The sunshine was falling down warmly, hanging in the light blue sky without the harshness of the summer. It was not too warm, wrapping the body like soft and comfortable long-worm cotton underwear. The wind that blew occasionally also didn't feel cold, the sunshine was just right.
In the front yard of the relatively small bungalow, there sat Mrs. Antonio sipping on her orange juice with an optimistic expression on her face.
Shortly, Danica dallied out of the house with a weary look. She donned a pink tank top with black shorts, revealing her fair long legs, and her red hair was tied up in a messy bun.
“I'm done, mom,” she informed, itching the back of her right ear tiredly.
It was the weekend and since it was a weekend, it was a relaxation day for the breadwinners, which also involved Mrs. Antonio. She was having a nice time with herself while she asked her daughter to prepare breakfast.
“I hope you haven't prepared poison, though,” said Mrs. Antonio sarcastically with a light smile.
Danica decided to stay quiet as she continued to observe her mother's happy mood.
“Did Mr. Cooper by chance increase your salary, mom?” she blurted out her assumption, moving close to the nearby rattan chair beside her mother.
Mrs. Antonio didn't respond immediately as she lowered her glass of juice to the tea table in the center.
“This is greater than improvement of salary, Danica”
Upon hearing these words from her mother's mouth, Danica's brows furrowed deeply as she thought inside her that, what could be greater in the eyes of her mother?
Mrs. Antonio began again after noticing the confused look on her daughter's face, “You see, I've successfully eliminated our hindrance, now I'm thinking about how you will penetrate into Mr. Cooper's life once again,”
Danica's brows even furrowed deeper. It seemed like she couldn't understand one thing from all her mother had just said.
This time, Mrs. Antonio tuts and then readjusted on her seat, “As soon as I discovered that Mr. Cooper was bringing another lady to the party instead of you, I effortlessly purchased a drug from my nurse. You know, so the drug did a very neat job. Now, Mr. Cooper will never meet the lady again since she had ruined things for him” she explained carefully.
“Drug? What drug was it? And how did you use it?” Danica questioned inquisitively, looking at her mother's face with interest.
“It's called truth-inducing drug. I only sprinkled it in her drink, and it prompted the confession of the whole plan from her mouth, causing Mr. Cooper to lose face in the place, especially in the eyes of the chairman”
Danica immediately covered her mouth with her palm in an attempt to prevent her gasp to flee out of her mouth.
After being stunned for five seconds, “You did that, mom?” her eyes were wide with horror and shock.
A flicker of irritation passed over Mrs. Antonio's face, “What? Are you feeling compassion toward Mr. Cooper already?”
Danica soon discarded her gaze from her mother's face and shook her head pathetically, realizing that her mother was turning into something else, something she didn't want to come to pass.
*
Jasmine bolted the entrance door of the apartment and climbed down the small staircase. She was clad in a pair of baggy jeans with a white oversized tee, her feet were encased in white sneakers and her lengthy super dense hair was combed down to her waist.
Just as she was stepping out of the compound, Xavier similarly came out of his apartment and saw Jasmine at the gate. He quickly shut the door after him and strode to the gate, he practically ran, though.
“Let me give you a ride, Jasmine,” Xavier offered immediately as he got beside her.
Jasmine shot a furtive glance at him as she was too lazy to respond to him. She turned around and planned to walk a few steps aside, keeping a distance from him.
Jasmine couldn't help but think inside her that, how would she and Xavier have an off on the same day? Which precisely means that they would both be on night duty next week.

“Can't you see that there's no cab coming anytime soon? And also, where are you going?”
Again, Jasmine didn't react to his words as she kept her gaze in her right-hand side direction, waiting patiently for a cab.
Xavier pressed his thin lips to a straight line. Taking note of what to do, he turned back into the house, retrieved his car fob from his knicker, and then pulled open the driver's seat door after the car made quick chimes.
When he was about to hop into the car, he heard the sound of a car from outside, and he turned his gaze in the direction and saw Jasmine already sliding into a cab.
