CHAPTER 17 “JENNY”

"HELLO," it was Jenny who Ara caught up with her in their classroom.

She smiled then lowered her things to the desk of her chair. “How are you? And why is that you look so happy?" she asked then stared at Jenny meaningfully.

Jenny's face quickly turned red. "W-What?"

Ara immediately noticed the trembling in her friend's voice, which is why she felt even more amusement for her.

"Where did you eat lunch with Jason?" she asked Jenny in a teasing and meaningful tone.

With that question Jenny's beautiful eyes immediately became elusive. She even turned her gaze back to the book Ara had seen her reading since earlier.

"Why is it that you are keeping secrets from me already huh!" she continued to tease Jenny then let out one light and a husky laugh.

"Stop, someone might hear from you. They might jump into something that is not true!" Jenny hissed at her as the intense blushed on her face remains.

Smiling, Ara stared at her friend before opening her mouth to speak. "Where did you guys eat?" she asked even though it is true that she already can tell Jenny's true feelings for Jason. Because as a woman it was not difficult for her to notice that.

"On the same eatery where we had lunch the first time I joined you," replied Jenny as her attention remained focus on the opened book that she has been reading.

Jenny simply nodded to what she said. The truth is, she really wants to have a conversation with her. But since Jenny is busy she decided to keep her mouth shut as well.

Her diary was what she became so focused on. She wanted to tell a story there right now but since they were still in class, Ara decided not to. After all, she will never forget all the good things that happened today no matter what happens so she chose to put it inside her bag.

"I know you are happy now because you are with Daniel for a long time today."

In response to what Jenny said, Ara was so shocked that she was even unable to control the gasp that escapes her mouth.

"W-What?" but she was unable to finish the other things that she wanted to say because Jenny cut it all off.

"Don't deny it already it's too obvious!" Jenny said with a soft laugh afterward.

Ara's beautiful eyebrows met because of that. "Did you notice?" she asked Jenny with disbelief.

She wanted to laugh at herself because earlier Jenny was the one she wanted to admit to her about how she might feel for Jason. But now it seems that something else is happening.

It is natural for her friend to be shy. And that is not difficult to say because it is obvious in the aura of her face.

The truth is that Jenny is very beautiful. The kind of beauty that is timeless like Kristine Hermosa, Alice Dixon, and Dawn Zulueta who are well-known actresses in the Philippines.

It has always been so nice to see Jenny's face. And as Jason's best friend, Jenny will always be the perfect match for him.

But now Ara can only say that she is surprised to know that Jenny actually noticed her about her secret admiration for Daniel.

"I'm quiet, yes, but you should also know that I like to observe things around me," Jenny said in a normal but tone with a mixture of amusement.

Ara just stared at her friend's beautiful face so she was not surprised when she opened her mouth again to speak.

“What? Are you going to admit it now? Don’t worry, it will be our little secret. No one can know about it, even Jason,” Jenny added then wink at her naughtily.

That was when Ara sighs then nodded.

"I knew it!" Jenny said giggling this time in a tone that is only for the two of them to hear.

"Now that I have told you the truth already, don't forget your promise, okay?" Ara reminded Jenny.

Jenny just nodded consecutively as her smile widened. "Promise!" she even said that.

"She really wants us to go home and go to school together all the time," on the other hand, she trusts Jenny that she will not tell anyone her secret.

“What did you say?” asked Jenny back.

Ara shrugs her shoulders then places her hand under her chin as she stares at the blackboard in front of them. She and Jenny choose to seat on the first row of the chairs in their classroom to hear their professors clearly.

“To tell you the truth, I am torn between saying yes and declining his offer,” the young lady admitted.

Jenny’s beautiful and naturally lined dark eyebrows knit because of what she said.

“Seriously? Why is that?” Jenny asked her.

Ara sighs before she opened her mouth to speak. “I'm not sure. But the discomfort has always been there every time he is near me. That is even though I want to be with him, always.”

Eventually, the young lady decided to admit to Jenny what she truly feels. And also because of the confession she made, somehow she felt relief about what she feels.

“Love does not take long before you can feel it, that's what I believe. Do you know the people who are really destined for each other, they are the ones who just met but they seem to know each other very well? I believe in a soulmate so that's why,” Jenny's long and meaningful explanation.

"As far as I know I'm happy when I see him, even though I'm nervous," she admitted then followed what she has said with a weak laugh.

Jenny smiled at her. “Daniel is really handsome so I won't wonder why you liked him. Maybe that's just the way it really is, whether he is handsome in your eyes or others who also have a crush on him, for me, Jason is still irreplaceable,” Ara quickly turned around after hearing what her seatmate has said.

"So I'm right about my suspicion!" she said as her voice got a little louder so Jenny quickly rebukes her whose face was already red with embarrassment.

"Shut up! Keep your voice down!" Jenny rebuked her again for covering her mouth with her hand.

Ara couldn't stop herself from laughing because of what her friend did. "Yes, I will not tell Jason," she said with amusement again.

She was smiling when Jenny removed her hand from her mouth.

"You said that ah, I'm counting on you," Jenny said as what she said was reflected in the tone of her voice and aura of her face.

Ara nodded. "We are best friends, right?"

Jenny nodded as well. "Right," she agreed with what she said.

“But to tell you frankly, as Jason's best friend, you are the one that what I want for him. If you would agree, I am willing to work any more way to you know---,”

Jenny didn't let her finish what she wanted to say because her friend seemed to know what she is to say next.

"No, if we really are meant for each other we will end up together," she said in a firm tone that was obviously very sure.

It was then that Ara stared at Jenny's beautiful face. She knew she was a year older than her but the way she speaks, and even in her point of view in life she could say that she is mature compared to others who are at their age.

“But in case you change your mind, just tell me. Okay?” she said.

That was true inside of her, she was willing to be the bridge to Jason and Jenny.

It is not impossible for a young man to like her friend because all of the qualities that a man can like in a woman are possessed by Jenny.

But because Jenny does not want to, she will respect that.

"Thanks, but it would be better if he liked me voluntarily, not because you helped him notice me," Jenny replied so she did not speak again and instead just smiled at her.