*Chloe's POV*
"Hey," He greeted.
"Ermm.. hey,"
"What are you doing here, Jaco?"
"You texted me at 2 in the morning to come here, remember?" Jaco eyed me warily. He caresses his hand through his hair shyly.
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
I jumped a small yelp tore from my lips. Jaco and I got startled by my friend's voice. I tap my hand in my chest, and my heart is thumping rapidly. Once my heart was able to calm down, I turned around behind me and glared at my friends, who were still shocked by what they'd heard.
I facepalm myself.
I seriously told them last night to never let me hold my phone whenever we drink because I have a habit of drunk texting someone. Drunk Chloe is a troubled Chloe.
"Oh, I didn't know you had company," I look up towards my friends and send them another glare before I turn around and look at Jaco.
"Hey Jaco," Giel and Eve greeted.
"Hello," He says.
"Chlo, don't be rude," I roll my eyes. "Invite Jaco to come inside," She smirks.
"I―" before I could protest, they grabbed Jaco inside the apartment, leaving me behind the front door.
"Close the door, Chlo," Alyssa says. I groaned.
"Yey, supportive friends indeed," I mumbled. I shut the door and follow them into the living room.
"Umm, can I get you anything― drink? Water or coffee?" I offered. Jaco was seated in the middle while my friends surrounded him like he was prey. It's amusing to look at them.
"I'll just have a glass of water," I nod and leave him with my friends, prying eyes, while I get his water in the kitchen.
I heard my friends making a conversation with Jaco.
"How are you, Jaco?" Sherie asks.
"I'm good," He says. "What are you guys doing here?" Jaco asks.
"Oh, we had a sleepover," Eve says.
"Do―" before Alyssa could say anything, I intervened.
"I hope you guys didn't make my guest uncomfortable while I was in the kitchen," I arched my brows, glancing towards my friends, and handed Jaco's water to him.
"Thanks,"
I nodded and joined my friends, where they were seated.
"Oh, please! We're also your guest," Jessie rolled his eyes. "Can you guys leave us alone so we can talk privately," They eyed me warily, giving a disapproving look. "Please?" I give my best pouty look, so they'll be swayed to my request. I heard Evelyn winced while Giel groaned in defeat.
"Fine," Alyssa says.
"Thanks," I smile gratefully.
"We'll be staying in your room," Jessie says.
Jessie drags Sherie and Alyssa with him to my room. Giel and Evelyn went to the kitchen to grab some drinks and snacks before they went to the room. Jaco and I waited for the two of them to get inside the room before one of us started talking.
"So," He started.
"So, where were we?" I smile, trying not to get awkward being alone with him.
"You ask me to come here, remember?" I furrowed my brows, looking confused. When did I ask him?
"Sorry, Jaco, but I don't recall texting you at two in the morning," He sighs. "I-I actually lied," He confessed.
"What?!" I exclaimed.
"You didn't text me― you actually called me," My jaw dropped. Now, this is absurd. There is no way I called him. I don't usually forget what I did whenever I'm intoxicated. Literally, it never happened.
"Are you kidding me?" I cross my arms. "I swear, Jaco, if you're gonna lie to my face again, I'm gonna kick your balls, and you'll regret it," I threatened.
"I swear, I'm not lying, Chloe. You can even check your phone call log," He defended.
"Fine," I check my call log and stare at my screen in disbelief. I freaking called Jaco.
It's embarrassing I couldn't even look him in the eye. I still can't believe it. I didn't remember a single thing about it.
"So, you believe me now?" I nodded. Both of us got silent for a moment. I sigh, "What… what did we talk about?" I ask.
"You said you miss me," he chuckles. I covered my face with embarrassment. I can't believe I actually said that to him.
"You said you wanted to see me," He continued. I chuckled.
"Seriously?" I eyed him warily. He nods.
"You insisted that I should visit you here," He chuckled. I shrug.
