CHAPTER 32

JAZMIN

"HEY, you're here," Hana said as I entered the mansion's front door. She kissed me on the cheek. She appeared to be in good spirits today.

"Yeah. Uhh," I'm not sure what to say. Averi texted me to meet her here without explaining why we should meet here. But I just went along with it because she said she'd tell me later.

"You're just on time," she said as she dragged me into the living room. She didn't even give me a chance to speak. What is going on with my sister? I had no choice but to follow her lead because she was still dragging me.

"You have a visitor," she announced. I looked at her perplexedly and was about to ask her a question when I heard a familiar voice greet me.

"Jazmin, honey. I missed you."

"Natalie? Oh my God! I was missing you as well! Give me some love, babe," I said to her, and she grinned broadly at me. Her long blonde hair dances with her as she runs next to me and gives me a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh, you red-headed little riding hood. How are you?" Natalie inquired when she would let go of me.

I was about to respond when Hana cleared her throat.

"Oh?" I asked, looking at Hana.

"Will you not introduce us?" She asked, smiling and looking at Natalie and me.

"Oh, yeah. You never met a single person. Yeah, uhh, anyway, this is my brat sister Hana, and Han, this is Natalie." They hug and talk as if they've known each other for years. They only met once, on the internet, via Skype.

"Hey, I'm still here," I said, pouting.

"Jealousy, jealous Angel, I was just about to welcome your girlfriend," Hana smirked.

Natalie gave me a what-did-she-say look, and I was about to clear everything to Hana when Manay Barbara and Rita walked in with a tray in their hands.

"Get some snacks first, kids, before you talk and talk," Manay said, setting the tray of food on the table. Rita did the same thing when I dismissed her.

"Thank you very much, Manay. It looks delicious," Hana said to Manay as she grabbed a brownie and sipped her smoothie. "Hmm, yes, it is, gentlemen. You must try this, "She said while sitting on the couch and ignoring us.

"She's a food perv," I muttered to Natalie.

"She's still cute." She burst out laughing.

"Angel, I heard you say that. You're a jerk. Thank you very much, Natalie "she said, narrowing her eyes to me and smiling at Natalie. This girl. "Please take a seat, Nat, and make yourself at home. And you should try Manay's brownies. It's delicious "She was still eating, she said. Whoa? Where did her manners go?

I shook my head and sat beside Natalie as I heard her laugh and sit on the sofa.

"Oh, Han. I have something to give you, but you can get it later if you prefer," I overheard Manay say.

"What is it, Manay?" Hana asked casually because she was still eating.

"It's from Marg, but you can get—-"

"What? No! I'll get it right now. Please excuse me," She said politely to us.

"Okay, kiddo. It's in my room. Please excuse our interruption." Manay smiled at us, then off they went with Hana, giddy with anticipation of what Marg might have given her.

"Whose Marg?" Natalie inquires as we sit next to one another. We were exes, but now we're friends, so no ill will. I'm still at ease around her.

"When did you become so nosy?" I teased her as I handed her the glass of smoothie. And sip some of mine. Manay is one of the best smoothie makers I've ever met. This was the best!

"Since I have a Doctorate." She smirked and drank hers.

I thought my eyes were bulging. I almost spit my smoothie in Natalie's face.

"Really?" I said, wiping the excess smoothie from my mouth. She laughed at my reaction.

"Yes, honey." She puffs. Oh, he's so arrogant.

"Yay! I'm overjoyed for you." I hugged her. Of course, I'm happy for her. That's her dream, and as a friend, I should be happy for her.

"Thank you very much, hun. But you're not going to miss my graduation, right? You're going to come, aren't you?" When I separated from her, she asked, looking me in the eyes.

"Of course! Why should I pass that up? We'll come," I unintentionally said. Oops.

"Can you tell me who we are?" Oh, she noticed it.

"Did I say we? Oh, I'm sorry, I made a mistake," I said, uncertainty smiling and drinking from my smoothie. She silently scanned my face, and I was sure she was reading me. "Uh, what are you doing here?" I inquire.

"I'm aware of your vengeance plan, Jaz. I'm just here to tell you that if you keep doing that, you're going to get a big rock and bang it on your head," she stated.

She sounded like Pearl. As in, with a motherly tone. Are they friends? They should be because I'm confident they'll get along just fine.

"I'm not doing anything. I'm a very good girl," I reasoned as I ate Manay's brownies. "Would you like to try some? It's excellent. Open your mouth," I said this as I lifted food to her mouth.

She ate it but didn't stop talking. "Jaz, I'm your pal. Even though I'm your ex, I still care about you because, oh my god, this is good," She exclaimed, pointing her tongue. I know how to get her to stop talking about our topic. I'm a pure clever goddess!

I make a big grin and a cute face. I put a brownie in Natalie's mouth every time she opens her mouth to make her shut. When she realized I was shutting her up with brownies, she started tackling and tickling me. I was a sensitive person, and she is well aware of it! I may be tough on the outside, but I have a lot of tickles, especially on my neck.

"You, this what you get for not listening to me," Natalie exclaimed, tickling my neck.

