“JEALOUSY is the feeling of envy directed towards someone, often stemming from their achievements or advantages. While it’s considered a negative emotion, it can also serve as a positive indicator of our affection for someone.”

 ***

Three times. Three times, Kenzo had faced rejection from Senthie, and today was no exception. Over the past two weeks, he had relentlessly tried to spend time with her, inviting her to dinners, only to be met with polite refusals and promises of next time.

Tonight, when he asked if he could visit her after she moved back home from GMC’s studio, he received the same response - rejection, saying she had a prior engagement to attend to.

Five times he’d been turned down, and each no felt like a hundred heartaches. The ache of missing her was indescribable. He understood she was busy, yet he couldn’t banish thoughts of Jimhuesh lurking in the background. Even though he knew Senthie wouldn’t fall for him, he felt threatened and consumed by jealousy. These emotions, unwanted but unstoppable, were overwhelming Kenzo, pushing him into a sea of despair. He needed a distraction, and that was when Kassandra phoned him.

“Hey, Kenny! Can you meet me at Cinema Center VIP 2 in Grand Mall San Pedro? My friend had to cancel, so I thought maybe we could catch that sequel to My Heart, My Angel together. I really want to see it, but I don’t want to go alone. Will you come? Please?”

For Kenzo, it felt like a lifeline, a help he hadn’t asked for but sorely needed. Spending time with Kassandra seemed like a good choice, a refreshing departure from Senthie. Kassandra’s interest in him was palpable, a fact even Kenzo, not known for his keen perception, couldn’t ignore. He felt valued, appreciated, even loved, although it wasn’t the love he had been yearning for. Nonetheless, he remained grateful, and with a newfound sense of optimism, he agreed to join her for the movie.

Kenzo arrived just ten minutes before the movie’s scheduled start time, finding no crowd, only Kassandra and a female security guard present.

“The movie hasn’t started yet, has it? Are we the sole audience for this show?” he quipped.

Kassandra giggled. “Of course! I told you I didn’t want to be alone. Imagine if you hadn’t shown up, I’d have the whole theater to myself. That would be so lonely.”

He blinked in surprise. “You booked the entire movie theater?”

She nodded with a mischievous grin, then linked her arm with Kenzo’s as she playfully guided him inside.

Inside the movie theater, they were met with a cool, dimly lit ambiance. They headed toward their seats, conveniently situated in the middle—not too close to the screen, and not too far away. It was a spot that Kassandra must have carefully chosen, complete with a spread of snacks that included popcorn, nachos, and beverages between the two cushioned seats.

The setup allowed for comfortable reclining, with a soft blanket thoughtfully placed for their convenience. This theater was designed for pairs, tailored to provide an intimate experience. Each pair of seats was spaced three feet apart, and each step was illuminated by LED strip lights, making navigation through the darkness both safe and stylish. As one of the VIP theaters, it offered excellent service and amenities.

Yet, their attention was drawn to something else - two rows below them, snacks were waiting.

“I guess we’re not entirely alone together,” he remarked, settling into his seat as Kassandra remained standing, fixated on the nearby snacks.

Her brows furrowed. “They’ve got to be kidding me.”

He chuckled, reclining in his seat. “It’s okay, don’t let it ruin your mood.”

Pouting, Kassandra’s discontent was met with his laughter.

“Don’t laugh. They should’ve at least informed me. This isn’t right; I need to get what I paid for.”

She turned and marched toward the exit, despite Kenzo’s attempts to convince her otherwise. He even offered to accompany her, but she declined, insisting that she could handle the matter herself.

As she approached the last aisle, she encountered two individuals who appeared to be the ones who had managed to secure seats, despite the entire theater being booked. Kassandra’s voice raised, although it wasn’t too loud for Kenzo to discern her words.

He began to rise, intent on joining her, but his actions were halted when she turned and laughed, heading his way. He smiled, finding her transition from frustration to warmth endearing. Yet, that smile quickly faded as his heart took an unexpected turn. The Vice President of GMC was in attendance, accompanied by the woman Kenzo had deeply admired. As much as he loathed to admit it, they made for a striking pair.

“Kenny! Sen is here!” Kassandra’s voice echoed as they approached him.

Senthie greeted him, and Kenzo forced a smile in response. His heart ached at the sight of Senthie choosing Jimhuesh over him. It turned out her prior engagement had been a date with him, and what stung even more was when she silently mouthed an apologetic sorry to Kenzo.

“We meet again . . . Kenny,” Jimhuesh remarked with a smirk, prompting Kassandra to burst into laughter, while Senthie struggled to stifle her amusement, pressing her lips together.

Kenzo maintained his poker face and corrected Jimhuesh. “It’s Kenzo for you.”

“Oh, sorry about that, Kenzo.” Jimhuesh cleared his throat. “Anyway, I hope you don’t mind us watching the movie with you. Don’t worry, our seats are over there, so . . . no one would interrupt your date with Kassandra.”

“No, I don’t mind at all. Would you like to join us here, instead? I mean, you can take that spot,” he extended an invitation, pointing to the lower seats ahead of theirs. He didn’t want Jimhuesh to have Senthie all to himself; he needed to keep an eye on him.

Jimhuesh accepted his offer and expressed his gratitude.

Kenzo couldn’t suppress the hurt and disappointment he felt when Senthie also thanked him, seemingly unperturbed by the situation. She appeared perfectly fine with it, as if she had forgotten that he was her ex who still harbored feelings for her. There was no hint of guilt or sadness in her eyes.

Despite his determination to keep his emotions in check, Kenzo’s curiosity got the better of him. He couldn’t resist the urge to ask them a question with an answer that seemed painfully obvious. “Are you two dating?”

