him.
“I missed you too pumpkin” He said with a smile as he slightly ruffled Amy’s hair with his hand.
“Don’t do that” Amy exclaimed as she tried fixing her hair back.
“Trying to look pretty like you have a b©yfri£nd” Lair said in a low voice, which earned him a sma-ck in his arm.
Minutes later they pu-ll-ed up in front of Jade’s house.
“Hope you brou-ght gifts for us?” Amy asked as they walked to the porch.
“I did bring gifts but they are not for you” Lair replied as he rang the door bell, while Amy eyed him.
“Coming” a voice said from inside. From how tiny and girly it sounded, they knew that was Jade.
Jade was dumbfounded when she opened the door and saw Lair standing there with a hvge grin on his face.
“Lair!!” She squealed excitedly as she jumped on him in excitement, hvgging him really ti-ghtly. She buried her face on the crook of his n£¢k as a tear sli-pped down her eyes. This were tears of joy. Her heart has missed her best friend so-rely.
Lair wra-pped his hands around her as he laughed while she hvgged him ti-ghtly like a koala. He missed her too. Words wouldn’t be enough to express how much they’ve missed each other for the past few years.
Seconds after, Jade recluntantly let go as Lair dropped her on the ground. She looked at him with a gape mouth. She couldn’t believe Lair was standing right in front of her.
“Lair?” She called out again in unbelief. It’s been too long since she last saw him.
“Don’t get too excited, he c@m£ back empty handed” Amy said before pushing her way into the house.
“Don’t mind her. She’s just been insecure again” He said with a smile as he took a step closer to Jade who was still staring at him intensely with red eyes. “I’ve missed you Koshka” Lair said as he pu-ll-ed her into another warm hvg.
“I missed you too Lair” Jade said with a smile as she hvgged him back.
“I can’t believe you are here?” Jade said with a smile, pu-lling away from the hvg to look at Lair thor0ûghly. She really couldn’t believe this was Lair in flesh and blood.
“Are you both coming in or what?” Amy called out to them.
“Let’s go in before she comes out with her vixen eyes” Lair said ma-king Jade laugh.
“Amy why didn’t you tell me Lair was coming back?” Jade asked with a small frown.
“Don’t ask me, ask him” Amy said pointing at Lair, while Jade turned to him with a questioning look.
“Come on I just wanted to surprise you” Lair said with a fond smile. “I really missed you and I wanted to see your reaction when you see me, and believe me it was satisfying. You don’t know how impatient I have been all day to see you open your mouth agape with drool sli-pping down” He said bur-sting into laughter, while Jade glared at him.
Everyb©dy knew Jade’s signature surprise expression. It was always an epic sight.
“Where’s mom and Kelvin?” He asked when he noticed he hadn’t seen them.
“I just got back from work and I haven’t seen either of them” Jade said with a shrug. She was about calling her mom when she heard the door bell ring.
“Okay”
“So i got news for you ladies” He said as he sat between both ladies before putting his arms across there shoulders.
“What news?” Amy asked disinterestedly.
“We are going for a p@rty this friday”
“p@rty?” Amy asked with a confused look. When did he return that he alre-ady knew of a p@rty.
“Yes p@rty” Lair replied with a smile.
“I thought you just c@m£ back, so how did you suddenly get invited to a p@rty?” Jade asked the exact question on Amy’s mind.
“Does that matter?” Lair asked.
“Yes it does” Amy and Jade answered simultaneously. They haven’t forgotten the frat p@rty Lair had invited them to while they were in college. That was one of the worst moments of their life. The images of frat boys doing stuffs that shouldn’t be mentioned or remembered was forever etched in their memory.
“An old acquaintance of mine invited me” He replied curtly.
“So do you mind telling us who this friend…or acquaintance is?” Amy asked emphasizing on the word friend, ma-king Lair seriously glare at her. What’s with her and all the questions?
“He’s just a guy I got to know during my first degree” He replied with a hint of annoyance when he noticed she had another question coming.
