Chapter 214: Memory of the past

''Where is the walnut pancakes?'' he asked the girls who had a look of shock on their faces.

''We didn't do anything'' one said quickly.

''We don't know what you are talking about'' the other added.

''Really? Then, I guess you will just have to change schools then'' Jayden said and the students around started mumbling.

''Jayden'' Ever tried to stop him.

''This goes to every one of you, if any of you dares to bully or make things hard for Ever, then be ready to change schools because I will make sure it happens'' he said and looked at everyone. He turned to the girls, ''now, apologise to her and leave this place''

''Who the hell is she even? Look at her, she is just a fat girl, why are you always protecting her?'' one of the girls said angrily, not able to contain her emotions anymore, ''we always wake up early to make you pastries and even use our monies to buy you gifts but you always refuse them. What is so special about her that she is the only one whose stuff you don't reject?''

''You want to know why? Because she is Ever and you will never be able to be her'' Jayden said bluntly.

''Jayden, do you like this kind of person?'' the other girl asked and the whole placed turned quiet. Even Ever turned and looked at him at that moment.

''Do I like her? Take a wild guess and while you are at it, start packing your books, because you are no longer a student of this school'' he said making everyone to gasp.

''Ever'' Ann said at a distance and Ever turned to look at her. Ann was still at the same spot they were before. She then walked up to them and held Ever's hand affectionately saying, ''I have evidence of their bullying, I can submit it to the dean. It will help in processing their dismissal fast''

''Ann, you don't have to do that'' Ever said.

''It's only right to do that. This morning when I was coming to school, I happened to see what those two girls did. They even discarded your lunchbox into the dustbin. I filmed it using my phone but I was scared to show it to anyone because they are from powerful families. I am my mother's only child; I couldn't risk been targeted by them''

''I didn't know you had such a good friend, Ever?'' Jayden said and looked at Ever's face, she blushed and lowered her gaze.

''We became friends not too long ago''

''Ever is a nice person and I am glad I was able to help''

''Since you helped my Ever, I will treat you to a meal. Whatever you want to eat, is on me'' Jayden said and took Ever's hand adding, ''let's go''

Ann followed behind and kept staring at their hands as they walked away.

Perhaps, that was when she decided to keep Ever close so that she could use her to get close to Jayden. Ever was the only one who thought she was being genuine.

....

Coming back to her senses, she shook her head, deciding not to dwell on the memory anymore. Since that day, she had remained Ever's friend but that was only because she wanted to get closer to Jayden but even after getting to know him for the last 5 years, he had only eyes for one person; Ever. But that was about to change now, because she was more than now determined to separate them from each other. As long as Jayden didn't see Ever, he was bound to forget about her, just like he didn't speak about her for the last two years since their breakup, she was sure that, if she managed to get Ever to leave Saint hotel, then, Jayden would start looking her way.

…..

''I don't have a friend'' Joy said and smiled as she looked at Ever, ''I always felt so different from everyone. My classmates at school call me fat and always said that, I was too curvy and had a lot of fat in my thighs''

''I used to face the same thing and I still do but do you know what I think about people like us?'' Ever asked and Joy shook her head.

''What do you think?''

''Look at yourself, anytime you wear a dress, doesn't it amaze you just how good it looks on you? Slender people are beautiful but it doesn't mean been slender is the hallmark for beauty, right? there are a lot of curvy women in the world and they are so beautiful''

''But I can't help feeling insecure about my body. I sometimes wished I could just peel off some of my flesh and become slender''

''I feel that way too but, I've come to realise one thing. There is beauty in been different. You are different and that makes you unique. It's not every day you see thick curvy women and we are the few, so we shouldn't feel insecure about ourselves''

Ever was chatting happily with Joy when Papa Jones and Mama Jones arrived from the sea. They had in their hands a lot of fish and other seafood.

''Mom, dad'' Chichi shouted and ran towards the couple.

''Ever, you came?'' Mama Jones said happily as she hugged Joy and went over to Ever. Ever got down from the platform to meet them.

''Yes, I came and I'm glad I did. Chichi and I were having an interesting time''

''It's good that you came. I caught a very big lobster today; we will make some soup and a few deserts too'' Papa Jones said and Joy shouted happily.

''Yeah, my father' deserts taste the best''

''Can I also join in on the fun?'' a voice spoke from behind and they all turned and saw Jayden. He walked towards them elegantly wearing a blue washed-up jean and a t-shirt.

''You… what are you doing here?'' Ever asked nervously.

''What do you mean by that? Do you think you were the only one invited here? I even thought you would have waited to come with me'' Jayden said as she stopped in front of them. He took the fishing net from Papa Jones asking, ''where should I put this, uncle?''

''Over there, let's go'' Papa Jones went away with Jayden.

''I was the one who invited him. You two seem to have a lot of misunderstanding between you two, so I wanted to invite you two over. I didn't know how to, so I asked my husband to invite you while I invited him'' Mama Jones said.

''We… there is nothing going on between us, really'' Ever said vehemently.

''You know, when you deny something strongly, it only goes to mean that it is right?'' Mama Jones said.

''Where is the washroom?'' Ever asked feeling embarrassed.

''Chichi, show Ever to the washroom''

''Let's go, Ever''

''Oh'' Ever looked back at Jayden and Papa Jones as she walked away to the washroom with Chichi.

After she left, Jayden looked at the direction she went and smiled.

''If you like her so much, why aren't you together anymore?'' Papa Jones asked surprising Jayden.

''How did you know?'' Jayden asked looking at the old man.

''The way you looked at her yesterday and even now makes it not that hard for me to figure that out. You two didn't look like you were just friends but you weren't lovers either. That only meant one thing, a failed relationship. Tell me, did you cheat on her?''

''Cheat on her? No, never. I would never do such a thing to Ever''

''Then, why did you two break up?''

''Only she has the answer to that''

''Or maybe you did something that made up lost trust in you. any case, that is your business, so you take care of it''

''I will. Uncle, do you know how to make sweets that children between the ages of 6 and 8 likes?''

''Do you have a child with another woman?''

''No, far from that. I was wondering if you could teach Ever. Our hotel is organising a contest and she needs to win it at all cost. She once had a bad experience cooking for children so she doesn't do it anymore, but this contest will be judged by kids so…''

''You are worried about her?''

''Yes, a little. Although I have confidence in her skills, I don't want her to fail because of that trauma''

''Leave it to me, I will help her''

Ever and Chichi returned and washed their hands, they saw Mama Jones working on the big lobster that they caught and they went to help her.

''Chichi get a stool for Ever to sit''

''No, aunt, let me help you''

''Then, you should get changed first. You can't do all this work wearing these clothes''

''Ever, I will lend you my clothes, come with me'' Chichi said excitedly and pulled Ever along into her room.

Papa Jones also made Jayden to change into one of his work clothes and they worked on the seafood that they were going to use to make the deserts.

Soon, everyone got busy with their work with the women working together and the men also working together.