"Oh my god," I shook my head. "I did not!" I refused to believe what he was saying. "Yes, you did," I shook my head. "I'm never gonna drink again," He smirked.
"You really don't remember a single word you said, do you?" He asks. I shake my head.
"I'm sorry, but no– I don't recall dialing your phone number, Jaco." I sigh. I seriously don't remember, though.
"Look, I'm sorry, I called you at two in the morning. That was a mistake, and I was just helping a friend mending her broken heart. It won't happen again," I assured him. He chuckles.
"I kind of like intoxicated Chloe– you know the laid-back Chloe? Not the shy, prim, and proper Chloe. If I recall correctly, it seems like you were enjoying talking to me," He admits. I roll my eyes, "You're lying!" I whined. He chuckles.
"Old habits die hard, Chlo" He smirks. "Good thing it was me you called," I shake my head. "And why is that?" I arch my brows. "It's for you to know and for me to find out," He teased, winks at me. I roll my eyes. "Are you flirting with me?" I arch my brows. He didn't say anything and just stared shamelessly for a moment and winked at me before he drank his water.
"How many shots did you drink last night, Chloe?" He changes the subject. I counted my fingers and gave up," I chuckled. "Too many to remember," He cackle.
"You shouldn't drink too much, Chloe," He says.
"Jeez. Thanks, Dad," I tease. He shook his head.
"It's been a while since the last time I saw you― how are you, Chloe?" He asks. I looked at him, but he was already looking at me intently.
I feel self-conscious about the way he looks at me. It's like I'll vanish into thin air any second if he averted his eyes on me.
A hopeful gaze and longing.
I don't want to give in to those gazes because it will only hurt me all over again. I opted to break our staring contest and averted my eyes somewhere else.
"I'm doing fine, busy with work. How about you? I ask, still not looking into his eyes.
"Yeah, same with me too. I got busy with work." I nodded. We were silent for a while. It feels like the atmosphere got a little intense.
"Chloe― " before he could finish what he was saying, we both heard his phone rang. He looked at his phone and got uneasy looking at the caller. He quickly rejected it and continued to talk again.
"As I was saying, Chloe―" his phone starts ringing again. He looks annoyed now, seeing as he was once again interrupted. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath to calm his nerves.
"I think you should answer that call, whoever that is. It might be urgent," I suggested.
He glanced at his phone, and just by looking at him, I think it was the same person who called him a while ago. Jaco's face looks troubled, conflicted to answer the phone. He glanced at me, "Nah, I don't think it's important," He smiled.
"I insist, you should answer that call," He sighs.
"Alright, if you insist," he glanced at me one last time before he answered the call. He stood up from his seat and moved away enough for me not to hear anything. I stand up and go to my friends in my room while waiting for him.
Knock knock
I cross my arms and slightly lean my upper body on the door frame. I watched my friends doing their own thing. Jessie and Sherie are sleeping on the bed while Alyssa, Evelyn, and Giel are having a video call. They didn't notice me leaning on the door frame as they were facing in the opposite direction. They were busy laughing and talking with the person to whom they're talking on the phone.
"Who's that?" I ask. They turn their heads.
"Ohh, hang on. It's Chloe," Alyssa says.
"We're video chatting with Nina and Milly," Giel stands up and moves beside me.
"Say, Hi!" Giel says. She levels the phone at me so I can see Nina and Milly's faces.
"Hi, Milly! Hi Nina!" I greeted them cheerfully and waved my hand.
"Chloooooee!" both Nina and Milly squealed on the phone. I can see their faces. They were thrilled to see me on the screen. Both of them talk and scream at the same time that I couldn't understand what they were saying.
"Ladies, ladies. I know you guys are thrilled to see me, but calm your tits! One at a time, please, I couldn't understand a single word you guys were saying," Giel and I cackle, both of them pouted.
"Oh, please. Cut the crap! We both know you guys already know who's 'he' we're talking about," I eyed them.
"Ahem," a masculine voice cleared his throat and interrupted us.
