#THE_SACRIFICE
EPISODE 77
©Sir Zach
Jake awkwardly cleared his throat while taking a look at Jade. From the way she was looking at him, it seemed she hadn’t caught on to what he has said.
“Come on, it’s just a game you don’t have to sulk” He said in a comforting tone. He was beginning to feel regretful for bullying her at a game. Maybe he should have let pride get into his head and should have let her win.
He sighed when Jade countenance remained the same. The angry pout was still on herl-ips and by God that slight action was doing something to him.
She kept doing things that made lewd thoughts go throu-gh his head. She’d sometimes bit her netherl-ips or like in this case pout those her pink soft and alluringl-ips. Jake was thinking too much herl-ips.
“Come on it’s just a game” He moved closer. Why was she acting this way when she had also won the game the last time.
Jade looked at him from the corner of her eyes, her frown not leaving her face one bit. She didn’t know why she was acting like a five year old kid, but she couldn’t help it. For some unknown and awkward reason she liked the fact that was trying to placate her and was probably regretting his actions of winning her thrice in a roll. And the thought of not eating those eggs was really annoying her. She wanted the eggs.
“The egg Benedict is all yours, so st©p frowning” He told her. He didn’t know how to plac noate her other than giving her the eggs.
“Really?” Jade suddenly turned to him with an excited grin on her face. She bit herl-ips in embarras-sment when she realized she had just given herself away.
“Yes it’s all yours” Jake as-sured her.
“Yes!” Jade cheered the moment Jake agreed. “Come-on let’s go” Jade jumped to her feet and hurried off to the kitchen downstairs.
“Jake you’re the best friend in the whole world” Jade said as she took a hvge bite of the egg. It seems the second round of egg Benedict was more delicious than the previous one.
Jake stood by the stairs as she watched her with amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Are you sure you want your friend Amy to hear that?” Jake tea-sed with a chuckle, pausing Jade from chewing her food.
“No can’t tell her that. She’ll kill me. I can’t even pick Lair over her. To be more precise, you’re my third best friend. Amy is first, Lair is second and you’re third” She rambled. Jake chuckled at her rambling. As cute as she was while saying those things while eating that he somehow wanted to rush over and poke those cheeks of her, he also felt hurt by her words. Not literal hurt, but he wasn’t happy that that Lair guy c@m£ before him in Jade’s heart.
Why would some other guy come before him? He didn’t know why, but he wanted to before anyone else. He wanted to own her heart.
Jake didn’t know what he was doing but he found himself slowly approaching Jade till he stood before him.
“What?” Jade asked when Jake stood beside her with an inscrutable look, his eyes intensely staring at her and slightly ma-king her uncomfortable.
“Who do you like more? Lair or Me?” He asked.
“What?!” Jade was shocked by that abrupt and absurd question. What does he mean by that? She thought he was trying to make a joke or tease her as always, she when she observed how serious he looked, she instinctively swallowed.
She suddenly didn’t know how to respond to his question. It was a simple answer of I like Lair more, but somehow she didn’t feel that was the right answer at the moment. Why does she feel like Jake might not like that answer and she also wouldn’t like to see him sad or angry.
‘Wait, why is she even considering his feelings right now’ She was just going to say the truth.
But instead of saying I like Lair more or something related to that, Jade said, “I’m sorry I can’t say who I like more. The both of you are in my heart as great friends and the both of you matter to me” She pursed herl-ips after saying that, glancing at Jake who’s face was still stoic.
Jade didn’t know what he was thinking, but his gaze was so intense on her ma-king her shift uncomfortably on her seat.
Jake continued to look at her, his emotions was a mess. He wasn’t thinking straight, more like he wasn’t thinking at all. He knew she was replying his question because herl-ips were moving but he didn’t hear anything except when she said they both matter to her. This was because all of Jake’s attention was zeroed on herl-ips and they way they moved while she spoke made him go blank.