“Another frat boy?” Amy asked with furrowed brows. There was no way she was going to relive that awful experience that took place in college.
“No!” Lair exclaimed.
“So explain how you met an old friend that has invited you for a p@rty in less than 24 hours?” Amy asked seriously. Lair growled in annoyance. And someone will ask him why sometimes he wished for a koala pet than a sister like Amy?
He turned to look at Jade and he was surprised to see her eagerly waiting for his reply. He gave her a look that interpreted ‘you too?’, but Jade just shrugged her shoulders. Well he should un-derstand their prejudice, after all he was to blame for it.
“I bu-mped into him at your company this morning and he invited me for his birthday p@rty” He said as he recollected his conversation with Blake.
——-
“Long time no see. What are you doing here?” Blake asked curiously.
“I’m here to see my sister” Lair replied.
“You’ve got a sister who works here?” Blake asked with surprise.
“Yeah” Lair nodded.
“No way!” Blake exclaimed ma-king Lair chuckle. Blake was still as dramatic as ever.
“I’d love to chat and catch up, but I’ve a birthday to plan…And I’m inviting you. So plea-se bring your sister along” He said with a smile.
“Happy birthday man. So what’s the d@t£?” Lair asked.
“Friday. But I can’t give you a venue yet. It’s kind of spontaneous, and it’s going to be a small gathering. Why don’t I have your number so I can text you the time and venue later” Blake suggested.
“Okay” Lair said, pas-sing his phone to him.
“I’ll text you later. It was nice seeing you again” Blake said.
“Same here” Lair replied before walking away.
——–
“A colleague at my work place?” Amy asked suspiciously.”What’s his name?” She asked again ma-king Lair roll his eyes in frustration.
“His name is Bl…” His voice trailed off when they heard the door open.
“Auntie!” Lair called out excitedly when Grace walked into the house with bags of groceries.
“Lair?” Grace asked in surprise.
“I can’t believe you still look as pretty as ever” He said with a smile as he took the bags from her and hvgged her.
“You tease” Grace said with a smile as she pla-yfully sma-cked his arm.
“Auntie” Amy greeted as she approached them.
“Amy, you are here too” She said with a smile.
She turned to Lair, “When did you get back?” She asked as they walked towards the dinning table.
“Just this morning” He replied.
“Mom, welcome back. Where’s Kelvin?” Jade asked from behind them.
“At the arcade with his friends” Grace told her.
“Auntie I have a request to make” Lair said with a cute smile as he placed an arm around her shoulders.
“Here we go” Amy said as she rolled her eyes at Lair. He’ll never change.
“What?” Grace asked Lair with a smile of her own.
“I missed you so much that I’ve craved for your signature dish. Can you plea-se make some for me?” Lair asked ma-king a cute face.
“Just that?” Grace asked back.
“Yes, and don’t worry Amy alre-ady volunteered to help you” He said, nudging Amy forward.
“When did i…” Amy’s couldn’t believe her brother just did that.
“Don’t worry Amy, I can handle it” Grace said smiling at her.
“No Auntie. She’ll help you. She has to learn how to cook, at least for her b©yfri£nd’s sake” Lair said with an evil smile. This was pay back for not picking him up from the airport.
“Amy you have a b©yfri£ndnow?” Grace asked in suprise.
“Ha who’d be crazy to d@t£ her. But I meant just in case she finds someone who’s crazy enough to” Lair replied ma-king Amy stare daggers at him. Her blood was boiling but she knew she had to be patient. Her pay back will sure be earth shaking.
“Lair st©p teasing her” Grace scolded Lair before turning to Amy, “You shouldn’t mind him. Will you help me in the kitchen?” She asked with a smile.
“Sure” Amy replied as she gr@bb£d the grocery bags and followed Grace to the kitchen, but not without saying, “You’re so dead Lair Walker”.
“You really have no shame” Jade said shaking her head at Lair who had a proud smile on his face. He knew how Amy hated cooking or worst staying in the kitchen.
