Chapter 24 - Peace be with Everyone
Jada felt someone sitting next to her so she opened her eyes, it was Steve. "Hey! Why are you saying that I'm making up stories?"
She called him out as she remembered what he said in one of their video calls. She can't let go of it because she was telling the truth. Steve shut her lips with his fingers. "Stop it Ja! Enough with your silliness, okay?" he spat, his face starting to turn red from embarrassment.
But Jada refused to be shut up. She wriggled so he would let go of her but instead, she pulled her by the neck and pushed her face into his armpit. "Steve! You're disgusting!" Jada screamed and laughed at the same time.
As he wanted to run away from her desperately, he pulled Lyken and pushed him to Jada. "You sit there Ly so she'll shut up," he ordered, sticking his tongue out at the woman. Jada laughed as Lyken couldn't do anything but follow Steve's order, he just sat down quietly next to her. The rest of the group sat down as well so they could all start eating. While doing so, she noticed Kobe and Honey nudging each other so she narrowed her eyes at them. "What's going on?" she asked, pouting.
"You're weird," Honey smirked.
"What do you mean weird? Can't I be friends with Lyken?" Jada asked in return and when she didn't respond, she turned to the man sitting next to her. "Ly, are we hopeless? Can't we be friends anymore?" She asked him straight out. They may find it weird and she understands. But she's certain that this is what she wants. She's doing this to lessen the burden not just for her and Lyken, but for everyone else as well.
Jada wants peace of mind too. She doesn't want to end up being eaten by hatred. She's also afraid that she'd have bad karma if she didn't stop avenging herself.
"O-Of course, Ja! We can be friends," he answered stammering.
"See? Can you guys not jinx it? Can't you just be happy for me? That I've finally moved on and I'm not a hater anymore?" She asked them continuously. "Fine!" Honey snapped, raising both hands, surrendering.
"We're happy!" Kobe added.
Robin reached out for her hand and tapped it, "You know me Ja, I'm happy whenever you're happy," then he smiled at her and raised his hand for a high five.
"So, can we eat now?" Jada asked the couple with an eyebrow raised. They both nodded and before she got started with her food, she turned to Lyken first, "Thank you!" Jada whispered. He responded with a smile and a light clap on her back. Jada wasn't sure if she was totally relieved, but after what she did, it seemed like something heavy left her chest. She felt like she could finally call herself a happy person.
"Are you guys going to drink?" She asked no one in specific while chewing her food and Steve quickly nodded.
"Yes, we are, except you! Alcohol's got a bad effect on you!" he added, chuckling.
"Yeah, yeah! Don't worry, when I get drunk, I'll make sure to rape you," She threatened smugly.
"Ha! Why? Do you think I'll refuse? I'll accept that with arms wide open!"
"Ly, can you please save me from Steve? He's been pestering me since I got here," pulling at Lyken's sleeve and pointing a finger at their friend.
Lyken turned and shot him a death glare but Steve just laughed it off. "Wow, Lyken! For real? Did you really just glare at Steve because of that? Are you now BFFs with Jada?" Robin teased.
They all laughed but Lyken just shook his head while smiling awkwardly. His face was now red down to his neck, as he was embarrassed after what Robin said.
When they were done eating, Jada went to the kitchen and Lyken quickly followed. She was washing her hands on the sink and Lyken was watching her from behind. "Ja!"
"Yes, Ly, do you need anything?" she asked, turning her head to glance at him.
Lyken looked at her, trying to weigh her mood before exhaling. "I just want to say sorry Ja, for everything," his voice was hoarse as he was really anxious.
She held both his hands and looked straight into his eyes. "I'm sorry too, Ly! And thank you for accepting the friendship," she told him, smiling. She paused to inhale deeply and his breath hitched, "Also Ly, I have a small favor to ask from you," she added.
Lyken creased his forehead, waiting for her to continue, "If possible, let's not talk about what happened in the past yet. I haven't really prepared for that. But when I'm ready, I promise you I'll be the one to ask you to talk about it so we can have a proper closure. But of course, it doesn't mean you can't get involved with another woman just because we haven't talked about the past, alright?"
