Hey guys! So sorry for the late update. I fell asleep while updating this chapter, yesterday night😅

Recap -

Alexia and Jazz have a fight. Jazz leaves Al's house in rage and goes off to Xander's house. There she meets Xander's five friends, one of whom claims to be Xander's ex (Rebecca). Jazz takes Oreos out for a walk and comes back to find the barbeque ready. Rebecca offers Jazz to eat something. On Jazz's refusal, Rebecca forcefully makes Jazz eat a smoked avocado.

Turns out Jazz is allergic to avocado and faints after eating them. When Jazz wakes up, Rebecca, who is Xander's best friend and not ex girlfriend, profusely apologizes, becomes good friends with Jazz. It is also revealed that Rebecca is a RJ.

Jasmine's POV (Continuation) -

"My RJ instincts say you have more than one in your life," Rebecca answers as she exits the room.

What did she mean?

Why does she know you have two Aladdin in your life and I don't? When did you befriend two people with the same name? I am offended greatly. As your inner voice, I demand more access to Brainy.

Who's Brainy?

Before my highly intellectual being could enlighten me about her new frenemy, Xander opens the door, successfully wiping out any traces of internal conversation that I was having.

"Hey..." Xander says as he comes and sits on the edge of the bed.

"Hi..." I reply, shifting back to create more space for Xander to sit.

"So, are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, but what happened after I blacked out?"

"We carried you upstairs to the room. Made you drink green tea and some tomato soup, which according to Dr. Google helps curing the allergic reaction. You had a slight fever, but I think it's gone now," Xander replies as he touches my forehead with the back of his hand to check my body temperature.

"Also, Becca had a complete meltdown seeing you fainted," Xander adds, laughingly.

"Weird, because Rebecca claimed you totally freaked out," I say with a smirk as Xander's smile falters a bit.

"I did not freak out that badly," he murmurs to himself while looking down.

"Is Rebecca a RJ?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"You mean a registered jack (RJ) that is a standardized network interface used for network cabling, wiring and jack construction. Then, no, I am positive she belongs to human species."

"You know I did not mean that RJ, I meant the radio jockey - RJ," I say, hitting him with a pillow.

"That did not even hurt," Xander says as he chucks the pillow back into my lap.

"Oh I am sure this will hurt," I say, raising my fist to punch him, but he grabs my wrist midway.

"Don't want to break your dream, but your fist won't be able to damage this," Xander says, flexing his arm and showing off his biceps.

Like the mature person I am, I only stick out my tongue in response.

"Wow, you're so mature," Xander says while laughing as he leaves my hand and I immediately hit him on the shoulder.

"Hey! I wasn't prepared!"

"And you said this can't hurt you," I remark, planting a kiss on my fist.

"Whatever," he replies, narrowing his eyes  down at me.

"So, um, Alexia called me a few minutes ago, asking about you and if I had any idea where you were cause you weren't picking her calls," Xander says as I take a deep breathe, preparing myself for Alexia to come here anytime.

"When is she coming here?" I ask in a small voice, physically and emotionally exhausted. Even though I have probably been resting for two to three hours.

"You wanted to talk to her? I thought something might be wrong between you two since you would never intentionally ignore her. I guess, I over thought the whole thing and I am sorry but I told her you weren't at my house. Had I known you wanted to talk to her, I wouldn't--"

"You don't need to apologize, Xander. You analyzed the situation accurately. Al and me had some... issue earlier. So, I just want a bit of more time to think about the whole ordeal before talking with Al. Thank you so much for covering for me, Xander."

"You don't need to thank me that's the least I could have done after accidentally making you fall sick," he replies as I laugh at his sentence. Soon, he joins me too.

"You know I was never angry from the beginning with Rebecca or you. Avocado is a common ingredient, that is used in many dishes. So, it wasn't a big deal. At times, even I unknowingly eat it--"

"But, you tried to tell us your reason for not eating it, but Rebecca--"

"Didn't know it, otherwise she wouldn't have done it--"

"Still it wrong--"

"Not. It wasn't wrong, it wasn't intentional, it was a mere mistake--"

"That made you severely sick--"

"Made - It's the past tense. I am all good now, Xander. Stop worrying about me and get over it for God sake," I reply, squeezing his hand tightly.

"But--"

"No."

"You can't cut--"

"No."

