Somehow, Kaylee managed to get rid of her thoughts about her feelings for Jacob and focus on this competition event.
She gave fair judgments and did not vote for favorite contestants. Even though she hoped Alicia Johnson wouldn't come out as the winner, Kaylee remained on a professional jury and properly assessed Alicia's play.
In the end, Alicia came out as the runner-up champion, making Kaylee feel relieved and guilty at the same time.
She knew that Alicia wanted to win this race so badly, but Kaylee prayed that the girl didn't win. She felt guilty and sorry for having prayed for her failure.
She felt even more guilty when she felt relieved that Alicia would no longer see her and demand answers from her when they met on Monday.
Even though her job today was just a jury like she does every year, why is her job today more specifically tiring?
"Miss Roe, Miss Larson, and Mr. Gardnerr thank you for your participation in this event." said one of the competition committees while giving a souvenir to the five juries.
After chatting lightly for a few minutes, Kaylee saw Jacob waving his hand at her and made her immediately feel unfamiliar great happiness.
Kaylee cleared her throat a few times as if trying to remove something inside her throat. Wendy chuckled, noticing the bright hue on her friend's face, and couldn't help but tease her.
"Isn't he too young for you?"
Kaylee glared at her friend while pursing her lips. "How could you. I don't know what to do now? Should I go to him? Or should I avoid him? What if he thinks I'm arrogant? How about…"
"Wait, wait. I'm just teasing you. Why do you take me seriously? Ha!" Wendy gasped when she realized something. "Is it possible… you like him… as a man? Seriously?"
"I... I..."
"Go to him, girl." Wendy pushed Kaylee's back towards Jacob, who was still waiting beside the hall door.
Kaylee looked at her friend's face doubtfully and was filled with confusion.
"This is the first time you've liked someone. Why don't you try it?"
"But... isn't he too young for me?" Kaylee repeated her best friend's question making Wendy roll her eyes lazily.
"Age is not a problem. You just need to get to know him and find out whether you want to spend your whole life with him or not. Isn't it better for you to marry the person you like than to marry the person your mother chooses?"
Kaylee bit her lip doubtfully while contemplating each sentence of her best friend.
Although Mrs. Zouch did not currently discuss her arranged marriage with Declan Black, Kaylee was unsure that her mother would give up marrying her off to him.
If only she confessed to her mother that she had someone else in her heart and managed to convince her parents that she would be happier to be with the person she likes… wouldn't that be better?
Finally, Kaylee decided to go up to the young man who was still smiling at her.
Jacob has been smiling at her a lot when she appears as 'Nick.' But somehow, now she seemed to see something like a halo around the young man's face while smiling at her.
Somehow she couldn't act like she usually did when her eyes met Jacob's blue eyes. Did Jacob's eyes shine so beautifully when the young man smiled?
Why now Kaylee realized something she had never realized before?
"Hi, Miss Roe."
"Hi, Jack."
"This is for you." Jacob gave Roe a bouquet of pink carnations.
"Let me guess. You are supposed to give this bouquet to Wendy." Kaylee knew very well that Jacob must have provided Wendy with a bouquet because that young man was a fan of her best friend.
"Ah, I gave her another flower. I just bought it a few minutes ago. I think the pink carnation is perfect for you."
"??" Kaylee felt like she overheard a drum sound inside her chest when she heard that answer. "Ah, thank you." Finally, Kaylee said her gratitude while smelling the flower and lowered her face.
She felt that right now, Jacob's pair of blue eyes were looking at her with a look that could make her heart jump so that she didn't dare look at him.
On the other hand, Jacob was even more fascinated by the girl's red hue in front of him.
How adorable!
"Miss Roe, can I..."
"Miss Roe, here you are. I've been looking for you earlier." a loud voice from the end of the corridor interrupted Jacob's words and caught the attention of the two.
"Mister William." Kaylee greeted the director of the committee politely. This man was the one who invited her to be a jury here. But she couldn't hide her surprise when she saw Declan Black walking beside Mister William.
She shifted her gaze when that daunting man looked at her with a probing look.
"This is…" Mister William noticed Jacob's presence beside Kaylee and wondered what someone was not a committee member or a jury was doing in this private corridor.
"I am a student of this campus."
"Ah, shouldn't you be with your friends right now?"
Jacob sighed, realizing this new arrival man had driven him away indirectly. Jacob glanced at Roe, who was now looking at him regretfully.
Even though he had to leave this corridor, Jacob was happy because he felt sure Roe indeed liked him. The girl seemed disappointed to see him go.
"See you next time, miss Roe."
Roe nodded her head once and looked sadly at the young man's back.
"What an amazing representation, Miss Roe." Mr. Williams's praise made Kaylee couldn't help but glance back at the man and gave him a faint smile. "Ah, introduce my friend. He also teaches at this campus. "
"Declan Black," stated Declan, stretching a hand to shake hands with Kaylee.
With a hesitant gesture, Kaylee took the extended hand and shook hands with the man. "Roe."
Dear lord. Why is she so unlucky today? Before this, she was worried that Jacob would feel suspicious that she was Nick, and now her worries back and was afraid that Declan would recognize her as Kaylee Zouch.
Not to mention, those sharp black eyes still looked at her as if he was an investigator.
Calm down. Just calm down. Kaylee persuaded herself as if chanting an incantation.
It had been more than two months since she had seen Declan as Kaylee. The man definitely wouldn't remember her, let alone recognize her. Hence, she didn't have to worry and…
Kaylee widened her eyes as Declan didn't let go of her hand and lifted it towards the man's mouth.
OMG! Declan Black kissed the back of her hand while looking at her eyes!!