George

"I don't think I have to," I answer while putting some pasta on his plate.

Two days passed, and I get better. Jared suggests that I should go in for a check-up. He sits at the opposite side of the table and watches what I'm doing.

"Well," he shrugs. "It's still up to you. I'm just suggesting."

"Here," I hand him the plate.

"I should be the one doing this. I'm the babysitter here."

He complains, but he eats the carbonara I cooked. We eat silently for a moment when my phone rings.

"Hm..." he pauses and stares at his plate. His fork pause halfway to twirling the pasta.

"Why?" I ask.

I taste my food. "I don't have authentic Italian ingredients. Yours doesn't taste like this. How did you do that?"

I watch him. He sniffs the food before eating.

"Not bad," he says. "Just don't call this carbonara."

"What is that supposed to make me feel?" I roll my eyes.

Before he can respond, a vibration on the table interrupts our bickering. Both of us glance at my phone, the screen lighting up with a new notification.

'Unregistered number.'

"Excuse me," I say and grab my phone.

I stand up before answering the call. "Hello?"

"Where are you?"

I frown, "Who is this?"

"Awww...you deleted my number?"

My eyes widen, realizing who it is. "Drew? Oh, I'm–hi. Why did you call?"

Jared's posture changes. He straightens up, his gaze fixed on me, and takes a deliberate sip of his coffee, his fingers gripping the mug a bit tighter.

"Where are you?" Andrew says through the phone.

"I'm at my apartment. Why?" I respond, my tone guarded as I glance at Jared, who's suddenly a lot more attentive.

"Okay. Let's meet," he ends the call.

"Why?" I whisper in confusion.

I hurry to finish my food and clear the table, my movements quick and slightly frantic.

"You're in a hurry?" Jared asks, his tone laced with casual curiosity as he crosses his legs. "Is that your boyfriend?" His question is flat, but there's an edge of something I can't quite place.

I didn't bother to answer him. Instead, I rushed upstairs to take a shower, deep in thought about why on earth Drew would come here.

Why am I excited?

Halfway through the steps, I stop abruptly, biting the inside of my cheek. "Why am I excited?" I ask myself.

In the shower, I move faster than usual, washing up quickly. Afterward, I pull on a pair of distressed jeans and a gray cropped sweater. As I dry my hair, I watch the strands flutter in the warm air from the hairdryer.

"Wait, Georgina," I move the hairdryer away from my hair. "You didn't even know why he wanted to see you." I point the hairdryer at my reflection. "What? Are you guys back together?"

I stare at my reflection for a while.

"We're...friends," I nod and convince myself. "I'm just being kind."

Should I put on some makeup?

"Nah...you're just friends, right? Do you have to look good in front of your friends?" I brush my hair.

"Georgina! Someone's calling," Jared yells outside.

I open the door. Jared hands me my phone.

"Yeah?" I answer the call.

"On my way."

The call ends.

I quickly finish getting ready, nearly stumbling over my feet in my rush. My emerald gaze meets Jared's as he sits on the couch, his cold blue eyes watching me intently.

"Where are you going?" he asks in a serious voice.

"I don't know either," I admit, feeling a bit disoriented.

Jared's gaze lingers on me for a moment before he says, "Okay."

"What?"

He stands up and says, "Okay."

"Aren't you going to stop me? You said you are like my father right now. Even though you're in your just in your 20s."

"How old are you?"

"Turning 18," I reply and tuck some strands of my hair at the back of my ear.

"You are turning into an adult. You should know what to do." He glances at me before walking to the kitchen.

"Oh, wait." He peeks outside of the kitchen and stares at me. "Don't do something stupid. Go home without any scratches or bruises. You are not allowed to faint while you're with him. You understand?" he warns and enters the kitchen like he owns the house. "It's hard to find an apartment as nice as yours these days."

"That's it?" I murmur.

"What?" he speaks when he noticed I am still standing in the living area. "Do you want me to stop you?"

