Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Isabella's p.o.v;

Since i went to eat with my detention room friends, Ms Greta was already in the class while i was entering class. I apologised and came into the class.

I sat down next to Tracy, who's my desk partner. I placed my notebook on my desk. When I tried to take my pen out of my bag, Tracy whispered to me, "Why are you late? Where did you go?"

"I ate with Julian and others."

"What about the hotpot? Aren't you coming out with us?"

"No, I'm going. Actually, Carlos got a girlfriend so he treated us to a meal. And, It doesn't mean I'm not going with you guys. I had a little snack with them. I saved up space for the hotpot. Don't worry."

"Then, no backing away from the hotpot plan, okay?"

I gave a thumbs up and continued listening to the class.

Jose moved closer and whispered, "You look happy, today. Did the food taste good?"

I shook my head and said, "It's not the food which made me smile. It's by someone who sneaked to my place last night and heard my stories."

He smiled and said, "You can call me whenever you're facing something like that. It's good to have someone by your side."

"Awww. I'm getting jealous over Tracy now. She got an awesome boyfriend."

"I don't mind having two girlfriends though." And made a smirk at me.

I pushed his notebook on the floor which made him look away from me.

Ms Greta asked while explaining her lecture, "Who's talking at the back?"

Mike turned and asked me, "Shall i say your name?"

I don't know why everyone is teasing me a lot today.

I took my pencil and poked on Mike's shoulder and said, "Don't make me stab you with this."

He turned right away to the front.

After classes got over,

"Where are we going today?"

Tracy answered, "The hotpot I guess."

Jose let out a chuckle and said, "JP diner on Tales street."

"There's a diner on that street? Why didn't I hear about that?"

Tracy, "Do you own every restaurant and diner in this state to get worried about the whereabouts of that diner?"

"I worked as a part-timer in delivery so I kinda knew almost every diner around this area. To my memory, there wasn't any diner on that street except a cafe. So I got confused when he said there's a diner on that street." I turned to Jose and asked, "Are you sure there's a diner like that in that street?"

He took his phone out and showed me the map while saying, "My friends in the music club suggested it to me. They said they're serving a nice hotpot with many side dishes." And showed me pictures of hotpots his friends had.

"Oh, It looks appetizing. We have to try it out then."

Tracy, "Are we going to stand here and talk about the diner all day or are we going?"

Jose wrapped his hands over Tracy's shoulder and said, "Don't get upset, cream bun."

"Creambun? Do couples still call like that?"

Tracy, "We do."

I smiled and said, "Okay, let's go to the diner before I freeze to death in this hot summer."

After a while, we came to the diner Jose suggested.

I was stunned by looking at the diner in this street.

Tracy, "Hey, there's a cafe like you said."

I nodded and looked at the appearance of the diner.

Jose tapped on my shoulder and said, "Let's get inside."

We all three walked into the diner and looked around. Wow. It looks like we stepped into a Korean restaurant. The interior design, the paintings and accessories on the wall, the tables, the atmosphere everything gave a vibe of a Korean restaurant.

Tracy, "Are you going to stare at the diner all day?"

When I snapped away from admiring the beauty of the dinner and looked at Tracy and Jose. They were already seated at a table of four. I walked to the table and took my seat opposite to them.

I said, "The diner looks great."

Tracy, "Yeah, I think they opened it recently. That's why you don't remember that there was a diner here."

I gave a nod and looked around the diner and asked, "How did you know that?"

She pointed at a sign and said, "It says new."

Jose placed the menu card in front of me and said, "Order first. You can discuss and take a look around while waiting for the food."

I looked at the menu card. Wow. There's so much food here.

"Can I order something other than hotpot?"

"You can but don't make your stomach full. Remember that we came here for the hotpot."

"Got it."

I ordered some fritters as starters and a beverage to quench my thirst.

After eating the fritters and drinking the lemon soda, I looked at the menu card to check what would be good. While I was checking, Jose took the menu card from my hands and said, "The hotpot has arrived. Let's finish this and order later."