With his eyes locked to her, Jake took a step closer to Jade, ma-king her shift uncomfortably. Her heart began to race, thumping ha-rd against her che-st when Jake took another and he was bow standing so close to her…too close.
“Wh….what are you doing?” Jade asked nervously. She wanted to sl!poff the stool but she found herself glued to it.
Her heart nearly went berserk when Jake started leaning closer. Her eyes were darting panickly. ‘What was he trying to do?’
“Jake!” Jade snapped but to her surprise the man didn’t budge, but rather leaned over and gr@bb£d his keys that were at the other side of the counter.
“What?!” Jake finally turned and ask. Jade was dumbfounded when she realized what just happened. Jake c0cked a brow at her questioningly.
“Nothing” Jade said. Why did he have to lean past her just so he could pick the damn keys? He could have easily walked to the other side if he so wanted to pick his keys.
“Are you done?” Jake asked, while Jade nodded.
“Okay let’s go” He said picking his suit Jacket from the chair he had placed it.
“Where?” Jade asked in confusion.
“Home. I’m taking you home” Jake replied before sli-pping himself into the Jacket as he turned towards the door.
He frowned when he noticed Jade was still sitted, giving him an awkward look.
“What? You don’t want to go? I promised your mom…” He chuckled when she immediately jumped off the chair.
…..
*Inside Jake’s car*
Jade kept stealing glances at Jake as they drove to her house. He still had that expressionless look on his face and it was ma-king her uncomfortable. She didn’t like it. She didn’t know if he was angry or something. Was he angry with by chance?
“Is everything alright?” Jade asked with concern.
Jake spared her a glance before returning his attention back to the road.
“Yeah, why?”
“I don’t know. You just seem…off” She shrugged.
“I’m okay” He replied. If only that was true. He wasn’t okay at all. That slight moment earlier at his place has thrown his alre-ady messed up heart into chaos.
He wondered how he had refrained himself from k!ss!ngher. God he wanted to k!ssher s-en-seless. He wanted to have her so badly, not a s-en-sual kind of way…wait what was he saying?
Not s-en-sual? He wanted her, not just her b©dy, he wanted her whole.
He didn’t like the fact that there was some guy he had to share her with or that there was an ex-b©yfri£ndstill lur-k-ing around her at work. He was completely losing his mind. Jade was messing him up so bad and she doesn’t even know it.
He turned to look at her and their eyes met.
“What is it now?” He asked when he caught her staring at her.
“For some reason I think you’re acting really strange” She hissed. Naturally, she’d have let him be when he said he was fine, but somehow she couldn’t.
“I’m not acting strange. I’m fine” He as-sured her.
“Okay if you say so.” She shrugged again. “So when are you keeping to your end of the deal?” Jade asked when she remembered he was yet to keep to his word.
“Deal? What deal?” He asked feigning ignorance.
“What do you mean by what deal?” Jade rolled her eyes at him.
“Oh you mean the deal where I help you achieve your biggest dream? I remember” He said with a taunting smile, causing Jade to roll her eyes.
‘Proud soul’ she hissed inwardly.
Jake rupt out in laughter when he saw her glaring at him.
“Okay fine I remember. Tell me when you want to meet him and I’ll let him know” He told her.
“Really?” Jade asked excitedly.
“Yeah”
“What about this week?” She asked excitedly. Jake fell into thoughts when idea c@m£ to his mind.
“Why don’t we make it a double d@t£?”
“Double d@t£? How?” Jade asked in confusion.
“Let’s just meet at the p@rty instead. He’ll also be there”
It was Jade’s turn to fall for de-ep in thoughts. It was a good idea. It would sure save her the stress of looking for two dresses to wear. That has been a problem on her mind since the day they went fishing.
“Okay.” Jade agreed. “So when is the p@rty?”
“Friday” Jake replied.
“And you are just telling me?” Jade asked in horror. It was Tuesday alre-ady.
