Minutes passed and they stared at each other in awkward silence.

Louis stretched his hand and placed it on Ray's shoulder.
"Buddy,please calm down. I do understand how you feel." Louis said patting his shoulder.

"No,you don't understand." Ray retorted and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Well, you might be right in a way but I do know what it feels like not to feel loved. I've gone through heartbreak before and I know the pain I went through. But still I could understand yours is different but that's not why you should feel that way. Since you've made up your mind on calling off the engagement you are free to do that,as far as it makes you happy, OK?." Louis asked and Ray gave him a few seconds glance before nodding.

"Thanks,man." Ray replied with a slight smile.

"C'mon buddy,cheer up. Let's enjoy this. Do you want extra plates of this?". Louis asked with a grin.

"No,don't worry I'm OK with this." Ray replied.

"OK. If you say so. So,tell me,who is Ja...Jasmine you were expecting a call from?". Louis asked taking sip of his wine.

Ray smile widened at the heard of Jasmine. "Well.... She's.... She's my friend." He replied.

"Your friend?". Louis asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. Why?". Ray asked taking sip of his wine.

"I doubt if she's just your friend. The way you smiled when I called her name was suspicious. Quit joking around and tell me what's up?". Louis asked again.

"OK OK. Well, Jasmine is a girl after my heart." Ray replied with a grin.

"A girl after your heart? Hmm. I don't understand the phrase." Louis said innocently.

"Oh. What I meant is, I think... No,I know I'm in love with her." Ray responded.

"You're in love with Jasmine? How and when? Who is she by the way?". Louis asked all questions at a time.

Ray shrugged and said. "Well.... It all started with likeness. Then...." Ray continued with his new found love story to Louis.

After that, the two friends chatted more and even planned on having a dinner date by Friday with Jasmine so as for Ray to introduce her to his friend,Louis.
*************

Today being Friday will be two days now Jasmine has been ignoring Ray's call. She was in her car and about driving out to her dad's company when her phone rang again. She ignored the ringing phone and started the ignition of the car thinking it was Ray calling. The phone stopped ringing and she gave a sigh.

She was driving out of the gate when the phone rang again. When the call almost dropped she finally picked up the phone and saw the caller ID. It was Sarah her apprentice. She packed the car and slide the screen of her phone and received it.

"Good morning, ma'am. How are you today and how was your trip?". Sarah greeted from her end.

"Hi Sarah. I'm fine and my trip was not bad either. How are you too?". Jasmine asked.

"I'm very well ma. Just that I miss you so much. You haven't been to the shop throughout this week,so I wanted to know why." Sarah said.

"I miss you too dear. I've been busy that's why. Actually I was planning on stopping by on my way back from my dad's company later though, and I haven't change my mind yet. So be expecting me,OK?". Jasmine said with a smile.

"Alright. I'll be expecting you. Take care." Sarah said and she hanged up.

Immediately Jasmine call dropped Raymond was calling for God knows how many times it will be now.
'Why is he calling me? What does he wants to say to me? If its about his wedding I've heard about it already. What was I even thinking when we shared a kiss? Why did I allow my heart to like-love him more than I'd expected when I know he has a fiance? I can remember Rosa asking me a similar question when I told her what transpired between both of us. I never actually thought his wedding is that close. I thought he still had a year to decide and maybe choose me as his bride instead. What a fairytale life i do think of. Oh God! Why me?'. Jasmine thoughts and huff resting her back on the car seat.

The phone rang again and she dropped the phone close to the brake wheel. She looked down on the phone and noticed the call has been received. She wondered how it happened. She didn't know her fingers has slide the screen before she kept it by her side.

"Jasmy,please talk to me. I'm dying to hear your voice." Ray said on his end.

Gently, she placed the phone on her ears and gulped harder.

"Hi. What. Do. You want?". She asked choking on her words.

"I want... I need you,Jasmy. What have I done that makes you ignore my calls? I've been calling you for two days now,not even a text from you neither did you return my call. Why? Are you OK? Is something wrong? Did I offend you?". Ray asked with a husky voice.

She open her mouth to speak but she was lost of words.

"Hello? Are you still there? Talk to me". Ray said again.

"Why are you calling me?". She asked.

"Why I'm calling you? I thought you should know by now? Well,if you don't then let me tell you. I miss you so much and I want to see you. I checked on you yesterday at your dad's company but I was told you didn't come around to the company. Are you OK, are you sick or something? Please tell me." Ray pleaded.

"I'm fine. Stop being worried about me. Worry for your fiance instead." Jasmine replied nonchalantly.

"Wh..aat? What's....that suppose to mean?". Ray asked with a furrow brow.

Jasmine scoffed. "Really? You still gonna ask me what that meant? C'mon,enough of the pretence." She retorted.

"I.. I don't get you. Why are you speaking this way? What do you mean by your previous statement?". Ray asked  in a confused tone.

"Oh..OK. Since you don't seems to know let  me remind you then. How about I remind you that you'll be getting married in three weeks time to your lovely fiance? Huh?". Jasmine asked with a smirk.

There was silence, Ray was dumbfounded. He never wanted her to know about his engagement without him being the one to tell her. 'Oh my god! I planned on explaining everything to her today at the dinner date. How did she come to know even before I'll tell her? Shit! I just screwed up. What will I say to her that will make her believe me.' Ray wondered with a grunt.

