Chapter 48: Chapter 48

“Jonea, please deliver the order to this address,” asked the mother when Jonea had just returned from delivering the previous order.

The girl glanced at the female customers who were swarming Hunter and Ed. Jonea puffed out her cheeks and looked at him with an annoyed look.

“Why did Mama even accept him to work here? This is very annoying.”

Mrs. Fallon smiled wryly. She felt terrible for her daughter. But also can’t refuse Hunter’s request. If she refused, Mrs. Fallon was afraid that Hunter would report her to the police.

The woman stood beside Jonea while staring at the restaurant, which looked full and busy.

“Let’s just take the positive side, Jonea. Look, we have twice as many customers as usual. This restaurant is never empty.”

“Tsk,” Jonea chuckled. “Well, of course, they are popular with young girls. They use their good looks to attract female customers. You see, almost all of them are young girls.”

“Come on, don’t worry about it too much,” said her mother. “It’s only for a while until your winter vacation ends. Wouldn’t this make it easier for you to keep an eye on them from a close distance? You’re saying one of them is Miller’s bully?”

Jonea took a deep breath and let it out. She nodded and began to accept the logical explanation from the mother. Jonea received a large box of hot fried chicken for delivery to the following address.

“Be careful on the road! Because the order this time is quite far away.”

Before leaving the restaurant, Jonea again read a note from her mother containing the address for the order. Jonea’s eyes opened wide.

“Impossible!” she exclaimed.

Jonea stopped and hesitated to start her scooter. She had thought about canceling the delivery, but Jonea was also afraid that she would disappoint her mother and ruin the image of their fried chicken restaurant.

Jonea hesitated. Once again, she glanced at the restaurant and saw Edison enjoying his waiter job. And also Hunter, who looks like he’s trying even though he’s always sullen. Because he was constantly harassed by female customers. However, he still tries to look his best.

“Yeah, I have to act professionally like them. Why should I be afraid to deliver this order?”

Jonea shrugged her shoulders and immediately spurred her scooter toward the destination.

About half an hour later, after riding her motorbike quickly, she arrived at a luxurious apartment building. The address to go to is the penthouse at the top of the apartment tower.

Jonea shivered for a moment. She had stayed there for two days, and there was no way she could forget it.

“Why does it have to be Aland who orders fried chicken at my restaurant? There are lots of fried chicken restaurants in this town.” Jonea grunted but still took the fried chicken from the box and walked toward the lobby.

After reporting to the lobby security guard, Jonea rushed up the elevator to the penthouse.

While at the door of Aland’s apartment, Jonea becomes increasingly nervous and tired of panic. She avoided the peephole in the door to hide her face. Jonea also covered her face with a visor.

“Well, put it this way,” Jonea muttered. “I just need to pretend to be someone else. After receiving the payment, I can go straight away.”

Jonea nodded firmly and pressed the doorbell.

After a few excruciating seconds, Aland opened the door. As soon as the door opened, Jonea lifted a box of fried chicken and thrust it towards the door.

Aland appeared wearing only shorts. He was shirtless, and his body was visibly sweating. Jonea immediately lowered her head. She was so nervous and gulped seeing Aland, who looked so sexy.

“Oh, my order has arrived,” Aland said casually while receiving the fried chicken from Jonea’s hand.

Jonea’s hand hung down because Aland didn’t take it quickly. A girl screamed and appeared naked. She was standing behind Aland, wearing only a towel wrapped around her body.

“Who’s that?”

Aland turned his head and answered. “Courier. Your order of fried chicken has arrived.”

Aland smiled so sweetly at the girl.

Jonea was shocked and envious. Since she first met Aland at Abraham High School, Jonea had never seen the young man’s smile, which was so sincere and made him look more handsome. And what was even more surprising for Jonea was the presence of a girl who made Aland smile.

‘What a beautiful girl,’ thought Jonea.

Jonea became so nervous and mixed with anger. For some reason, she suddenly felt annoyed when she saw the girl’s face. She’s the girl in the photo in Aland’s drawer.

Jonea’s mind was everywhere. She was so shocked; Jonea had even left before receiving payment for her fried chicken order.

Jonea was afraid and also jealous. But she didn’t dare to confirm it directly.

“Hey, you, wait!” Aland shouted when he saw Jonea leaving. “Why did she run away? Doesn’t she want this money?” Aland closed the door again.

Jonea ran as fast as she could until she was out of breath and felt like her lungs were about to be torn apart. She was crouched on the pavement across from the posh apartment. Jonea hugged her knees as she squatted and lowered her head.