He felt like someone pinched his heart. 'Closure? Are we really over?' He wanted to ask her if they still have a chance but he wanted to respect her decision too.
For now, he should be content with their friendship. That's way better instead of forcing things and ruining everything again.
"O-Of course! I'll wait for that," he simply told her, smiling.
She can't recall when was the last time she smiled with her heart smiling as well, but it felt good. It felt like forever since the last time that happened to her. Jada nodded at him. He was even surprised when she suddenly hugged him. "I missed you!" she squealed.
Kobe and the rest of their friends rushed toward the kitchen and they both laughed at their reactions. "Calm down, we're okay!" He told them while hugging Jada too.
He even saw her sticking her tongue out at them while pressing her face on his chest. Lyken then tightened his hug when their friends turned their backs on them. After their mini reconciliation, Lyken and Jada went back to my living room. She sat on the floor, slumping to rest her head on the couch.
Lyken, on the other hand, sat next to her, while Steve sat behind her. He even sandwiched her head between his knees.
"Ouch!" She screamed, trying to hit him but he was quick to dodge.
Jada tried reaching out to him but he jumped on the other side of the couch. She stood up to chase him, irritated as he kept on making faces at her.
"If I catch you, I'll pull your stick hard!" she warned him but he won't stop teasing her.
"Come, Jada, I'll help you!" Ada offered excitedly. "But make sure I'll be the one to pull it okay?"
"Go! Block that side!" Jada ordered but Steve quickly ran towards her while Kobe and Robin stopped Ada.
Steve started tickling her until she ended up lying on the floor, wriggling and screaming. When he stopped, she stood up immediately and chased him again.
When Jada caught him, Steve pushed her and she landed on Lyken's lap. Ada was thrown to the couch by Kobe and Robin.
When Steve tried to pull her, she wrapped her arms around Lyken's neck. "Come here!" Steve teased, pulling her by the hem of her shirt.
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"Stop! I'll just stay here. I'm safe here!" She yelled at him. She can feel Lyken laughing at them so she distanced herself a bit to look at him. "Aren't you gonna save me from Steve?" She jest but he just continued laughing while shaking his head. "Stop, you kids! You're worse than preschoolers!" Honey scolded.
They all shut up, even Kobe was startled when Honey's voice was louder than normal. "Yes, Mommy Honeyyyyy!" Jada responded and they all ended up laughing.
She stood up from Lyken's lap and moved to the floor, sitting between his legs and hanging her arms on his knees. He then started massaging her temples so she leaned back a bit.
Stretching her legs out and swaying them from left to right, Bambi slapped her leg as he sat next to her, "You still got somewhere you need to go to?" he asked.
Glancing at her wall clock, she turned to him and wriggled her brows, "Yep! There's a welcome party at eight, I still have three more hours though. I'll just put together something really quick!"
After a few more hours of lounging and playing around, the group started their drinking session. They continued conversing and messing with each other until Jada noticed the time. She only has thirty minutes left before preparing for the event.
She was planning to show up for a bit and then leave. She needs to be with them in their drinking session. She missed it.
"Aren't you leaving?" Lyken asked. She nodded as she stretched out her arms. "Can I take you there?" he whispered.
"It's okay, I can go on my own. I can still drive," then she smiled at him, tapping his shoulder.
"I won't take no for an answer," he quickly responded.
Robin suddenly turned his attention to them, "Wow, Ly! You're even more demanding now that you're just a BFF than when you were the boyfriend!" Then he laughed, lightly punching the man's arm. "You noticed that too Rob?" Jada asked, joining him in teasing Lyken.
Lyken withdrew his hand from Jada's shoulder so she turned to look at him, giving him a peace sign. When she leaned back, she looked for his hands and wrapped his arms around her neck.
All of a sudden, everything felt good. She doesn't feel annoyed when they reminisce about their past. How she wishes it won't be complicated anymore.
Jada's hoping that no one will look back on their ugly past, because she wants to forget them all. If only she could erase everything she saw that night, she would.
It's fine if she doesn't reconcile with Lyken. All she wanted was for that night to be erased from her memory.