As the night deepened, Lucretia and Jayden shared a few more laughs, lingering at their table in the ice cream shop. The air between them was light, with a hint of warmth that only comes from fresh beginnings, even if Lucretia felt a subtle tug in her heart elsewhere. Jayden noticed her distant look at times but chose to enjoy the evening, saying nothing.
“Let’s take a little walk before heading back,” Jayden suggested, getting up to pay the bill. Lucretia nodded with a smile, gathering her things as she waited for him.
After settling the bill, Jayden returned, reaching out his hand to her. “Shall we go now?”
She slipped her hand into his, nodding. “Sure,” she murmured, smiling as they stepped out into the gentle evening air. The stars sparkled above, and the moon cast a soft glow, reflecting in Jayden’s eyes as he continued talking, his voice filled with easy excitement. Lucretia took in his relaxed smile, the way his eyes lit up in conversation, and the way the moonlight softened his features.
But as her gaze lingered, a thought crept into her mind, unbidden. I’d be on cloud nine if this person beside me was Philip. The realization left her breathless for a moment, and she quickly looked away, catching her bottom lip between her teeth to hide her conflicted smile.
She was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice Jayden watching her with a curious expression. He stopped, turning to face her, and gently touched her forehead, as if to check for fever. “Are you okay?” he asked, looking both amused and concerned.
Lucretia snapped back to reality, cheeks warming as she gazed at him, startled. For a fleeting moment, the touch felt like Philip’s, and she could feel herself blush. Jayden leaned closer, a playful smile on his lips as he whispered, “Oh… you’re blushing.”
Embarrassed, Lucretia quickly looked away, laughing nervously. “It’s… nothing,” she stammered, moving a few steps ahead of him to avoid his knowing gaze.
Jayden chuckled, watching her retreat with a mixture of amusement and affection. “Wait up, Luc!” he called out, catching up to her in a few strides.
The two continued toward their stroll, their laughter mixing with the cool night air. But as they laughed, Lucretia couldn’t shake the lingering feeling that, as wonderful as Jayden was, her heart wasn’t entirely here tonight.
---
Meanwhile, Philip sat at home, glancing at his phone, which still showed several missed calls to Lucretia. It was getting late, and the fact that she hadn’t responded worried him. He stood up, moving to the window and noticing that her room light was on.
“What’s going on with her?” he muttered to himself, his forehead creasing with concern. “I hope she’s okay.” He thought about calling the main house line, but he stopped himself. “No… I might disturb her parents,” he murmured, ruffling his hair in frustration.
Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind. “I’ll call Mimie. She might know what’s going on with Luc,” he said to himself, scrolling through his contacts and calling Mimie.
“Hello... Philip, what’s up?” Mimie answered with a playful tone. “Why such a surprise call? Are you missing me already?” she teased.
“Well... Mimie, I... I called to ask if you’ve heard from Lucretia tonight,” he said, stammering a bit. “I’ve been trying to reach her, but she hasn’t picked up. Is she okay?”
Mimie laughed softly on the other end. “You’re her best friend, Philip! Go check on her if you’re so worried. You two are neighbors, after all,” she replied.
“Right, Mimie. Thanks,” he muttered, realization dawning on him as he hung up and dashed out of his room.
---
Lucretia and Jayden stood on a footbridge which they had come to a stop at for a while, admiring the view. Lucretia glanced at her watch and gasped, “Oh...my... God, it’s already 9:30 pm,” she murmured, a little surprised.
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Jayden remarked with a smile. “Come on, we should head back. We have class tomorrow,” he added, putting a gentle hand across her shoulder.
“Okay,” she replied with a smile, and they left for the bus stop, walking hand in hand and chatting until they reached their destination. They boarded the bus, and after a short ride, the bus stopped at Jayden’s usual exit. He didn’t move.
“Oh… aren’t you getting off here?” Lucretia asked, looking puzzled.
“No, Luc. Let’s get you home first. It’s a bit more dangerous for girls than guys at this hour. Besides, I have to make sure my girlfriend gets home safe,” he replied with a smile, taking her hand once more.
Lucretia glanced at him, touched by his words, before looking away. Soon, the bus arrived at her stop, and they both got off, strolling to her house while laughing and talking.
Philip had hurried over to Lucretia’s house, lingering below her balcony. He called her name softly, hoping she’d hear him, but no sound came from her room. Frustrated, he checked his pockets, only to realize he’d left his phone behind.
“Oh… great,” he muttered, sighing as he began to turn away. But just then, he saw Lucretia and Jayden approaching her house. He quickly stepped back into the shadows to avoid being seen.
"Thank you, Jayden, for a wonderful time," Lucretia said warmly, glancing up at him with a smile.
“Luc, I should be thanking you for agreeing to come and for being my girlfriend,” Jayden replied, holding her hand gently.
From his spot, Philip’s heart sank at what he overheard. He clenched his fists, a mixture of emotions rising within him.
Lucretia nodded, returning Jayden’s warm look. “I should get in now,” she murmured, glancing toward the door.
“Sure, see you tomorrow,” Jayden said with a grin, releasing her hand slowly before turning to leave.
“Take care, Jayden. Safe trip home!” she called after him, watching as he walked off.
“See you tomorrow!” she added with a wave.
With a final smile, Jayden waved back and disappeared down the street. Just as Lucretia was about to head inside, she spotted Philip standing nearby, looking distant and tense. “Oh, Phil... you’re here?” she asked, approaching him.
He looked at her with an intensity that caught her off guard. “Where’s your phone, Luc?” he asked, his voice unusually serious.
She blinked, surprised by his tone. “It’s in my bag,” she replied, fumbling to pull it out and noticing all the missed calls from him. “Phil, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to ignore you.”
“Didn’t hear it?” Philip echoed, crossing his arms. “Were you so busy with Jayden that you couldn’t answer your phone?”
Confused, Lucretia replied, “Phil, we just went out for ice cream. I didn’t mean to ignore you,” she said, reaching for his hand, but he stepped back.
“Oh, it was just ‘ice cream,’” he muttered, his eyes clouded with frustration. “It doesn’t matter, Luc. I was just... worried.”
“Worried? Or… jealous?” she asked, frowning at his unexpected behavior. “What’s going on with you, Phil? Why are you acting like this?”
Philip’s face darkened, his voice catching as he turned away, frustration evident in his expression. “Because, Luc…” he began, but with a frustrated shake of his head, he walked off without another word, leaving her standing by herself, stunned and a little hurt by his behavior.