“Why do I have to see all that? Why am I even seeing this painful reality of the many things I don’t want to see? What was Aland doing with that girl in the apartment alone? This sucks!”

Jonea returned to her parents’ fried chicken restaurant with a messy face. She was utterly sullen and didn’t want to say hello to anyone. Even though Ed greeted her with a big smile, Jonea ignored him and continued running towards the kitchen.

“Sorry, Mom. The order just now… I messed it up. I didn’t receive the payment because it was my fault. I will replace it with my personal money,” said Jonea.

The mother was stunned. Not because she didn’t get paid for her fried chicken money, but because she saw Jonea’s expression, which was very unusual. The woman knew her daughter very well.

“Are you all right, Jonea?”

“It’s okay, Mom. I’m just tired. Can I come home early tonight?”

“Of course,” said the mother. “Rest at home. I’m also closing early tonight. You don’t need to worry because there are two handsome young men there who are ready to help me.”

As Jonea exited the kitchen, she saw Hunter and Ed running away. For a moment, Jonea stopped and glanced at the two of them. She knew the two young men had just eavesdropped her conversation with her mother.

Jonea ignored them and walked out of the restaurant. But Hunter blocks her steps.

“You want to go home? I’ll take you,” said Hunter.

“No need! My house is no less than 50 meters from here. I can go home alone and walk. I could go home alone for most of my life and never get lost.” Jonea said curtly to Hunter.

“But,” Hunter’s words hung in the air.

Ed immediately pulled Hunter away from the door. “Where are you going, huh? Don’t even think about running away. There is a lot of work here. I’m having a hard time dealing with these lines of girls!” Ed hissed.

The following day when Jonea was returning to the restaurant to help her mother, she stopped when she saw someone standing in front of the restaurant with sunglasses on. He wore a white suit and a gray knee-length coat.

Jonea could see clearly. Several pedestrians and girls passing by around the street looked in amazement at the figure. They whispered and smiled to themselves, seeing the good looks of that figure.

“Aland? What is he doing here?” Jonea stopped about two meters behind Aland. She didn’t dare to go near it.

Aland overturned and was about to return to his car. However, the corner of his eye caught Jonea’s presence and smelled her arrival.

Jonea was too late to dodge and hide. At that time, Aland was suddenly in front of her and only two steps away. Jonea was surprised it wasn’t a toy.

“Why did you run away from me last night?” whispered Aland seductively.

“You?” Jonea stared in disbelief. “How did you know it was me?”

Aland took a step closer. He inhaled Jonea’s scent like the scent of flowers.

“I’ve marked you!” Aland whispered with emphasis. “I really recognize your scent. We’ve slept together before, right? Your scent is so… seductive.”

Aland smiled faintly.

Jonea, who had been bewitched, was suddenly sick of seeing that smile. Jonea wanted Aland’s sincere smile like last night when he gave his best smile to the girl in his apartment.

Jonea shook her head and shook off the image. She imagined too much about things she shouldn’t think about Aland and that girl. Jonea took a step back to keep her distance from Aland.

“Hey, Aland! You came here early in the morning? We haven’t even opened yet.”

Beside Ed stood Hunter, who had just arrived with his personal driver. Aland didn’t seem surprised to see the two of them coming. Because ed had previously recommended this fried chicken restaurant to Aland.

“Are you guys happy with your part-time jobs?” Aland asked warmly while welcoming his two best friends.

“Yeah, this is great fun,” Ed said. “Right, right, Hunter?”

Hunter felt awry. He had volunteered there, but his aim was not the part-time job but Jonea’s.

“Yeah, it’s quite fun. Not bad for killing my boredom. Because during the winter holidays, you are always busy with your own business. What brought you here so early in the morning?” he asked.

“I forgot to pay for my chicken order last night. And coincidentally because I met you here, I invited you to Safira’s birthday party. Remember this party is for couples. You must come with your partner. The party will be held tomorrow night. Come to the garden at the penthouse.”

“Oh, Jonea,” said Ed. “Can we take her along? She will be our schoolmate. This party can get us closer.”

Aland glanced at Jonea and nodded. “Of course. She must come. She will be the special guest for this birthday event. Because, after all, the fried chicken from the restaurant makes Safira addicted.”

“Safira?” muttered Jonea with a sad face. “Who exactly is this girl? And what is her position in Aland’s life? Aland kept this girl’s photo in his bedroom drawer. Of course, I have to come to find out and confirm my feelings.”

“Ah, by the way, who are you coming with, Jonea?” he asked.

Hunter stepped forward and was about to land a hand on Jonea’s shoulder. However, Elmar suddenly appears and rushes first.

“Jonea will be my partner at the party later!” cried Elmar.