My mouth gapes.

"No. Not at all," I say and shake my head.

"Right," he nods. " You said you can take care of yourself. Remember?"

Just as our little argument fades, a series of knocks on the wooden door interrupts us. I turn my back to him and walk toward the door.

"Hi," Drew's wide smile greets me as soon as I open the door.

I nervously step outside. That's when I ask myself, why am I letting Andrew in my life again? 

Drew opens the door of his car for me. I enter the car and sit on the shotgun seat. My gaze lands on Jared standing outside while I'm putting on the seatbelt. Drew gets in the driver's seat and starts driving. He watches us leave.

"Where are we going?"

"Let's visit Jeremy. He can't believe that we're, you know, talking to each other. He said I'm crazy."

Oh. That's the reason.

"What if Jeremy doesn't want to see me?"

"That's the reason why I'm doing this. I want our friendship back. I don't want awkwardness between us or between you and Jeremy. Yes, I'm putting myself in the friend zone. Sounds a bit weird, I know."

I slowly nod and look outside the window. The view of kids playing at the playground brushed off the questions in my head. The playground where Emy and I used to play when we were kids. I firmly close my eyes.

Emy.

I miss you.

"I thought he's your neighbor?" Drew frowns.

"Huh?" I ask. Sharply, I turn my face at him.

"That blond guy, what is he doing in your apartment?"

"I...I asked for help."

He clenches his jaw before sighing.

"Okay," he nods. "I forgot. I'm not your boyfriend anymore," an awkward laugh escapes his mouth.

My mouth gapes. Something in my heart hurts after hearing those words from him. I know I shouldn't be feeling this, but wounds don't heal quickly.

"I wonder why Aunt Liz let a stranger take care of you," Andrew says in a stern voice. "And most importantly, you are letting a stranger in your house."

"I also thought of that," I say. "But I remembered we were once strangers before as well," I say and look at him.

Jared

I'm still at George's house, sprawled on the couch and watching television. A chuckle escapes me as I reminisce about the first time I did this here.

"Hey, this is not your house! " George yelled.

"I'm your babysitter. I am like your father right now."

Unfortunately, she turned the TV off with the remote control.

"Hey, respect," I said.

"This is my house."

"I know that. Now, give me that," I glared at her.

"No!" She ran upstairs.

I stood up and pressed the power button.

"Idiot."

She hurriedly went downstairs.

"Don't turn it off," I said coldly.

"Wait, wait. Is that-Is that," she walked near me.

"Move, move, move." She motioned me to move over while looking at the screen.

I stood up and crossed my arms over my chest. She excitedly sat down. She put down the remote beside her. I grabbed it and turned the TV off.

"Hey!" she glared at me.

"Hey, this is not your house!" I said and mimicked her whining voice.

"I don't sound like that."

"You do."

"Give me that."

She stood on tiptoe and tried to get it from me. Brows furrowed. Lips pouted.

A buzzing sound at the coffee table interrupts my thoughts. Glancing at the phone, I already knew who it was. My phone stops vibrating as I ignore the damn call.

"Damn. Can you not track me at least once? I had enough," I mutter under my breath.

The same phone number calls, which makes my phone vibrate again. I firmly close my eyes and touch the bridge of my nose. My free hand reaches for my phone on the coffee table while my right hand tightens its grip on the coffee cup as I take a sip.

"Hello?" I answer half groaning, as soon as I swipe the answer button.

"Your Highness!" A cheerful male voice greets me. "Have you forgotten the mission?"

"Of course not."

"Then why are you playing with a lovely lady? The kingdom is–"

"I haven't found him yet, Joaquin."

"Is she beautiful?"

I let out a low grumble.

"Do your task, or your father will punish you. You know the order–"

I quickly end the call.

"I'm doing my job, Joaquin," I grunt and stare outside the window.

I take a sip from my coffee.

"And, Yes. She is beautiful," I whisper.

* * *

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