Chapter 4:

"Married?!?" I blurted out. He never told me he was seeing anyone so how come he's getting married. "I didn't know you were seeing someone"

"Yes because I didn't want you to criticize her" he defended and I huffed.

"Criticize her? That's not true!" Okay, maybe it was. Call me selfish but come on, how was I supposed to react everytime he told me about a girl he has a crush on while I was busy drooling over him? All I did was do a little research and find out their flaws and maybe secrets to keep Jerry away from them. Okay, I admit, that was evil of me. But, come on.

"You know it is. Remember when I told you about Beatrice while we were in senior high?" He raised an eyebrow and I looked away, pretending like I didn't know what he was talking about.

"I don't"

"Ofcourse you don't" he scoffed then continued "You somehow found out that she was the president of this weird cult and is addicted to overspending"

"But it was true!" I exclaimed and he gave me a long stare. "I was only looking out for you" I folded my arms across my chest with a pout.

He draped an arm over my shoulder and pulled me closer. "I know that. I was just saying that I didn't want you to go all detective on her because I love her, you know"

Love...He loves her. "Oh" My shoulders deflated. "I won't do that" I folded my hands on my laps and looked down at them. I guess he never thought of me that way.

"Thank you" he ruffled my hair and I forced a smile. He relaxed in his seat. "Her name is Sophie Caddel" he started. I've never heard such a fitting name.

"Her name sounds like she's pretty" I commented and he smiled, his pupils dilated.

"She is" Great.

"I bumped into her one morning in a cafe while I was running late for work and she spilled coffee on my shirt. She offered to get me a new shirt but I was running late so I just took down her number" He continued. How clichè. "On a Saturday morning, I was scrolling through my contacts and dialed her number. We met for lunch and she actually got me a new shirt" he chuckled to himself.

I sighed. I bet it was a Monday morning.

"Are you listening?" He asked looking at me and I quickly replaced the glum look on my face with a smile.

"Ofcourse. Go on"

"Well. We talked alot on phone after that and I asked her out on a date. I asked her to be my girl and just last week, I proposed and she said yes" he grinned at me. "I'm sorry I kept her from you for such a long time"

I nodded. " It's alright, you had your reasons" I guess I'm too late. I sat up "Can I meet her atleast?"

"Sure. I'll be staying in your city for a while. About a month and we're staying together at this apartment" He explained and I nodded.

"Alright then. I'll let you know" I said.

"So tell me, how's work? I didn't see your grumpy boss and Alyssa...." he joked but his voice faded away and I was in my head. I was feeling too dejected to even fake a smile. How did he not know that I was in love with him all these while? Was he that oblivious or was I just not expressive enough?

"Hey, urm, an hour is up already. I should get back to work" I said making him stop what he was saying. He paused and stared at me, trying to figure it out.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Ofcourse I'm not okay. I just got rejected without even telling you how I feel.

"I'm fine, Jerry. I'm just..." I faked a yawn and stretched my arms "...tired and I don't want to get into trouble with Joey. You know how he gets when--"

"Cam" he cut me off, calling my attention. I was rambling. He faced me and held my shoulders with his hands forcing me to face him. "What's wrong?" He asked again and I sighed. He knows me too well. Wait, if he did then why didn't he realize that I like him?

"It's just some personal stuff" I said and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Even to me?" Yes, even to you. I nodded in response. His eyes suddenly lit up " Wait, you were going to tell me something, what was it?"

I almost laughed out loud to myself. Thank goodness he told me his first, I'd have died of embarrassment.

"Urm it's nothing" I quickly said. His lips formed a thin line. He knows I'm lying.

"What's going on with you? Why are you acting weird?"

"Just drop it. I'm fine" I snapped. His hands dropped to his side and he kept on staring. I looked away from his gaze.

"Is this about Theo?" He asked. I turned my head and let out a scoff.

"What?" Theo? What is he talking about?

"You like my brother, don't you?" He smirked like he just cracked a puzzle. I burst into laughter unable to hold it in as his smirk turned into a frown.

"I'm sorry" I said as I arrived the end of my guffaw. "I couldn't control it. Why do you think I have a crush on your brother?" I asked, utterly surprised he ever thought of that.

He deserves the award of the most oblivious person on earth.

"You don't have to hide it, Cam. I know you" No! You idiot, you don't know me. If you did, you'd have known that it is you I am in love with and not your brother, damn it!

"I'm not hiding anything" I smiled in amusement. He rested his back and crossed one leg over the other.

"Keep denying it" he said and added. "I'll help you two get together. He came here with me too, lucky for you" his tone was laced with confidence. Please kill me, right now. I don't even know what to say.

I stared at him, loss of words. My phone rang loudly on my lap. It was Alyssa. I picked it and place dit against my ear. "Hello"

"I told you, an hour. This place is getting crowded again and Larissa needs me to help her in the kitchen" I quickly stood up and signalled to Jerry to do the same.

"Alright, I'm on my way" I said and ended the call, shoving my phone in the back pocket of my jeans. I faced Jerry "I need to go. Call me when you get home" I hurriedly hugged him and started jogging back to Joel's.

Unfortunately for me, I heard a whistle as soon as I passed by Tattoos and Hair. "Damn, some ass you've got there Cam" I immediately knew who it was. Fucking narcissistic pervert.

I ignored him and focused on getting back to work. I arrived at Joel's and Alyssa was right, it was crowded again. Some people have started closing at work and schools. Despite there being a lot of restaurants in this street, Joel somehow attracted most of the customers.

One thing heartbreak does to you? It makes you so lost in your thoughts that five hours end in five minutes. Before I knew it, I was done with my shift and heading home in a cab.

As soon as I stepped in my apartment, I felt the urge to keep myself busy so I wouldn't think much of today. I did my laundry, arranged my shoes that filled up only half of the shoe rack, did some dusting and sweeping and made myself some pasta. I realized it was already past nine.

I knew I couldn't escape it. A grouchy feeling settled in my stomach and I let it stay. Wrapping myself like a ball on my bed, I cried my eyes out. Over a boy. Atleast we're still friends.

Now there's one problem. Theo Whitlock.

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07/04/2023