CHAPTER 20 "GOOD MORNING"

LOUD knocks on her bedroom door woke Jenny up the next day.

She was about to get up to find out who was knocking that she knew was her mother, Rowena. Why she didn't know since they were the only two together in the house.

"Mama, why is it this early? It's Saturday, isn't it?" her sleepy and calm complaint then she went back to lying on her bed and hugged her soft pillow.

"Get up, Jason is downstairs, waiting for you!"

As soon as her mother said that, it was as if cold water had been poured on Jenny, so the intense drowsiness she was feeling quickly disappeared like a bubble.

"What? Why did he come so early?" she asked panicking then quickly turned to get up.

Jenny heard the weak laugh that his mother let out because of what she saw of her reaction. "Get up, after all, the table is ready. I invited him to have breakfast with us. Let's eat first before you take a bath," she told her and then left her afterward.

Jenny quickly stared at the door her mother had left. Then, carrying her towel, she went out of the room to wash and brush her teeth. She doesn't have her own CR inside her room so that's why.

She made her way out of the kitchen and saw Jason with her mother helping the latter to serve breakfast. Jenny just smiled at the young man before she went straight to the bathroom. When she came out, she saw him sitting at the table with her mother.

"Let's eat, so you can be ready," her mother told her as she sat down to join them.

At that moment she really felt intense discomfort. The young lady was not confident to be seen by Jason like this. In fact, her hair is messy and she is still wearing a pajama suit with small prints of her favorite cartoon character Daisy Duck.

"Good morning," the young man said to her after a while.

Jason is really weird sometimes, they met a while ago already when she entered CR but only now did he greet her like that.

Jenny smiled. "Good morning," she said. "Eat now," she added then handed the young man the plate of steaming fried rice.

"Oh, it's good that you joined us for breakfast today, you can taste this Daing na Bangus that Jenny herself mixed and marinated. You may not be asking, Jason, but your friend here is good at cooking," her mother said proudly as she smiled meaningfully.

Jenny's face lit up because of what her mother had said. She knew she wanted Jason for her. But she didn't expect that to take her mother's build-up of her right in front of the man she secretly admired.

"Ma, stop, it's embarrassing," she rebuked, glancing at her best friend who was now starting to eat just like them.

And even though Jason didn't speak, she saw for herself what he did when he first tasted the dish that she actually marinated and mixed.

"It's delicious," a moment after he tasted it, that's what Jason said and then looked at her.

"Thank you," she said.

"Jenny is really good at cooking. She really dreams of becoming a chef, the only problem is that it's a bit expensive because even though she's a scholar, the school won't answer the projects and other things she'll need for their activities, so I told her to pursue that after she graduated. That would be when she has a regular job," her mother's long explanation.

Jason just looked at her and then smiled at what her mother had said. He then proceeded to eat quietly.

After they ate breakfast she just told Jason to wait for her in the living room. Jenny just did a quick shower, dressed up, and leave. Her mother even sent her a freshly baked egg pie which was their bestseller at their bakery. A gift for Daniel and Ara.

*****

"In fairness to you, you are a good cook," Jason said as they waited for a taxi to take them to Daniel's house.

Jenny laughed softly. "I just noticed earlier as we were eating breakfast you were very quiet," she said joking.

She heard Jason gasp. "Are you going to tease me again?" he complained.

Jenny giggled especially when she saw Jason scratching his neck. "Just a joke, but thanks for the compliment," that was true inside her and really not even obvious but deep inside the happiness she felt was really intense.

A beautiful smile tore from Jason's lips because he said that. "Do you really want to be a chef? That's why you took that course? Someday I know you'll get that dream of yours, and I want to be by your side to accompany you on your journey," he said staring at her while his eyes were fixed on her face. The strange viscosity in his eyes gave a tingling sensation in her chest.

Someday I know you will achieve that dream of yours, and I want me by your side to accompany you on your journey,

Jenny secretly shuddered at what the young man had said to her.

There are times when Jason actually becomes like this. Sweet that she could not understand. And along with his tenderness is the young man's utterance of some meaningful words that confuse her mind a lot. But despite that, he was still able to make the beating of her heart faster that causes her great discomfort.

But in many cases, because she did not want to expect anything, she quickly removes certain thoughts from her mind.

She really liked Jason, and as her mother had said last night, she could see that in her. So as much as possible she wanted to hide that matter from the young man himself.

She has not forgotten that even Ara was able to found out her feelings for Jason. And just like her mother said. She noticed that in the way her eyes gleam and even in her smile.

Now she is really worried that Jason might eventually realize what her true feelings were for the young man. That's why she knows that she has to force herself to make everything normal if she doesn't want the young man to find out.

*****

THE whole day was fun not only because the four of them were together but also because Jason was with her. He was so caring at gentleman to her so her feelings for the young man intensified even more.

"I know you are very happy?" it was Ara when they were in the kitchen and preparing snacks for four of them.

Jenny nodded then couldn't help but smile sweetly. "He was so early at home this morning and I was surprised when I woke up that he was there so I and my mother had breakfast with him," she said in a low tone.

"Maybe he's excited to see you," Ara said still giggling.

"I feel like I'm already in love with him, eh, that's why I'm holding back because there's no assurance that we have the same feelings," she confessed to her best friend.

That's when Ara stared at her intently. "Just don't expect, look at me Daniel, I don't expect but he always fills my world with excitement. I feel like even if we are just friends there is something between us that only our heart knows," she continued with a giggle.

"Hopefully we can both have a happy ending to those two," what Jenny said was true inside her.

Before sunset, Jason told Daniel and Ara that they were leaving. She was a little surprised but she decided not to mention anything about it because it was justified after all. But Jason had another plan that really touched her heart.

"Let's go to church first, it's still a bit early," he told her.

Jenny just nodded.

Inside that large and beautiful church, Jason prayed silently and she did the same. But she could not stop herself from glancing at him as he closed his eyes, as he earnestly said a prayer.

Then the young man invited her to light a white candle. Jenny couldn't really speak because she was so amazed at all the qualities she saw in Jason. And she couldn't help but call herself lucky because the young man showed her that side of him.

"What did you pray for?" she asked Jason as they left the church.

He looked at her first then smiled gently and pinched her chin afterward while she remained to stare at him.

"I just prayed that I could help you fulfill all your dreams. I also hope that all your dreams come true because when that happens I will be very happy for you," Jason said passionately.

The young man's words touched Jenny's heart. As she said to Ara earlier, she feels like she's already in love with him. And if he will always be like this, she knew it wasn't just simple love she could feel for him, she knew it will be more than she could imagine and she could explain.