3 Months Later.

On a Saturday afternoon, Denim and Kimberly were watching a novella on the large screen plasma television. Kimberly rested her head on his shoulders while he his eyes darted between the tabloid newspaper between his laps and the television.

Someone rang the doorbell, and they gazed at the door. Kimberly pulled up at once to reply. She and Denim had simple singlets and shots.

“Are you expecting someone?”

“No.” He answered calmly.

“Now, who could that be?” Kimberly wore her slippers and opened the door.

“Oh my God, it’s you!” Kimberly stressed with excitement, throwing her arms open to receive Rose in a tight hug. “So good to see you!”

Denim adjusted his stilling position as he turned to them. Rose had a tight dress on and she looked glamorous, with a little makeup.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming. I’d have prepared something for you!”

“I don’t need to announce Kim.” Rose corrected. “We are like sisters, remember?”

“Yeah.” Kimberly agreed, and Rose walked in and took a seat.

“Hi, Rose. How are you doing?” Denim greeted, but she just smiled.

“Let me get you juice.”

“Of course, I’m your guest, please!”

“Okay...” Kimberly stood up and walked into the kitchen, leaving Denim and Rose in the living room,

Rose was as beautiful as he last remembered, but he concentrated on the newspaper.

“So, Denim, how are you? Do you still get to see your friends?”

“Yeah, sometimes.” He nodded.

“Oh, nice.” Rose commented, looking around in admiration. It was her first time visiting. “Nice place.”

“Thank you.” He replied.

Kimberly brought the juice, placing it on the table in front of her. “There you go.”

“Thank you.”

“I have food too, in case you want.”

“Oh, no.” She pointed. “I have dinner with Jack later today.”

“Okay.” Kimberly beamed and caught the look on Denim’s face. He gazed at the both of them before his eyes settled back on the newspaper. His lips formed a smirk.

“Why are you far away from me?” Kimberly said, pulling closer to him the way they were before she entered.

“I’m sorry, my love, uh?” His voice pleaded, capturing her lips in a soft kiss.

“It’s okay.” She pulled away with a smile. He chuckled at the sound of her laughter. “That’s enough, Denim, you’re crazy!”

“I know.” He mumbled as they share their special couple moments together, forgetting that Rose was there.

She felt the cold ground beneath her feet. Rose stared at the ceiling, then at the floor. It was stupid of her to visit them like this. The pulse of her heart died down, even though it was racing faster than she had imagined. And at that moment, she fought not to think about Denim.

“So, Rose!” Kimberly turned to her, noticing that it lost her in thoughts. Kimberly turned in her direction. “Rose!”

“Aw!” She faked a smile, slightly flushed.

“I’ve not told you, but I have great news. So, my love and I are finally building a cloth line business.”

Rose's blue eyes widened. Her nails dug into her skin with excitement before clamping a hand over her mouth.

“As I speak to you right now, a contractor is building it and I’m planning to publish my second book before the year ends!”

A genuine smile spread out of the corners of Rose’s lips and her eyes glittered at the good news.

“Yeah, she’s going to own one of the biggest cloth lines in Los Angeles.” Denim added.

“Yes, my love! All thanks to you!” they shared an eye contact and softly chuckled.

“At least all your days and nights of worries are over. I’m glad.” Rose confessed. “And hold on, we still haven’t had the big party.” Rose reminded Kimberly.

“You don’t have to worry about that. When everything is booming, my darling is going to hold a yatch party all by himself.”

“Yeah!”

“You can do that for me, right?” Kimberly requested and pouted her lips at Denim.

“Definitely.” He replied. His fingers stroke her silky long hair and they shared another intense eye contact. Their forehead touched each other and Kimberly chuckled at his attitude.

“You drank the juice, right?” He whispered in her ears, kissing her again. “Your lips taste like strawberry.”

Rose watched them with lustful glances and drank the cup of chilled strawberry juice down her dry throat. She placed it back on the table and her phone rang. Rose quickly picked up her phone to answer the call.

“Hi, Jack.”

“Yeah, I’m coming. I promised, remember?”

Kimberly and Denim turned to her, watching her blush.

Rose loved the sound of his smile over the phone. The way he drew out her name, so teasing, yet full of affection.

“Sorry. I’ll be there in a minute.” She ended the call and smiled at his awkwardness.

She looked at the couple, still engrossed in each other. They were having a silent conversation, and Rose watched them for a moment. They actually looked good together.

“Guys...” Rose called. “Kim and Denim! Hello, please!” She stressed before they realized.

“Aw! Sorry.” Denim apologized, brushing a wet coil from his thick brow with a finger.

“Sorry.” Kimberly apologized amidst her chuckle. “Denim can be a parrot.”

“Sorry guys, I have to go.” Rose pointed out. Her tone was warm and light. “I need to meet Jack right now. And I don’t want to keep my baby waiting.” She pulled up, adjusting the tight dress.

“I wish you could stay a little longer.” Kimberly whined.

“Me too, but it’s fine.” Rose agreed. They shared a friendly hug.

“Bye.”

“Bye!” she said and used the door.

“Oh my, I wasn’t expecting that.” Kimberly muttered once she left.

“Yeah... But that was cool.” Denim whispered thickly.

“Really?”

“ Yeah. You’re are the sassiest woman I know. You’re good at whatever you do.”

“Really?” Kimberly chuckled again, and they held onto each other on the sofa like lovebirds in their nest. Her body was soft and receptive, responded eagerly. Denim’s thigh crushed hers and his lips fed greedily upon hers.

Hitting the road, Rose held back the bitter tears from pouring. Her vision turned into a blur as she slammed her fist on the steering wheel.

“I hate him! I fucking hate Denim! I hate Denim so much!” She kept hitting the horn and closed her eyes.

The withheld tears flowed freely against her cheeks and she broke down in tears.

Rose met herself in the middle of the road and other cars coming from behind, horned. Rose continued driving, though she knew she had to do something about those two.

“What happened? You came in like a ghost.” Jack frowned while she took a seat behind him. “Hi.”

Her body was still shivering from the impact of visiting Kimberly and Denim. But she tried to hide the feelings.

“What happened?” Jack watched her closely, and she raised her gaze to his.

Her steady eyes frowned. “What?”

“Are you okay? You look disturbed.” Jack explained, his eyes fixated in hers.

Rose pouted her lips, wondering why he was so curious.

“I’m fine.”

He kept on staring at her.

“Alright then, about the wedding. My parents want us to make it happen on time.” Jack clarified.

Rose rolled her eyes with a tired sigh. “I need some more time.”

“How much time do you need? I don’t understand.” Jack stressed.

“My bank is sending top staffs for a training.” She pointed out.

“When?” Rose scratched her nape for a reply.

“That’s a few weeks from now. But I think the wedding can hold in 3 months’ time.”

“What? Three months’ time?” He gave her a stank stare. “Come on, that’s outrageous! We could plan this whole thing in two weeks, get married and get done with! You said you love me right, then why is it taking us forever to get married?”

Rose shut her eyes tight and gently exhaled. Looking down with warning eyes. “Jack, please.” Her voice came as a plea. “I just need some more time.”

Her eyes met his, and we wondered what was really keeping them apart. He knew it disturbed Rose, but she won’t say. She won’t tell. Jack knew she was secretive all alone, but it could be because of her timidness or something that he’s about to find out.