"No, sir! Waah! Stop!" I squealed as I tried to get away from her, but I moved to the corner of the couch, and that's when she smirked and attacked me. I was surrounded.

I was laughing so hard because it tickled me so much, and Natalie is the type of person who won't stop until she is satisfied.'

Of course, I'm familiar with her. She's my ex! I was getting weaker due to the attack, and she was sitting on my lap, tickling me.

"Ha! Shit! Ahhh! Natalie, oh my goodness!" I screamed. Oh my goodness, I sounded like I was having sex. We were like that, for I don't know how long before I heard someone scream my name in a threatening tone that I didn't want to hear.

Natalie came to a halt but did not climb into my lap. Then we looked at the person who had a sad expression on his face.

"E-Averi," I said, my gaze wide. I'm not sure why I think I just saw Sadako. I was terrified, and I shouldn't have been; we weren't doing anything wrong.

Averi gave us a death glare. Back in high school, she gave me that look when she was jealous of my admirers. Oh, my goodness.

I was about to stand up and let Natalie fall to the ground when... Natalie didn't get up? I could tell she was having fun with the situation. Nat, you are a jerk! So, I was about to stand up and explain to my baby what was going on when Dad appeared, jogging towards Averi.

"Averi, Averi! Let's talk," He said this while still in the back of Averi, not noticing us because he was concentrating on looking at his girl, but when the latter didn't mind him and noticed that Averi was looking straight at us, he finally noticed us.

"Oh, Jaz, and is that you, Natalie? Hello, dear," He said this while passing Averi and greeting Natalie. Finally, Natalie rises from her seat to greet my father. Yes, they were acquainted. They met once in New York.

"Nice to see you again, sir," Natalie said as they finished kissing each other on the cheek.

"Same here, Natalie, and just call me Dad," Dad chirped. Wtf? Dad?

I noticed Averi raising an eyebrow. Then there was a brief silence.

"Oh, Natalie. I'd like you to meet my fiance, Averi," Dad introduced them. When I noticed Averi narrowing her eyes toward Dad, I knew I wasn't mistaken. Dad noticed it, but he only smiled sheepishly. "And Averi, sweetie, this is Natalie, Jazmin's girlfriend." She's not my girlfriend!

I shifted my gaze to the gray-eyed girl, and she was staring at me with a terrifying grin on her poker face. Shit! She's now enraged at me. Great! Fantastic!

I'm not sure why I can't speak. I needed to clear my throat, but there was a lump there, and I couldn't find my voice. Oh, voice, come out, come out from wherever you are! Natalie, Natalie, Natalie was smiling and amusingly looking at Averi and me.

"I-i... She's not.." I was about to reason when I was cut off.

"Oh, you're all here. Perfect. Dinner is ready," Manay said, oblivious to what was going on.

Dad put an arm around Averi's shoulder, but the beautiful gray-eyed with a frown face shrugged him off as she glared at me again and went to the dining room. Dad followed her with a deep breath sigh. Oh no, this isn't good. What exactly is going on?

"What was it?" Natalie muttered something.

"I don't know." I pretended to be unconcerned, but Natalie was a keen observer; I'm not sure if she'll buy it.

"Jaz? Nat?" Manay called us and waved her hand, indicating that we should follow them to the kitchen. Whew! Manay saved the day!

I walk past them in slow motion, full of remorse and enigmatic uncertainty—Averi is upset with me. I need to get some things straightened out. We're supposed to tell Dad about our relationship tonight. Ugh! Things never go exactly as planned. What should I do?

~*~

DURING DINNER, NO ONE WAS TALKING. Hana shifted her gaze back and forth between the three people she was worried about.

"Guys, uh, Why are we all so quiet, eh? Aren't we supposed to be celebrating because Dad has arrived and Natalie has just arrived?" The raven-haired woman struck up a conversation. She doesn't understand why these adults aren't enjoying their dinner. The food was delicious, and everyone was present. Isn't this reason to rejoice?

"Angel?" the raven-haired girl asks, perplexedly, of the redhead. Jazmin gave a slight smile and caught sight of the gray-eyed, who was also quiet while playing with her food with a fork.

"Dad?" Hana, like Jazmin, turned to face his father.

"Did anything happen while I was gone? What's going on?" Hana can sense the tension in her entire household.

"Nothing, Han," Natalie said to the girl, a genuine smile on her face.

"Yeah, right," the gray-eyed murmured, making a disagreeing face.

"Don't be rude, sweetie," George said as he apologized to the blonde. The blonde simply nodded her head in agreement.

"What? I'm not doing anything. I'm not the bad guy here, George," Averi scowled at the man.

"Please accept my apologies. I'll explain," George responded as their audiences stared at them, perplexed.

"No need, George. I get it. Once a cheater, always a cheater." Averi looked at the redhead as she got up from her chair. "Pardon me." She walks away, leaving the four people with their various reactions.

George's face fell as he tried to stand up to catch up to his fiance, but the gray-eyed simply signaled him to stop. Jazmin's mouth was half-opened. Natalie and Hana were staring at the three, perplexed and wondering what was happening with the Millers.