"You are still sick--"

"Shshh," I cut him off midway again, by placing my index finger on his lips, which are surprisingly soft.

Okay, snap out of it, Jazz. What the hell is wrong with you! It's not like this is the first time you have touched someone's lips.

Technically it is.

Ignoring my inner voice--

As usual, people ignore the harsh truth, only to acknowledge it later.

Shaking my head at myself, I quickly remove my finger from Xander's lips as he stares at me, observing my actions.

"Has anyone told you how much of a stubborn person you are?" Xander asks, smiling.

"Let me see.... Hmm.... Yeah, practically everyone," I reply with a smile while laughing.

"I--" Xander's words are cut off midway with the sound of the doorbell.

"I swear, today God doesn't want to hear my voice. Everyone is only cutting me off midway," Xander mutters to himself as he gets up to answer the doorbell.

I just sit there on the bed for a good thirty seconds, before my patience runs out and like the good guest I am, I decide to check who has come.

Wow, aren't you a real sweetheart and your patience is just... Wow.

No need for sarcasm.

I am sarcastic because beating you won't do well for me.

Meanie.

Dimwit.

Ha! Jokes on you, we both are the same person.

Shouldn't you be like concentrating on where you are going?

Immediatedly I halt in my track, only to come face to face with the door.

Phew! That was a close call. I silently tip toe my way to the staircase when I suddenly hear yelling coming from downstairs.

Dread fills me as I instantly recognize the other person's voice.

"I know she is in there with you. You better tell her to come out--"

"Or? Or you'll do what?" I hear Xander challenging Aman as I listen closely from upstairs.

"You'll regret it, Xander Lennox. You don't want to know what I am capable of, especially when it comes down to Jessie," Aman replies, his voice laced with anger and open threat.

My breathe starts to become heavy as images flash through my eyes. I close my eyes tightly, trying to block away the images.

"Well I don't know what you are capable of because I don't care, Aman. Go tell your crap and threats to someone who actually has the time to give a damn about your nonsense cause I don't," I hear Xander's voice as I slowly open my eyes.

Inhaling a deep breathe, I dare to take a peek of the two men downstairs. I see Xander holding the door knob tightly as if controlling himself while Aman stands in the doorway, glaring at Xander. His jaw is hardened as he maliciously looks at Xander.

Then all of a sudden as if something snapped in him, he lets out a humorless laugh.

"Oh trust me, I know you don't care about me. The feeling is perfectly mutual here, Lennox. But, let me get this straight, I don't like prying into others life or houses," Aman says, as he looks around Xander's house.

"Provided the other person does not poke his f***ing nose into my business. And as much as I'd love to ignore your existence, you are making that hard for me to do so by constantly following Jessie around like a lost puppy--"

"Excuse you, Aman. Don't forget where you are standing. Just because, unlike you, I don't have a habit of threatening people, doesn't mean I'd listen to your gibberish silently. Also, the person you keep referring to as 'Jessie' is Jasmine, in case you forgot her name," Xander replies with a smirk.

"I am warning you, Xander. I don't want to fight with you, but if you keep on this act. You'd be sorry for meeting me. So, stay away from Jasmine, my Jessie," Aman says, his voice calm but cold, just like his soul. His eyes are devoid of any emotions, just like they were that day.

A chill runs down my spine as flashbacks of the conversations of that day slowly creep back into my mind. My hands start shaking from rage and disgust as I stare at the man standing downstairs, the man who was once my best friend.

"The last time I checked Jasmine wasn't an object that could belong to someone," Xander replies angrily as he stares down at the disgusting human being.

"Yes, I know she's not an object. In fact, it would have been so easy if she had been one. Then I would have easily claimed her as mine but since she's a human being, I have to practically fight for her, eliminating all potential challengers that could snatch her away from me," Aman remarks darkly with a smirk.

"First of all she needs to be with you for others to snatch her from you."

"Oh, she is with me, she always has been with me. It's just a matter of perception," Aman replies while crossing his arms over his chest.

"Get the hell out of my property! I don't want to waste more time and breathe on a delusional freak. So, show yourself out, before I call the police and press charges against you for trespassing my property," Xander says, clearly running out of patience. In fact, he has handled it better than expected. After all, Aman has a knick knack for pushing people's button.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about calling police. Our hatred for each other is quite mutual, if it didn't concern Jessie, I wouldn't even want to breathe the same air as you. Also, I wish I could also call the police and have you arrested for trespassing my life," Aman replies, his calmness retreating back enough for me to catch a glimpse of his hidden anger.