Tracy, "You can stop her from anything but not on food. Believe me." And made fun of me.

I ignored them and started cutting the meat in fine pieces, while Jose was boiling the vegetables on one side whereas Tracy was boiling the meat pieces which I cut.

The boiling vegetables and the meat let out a nice smell from the hotpot. I leaned forward a little and took a deep sniff and let out a hungry sigh.

"Shall we begin?"

Tracy nodded and placed the boiled meat on my plate saying, "It's cooked well."

I took the piece and dipped in red chilli sauce and took a bite.

"Yummy. It's delicious."

Jose, "Don't forget to eat the vegetables."

I gave an uncomfortable look at the vegetables which were boiling in the soup.

Jose continued, "Don't cheat and eat the vegetables properly." And placed a bunch of boiled vegetables on my plate.

I separated the vegetables on the plate and looked at them. Yuck!

Tracy leaned and took the plate containing vegetables from me and said, "Take another plate."

"Huh?"

Tracy turned to Jose and said, "You know that she hates vegetables, so why are you forcing her to eat it? Let her eat what she wants."

Suddenly, I felt happy after getting free from eating vegetables.

Tracy smiled at me and said, "Go ahead and eat what you like."

I gave a tongue out expression to Jose and started eating the boiled meat and mushroom floating in the soup.

Jose, "I'll make you eat vegetables one day. Remember that."

"That day never comes."

Tracy, "Let's see that later. Now eat." And gave a snack on Jose's head.

While we were halfway to finish the hotpot, I heard someone calling my name in the distance.

"Did you guys hear that?"

Tracy, "Hear what?"

"I heard someone's calling my name."

"I don't hear anything."

"Really? Maybe it's on my mind." And continued eating.

The voice gets stronger and clearer as the time passes. I closed my ear and continued eating.

Tracy removed my hand and said, "I hear it too. Jose, what about you?"

Jose nodded his head while eating.

"Bella!"

It was so close like that person was standing behind me.

Tracy, "Are you her friend?"

"Yes."

I turned around to check who it was. Jeremy was standing in front of me and waved his hand.

"Jeremy, what are you doing here?"

"To eat I guess."

Jose asked him, "Where are your friends?"

"I came alone."

Tracy, "Why don't you join us then?"

I gave a stare at Tracy when she smiled mischievously at me.

Jeremy took the seat beside me and asked, "Aren't you going to introduce them?"

I pointed at my friends and said, "She's Tracy and beside her was Jose, we're all in the same class. And, they're a couple."

Jeremy teased me, "Then, you must be the third wheel here."

While I was staring at Jeremy, Jose said, "We don't let her feel that way. You didn't introduce yourself yet."

Jeremy said, "Jeremy Johnson from marketing and advertising."

Tracy, "So, you're the Jeremy Bella was talking about."

"She talked about me?"

"She said you asked her out… I mean asked her to accompany you to a musical concert."

"Yeah, but she had important business to attend to."

I asked Jeremy, "It's a surprise to see you here. Do you come to this place often?"

"Yup! I come here a lot. I'm the one who is supposed to be surprised to see you guys here since It's far away from the college."

I said, "Jose's friend suggested this place for a nice hotpot."

"Oh, good. Did you try the shrimp salad?"

I shook my head and said, "Since we came for a hotpot, I haven't yet. Will it taste good?"

"That was one of my favourite salads served here. You have to give it a try."

He called the waiter and ordered the food. The waiter and Jeremy looked comfortable around each other. I think Jeremy comes here a lot. Then he should have known about this place.

"Um… Jeremy, do you know about this place well?"

"Um… yeah?"

"I mean… There wasn't a diner here except a cafe around the corner. Do you know when they opened this?"

"One year ago. That's why there aren't many people around us."

I said to Tracy, "Did you hear that? I was right about this diner."

Jeremy, "What?"

"Nothing. When did you hear about this diner?"

"Um… since the beginning."

"What?"

"This diner belongs to my parents so I kinda knew it from the beginning."