"Oh. You don't know what to say right? Its OK. Its fine. I expected that from you. You owe me no explanations. Good......" Jasmine was cut short by his voice.

"I'm sorry. I never wanted it to be that way. I wanted to tell you this myself and I picked today evening to do that. Its so unfortunate you've heard it even before I could tell you. But still,please give me the chance to explain everything to you. I owe you an explanation. Please, let's have dinner tonight, OK?". Ray asked but got no response.

"Please. If not for anything but for the sake of our friendship. Please Jasmy." He pleaded again.

"Fine. Just this last time and we'll say our goodbyes." She replied.

"Thank you so much. I'll come pick you up by 7pm. Will it be OK by you?". He asked.

"Yeah. Where will you pick me from?". She asked.

"Your house of course. Just forward your address to me. OK?". He said.

"OK. Bye". She replied and hanged up before he could say another word. She sighed heavily.
'I can't believe I just accepted a dinner night with him again. What's even wrong with me?'. She asked hitting the steering wheel and placed her head on it for few seconds before raising it up.

She forwarded the message to him and then drove down to her dad's company which she has become part  of partially.

***********
Later in the evening, Jasmine stopped by to her shop like she had said earlier to Sarah.

"Hello miss Jasmine. I'm happy to see you again. I've missed you. How I wish you didn't accept to work in your dad's company." Sarah said with a pout after the brief hug with Jasmine.

"Yeah. I know you'll be lonely a bit that's why I came back thirty minutes earlier to keep you company. How have you been and how is the business going? You know you're now the madam here." Jasmine said with chuckle and Sarah giggled.

"No. I'm not the madam yet, you're still my boss. Well business its going well. Two customers just left before you came." Sarah replied.

"Oh,that's very good. C'mon let's have a sit." Jasmine said walking towards the three in one executive chair that is kept at the left hand side of the shop.

"Would you like to take any drink?". Sarah asked.

"No, don't worry. I'm fine." Jasmine replied.

"Are you sure? Take something,even if its just can malt." Sarah suggested.

"Thank you but I'm OK." Jasmine replied with a smile.

"OK, if you insist." Sarah said with a shrug.

"Sure, i insist. So, tell me. What's been going on around this few days I've not been around? Any new gist? You know you're good at gossip..... Sorry.. you're good in gist". Jasmine corrected when she saw the frown on Sarah's face.

"So I'm now a gossiper? I won't gist you again then." Sarah said pouting again with a frown and looked away.

Jasmine chuckled at Sarah's attitude and said. "C'mon sweetheart, I thought I already apologized and corrected myself. You're not a gossiper,OK? If you don't smile right now,I'll make you not only smile but laugh."

Sarah's eyebrow furrowed. "And how you gonna do that?". She questioned still pouting and not glancing at Jasmine side.

Jasmine smirk and said. "You'll see." Jasmine pulled Sarah close and started tickling her. Sarah started giggling quietly until she started laughing harder.

"OK. Fine. You won. I'm Smil...laughing now. Please. Let .go." Sarah begged in the middle of her laughter.

"Are you sure I should let go? Will you gist me or not if I let go?." Jasmine asked still tickling her.

"Yes. I. Will. Promise." Sarah said still giggling.

Jasmine paused and sat up. "Good. So I'm listening." She said.

"OK. There are lots of gist. Let me start with Mrs Adams story. Do you know Mrs Adams that is staying at St Catherine street that loves make-up a lot? And whenever she comes here she always wants to tell us about her darling husband. Remember now?". Sarah asked and Jasmine did a little brain cracking before she nods. Then Sarah continued with her tales of Mrs Adams divorce case with her husband and also talked about others she could remember.

Before you know it Jasmine has stayed up more than an hour. She checked her wristwatch and it was 6.30pm.
"What?! Time has really gone. I'll be late for my dinner date." Jasmine exclaimed and stood up.

"Hmm. Miss Jasmine is having a date? Wow." Sarah cooed with a giggle.

"Stop it, Sarah. Don't make it look so weird." She said with a flushed face and pouting as well.

"Woa. And your cheeks are all red already. I'm happy you're finally coming out of your princess world to meet your prince. Hurry up and go before you miss it because of me." Sarah said with a grin.

"Uhhh. OK. I'm sorry I'm leaving like this"-she paused and took out her purse and slipped something into Sarah's palm before she continued,"-please manage that for now,and always remember you're my kid sis from another mother which I wouldn't stop treating you as one. Take care for now." Jasmine said with a smile and pulled her into another hug.

"Thanks for handling my business well. I'll leave now." Jasmine said releasing her from the embrace.

"I should be thanking you instead. I really appreciate. Now, hurry and go dress up for your date." Sarah ordered and she nods and ran out of the shop.
*******
Raymond checked his wristwatch and it was already 7.20pm. He's inside his car which is parked at the corner side of the William's building.
He's been trying Jasmine's line but she wasn't picking up. He has tried more than ten times but still.
'Could it be she doesn't want to go out with me anymore? Why can't she tell me then? I've been here for like thirty minutes now but haven't even seen a sign of her appearance nor is she even picking up. Or did she give me a wrong address? I hope not. Huff.' Ray thought and face down on his steering wheel.

Thanks for reading!😘😘