Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty — Two

Ava's POV

The lunchtime was great. Even after I managed to spoil it a little after I opened my mouth to talk about …

Uhh …

It did not matter. What was the point of it now? I had already said what I should not have said. Even though Jasper had not told me off, I still felt guilty.

After Jasper told me to finish eating, I stuffed the food hurriedly in my mouth and chewed it. Even after trying to eat faster, Jasper finished first. That made me feel even worse because his plate was filled a little more than mine, still he finished first. Watching that he had finished his meal, I fastened my speed and stuffed my mouth more than its capacity. As a result, my windpipe clogged when I tried to swallow a big chunk of bite and started coughing like crazy.

I pounded my hand on the table and coughed.

“Ava …” Jasper called out, but I was too busy coughing to answer. Tears were pooling in my eyes as one of my hands clutched my throat. I could not breathe or exhale and soon after a few seconds, black dots appeared in my vision.

I needed to breathe. I needed to air.

I was going to die.

“Shit …” I heard a distant voice of Jasper. Cursing out loud before I heard the sound of a chair scraping against the wooden floor and I felt him rushing to my side. Jasper hit my back three times hard to get the clogged food out of my mouth. The hits were hard to push the food down my windpipe, but not too hard enough to hurt me.

And it worked.

The clogged food ended up going down my windpipe and finally, my windpipe freed for me to take oxygen in. When it happened, I took long shuddering breaths, feeling the oxygen rush in. I closed my eyes as I breathed heavily in and out. My mind is completely blank for the moment.

Thank god.

I sagged against the chair and appreciated God so much at that moment. Finally, when I managed to calm my breathing and myself, I opened my eyes. Jasper was standing beside me, hovering over and looking concerned.

“Are you okay?” He asked, worried about lacing his eyes. I nodded my head and closed my eyes once more.

Holy crap. I could have died just now.

I could have just DIED now.

Thank you, god for saving me. That would have ended up badly.

I swallowed hard and then peeled my eyes open.

“Thank you for saving me.” I told him. My voice came out croaky and raw. Making me seem like that whether I had been crying badly or laughing loudly. My throat ached as I spoke.

“Again.” Jasper said, making my eyes fly to his. He met my eyes, looking a little mischievous. He was cracking a private joke. One that had turned out to be true. He had saved my life. The day when I was going to attempt suicide and now. However, what he did not know was that he had saved more than one life.

“Again.” I repeated in agreement. Because he did save me. Again.

My voice and words were genuine. A meaningful look passed between us, and both of us looked away at the same time.

To lighten up the mood, I cracked a joke of my own.

“You are a savior. Who, sadly, always ends up rescuing me. After all, you did save my life twice.” I said as a joke. He gave me a small smile and shook his head, like dealing with a child.

“How do you always end up in a situation, where you find yourself facing death? Whether It was the bridge or this?” He asked. Looking thoroughly amused by the coincidence. This light-hearted conversation with him really made me feel happy. It was nice to just talk to someone over a non-serious topic. This light chit — chat had me feeling eased and light. God, I wish this moment happened more and more in my life.

“I guess it's God's cue for both of us to be friends.” I said it out loud and for the millionth time wanted to bite my tongue.

Really, Ava? Asking your boss to be your friend? Unintentionally seeking permission to talk with him casually, like we both were on the same level? What were you thinking, when you said it?

Jesus Christ. It was one of the main reasons that I like to keep my mouth shut. Or else things like this come out of my mouth. I really needed to work on my habit of sometimes speaking without thinking. It was going to get me in big trouble soon.

When I peered up at Jasper, I wanted to die for real. He seemed to be a little taken aback by my words. And who would not be? A person who came to this place only a few days ago, someone he hardly knew, was asking him to be his friend.

What would it feel like? If I was in his shoes, then I would have made a beeline for the door, but he did not have that option.

Where would he run to? This was his House. How was he supposed to run out of his own home, after knowing that I would still be here when he came back?

Maybe I should take my words back.

“I think you are right. It is God's cue for both of us to become friends. Maybe, we should become friends.” He replied in his honeyed, deep voice. This time it was me who was shocked. His answer took me aback by his words.

“Really?” I asked him in a childlike wonder. His smile changed to a lopsided one.

“Yeah.” He answered.

“That's great.” I replied, feeling a little too happy that I should be.

Jasper jerked his head to the door as he straightened. Pushing both his hands in his joggers pocket, he rolled his shoulders a little.

“Come on. I had to show you this whole house, which will take a lot of time. So, better start now.” He told me. I pushed back my chair and stood up. His words did not escape my notice. What did he mean by a lot of time? From the size of it appeared to be minimal.

“Sometimes things are not the way they seem.” Jasper said, as if reading my mind. I closed off my expression, not willing to give him any other expressions or chances to read my face.

I was ready to see what he was willing to show.