I hit him on his shoulder and said, "Why didn't you say it to us?"

He let out a sigh and said, "Do you want me to go around and tell people that my parents own this restaurant?" And laughed at me while patting me.

Tracy, "Why didn't this place get popular? The hotpot is breathtaking. And, I'm not lying about that."

Jeremy said, "Since we're in a crooked street, not many people know about this place."

I asked, "What about giving flyers and pamphlets?"

"We tried but it didn't work."

"What about having an eating competition?"

"What?"

"Competitions get many people's attention quicker than any other method. If you hold a competition on any specific food from your restaurant like finishing it in a particular time and giving out gifts and free food. It attracts people more than by pamphlets and flyers."

Jose and Tracy stared at me like they're surprised. When I looked at Jeremy, he gave the same expression as Jose and Tracy.

Tracy caressed my head and said, "Do you know how to use your brain too?"

"Don't tease me. You know what my dream is."

Jeremy placed his hand over my shoulder and asked, "What's your dream?"

Everytime he gets touchy, I feel uncomfortable around him. I can't snap his hand away since my friends are sitting in front of me.

I said, "To open a restaurant."

Tracy, "That's all? You always give a brief explanation about your dream. Why did you shrink it this time?"

Jose said, "Stop teasing her already." And asked Jeremy, "What about promoting in social media?"

Jeremy took his hand from my shoulder and went to talk with Jose.

I let out a relief sigh and continued eating my meat on my plate.

While I was eating, Jeremy said, "Why hasn't the shrimp salad arrived yet? Sometimes the food comes late from the kitchen, I'll go and get it for you." And patted my shoulder and left.

What's wrong with him? Why does he touch me so often?

Tracy got a call so she left to take the call.

While I was eating, Jose asked, "Why is your face like that?"

"Like what?"

He let out a sigh and said, "You know what I meant."

"I feel a little uncomfortable whenever he touches me all of a sudden."

"Then tell him."

"No, what if he takes it in the wrong way?"

"Can I talk with him?"

"No, that makes it even worse than me telling him."

"Why do you feel uncomfortable when he's your friend? Don't tell me that you feel uncomfortable around me too."

"No, it's different. You know how Tracy teases me with him, right? So whenever I'm beside him, I remember what Tracy said so I'm being cautious around him like not to get too close with him so when he touches me while I'm being cautious it feels uncomfortable."

"Then stop thinking about what Tracy said."

"I tried, but I couldn't. Because the way he's behaving is also like how Tracy teases me."

He let out a sigh and said, "I think you have to stop being cautious or talk to him about how you feel when he touches you. Otherwise, you'll can't get away from this."

I nodded my head.

"How are things between you and Alexander now?"

"Actually, I wanted to tell you this but forgot to do so. This morning, he started teasing me like nothing happened between us."

"Was that a good or a bad?"

I smiled and said, "Good. I act like I don't like it in front of him but I like it when he teases me. I like his face when he's teasing me."

"It sounds like you fell hard."

"Not much like you and Tracy."

Tracy came back from the call and asked, "What are you talking about me?"

I said, "Like how you and Jose are lovey-dovey towards each other."

Tracy sat beside Jose and asked me, "Don't you have any other things to talk about? Why are you always talking about us?"

"Maybe it's fun?" And laughed.

Jeremy placed the shrimp salad in front of me and said, "Sorry for the delay. Mom went out so there was a little chaos in the back. That's why it didn't come in time."

"It's fine."

I poked a shrimp to eat.

Jeremy stopped me and said, "What are you doing? That's not how you are supposed to eat a salad. I'll show you."

He poked the vegetables, shrimp and vegetables again using a fork and dipped in soy sauce and gave it to me.

While I was looking at the vegetables he held in a spoon, he said, "Open your mouth."

"What?"

"Come on."

Tracy said, "Don't make him wait. Open your mouth."

I opened the mouth a little, he shoved it inside my mouth and asked me to chew it. As soon as I tasted the vegetables, i wanted to barf everything out my mouth but i chewed it.

