Chapter 279 - Home In Molave 25

Jane woke up in the morning with no idea how she came home. She sat up abruptly when she recalled that she traveled far in the north and got drunk in that special wine the shop offered. Her eyes caught Hayri sleeping on the couch with his legs dangling on the armrest. When she found herself in the same clothes she wore yesterday, she felt itchy and uncomfortable, and so she hurried to take a shower. 

Hayri woke up later and found her smiling, already in a fresh, home clothes. "Jane," he spoke groggily, "may I sleep more?"

"Sure. Move to my bed so that you'll be more comfortable. By the way, why are you here?"

"I got drunk."

"Really?"

"Yes, I was out of my mind and put myself at risk. So, auntie and uncle let me sleep here." 

"Why can't I remember?"

"You're sleeping like a lard."

"But-" Jane did not continue anymore. Perhaps, Allie facilitated her return and sent someone to take her and her car back home. What she didn't expect was that Hayri got drunk also? With whom? With Miss Rona?

"With whom were you drinking with?" Jane dared to ask, hoping in her heart it was not Rona. Why would he dare to come here anyway if he's with her? Would it be too shameless of him? And why not? They were only friends, mere friends.

She got humiliated at the thought, and she didn't want to hear anymore.

Hayri saw the change in her expression, and he stared at her. "Jane, why?"

She smiled, and her eyes glistened with the tears gathering too quickly at the back of her eyes.

"Never mind. Louise. I don't want to know anymore."

"Jane, why?"

"Nothing, I said."

"Tell me." Hayri sat up and reached for her hand, but she quickly moved past him and entered the bathroom.

Jane felt more humiliated now that she was seeing Hayri. How could he ask her to give themselves a try, and yet he couldn't do it himself? Why was he prompting her to learn to trust again, only to break it before it could even bloom?

She didn't know how long she stayed at the bathroom, but when she got out, Hayri's hair was already wet and that he was already in his formal attire.

"Jane, can you go with me, please?"

"Where?" 

"I have an important meeting, and I need your opinion."

"But-"

'No, but. I won't accept no for an answer. I'll wait for you outside."

Jane was no longer able to refuse and to prove it to Hayri that his relationship to Miss Rona did not affect her, she wore the diamond necklace that Dr. Charles Madani gave. She wanted to pretend that she also only considered him as her mere best friend. She knew it was inappropriate to wear such an expensive necklace on a simple company meeting, but anyway, she could hide it under the bodice of her mini black dress. 

Mr.&. Mrs. Lopez was already in the dining room when they decided to grab something for breakfast. Mrs. Lopez stood up right away and pulled a chair for Hayri.

"How are you, Louise? It's good that you have brought with you an office attire."

"Yes, auntie. We dropped by at home to pick a sleepwear and this one."

"Thank you so much for everything, Louise. I hope you both can fix that up."

Hayri smiled at them as he glanced at Jane then back to her parents. "I'm working on it."

"Good. we're happy about it."

"Did you get enough sleep?"

Mr. Lopez kicked his wife's feet gently under the table. Her question could mean something else. However, Mrs. Lopez got more amused; she had already accepted the fact that after a reconciliation, intimate steps always follow. Jane and Hayri were already of marrying age, and she had previously expressed her desire for them to get married in the soon future. She even allowed Hayri to sleep in Jane's room last night.

She whispered into her husband's ear, "I don't care, and I mean it. I'm just being liberated."

"Yes, auntie, but my back and thighs hurt."

Mrs. Lopez laughed louder. "You'll get used to it."

Mr. Dioko shook his head. His wife already influenced him that he also had no problem with it. He liked Hayri to be his son-in-law than someone else whose background may not be familiar to them. But it still felt odd to ask about their post-intimacy aftereffects. How could his wife dare to ask if they even slept or what hurt afterward?

Confused, Jane looked up. "What are you all talking about?"

Mr.& Mrs. Lopez stared at each other, no longer sure if they were all following the same topic and if they had the same understanding of what they were talking about.

"What is so confusing, my dear?" Hayri turned to Jane, amused. Of course, Jane didn't know what was happening last night because she intoxicated herself with too much wine on her first time.

"Everything, from the start of your conversation." Jane ran her eyes to the three of them, not smiling at all.

"Auntie is asking if I get a good sleep last night because I was only sleeping on a couch."

Mrs. Lopez got dumbfounded, and she looked at her husband, stifling a laugh. How could they be so dirty-minded?

"We're so sorry, son. You could have slept beside Kyle."

Jane scratched her head, still unable to understand everything. "Dad, mom, why are you so sorry for Hayri? It's his fault if he goes out with whoever they were and got drunk in the end. It was his fault if he took too much alcohol that he could no longer crawl back to their house.

Hayri burst out laughing that he clawed an arm to her neck and pulled her close to him.

"I'm sorry, dear. It's not true that I got drunk."

Allie and Ajie suddenly walked in; their eyes were on Jane and Hayri.

"Hayri, what time did you both arrive-" Allie was about to ask, but Jane cut her off.

"Sis, thank you for sending someone to-"

The six of them stared at each other, and they all burst out laughing, realizing that their conversation that moment was all confounded.

_________

Jane was expecting a large crowd during the meeting, but to her surprise, only their marketing and purchasing officer came in. A few minutes after setting up the projector, Hayri sat down beside her.  No sooner than he held her hand and locked his fingers with hers, a beautiful and elegant woman walked in.

The smile on Jane's lips disappeared, and her heart ached again. She looked down and pretended to be busy with her phone.

"Is this Dr. Jane, Hayri?"

Jane looked up at the mention of her name. No matter how much it hurt her, she could still manage to be kind and give a smile.

"Oh, you must be Dr, Jane. Hayri talks so much about you."

Jane stood up and extended a hand. While they shook hands, the lady's gaze glued on her pendant, and her smile disappeared.