I froze.
Did he hear it? How much did he hear? I turned around, masked my embarrassing face as I face Jaco.
"I― You weren't in the living room, so I expected you to be here with your friends," He explained shyly.
"Are you done talking?" He nods.
"Oh, that was fast," I blurted out.
"It's work, and they need me in the office. Sorry if I have to leave so soon,"
"Oh," I said softly.
Why did it sound disappointed? Why am I feeling disappointed? I should be happy he'll leave soon, right? Not the other way around.
"How about we― hang out sometime if― you know― you're not busy," He says, stuttering. I glance at his hands, and he's fidgeting while talking to me. Are you nervous about asking me to hang out with you, Jaco? I chuckled.
"Alright. You have my number, you can call me― "
"Wait, Jaco. I've been wondering about this for a while," Evelyn cut in. What is it?" He asks.
"Ermm...How did you know Chloe's apartment?" I arch my brows.
"Yeah, I don't recall giving you nor telling you my address," I eyed him warily. The rest of us are now looking at Jaco, waiting for him to answer.
"I― I kind of ask Sydney for your address," He confessed and caressed his hair shyly. Eve chuckles.
"First your phone number and now your address," Alyssa chuckled, looking amused.
"Ohh, I get it," I gaze at Eve. "Sydney is playing cupid," Eve says as if she just answered a puzzle. I roll my eyes.
"Remind me to call Sydney. I guess I have to remind her not to give my phone number and address to strangers," I eyed him.
"Hey! I'm not a stranger. I'm your ex, remember?" He defended. I shook my head while my friends were grinning. Nina inhaled loudly, "Hmm... ah, I can smell it," She gestures her hands, "love is in the air," She says teasingly. The rest of us were chuckling.
"I really have to go, ladies. I'm sorry to leave you all of a sudden― maybe, we can hang out some other time?" Jaco conveyed.
"Sounds good to me," I said. "Oh, including you ladies," He says, glancing at my friends. They all nodded.
"See you around, Chloe," He says.
"See you a―" He hugged me, and I patted his back. I glanced at my friends, who were also astonished as to what they just witnessed in front of them. "Help," I mouthed at them.
"I'll walk you out," Eve volunteers. Eve and Jaco leave us behind. A few moments later, we heard the door shut. "You guys are freaking noisy. I'm trying to sleep here," Jessie says, annoyed while Sherie stirred from the bed.
"You just missed Jaco and Chloe exchanging flirty banters at each other," Giel says.
"Did he say anything?" Milly asks.
"Oh, nothing," Eve says.
"Really?" Alyssa questioned her. All of us were not convinced, especially the tone of her voice when she said it. It seems like she was hiding something.
"Ugh, whatever," she says defeatedly.
"He was just asking who among us needs mending a broken heart that leads Chloe drunk calling him at two in the morning, Jeez," She says.
"And?" We said in unison. Eve rolls her eyes.
"I told him it was me," She says.
"You did?" all of us were astonished.
"Yeah," She says in a duh tone. "And?" Giel asks. "Oh! he says he's gonna drop by later and hopes will still be here," Eve says.
"He will do what?!" Now, I was the only one who's surprised. The rest of them are squealing like a teenager who got noticed by their crushes.
"Guys, guys, guys, hold up!" Alyssa interrupted the rest of my friends. Everyone got quiet, and all eyes were on her.
"It is clearly hinting at us," she pointed at my friends one by one except me, "that he wants Chloe all alone and wants us to be out in the apartment when he'll drop by later," Alyssa says.
"Alyssa, you're a genius!" Giel says excitedly. I drew both of my hands in surrender. I can't believe my friends are this delusional. I rolled my eyes.
"Alright, we need to start cleaning the apartment before we leave, so when Jaco arrives, it will be clean. Are we clear?" Eve says. "Crystal," They said in unison.
"Wake those two sleepyheads. We need every person to help us clean," Alyssa said. Eve and Giel throw pillows at Sherie and Jessie.
