She had just gotten to the bathroom when a noise rang in the house. Talia couldn’t come out to reach the phone, but she assumed the caller must be for her father, stepmother, or her younger sister so she paid no attention to the call. The moment her grandma called for her name; Talia knew she messed up big time. Was that call from her crush?
“Are you in there, Talia?” Charlotte knocked on the door. “A guy named JD wants to talk to you.”
Talia became mortified as her jaws dropped. He’s early this time! Why such bad timing? How could she face JD now? Good Lord! She really had bad luck to humiliate herself in front of him.
“Grandma… I’m still using the restroom…” Talia answered from inside. “Can you tell him to wait five more minutes?”
Charlotte understood the reply from her granddaughter and stated through the receiver with no shame. "She's having a bad stomach ache and staying in the bathroom now. Can you please wait for a few more minutes?"
Oh, my dear heavens! Grannie, how could you be so straightforward? This awful news was so humiliating!!! How could I face him now? Talia wondered in shock.
Her grandma must have good communication skills since she chatted for five minutes with JD. The more they talked through the doorway, the more Talia’s face flushed. Why are they getting along so well? She was embarrassed to tell her grandma about him. How could she keep the secret hidden now?
Knocking on the door again, her grandma demanded again. “Are you done yet? He said he didn't want to disturb your time, so he asked me to pass a message for you to meet him at the cafe near our house in the next ten minutes. I already hung up on him and called a taxi now. So, hurry up there!”
Talia sighed and answered. “Okay! I’m done. I’ll come out now.”
Grabbing her granddaughter's arm, Charlotte ushered Talia to the bedroom. "Get ready. We'll head out to meet your boyfriend at the cafe. Good thing, I found a taxi near here so the car should arrive in a few minutes."
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Talia argued back while her face turned red. “He’s just a friend I met at the school excursion.”
Charlotte just winked at her, and Talia groaned as she changed into a lilac dress and a black sweater over her shoulder. Following her grandma to the door, they soon hopped in the taxi and rode to the appointment place. Talia hovered behind her grandma at the entrance and perked around the room.
Several brown tables lined up in the middle and red booths lined up against the wall. Many customers occupied almost every table as the employees busy themselves with tasks.
At the back of the café, the handsome guy on the school trip sat on a table near the window. The protector wore a white shirt with blue jeans that made him look more dashing.
Her legs shivered, causing her struggling to stand up straight. Her heart fluttered as she clenched her fists to control her heartbeat. The day finally came so soon.
JD looked up at the door and waved, even signaling for her to come over to the booth. She reacted quicker than her mind and waved back at him. Blushing from head to toe, she twirled her auburn hair as her body heat increased any seconds. This time, she didn't hide the grin on her face.
"Based on your expression, I believe he’s your JD," Charlotte dragged her to the table. "Please introduce me to your boyfriend."
Talia whispered as she strode behind her grandma, "He says I’m just a friend, so stop teasing me."
"Please have a seat," JD stood up and ushered them both to sit in the opposite booth. "I’m glad you two are finally here."
Charlotte let her granddaughter squeeze onto the seat next to the window as the old woman sat on the spot near the end. Glancing around the table, a few servers already brought several dishes to their table. Talia gawked at the beverages while Charlotte raised her brow at her granddaughter. She refused to look at her grandma and ignored the nudge in her stomach. Was her grandma going to tease her again?
JD passed two glasses of water to Talia and Charlotte. "We’re on a tight schedule since I set up the appointment for your permit testing at 3:30 PM. So, I hope we can set out in the next thirty minutes. So, I apologize that I already ordered ahead of time. Please help yourselves. Plenty of food for everyone."
"Are you sure though?” Talia raised her brow.
Glancing down at the table, sandwiches, pastries, salads, and soups covered the surface. Besides the two glasses of water, two cokes stood in front of them and an iced coffee laid next to JD's hand. So much food! Was he buying a feast here?
Charlotte nudged her granddaughter. “You heard him! We shouldn’t be rude to our visitors.”
Encouraging Charlotte and Talia to eat to the fullest, he waved his hand at the food. “Yes! Feel free to have anything. None of them are poison.”
Charlotte nodded, grabbed the utensils, and scooped salad and soup into her bowls. Talia followed suit and reached for the sandwiches and pastries to put on her plate. Eating for the next twenty minutes, Talia drank water to quench her thirst. From the corner of her eye, a boy child on the next table slurped on her favorite drink.
Talia licked her lip at the sight. "I'm craving for a caramel frappe, so please excuse me."
"I'll handle the purchase," JD stood up and left for the cashier. "Feel free to continue eating."
In my whole life, he's the first boy to show me this kind of affection. Are you really that interested in me? Or are you just pitying me?
They ate for several minutes until JD arrived at the table and handed her the caramel frappe. "Here you, go!"
“Thanks,” Talia accepted the drink, slurped on the straw, and smiled at JD. “This was so refreshing. I’ll pay you another time.”
JD chuckled, grinning at her. “No need for payment. I’m glad you accepted my drink this time.”
Charlotte patted her on the shoulder. “What’s with the sweet vibes? He’s treating you like a girlfriend rather than a friend. Are you two really not dating?”
Talia shrugged and whispered in her grandma’s ears. “I haven’t asked about his relationship status. Besides, he’s staring this way. Quiet down, grandma.”
She went back to eating and avoided looking at JD in the face. How could she talk with him while her grandma was watching them like a predator? She didn’t have the courage to start a conversation, so she glanced around the room due to her embarrassment until the handsome guy across from her interrupted her thinking.
"Anyway, you should take this folder,” JD took out her black binder from his handbag and handed the item to Talia. “All the information about the university is still in the folder. Let me know if there is anything missing. I’ll go back to campus to grab for any documents that you still need.”
Talia grabbed her folder from him and brushed his hand in the process. She jumped at the touch as shivers appeared on her skin. “Thanks, JD. I really appreciate your help.”
“You’re welcome,” JD smiled at her as he bit on his sandwich. “That's the least I can do for you.”
Charlotte joined in the conversation. “Is JD your legal name or just a nickname?”
“My full name is Jayden Walker,” the handsome man nodded at Charlotte. “I just let all my close friends call me JD instead.”