INHALE.

Hold.

Exhale.

Jackson Parker was in amidst of his deep breathing exercises just beside the doors with food on both his hands.

He looked down at the ground he was standing. Ah, the floor, his other best friend, always there to support him, especially in his falls, he thought.

At this time, he wishes the ground could open up and swallow him.

It amused his co-worker, Kai Rivers that Jackson Parker out of all the people trying to meditate.

To him, Jackson was the type to 'go with the flow'. Kai recalled the times where Jackson gave zero flying fishes [which is almost like every time] for overcoming his obstacles.

But the way of overcoming his obstacles isn't always that pretty.

He always found some or the other way to fall or break something.

Some may call it his bad luck or his charm.

This apparent charm has made him quite a piece of breaking news now and then in his university grounds.

Shaking his head at the thoughts, Kai came closer to his meditating friend.

"Parker, you alright?" Kai asked him. Kai then realised he is nowhere near alright at one look at his face.

Jackson Parker was turning pale and sweating profusely. The plates he was holding started to shiver under his grasp slightly.

"Jackson? Are you feeling fine? You look like shit. Do you need help?" Kai asked, worry laced in his tone.

"I - I'm fi-fine, I can do it", Jackson manages to utter out his words despite his nerves.

"Parker, I'm serious. You look shit. Here give me the plates, I will serve. Tell me the table number." Kai tried taking the plates from him but he couldn't as Jackson quite had a deadly grip at them.

"I said I'm fine, Kai. I can do it. I need to do it.", Jackson said while trying to take deep breaths.

Jackson then looked at the small window by the doors. Kai followed his line of sight. And then it dawned him. He let of out a knowing 'ooohhhhh' at that.

Brooke Harpers plus a handsome man.

The perfect equation for a date.

"Wish me luck, and I sincerely hope I don't trip and fall."

Before Jackson could hear Kai's wishes, he busted through the kitchen door.

This is it.

No turning back.

That night Brooke Harpers looked stunning. The Xiao's dim lighting could not bring her beauty down.

Jackson could see Brooke nodding and giving a small smile to her date.

A smile he often gets trouble for thinking about it.

Even now.

While on his way to Brooke's table, mind occupied with her pretty smile, he, unfortunately, had to stumble on something on his way.

This time the fall was different. It wasn't Jackson who took the fall, the food held by his hands took the fall.

It was even more unfortunate that the plates he held had to be a bowl of fried rice, chilli chicken curry and spicy noodles as he fell forward and spilt it on the very patrons.

The very patrons had to be Brooke Harpers and her date.

And her date took most of the spillage. It was a sight to be held.

Her date who was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black slacks was now decorated with the brown curry, and as a cherry on top, the fried rice has found its home on his gelled hair.

And oh boy, he was not happy with this uncalled decoration.

He was furious.

While Brooke, on the other hand, had the lower blow of the bomb. The noodles landed on the edge of the table, which resulted in some of them hanging on it and some on her lap.

And then everything happened in a flash after that.

Her date stood up after a moment of shock and started to yell, which went deaf to Jackson's ears as his head was screaming many profanities at himself.

As much as he liked Brooke, he genuinely didn't want to ruin her date because of his immature jealousy.

He was brought into reality when her date threw some bills at him and grabbed Brooke's hand and dashed to exit from the restaurant.

Jackson then suddenly looked at his crush's face. He thought she too would be angry like her date. But she wasn't.

Instead, Brooke was smiling with a look of gratitude in her eyes.

Jackson was utterly confused and surprised by it.

After all, which girl would be happy when her date night was ruined?

Well, Brooke Harpers did.

🌸