"I did that for us! I will do anything to make us happier!" Jake raised his voice at Meredith.
She didn't grow startled. Her exterior remained unshaken, though deep inside her heart started racing against her chest as she grew worried.
It was because of her! She had a part in Jake's behavior change!
She pierced him with her confident stare. At least that was what Meredith believed to be, but the truth was that she had a different kind of aura she had never produced before. It brought out most of her maturity and elevated it further, be it her stare, aura, or self.
She was like a mother scolding her son.
Jake also seemed so much smaller and confused before this kind of Meredith.
"Enough said," Meredith said. "So you have beaten your friend for me? And you will do anything for us from now on? It sounds like you'd be willing to even kill my parents and friends for our happiness. Don't you hear how ridiculous and immature that sounds? The man I've fallen for never came out as such a callous person.
Was I blind? Am I so stupid that I fell for the type of person I hate?
"I was bullied. Why? Because I grew faster than others. Bullied, ostracized, ridiculed... I suffered so much, but I never wished others the worst. Instead, I grew independent and more mature than them. It wasn't easy, and I was alone a lot, but this experience taught me many things.
I found new passions in every stage of my life and eventually friends I would die for. I'm happy now. Don't you know how valuable friends that understand you are, Jake? Justin understands your archery and has even helped you to make it stronger. He's a good friend for whom you should care."
Jake was literally put into the corner by those words. He leaned onto the wall and stared ahead, his eyes shaking and even getting tearful.
"Yeah... he is," Jake nodded. "Yesterday, I was distressed. I didn't know what exactly went wrong. I blamed myself for everything and even saw Triple M in Justin when he started speaking about his date, Daniela, and that he wanted to connect our server with South America. It somehow clicked in my mind that he was like Triple M, wanting to prevent our happiness.
I imagined myself beating Triple M so many times yesterday that day... but it's not an excuse. I could see that... Justin was like me. He found a woman he fell for... but I just ignored that. I just used the convenient stuff to vent my feelings on him."
While Jake said what burdened him, Meredith could see more of him. He was the type that put the burden on oneself, even if a part of it could be blamed on someone else.
Meredith was the same.
Despite fluently talking about it, it took her a lot to reveal her past.
But at that moment, Meredith shared the real cause of her burden. "I was scared, but only for a little because you protected me. I also tasered him, so our feelings were mutual at the time. It's just that later that day, I was convinced that our date ended prematurely because of me. Loe Loe spent much time telling me it was not like that.
It's still difficult to accept that, but I'm no longer alone in this."
"...shut up, you horny dog," Jake replied.
"So adorable! Haha! Getting chained to her doesn't sound so bad, tho! If you excuse me, for my eye went up and down as I studied Mademoiselle Meredith's magic and her equipment, you two can do so many enjoyable arts together! Heh!" Damien burst out laughing.
Meredith was also smiling assertively. Deep inside, she was boiling. Damien was so loud that she heard his every word, which embarrassed her.
"I hope your balls will go blue tonight, and you will suffer for a week!" Jake shouted at the phone before hanging up.
"YOU'D BETTER STOCKPILE YOURS—"
Jake tucked his phone in his pocket.
Turning his eyes back to Meredith, Jake smiled. "Thanks for opening my mind. I don't know what would have happened to me without you."
"I will, hopefully, always take care of my younger boyfriend. And wouldn't you be on the plane right now if it weren't for me?" Meredith smiled, hinting at the other possible timeline.
Jake chuckled, "Yeah. If there's such a timeline, then this me has lost such a golden opportunity. You're too sweet."
"Am I?" Meredith looked down at her cup. 'Ah, it's empty! This is bad! I can't avert eye for too long!'
Jake nodded. "Yeah, only a big sweetie could draw such a charming smile. I'll strip your defenses one by one."
'OMG! He's seeing through my real self! His word choice, too! It's so bad, but I like it! It must be Damien's influence! Ah, what to do, what to do?!
This rogue will never change that! Men are men! Ahhhh! I like it, so I will play along! It's in private, too! I must also get to know him more and more!
I wonder if he has any complexes, too?'
Her assertive self translated all her thoughts into a single sentence.
"Stripping? What exactly do you want to strip? Keep that to yourself. I'm interested in different things now... so how about you take me out for breakfast? We also should see Justin coming back to the hotel from the first floor's restaurant."
"Of course, my beautiful. All on me," Jake said, extending his hand to get his lady's hand.
Meredith squealed, 'OMG! He's such a gentleman! If we go to a fancy restaurant next, I will wear a dress with a plunging neckline for him! He loves my chest, after all!'