“Hmm” Jake nodded ma-king her frown.
“You don’t have to sweat over it. Just look pretty and you’ll be fine”
The rest of the drive to Jade’s place has been nothing but silent. Jake wasn’t saying anything after talking about the p@rty they were to attend by Friday.
His change in attitude wasn’t sitting well with Jade at all. She was kind of missing his noisy self. Why has his mood changed so suddenly? Did she say or do something wrong.
Earlier when he had come to pick her up and while they were at his place he was all smiles and chatty, but now he was too taciturn and she didn’t like it. She had noticed the sudden change back at his ap@rtment, when he asked that question.
Was he upset with her reply? He had asked the question out of nowhere and she didn’t have the appropriate answer to his question.
Why does she feel like he was angry because of her response? But that was the best answer that c@m£ to mind and it was nothing but the truth.
Him and Lair both mattered to her. Though she might have known Lair before him, but they both held special places in her heart. She might have known Jake recently and even un-der the worst of conditions but Jake has magically imprinted himself in her heart.
Okay, maybe she more than liked Lair, and she loved him like a brother, but it was just the same way she loved Kevin and Amy.
But with Jake, she doesn’t even know. Sometimes she sees him as a friend and sometimes she feels like there’s more….and that was a feeling she didn’t un-derstand. After not seeing him for days, she felt like she missed being with him more than she had ever missed being with Lair and Amy, and she didn’t know why that was. Though the feeling might be strange, but she can’t help it, and that’s why she had called him today. And now he was just going to act up?
Why was his silence bothering her so much? Jade was really uncomfortable with the way things were at the moment.
She was about to say something when Jake suddenly pu-ll-ed over and said, “We’re here” Jade looked at him in confusion, it took a good few minutes before she realized they were alre-ady packed outside her house. She has been too engrossed in her thoughts so much she didn’t notice when they got there.
“So..” Jade said looking at him, and Jake in turn turned to look at her, but he avoided meeting her gaze.
“So I’ll see you on Friday?” Jake said gazing at her.
‘Friday?’ Jade couldn’t hide the dissapointment she was feeling. They were only going to see by Friday? But it was only just Tuesday. So she wasn’t going to see him till then? Why does it Friday seem so far?
Why was she even worried about all this? She wasn’t going to miss him right?
‘Jade you’re acting strange! Too strange.’
“Okay” Was all she could say. “Friday it is” She picked up her bag but her legs still felt rooted and her as-s glued to the seat. She didn’t feel like leaving. She didn’t un-derstand all this strange things she was feeling whenever Jake was around. And now it felt works when he was acting like this.
She gets to excited to see him, and a bit trodden when she doesn’t. She doesn’t even want their time together to end, just like how she was feeling now. And then there was that strange moment at Jake’s place when he suddenly leaned over her, she had thought he was going to k!ssher. Her heart almost st©pped beating. Only God knew how she had garnered the strength to call out his name at that time. There was a pang of regret and dissapointment she felt when Jake didn’t do what she had thought he wanted to do.
What was she even thinking? Was she really regretting the fact that Jake didn’t k!ssher? Why would she even think that way? Jake wouldn’t do that, they were friends and were fastly becoming good friends that’s if they haven’t struck that chord yet – that is, the good friend chord.
Jake was slowly growing on her and she didn’t know what to think about it.
She looked at Jake one last time and he wasn’t even smiling at her like he usually does, and it made her frown.
“Good night” She said as she stepped out of the car.
“Good night” He replied, but Jade had alre-ady stepped out and closed the door. He heaved a sigh as he watched her walk throu-gh the gate. He raked his hand throu-gh his hair in frustration.
Being with Jade in the last half hour has been the worst and most torturous half hour of his life. He didn’t want their time together to end, but Jade being around him was torturing the hell out of him. He couldn’t keep his head straight.