Anger rushed up in his heart, “Damn!” he seethed and got into the car. He was determined to find out where Jasmine was going when today was actually her off day.
In what felt like thirty minutes later, the cab rolled to a stop in front of a grocery store and Xavier watched as Jasmine got down from the car, paid the driver, and sauntered off.
After seeing this, his anger evaporated at once. He parked his car carefully in the garage, planning to wait for her until she gets back.
Soon, his phone buzzes from the central console. He snatched it and grimaced slightly at the caller ID.
“Yes?” he said coldly into the phone, “Xavier, what happened? You're now airing me, isn't it? Not even a call since you arrived at Houston” the female irate voice transmitted into his ear and he removed the phone from his for a moment.
“I'll talk to you later, Layla,” he said calmly, rubbing his temple continuously.
“No, Xavier, let's talk now. Do you want to end the fucking relationship?” she yelled.
“You and I were never in a relationship, Layla,” he raised his voice with a scowl, condemning himself inwardly as to why he had answered the call in the first place.
“You scoundrel! I won't blame you. This is exactly what you told your ex-girlfriend back then. You are an animal, Xavier, just when I had thought you were serious about me” Layla continued to rant into the phone, causing Xavier to think back to how he had broken his relationship with Jasmine in the presence of Layla.
He hung up the call, shut his eyes, and sloped his head against the headrest while a sense of remorse crawled onto his face.
He opened his eyes again and braced himself. Furthermore, he wasn't going to give up, he was ready to give whatever it takes to have Jasmine back.
Having this thought in mind, he lifted his head to the grocery store and saw Jasmine already coming out holding two bags in her hands.
Without wasting time, he pushed the door open and walked up to her in a quick stride, confining her movement.
Jasmine raised her head, seeing that it was Xavier who was blocking her movement, a hint of anger dashed across her cold face.
She attempted to move in a different direction, but Xavier had blocked her path again.
“What's this, Xavier? Get out of my way!” she flew into a fit of rage, glaring coldly at him.
“Just a ride, Jasmine. Let me take you back home,” Xavier said calmly, reaching out to grab one of the groceries bags from her.
However, Jasmine had dodged out of the way in time. She trotted forward and began to run, Xavier ran after her, calling out her name. “Watch your step, Jasmine,”
Jasmine didn't stop running, cursing him loudly, while Xavier followed her every step.
The few people who passed by occasionally saw this and couldn't help but admire them with a bright smile on their faces.
Soon, Xavier caught up with Jasmine just when she was about to trip. His hands encircled Jasmine's tiny waist and drew her closer to his chest.
Their gaze met for a heart-stopping moment that took his breath away.
However, Jasmine soon regained the presence of her mind. She pushed his chest frantically, and it was then she realized Xavier was now holding one of her bags.
“Give me back my bag, Xavier,” Jasmine shouted and attempted to grab it from him, but Xavier had raised his hand, a slight smirk playing around his lips.
Jasmine became so enraged that the veins on her forehead became exposed. She fisted her hands as she kept jumping to snatch the bag from him, “You bastard!” she cried out hysterically.
“Jasmine?”
Jasmine heard her name, the voice sounded so familiar. She stood right and then turned to the direction of the source of the voice, and there stood Aurora.
She was wearing a short jean skirt together with a pink hoodie and a pair of matching shoes. Her black hair was combed into a pigtail and her pretty small face shone dazzlingly.
Behind her was standing Noah, he was clad in a white armless t-shirt and a pair of jeans trouser. He looks like an ordinary man that one would definitely doubt the fact that he was a multi-millionaire.
Jasmine slowly raised her eyes and met his gaze, and was immediately captured underneath his stance. She missed his face and seeing his face again, she felt like a stream of warmth was traveling through her heart.
“Is this your boyfriend, Jasmine?” Aurora suddenly asked, which provoked Jasmine to snatch her gaze from Noah and looked at Aurora.