“I know that alre-ady” He said with a smug smile on his face.
“Let’s sit outside” Jade suggested as she led the way to the porch.
They sat down at the porch silently for some few minutes before Lair broke the silence.
“How are you?” Lair asked her as he looked at her intensely.
“I’m fine, and how are you?” Jade asked back with a smile. She missed having Lair around.
“Come on Jade. Amy told me about it alre-ady. I’m asking how.are.you?” He asked seriously.
“I guess I’m fine” Jade said with a causal smile as she shrugged.
“I know you Jade. I know how you think, how your mind works. I know how you just take your emotions in and lock them in place, hiding it from the world with squared shoulders” He paused.
“I’m asking again, how are you?” Jade slowly turned to look at him silently before turning her gaze from him.
She slowly shook her head, “I don’t know” She replied, ma-king Lair move closer as he wra-pped his arm around her shoulders.
Lair had been her friend for so long and he knew the kind of person Jade was. He was here when her father died of colon cancer and he saw how devastated she was, but she held a smile everyday just to be strong for her mother and brother, even when her heart was in shackles. He watched Jade study like life depended on it so she could gain a scholarsh!pfor college, and still worked p@rt time just to help her mother pay the mortgage when the bank almost foreclosed on them. He knew Jade more than she knew herself.
“Would it be wrong if I say, I still feel hurt?” She asked as she turned to look at him.
“No, it only makes you human” He replied sofly, returning her gaze.
“I don’t want to be human Lair. I don’t want to feel this hurt. This past few days I had to lie to myself, even to Amy that I’m fine and that I can do it. But I can’t st©p my heart from feeling the pain of his betrayal” She said as her voice lowered, while her eyes slowly turned red.
“He hurt me you know. I’ve been asking myself what I did wrong. How I went wrong? What I lacked? If I’m not good enough for him or anyone. If I was stupid or if I was too blind to see him for what he was…my heart hurts more for being a fool, for believing in what’s not” A tear glided down her cheek. This myriads of questions have been suffocating her for days.
“It’s okay Jade. Just so you know, you’re more than good enough for any man out there, and you did nothing wrong in loving someone neither do you lack a thing in your life. You’re just perfect for any man and far too perfect for Cale. He is a fool for not seeing that” He said as he wiped the tears off her face.
“Perfect huh??” Jade asked sarcastically.
“Believe me you’re. And you deserve someone better. I don’t want you to hide all your pain in your heart. You have me, Amy, Auntie and even Kelvin. So when you’re trying to be bold and tough, also try talking to us” He said ma-king Jade nod.
“What did you do to her?” Amy called from behind them as she glared at Lair before walking over to sit by Jade.
“Nothing, we’re just talking” Lair replied.
“What did he do to you?” Amy asked pu-lling Jade from Lair’s arm to hvg her instead.
“I’m Sorry Amy” Jade said as more tears ran down her cheeks.
“What for?” Amy asked in a quiet tone, slowly patting down her back.
“For hiding my emotions about the breakup thing from you”
“Shhh…It’s okay. Why did you think I called Lair. I know he’d make you get it all out” Amy comforted her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bother you or make you feel sad for me”
“I know honey. That’s why we have Lair to do all the worrying stuff” Amy said ma-king Jade’sl-ips twitch slightly.
“So how about we go to that p@rty Lair talked about?” Amy asked with raised brows.
“But that’s on Friday” Lair exclaimed. He had not mentioned the day earlier on.
“Friday? So why are just telling us now?” Amy asked shooting daggers at him.
“You didn’t ask me missy” Lair replied with an equal glare.
“Tomorrow is friday” Jade added.
“So guys should look pretty. I want guys to shamelessly gawk at you both. So make me proud” He said standing up.
“And where are you going?” Amy asked with an irritated tone.
“To check on my food duh!” He replied without looking back at her.
“Glutton” Amy cussed out.
“I heard that” Lair said from inside the house ma-king Jade laugh. She missed this two crazy sibling.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 20