Finally, the redhead gathers her strength as she pursues the love of her life. She believes Averi misinterpreted everything about Natalie and her. She, on the other hand, had no idea. And why didn't she tell her about Natalie? Because... err, because she was preoccupied with Averi? That's correct.

The three people on the left were sitting quietly at the dining table. Hana inquires of her father, whose face is on his palm, about what is going on. He appeared to be troubled and guilty.

"What happened, Dad?" she inquired of the adult.

"I-i... I-i cheated, baby. I'm truly sorry," Her father continued doing the same thing. The raven-haired girl's jaw dropped, and she couldn't believe what she was hearing from her father. She's also perplexed by Jazmin's actions.

The redhead followed Averi because she was angry with Dad as if they were BFFs or close friends. Perhaps they have a bond that I am unaware of. Hana reasoned with herself. She doesn't want to think anything is wrong with the two most important girls in her life.

Even though the blonde was present, George explained what had happened to her daughter. George didn't mind because he needed to get rid of the excess baggage in his heart that he'd been carrying around for how many months. He still has feelings for Averi, but he liked or perhaps loved someone else more than Averi. That's the woman Averi saw a while ago.

He explained to her younger daughter that he didn't intend to fall for that woman, but it just happened. Fortunately, Hana informed her father that she did not judge him. She agrees with him if that's how he feels, but Hana insists that her father first settle things with Averi. The father nods and invites Hana to accompany him.

The raven-haired nodded as they went outside to find Averi or to her condo if she wasn't there. They also went out with the blonde.

Meanwhile, the redhead called out the gray-eyed name, but she ignored her. Averi was about to open her car door when Jazmin abruptly shut it with her hand.

"We have to talk, baby. Please…" The redhead beseeched the gray-eyed.

"Don't call me baby because I don't have a cheating girlfriend! Now get out the door! You're in my way!" Averi was furious.

The redhead refused to move. She comprehends the gray-eyed woman's outburst.

"Baby, you misunderstood. Natalie and I were just having fun." Huh? Playing? Lame.

"Playing? Do you think I'm stupid? I despised you! I don't want to see you! Get the hell out of my car door," She stated firmly.

"Please, Baby. Do not do this. I'm not being unfaithful to you. Natalie and I were done. As an example, consider the word period." The redhead begged, but the gray-eyed was blinded by jealousy, and she couldn't take any more excuses from the redhead.

"Liar! Your father introduced her as your girlfriend, but you didn't say anything to clarify. What the hell is going on, Jaz?" She slammed the upper door of the car shut. The gray-eyed girl was now crying.

"Baby—-," the redhead says, but the disturbing sound of her phone cuts her off. Jazmin didn't respond, and the gray-eyed looked at the redhead suspiciously. It rang twice, but the redhead ignored it while pleading with Averi, who was still enraged at her.

"Why aren't you responding? Is that one of your girls?" The gray-eyed man yelled angrily.

"No, baby. It's no one," The redhead muttered. "Please, Baby. Natalie is just a friend." Her phone rang again. Jazmin ignored it.

"Why aren't you responding to that?" The gray-eyed man appeared more enraged, with furrowed brows and gritted teeth.

"It's unimportant, baby. Wait, I'll turn it off," The redhead said as she took her phone from her pocket.

"Answer it," the gray-eyed woman demanded sternly. The redhead was looking at Averi with a why look. "Prove it's not one of your babes."

"Okay, okay," Jazmin said, taking one of Averi's hands in his. Fortunately, the gray eyes didn't shake her off.

"Hello? Who is this? Oh, Denisse? Oh. No way, not now. Maybe next time. Okay—- "She was cut off because Averi snatched her phone from her grasp.

"Never call my girlfriend again, bitch!" She scowled and hung up the phone on the redhead, whose mouth was half-opened. The redhead couldn't believe her beautiful gray eyes were so angry right now.

"Get out of my car door, cheater," she said coldly.

"No, baby. You're envious of nothing! Please."

"Get out!"

"Baby. Please, let's talk about it. Baby, I adore you. You're my only one." The redhead tried to explain and hug the gray-eyed, but the latter shook her off and found a way to get away from the redhead. She immediately opens her car door, locks it, and starts the engine, leaving the redhead slamming her car.

"No! Let's talk about it, baby. Come on. Baby! Averi, I adore you. I didn't swindle you, babe. Come on, open the door!" Jazmin screamed as she tried to persuade the gray-eyed girl, but the other girl was closed-minded right now because she was so jealous, so she drove away, leaving Jazmin screaming.

Jazmin stomped her feet on the front porch in frustration. She walked back to the house to get her keys, but she was greeted by three pairs of eyes staring at her.

The redhead was struck, dumbfounded, and stiffened. She opens and closes her mouth because she can't say anything. Whoa! Busted!

"Err... Did you hear everything?" She asked the three, hoping they didn't hear or see what she and Averi were saying or doing.

"Y-yeah," the raven-haired replied.

"Okay." The redhead felt like she'd been hit by a ten-wheeler truck. Wtf! "I'll explain..."

"Yeah. You should," muttered the raven-haired.

They returned to the living room after a brief awkward silence. Oh no! I've been caught!