Do You Love Him?

Katherine tried to finish her workload before closing time but it was impossible so she had to spend overtime in the office. After an hour and half, she packed and made for home. On her way home, she tried calling Sophia to know if she made dinner or not as she was hunger but Sophia didn't pick her calls. She then decided to stop by at a restaurant. After her purchase, she went home.

When she alighted from the cab, she sighted Jake and Sophia. She began to tiptoe to scare them but what she heard Jake say when she was within earshot made her grasp thereby attracting the duo's attention. "Hi Kat," Jake said with a smile. "How are you? I interrupted your discussion," Katherine said and made to leave. "Wait," Sophia stopped her. Katherine grumbled. "What?" she asked. "Let's go in together. Good night Jake," Sophia said and walked briskly to where Katherine is. "I will call you," Jake said after her.

"Today is a mess. Well, a beautiful mess," Katherine said sitting lazily on the chair. She stretched her leg forward while unpacking her dinner. "Sophia!!!" Katherine called when she noticed the former had spaced out. "What were you saying?" Sophia asked. "Let's let my matter be. What happened to you? Was it what Jake said? I told you already that he loves, .... ok, I used like then," Katherine said. "It's too surreal. I can't believe it," Sophia said. "Okay. Let me ask you a question. Do you like him more than being a friend? I mean, do you love him?" Katherine questioned.

Sophia was mute for a while. "I'm not sure. I enjoy his company. He is fun to be with," Sophia said. "Okay. You can sort out your feeling by meeting up. What do you think?" Katherine said. "I will think about it. Let's see this weekend," Sophia replied, "Back to what you were saying earlier about yourself, did you meet Ren?" she enquired. "Yes, I did. He had a heart attack," Katherine sighed. "Heart attack? What happened?" Sophia queried. Katherine narrated all that happened to her till the one about being promoted to being the boss's assistant.

"That is a blessing in disguise. Who knows? If Ren hadn't fainted, you might not be this opportuned," Sophia said. "Well, I'm just happy I've been able to let Ren off my back," Katherine said. "Don't worry, you will find someone else more worthy of your love," Sophia patted her head. "You've found yours," Katherine said and continued eating her meal. "Who?" Sophia asked in pretense. "No one but your cute monkey," Katherine said emphasising the 'your' word.

Jake drove home with a mixed feeling. He was blaming himself for blurting out his love for Sophia. He was also glad he did. He was afraid of what response Sophia will give. He was afraid of being rejected. He didn't know if she meant it when she said she had a date for Valentine already. Was her date her boyfriend? Did she have a boyfriend I am not aware of? He decided to call Katherine to confirm. Katherine picked up almost immediately. "I knew you were gonna call," Katherine said.

Jake just rolled his eyes where he was laying on his sofa. He hasn't even bathed. He just pulled off his shoe and unbuttoned his shirt. "Is Sophia beside you?" Jake asked. "If you wanna talk to her, call her," Katherine said. "I will. I only wanted to ask a question about her," Jake said. "Her food? Her favourite hang out?" Katherine responded. "Not that," Jake quoth. "Then what?" Katherine enquired. "Does she have a boyfriend I am not aware of?" Jake asked picking his words one after the other. "She doesn't," Katherine replied straight up. "She doesn't have? She told me she has a date for the upcoming valentine already. Maybe she just met him," Jake said feeling a pain in his heart as it became drawn to him that Sophia is not meant to be his.

"She is not in a relationship with anyone," Katherine said. "Are you sure?" Jake asked. "No one knows Sophia more than I do," Katherine said with pride. "Do you think she loves me to?" Jake asked quickly. "I won't answer this question," Katherine said. "Please Kat," Jake pleaded. "There is no way I am telling you the answer to that. Figure it out yourself," Katherine said, "Good night," she bade. The call ended.

After the call with Katherine, Jake began to deliberate on whether to call Sophia or not. He was still delibrating when his finger mistakenly dialed on Sophia's number. He almost ended the call but left it. He began to pray that Sophia shouldn't answer the call. Some times, the stars are never in your favour. Sophia picked the call.