Jeremy, "Why is your face like that?"

Tracy burst out into laughter and made fun of me.

Jeremy asked Jose, "What happened?"

Jose, "Bella doesn't like vegetables."

Jeremy asked me, "Really? I didn't know. I'm sorry for that."

"It's fine." And ate it.

He took the plate from me and said, "I'll bring another plate for you with a small amount of vegetables. There's a lot in here."

"Hey, you don't have to do that. I said it's fine. It's not like I'm allergic to food." And tried to take the plate from him.

He looked at the plate and said, "No, I'll bring another one." And left.

Tracy raised her eyebrows and smiled at me.

"What?"

"He likes you. He likes you for sure."

"Don't friends do that?"

"No, I won't do that for any friend." And asked Jose, "Do you do that for a friend?"

"Yeah, but…"

Tracy said before he finished, "See? He won't do that to a friend either. Hear me out, I'm damn sure he likes you."

Jose said to her, "If he likes her or not, let her handle it. Stop saying it like you're forcing her to like him."

Tracy, "I wasn't wrong though. Was I?"

"No, I'm not saying it like that. But she will feel pressured when you say it in that way."

"Okay. I won't say anything." And continued eating her food.

Jeremy came and sat beside me with a plate with less number of vegetables and more shrimp.

"Sorry for bothering you."

He patted my head and said, "It's fine. You came to my parents' diner so I'm the one who's responsible for the food."

I gave a nod and started eating the shrimp salad and said, "It tastes delish like you said."

"Do you want me to suggest another…"

"No! I'm already full."

He smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take you here another time."

Tracy, "What about us?"

"Yeah, of course you do too." And turned to me and asked, "Then, where are you going from here?"

"To house."

"Okay. Can I drop you?"

"No! I can take the bus."

Jeremy turned to them and asked, "What about you two?"

"I'll go with Jose."

Outside the diner,

"Hey guys, do you want to come to my house? It's around this corner."

Tracy, "We'll come another time."

Jeremy asked me, "What about you?"

"Why do I have to come to your house? We're not close."

Tracy pinched my ears and asked, "Watch your words. Is that how you talk to a friend?"

Jeremy said, "I got used to it so it's fine." And turned to me and said, "Get home safe."

After we came out of Tales street, Tracy and Jose went on their way.

I waited for the bus in the bus terminal. While I was waiting, a car stood in front of the bus terminal. Wow. Good colour.

The window brought down, Jeremy was inside the car. He waved his hand at me and asked, "Do you want a ride?"

I shook my head and said, "I'm waiting for the bus."

"How long are you going to wait? Get inside the car. I'll drop you."

I ignored him and looked in the direction of the bus.

The car moved. Finally, he's moving away. After some distance, he stopped the car and walked towards the bus terminal. What is he doing?

He sat beside me and asked, "When will the bus come?"

"In about 10 minutes."

"Are you going to wait here for 10 minutes?"

"Yeah."

"Why do you sound like you're mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"

I let out a sigh and asked him, "Do you like me?"

He gave a shocked expression and said, "I… I…"

"You like me, right?"

He nodded his head and asked, "Was it obvious?" And let out a nervous laugh.

"I don't want to give you false hope by saying that I'm not interested in you so hear me out. I got a boyfriend."

"What? I thought you're single."

"You didn't ask me though."

He stood and asked me, "Are you lying to me?"

"I'm not. Why do I have to lie to you? I really have a boyfriend."

"Who's that? Is he from our college?Tell me his name."

"I don't need to."

"Why? If you have a boyfriend, go on. Why aren't you saying his name? Can't you think of any name right now?" Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and asked, "Tell me you're lying."

"Let go of my hand."

"I'm not going to until you tell me the truth."

"Are you crazy?"

Suddenly, someone separated us and pulled me into them. The embrace felt familiar from behind. When I looked up, it's Mr Martinez. How did he come here?

Mr Martinez asked me, "Who's this man? What is happening here? Did he hurt you?"

"Wait."