Thoughts of his k!ss!ngher, hvgging or even ma-king love to her was going throu-gh his mind and he didn’t know what he might in the next minute, and that was why he had wanted her to go home. He didn’t want to do something he’d regret. His relationsh!pwith Jade was too important to him and he didn’t want to jeopardiaze it.
The frustration in him was building up and he really wanted to vent. He wanted to get this feeling out of his che-st.
‘Maybe a drink and some company could help’ He reasoned.
Scrolling throu-gh his phone he decided to call Phil.
“If it isn’t the pla-yboy himself” Phil tea-sed the moment he answered the phone.
“I’m not a pla-yboy as-s-hole.” Jake scolded.
“Pfft…keep lying to yourself libertine” Jake rolled his eyes even though Phil couldn’t see him.
“Where are you?” Jake asked in a more serious tone.
“Mike’s club. Why? You wanna come?” Phil asked with interest.
“Will be there in five” He said before ending the call. He paid on last look at Jade’s house before driving off.
….
*The Fort*
Jake strolled into the club and walked to the VIP lounge where he found Phil sitting in the midst of two clad women, his hands gropping the br£@st of one of the ladies, a mischievious and lascivious glint dancing in his eyes as he stared at them amorously.
Jake snickered when he saw Phil having the time of his life. He would probably have had a boner if he had seen this two months ago. But now he was slightly repulsed by it – but hey he wasn’t judging.
As soon as Jake approached Phil, he plonked himself on the sofa at the other end of the lounge, giving Phil the space nee-ded. He hasn’t completed giving his order when Phil walked to him and plonked himself closer to Jake.
“Done so soon?” Jake raised a brow at him.
“Hmm mmm” Phil shook his head. “I’m so not done, I haven’t even started” He said turning to the ladies who were impatiently waiting for him. “Looks like you nee-d my company” He turned back to Jake.
“What’s up with man, you just left us hanging at Mike’s opening. Was she that good that you rode all night?” Phil tea-sed with a wi-nk, while Jake frowned. He knew Phil was referring to the night he had seen Amy and Jade at the club, and he had left with them.
“You better shut up. She’s not like that” Jake snapped.
“Wooah..” Phil raised his hand in the air, “Easy man, don’t glare at me that”
Jake sighed and picked up a glas-s which he gobbled down, before pouring himself another. Phil looked at him with interest as he watched Jake pour himself another glas-s and another glas-s.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” Phil asked snacthing the fifth glas-s from Jake’s grip. The frustration on his face was evident and Phil noticed it.
Jake sighed as he lolled himself on the sofa.
“I don’t know man” He hissed and looked away. His eyes swayed to the sp©t he had seen Amy and Jade the last they were here. He closed his eyes and mas-saged his temples. ‘Even now he was still thinking of her’
“What do you mean you don’t know?. You’ve been acting strange this days. You ba-rely hang out with your guys, more like you never, but we excused it, based on the fact that you just took over your family’s empire. And now you show up looking like the world’s about to crash on your shoulders and you say you don’t know? Boy, you better start talking”
Jake turned to look at him and sighed for the upteenth time. “I really mean it. I don’t know” He paused for a while, “Maybe you can say I’m having woman problems” He hissed again before gr-abbing the glas-s and chucking it down his throat in one big gulp.
Phil looked at him in confusion. “Woman problems?”. His eyes wi-de-ned when a thought flew into his head. “Tell me the legendary weapon is having problems. Is it pre-eja-culation or what? Jake you’re gonna lose your ti—” His words trailed when Jake glared at him, like he was a fool on a rant.
“What? It’s not that? Then what is it?” Phil asked concern. It seems things were quite serious. He really hasn’t seen Jake in such a mood.
Jake pitied himself for coming to meet another libertine like himself, who probably wouldn’t have any idea to give him. But the thing is he didn’t come to seek advice but for someone to help him sort out his feelings.
Another sigh escaped hisl-ips as he looked at Phil intently. “There’s this girl…”
“No way Jake! No way” Phil snapped.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 78