 ~

Curiosity gnawed at Jimhuesh relentlessly. He suspected the young man known as Kenny to Kassandra had feelings for Senthie. He could sense the intensity in Kenzo’s gaze when their eyes met as if daggers were being flung through his eyes. The way he looked at her, it was as though she were the center of his universe. However, Jimhuesh grappled with an internal conflict. Would it make sense for this Kenzo to be dating Kassandra if he didn’t have romantic feelings for her? That was his initial line of thought, yet he came to realize that it was indeed possible. People could date or even marry without harboring romantic emotions. He recalled his parents and his own experiences with the woman by his side.

When Kenzo posed the question about their relationship, Jimhuesh found himself saying yes, even though he wasn’t entirely certain if the woman in question would concur. His response was driven by a desire to confirm his suspicion, to gauge Kenzo’s reaction. But what took him by surprise was Senthie’s response. She answered yes as well.

Jimhuesh had half-expected her to remain silent, yet her answer held a sense of confidence and perhaps, even pride. Strangely, the utterance of that single word seemed to momentarily freeze time, echoing in his mind, causing his heart to skip a beat as if the world had come to a standstill, leaving only her yes to resonate. Wait, do I actually like her?

“That’s wonderful! I never thought I’d see the day you’d date someone, Jim! What did you do to him, Sen?” Kassandra exclaimed with enthusiasm.

Senthie chuckled, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Should I spill the secret?” She glanced at Jimhuesh, who was now blushing.

He smiled awkwardly, his brows furrowing slightly. “There’s nothing to tell,” he replied, looking first at Kassandra and then at Kenzo. “It’s quite simple, really. I find her interesting.”

Kenzo let out an audible, heavy sigh, accompanied by a melancholic smile - something that didn’t escape Jimhuesh’s notice, and probably everyone else’s. While he seemed affected, he appeared determined not to make it too obvious as he said, “The movie will start in a few minutes. Let’s all get comfortable.”

As the movie began, the snacks had already been relocated to their new position. However, Jimhuesh found it hard to focus on the film, his mind lingering on the recent turn of events. He questioned whether he was beginning to develop feelings for Senthie or if he had harbored these sentiments all along.

Rychie’s words echoed in his mind. “You like Ms. Senthie, don’t you?” Despite his internal struggle, he couldn’t deny that he had experienced something significant; it wasn’t merely nothing. He felt a connection, something unexpected, something he hadn’t anticipated.

Whatever happened to ‘I’ll take her out on a date and feel absolutely nothing’? . . . No, impossible. I’m sure I was just surprised earlier, he thought to himself, stubbornly denying the budding feelings within him.

“Did you say something?” Senthie’s sudden question snapped him back to reality.

Jimhuesh’s eyes widened, realizing he had let his inner thoughts slip out unintentionally. He quickly wore a reassuring smile and shook his head, whispering, “Nothing.”

Senthie, however, appeared intrigued. She arched an eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure? You’ve been staring at me like I’m the movie, and it’s making me a bit uncomfortable, honestly.”

He chuckled. “Did I? My apologies.”

Their exchange was interrupted by a throaty cough from behind them. Both turned to see Kenzo, who was ostensibly focused on the movie screen. He said, “I think we should focus on the movie.”

 ~

Jimhuesh and Senthie made their way to the parking lot, leaving Kassandra and Kenzo behind, as the latter two planned to grab dinner after the movie. The invitation was extended, but both Jimhuesh and Senthie had to decline; they were eager to return home and get some much-needed rest.

“I still can’t get over the movie! I didn’t expect the ending to be like that. Nevertheless, I loved it, especially because it was a happy ending for both of the main characters, I suppose,” Senthie mused, heaving a heavy sigh as she quickened her pace.

He matched her stride, sensing that she was probably looking forward to her bed, a sentiment he fully understood.

She glanced at him and offered a warm smile. “Anyway, thanks for tonight.”

“You’re welcome, and thank you,” he replied with a smile. “By the way, do you have something in mind for our last date?”

“Oh, about that . . . I’ll leave everything to you, so you can decide. Just make sure to fill me in on the details before you finalize anything; I’m not a fan of surprises, just so you know.”

He chuckled. “Sure thing, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Senthie quickened her pace, heading toward a red car parked between a white van and a blue car, which Jimhuesh recognized as Kassandra’s.

“Is that your car?” he asked, pointing at the red vehicle.

“Yes.”

He hurried to reach her car door first, opening it with a gentlemanly flourish.

She offered him a warm smile and a thank you. She remained standing by the open door, their eyes locked in a momentary pause as if anticipating some unspoken exchange.

Breaking the silence, she smiled and said, “Thank you, Mr. Anderson. You didn’t need to walk me here, but you did, and I appreciate it. You know, I think you’ll make a great boyfriend for your future girlfriend.” She chuckled. “Anyway, have a good night, and I’ll see you next Sunday.”

He furrowed his brows thoughtfully. “I think Mr. Anderson is a bit formal for someone you’ve already been on two dates with. You can just call me Jim.”

She chuckled. “Fine . . . Jim. You can call me Senthie, or by my nickname, Sen. So, don’t you ever call me Rinana again.” She raised her eyebrows playfully before hopping into her car and gently closing the door.

Jimhuesh leaned forward to peer through the window she had just rolled down. “I will, Sen . . . Sen. Have a good night and drive safely, Sensen,” he teased.

She shot him a playful glare, her expression softening into laughter shortly after. She started the engine and drove away, leaving him behind.

As she disappeared from view, Jimhuesh finally headed to where his car was parked, still grinning like an idiot. However, he soon realized this and chastised himself by repeatedly slapping his mouth, muttering, “Stop smiling!”