Xander doesn't waste a second more in hearing Aman's words and slams the door shut, literally on his face. As he turns back, Aman's words stop him.

"Consider this your first warning out of the three and trust me you don't want to know what happens after the third one," Aman's words reverberate in my mind as his retreating footsteps try to give my thundering heart some solace.

My knees buckle down as the reality starts to register within my mind. I don't want him to hurt anyone, any of my friends or Xander. I have had enough of his games to last a lifetime, enough of his manipulation.

"Cocoa, what are you doing here? What happened to you? Did you hear the... conversation?" Xander asks, as he too kneels down on the floor.

I merely nod, not trusting myself to say a word considering the fact I can't even stop shaking my hands.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't listen to his empty threats and nuisance," Xander says as slowly pulls me in a hug and starts rubbing my back.

If only Xander knew that Aman's threats weren't exactly empty, would he still be here with me?

As if reading my mind, Xander breaks the one sided hug and taking my slightly less shaking cold hands in his warm ones, he looks into my eyes.

"I would always be there for you, Cocoa, even if you'd not want me to," Xander says as he squeezes my hands in reassurance.

"Besides, why do you even have to pay heed to his words when you have these with yourself," he adds as he plants a kiss on my knuckles.

I smile at his words, but it seems forced. As much as I'd like to think I can physically beat Aman, I know he's a tough competitor. Besides, the competition is not about physicality, Aman's weaponry is his brain and manipulation.

When the battlefield itself is so different, how can I expect to win, especially when my mind keeps betraying me by reminding me about the war I had lost on that battlefield, especially when Aman's sword has already bent my sword in ways that it can't be used properly, especially when he has scarred my mind.

"Cocoa? Snap out of it. Don't think about him or anything else for the record. Come on, let's get you to bed," Xander says as he helps me get up from the floor.

"No Xander. I-I can't stay here at your house. I should go--"

"It's already half past eight, Cocoa. Why can't you just stay here with Oreo and me? Aren't we your friends too? Besides, you are not even well enough to wander off alone. So just stay here for tonight at least, please Cocoa?" Xander says, giving me the puppy eyes and even Oreo starts to bark in agreement from the room that I now realize, I had locked by mistake.

I contemplate over my options. I can't go back to Al's house, more like I don't want to, not tonight. Going to my hostel would take time and as Xander said I don't really have the energy to walk so much.

Sighing, I reluctantly agree to stay here.

"That's great. Now go back and rest. I'll quickly grab something for us to eat from the kitchen."

"Can I have a cup of coffee?"

"No, sorry Cocoa. You can't, for your allergy to cure, all you'll be getting for today is the special green tea by none other than me. So, prepare yourself for a long night full of green teas," Xander says as he disappears down the hallway while I enter the guest room.

With Xander's departure, the same menacing thoughts and fear engulfs my mind, the dread of Aman's future visits and the seriousness of his threats come crashing back into my mind.

Like a human being who's in a comatose state, who can hear and in some cases see everything, but cannot do anything. I feel the same helplessness as my thoughts paralyze my mind and body.

Thousands of parallel scenarios start playing in my mind. The past events crashing with possible future events making my mind a chaos, just like my life and my existence - an utter chaos.
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Hello Fellas!!
So first of all, I'd really like to apologize to all of you for the late update.

All the assignments and projects, tests have been keeping me a lot more busy than I thought and I really have no time left even to come online on wattpad to check my notifications these days.

I am really sorry. I'd try to update at least on every Sunday.

Coming back to the story, what are  your thoughts on about Aman? Little by little things are getting revealed.

Why do you think Jazz hates Aman? And what about Xander and Cocoa?

I know this chapter wasn't exactly anywhere near humorous, but I am sure next chapter would make up for it 😇

Till the next update, keep shining ;)

- Love Addy :)

P.S. - This chapter is dedicated to my good friend - Rhea. She is not exactly on wattpad, but it was her encouragement and support that I finally willed myself to write and update this chapter. Thank you so much, buddy😘😘

P.P.S. This has got to be THE lengthiest A/N. I am sorry for that too😭😭😭