I turned to Jeremy and said, "He's the one who I talked about. Do you believe me now?"

"I want to hear it from him."

I let out a sigh and turned to Mr Martinez and said, "Tell him that you're my boyfriend."

"What?!"

"It's just a lie. And, it's not like you're telling it for the first time."

Mr Martinez started, "She's my girlfriend. Don't mess with her." He put his hands over my waist and pulled me towards him and continued, "If i heard that you're giving trouble to her, you'll face the grave danger in your life hereafter."

I said to Mr Martinez, "Don't threaten him."

Mr Martinez nodded and turned to him and said, "Whatever the thing you're doing right now, stop it."

I said to Jeremy, "I'm okay with being friends with you, Jeremy but not like how you want to be."

After Jeremy left in his car being mad, I walked back to the bus terminal.

Mr Martinez asked, "What are you doing?"

"Waiting for the bus."

"I'm standing here with a car."

"So?"

He let out a sigh and said, "Get in the car."

"Why?"

"I'm going to the house."

"Then, leave."

"Let's go together."

"I can take the bus."

He held my hand and said, "Stop being stubborn and Come with me."

"You don't have to act like you care for me since you said I'm your girlfriend. It was just a lie to escape from him."

He let go of my hand and sat beside me and asked, "If you're going to lie to him, then why did you tell my name? You could have said someone else's name."

"I didn't say your name. You appeared in the middle of the conversation so I pointed at you. If anyone I know came by that way, I would have pointed at them. It's not like I pointed at you wantedly."

He didn't give a response and sat beside me.

"Why are you sitting here? Leave."

"This is not your room. You can't chase me away."

"Fine!"

I stood from the place and called a cab. When I was about to enter the car, Mr Martinez closed the door and told the driver to leave.

"Are you crazy?"

When I looked for another cab, suddenly he lifted me up and walked towards his car. He opened the door and put me inside the car and locked it. He got in the car and started to drive.

I sat comfortably and said, "People are going to think you're kidnapping me."

"You don't have to worry, I'll take care of it."

"Why did you push me like that? I hurt my hand."

Suddenly, he stopped the car which made my head bump into the dashboard.

"Oops!"

I moved closer to him and held his collar and asked, "Did you just say 'oops' when I hit my head?"

He let out a nervous laugh and said, "It came out of my mouth without my concern." He touched my head and asked, "Does it hurt?"

I snapped his hand and said, "Don't act like you care. I saw you holding back your laugh. And, for the question you asked, No, it doesn't hurt at all. I'm fine." And went back to my seat. It hurts. If I rub my head, I'll be embarrassed.

My phone vibrated. I took my phone and checked what it was.

A message from Jeremy.

"I know I went overboard, I'm sorry for acting that way. I don't want to lose a friend in this way so I hope you forgive me and talk to me as a friend again. And, I'm sorry for grabbing your hand."

I smiled at the message and replied a thumbs up to him.

I showed the message to Mr Martinez who was driving and said, "Look how sweet he is."

He took the phone from me and read the message and said, "I should have broken his hand when he grabbed your hand like that."

I snatched the phone from him and said, "Don't talk like you're from a mafia background. You're a CEO so act like one." I leaned back on the seat and continued, "I really had a great day with my friends. I thought it'll last at least for a day but it didn't when you appeared. Why are you ruining my day especially when I'm feeling a little happy?"

"You're the one who asked me to tell a lie."

Sh*t! Yeah. Why am I getting mad at him when I'm the one who asked him to lie for me. Dumb Bella!

I said with a lower tone, "Thank you for helping me back there."

"I got to learn from you about the transition. You did it quicker than last time."

I let out a sigh and leaned on the seat again and closed my eyes.

"Are you going to sleep?"

"I don't have to tell you everything I do." Said while closing my eyes.

He made the seat move back making it comfortable to lie on the seat.

"Thank you."

He caressed my head while driving the car.

I said while closing my eyes, "Don't take your hands off the steering wheel. You're not the only person in the car, I'm here too. Drive safe." And went to sleep.