Sophia who was already sleeping stretched her hand to pick her phone. She answered the call with her fingerprint and placed the phone on her ears. She has her eyes almost closed when she heard the low hello from her phone. Even without looking at her phone screen, she knew it was Jake.

Jake heard the gentle rhythmic breathing of Sophia. He felt relaxed. He expected her to say something but all he heard was her breathing. The call was still ongoing when he heard the door opening. He knew it was Katherine. "God, why is this girl sleeping like this?" Katherine wondered and adjusted Sophia's sleeping posture. She noticed her phone screen was on. She checked it and discovered it was Jake calling.

Katherine almost burst into laughter. She wondered who keeps a call going even when he gets no responses. Well, it's Jake. "When you are tired of waiting, end the call. The person who you called is fast asleep," Katherine said. Jake didn't say anything. He just left the call ongoing. "I love to sleep in the darkness. The phone screen light is disturbing me, Mr Jake," Katherine said. Jake chuckled before ending the call. Katherine switched off Sophia's phone and went to bed.

Jake had this bath before going to his room to lie in bed. He was surfing the internet when he received a message from Gina. "Are you gonna be home tomorrow?" Gina asked in her text. "Why are you asking? Do you want to play with the cats?" Jake replied. "You are a bully. I want to pay you a visit. I'm back home," Gina replied. "If you promise to come with Dylan's favourite shoe, I will be home. If not that, I'm not home," Jake texted. Gina sent emoji showing distress. She then sent a 'fuck you' sign. "I'm coming down to your place tomorrow whether you like it or not," Gina responded. "My cats will be glad to welcome you," Jake replied. "But why big bro's favourite shoe?" Gina asked. "I want him to reprimand you," Jake said.

Gina sent a laughing sticker. "I am too old to be reprimanded," she sent. "Gina, good night. I want to sleep," Jake replied. "I've another gist for you," Gina texted. "What gist?" Jake replied with a sticker of a cat sipping a drink. "Piper is around," Gina responded. "Piper? Dylan's ex? Or you mean another Piper?" Jake was surprised. He hasn't come acrossed her before. When she left, she left with no trace. "Yes. Big bro's ex. I still haven't been told what happened between them," Gina said with a smirking emoji. Jake knew she wanted him to tell her what happened but he wasn't gonna do that. It's Dylan's story to tell.

"How did you know she is back?" Jake questioned. "I met her at big bro's place when I came back today," Gina said. "Dylan accepted her back?" Jake asked with a surprised emoji. "No. I don't think so. I met her outside. Big bro wasn't around. As the good girl I am, I called big bro to inform him about her presence. Big bro almost reaped my ear off from the phone," Gina answered. "Okay. That means he didn't accept her back," Jake replied. "Obviously," Gina responded. "Well, let him be. I'm just bothered that he isn't ready to love another person. Does he want to die a celibacy," Jake wondered. With an emoji looking questioning, Gina replied, "What about you? I've never seen you a lady. All you know is to bully me. Even sis Jessie is not with a boyfriend talk more of fiance. Your friendship cycle is wack."

"I'm forwarding this message to Dylan now," Jake threatened. "Please, I beg you. I was only joking. I don't want big bro to send me home so soon," Gina pleaded. "I can only accept your apology if you promise to do something for me," Jake replied. "I will do anything. Just don't forward the message to big bro," Gina said. "I won't. We will discuss what you will do when you come around tomorrow," Jake said. "Alright. You are the best bro I've ever had," Gina replied with multiple smiling emoji. "What about Dylan?" Jake questioned. "He is still the best of the best," Gina said.

Jake swiped on the message he threatened to report Gina for and typed, "Best of best bro will be happy to see this." Gina frowned when she saw the message. "I'm sorry. Good night," Gina responded and went offline. Jake checked the time and realised it was midnight already. He also went offline and off to bed.