"What the hell!" Jessie's voice sounds pissed. Sherie didn't budge and continued sleeping.
"Get up Jessie, we need to start cleaning before Chloe's guy friends will arrive. I heard they're hot and handsome," Giel says. I eyed her, "What the hell! You just lied," I whisper-yell at her. Suddenly, Jessie jolts up from the bed like he wasn't sleeping a while ago. "Alright, I'm up! Where do I start cleaning?" He asks with his twinkling eyes.
"Ugh, whatever," I rolled my eyes.
"Alright, you can start in the living room," Alyssa instructed. He nodded and left us in the room.
"Sherie, if you don't wake up now, I'm going to throw a bucket of cold water at you. I don't care if Chloe's bed gets wet. She can buy another one," Alyssa threatened.
"Hey! No throwing water at my bed," I whined.
"You heard the owner, no throwing water on her bed," Sherie mumbled.
"Try me," She challenged Sherie.
"1…" Sherie hears Alyssa start counting, and she instantly opens her eyes.
"Fine," She whined. "Good," Alyssa showed us her smug grin.
"Who are they?" Sherie asked and pointed at Nina and Milly, who are amused at her right now.
"You didn't recognize them?" I chuckled, amused by her question.
"I'm not wearing my glasses nor my contacts right now," she explained.
"Seriously? To find your glasses," Milly says.
"Milly?" She says, unsure. I chuckled.
"Hey! What about me?" Nina whined.
"Nina? She says, unsure. We all cackle, amused by her realization.
"What did I miss?" Sherie asks.
"A lot!" Eve says. "We need to clean now. You're going to clean the kitchen," Alyssa instructs.
"Hey! Tell me, what did I miss?" Sherie insists. "We'll tell you later. For now, you start cleaning the kitchen," Alyssa pulls her to get up and push her out from the room.
"Guys, we need to make sure the fridge gets restock," Evelyn suggested.
"You two," Alyssa gestures at Evelyn and Giel. "You'll go shopping with me, and I'll drive,"
"What about us? What are we going to do?" Milly asked while Nina nodded.
"Nothing. Talk to you later, ladies. We're busy at the moment," Alyssa says and ends the video call.
"What do I do?"
"You, my friend―" Alyssa moved closer and pointed at me. "Are going to change your bedsheets," She smirks, and I roll my eyes.
"I just changed my bedsheet last week," I argued.
"Why would I do that?" I annoyingly ask. She stands beside me and puts her arms on my shoulder. "Because you― my friend will be getting laid tonight," she winks.
"Oh my god! Seriously, you guys are overreacting," I exclaimed. I'm pissed. "For god sake! He has a girlfriend, a 'soon-to-be-his-fiance'. I'm not ruining that," I retort. I'm not getting laid tonight with him," Alyssa was gonna say something, but I glared at her not to interrupt me from talking.
"And no, he won't be dropping by my apartment later, I'll call him not to come by," I gazed at my friends and they were completely caught off guard on my sudden outburst. I took a deep breath to calm myself, "I appreciate you getting all excited, cleaning my house, and re-stocking my fridge, but please don't do anything without talking to me first," I eyed them. "Just don't cross the line, you can give me unlimited advice, but don't do drastic measures like now," I continued. They all became quiet for a moment.
"Alright, sorry if we cross the line... if it's too much," Alyssa says.
"We just want you to be happy," Eve says. "And clearly, you are happy with him," Giel added.
"But– "
"But it's different now since he has a girlfriend soon to be fiance," Eve intervenes. "Yeah, we get it crystal clear," she added. The three of them gave me a tight embrace.
"But!" Alyssa started. "We're still cleaning your apartment," she says. I chuckle.
"Uh-huh," Giel says.
"We felt bad getting your apartment dirty from our mini wild party last night," Eve says. I chuckle. "Alright," I say.
"Guys! Are you even cleaning?" Jessie yells in the living room.
"We are now!" we all laugh.