"Cheers!!" we all exclaimed as we clink our glasses
Since everyone was going, Jace and I had no choice but to tag along, if not voluntarily, like a dog. And since neither of us wanted to be dogs, we had to go voluntarily. After spending some hours, it wasn't that bad, in fact. I think we all needed it, especially Jace; he had been so uptight. Although it wasn't obvious to everyone, it was to me. I was going to find out whatever is wrong with him, either by him talking or me finding out. Another reason why I've been letting theses four months pass without bordering him- I would like to know the excuse he was going to use this time. We have worked together for six months- no more "We have only known each other for two months, Mel", or "You don't know me, Mel", even though I still don't really know him. Also, I know that we aren't on a personal basis but, we also aren't only on a completely one hundred percent official basis
Alex stood up,
"Attention, please" he started, "we are here to celebrate our newest member, Jace, into our lovely" He turned to Jace
"Jace, now I just want you to know that in our midst, we are all family here, so feel free. We all love you and would help you in anyway we can. Right guys?"
"Absolutely" Olive said
"Definitely" Ken said
"Of course" Sky said
"I would rather poop my pants in public than not to help you" Jade said. Sky signed
"Trust me, I've told him. He just would not believe" I muttered but, loud enough for only Jace to hear
"No problem doing that" I said aloud to answer Alex's question
"Now", Alex continued, "Jace, would you like to say anything, like a welcoming speech?" he said to Jace
"Just eat your food well and drink your drinks well" he said ignoring what I said as if he didn't hear me. Continue, Jace. Good game but, let's see how long you can ignore me
"Wow, that's the first time I've heard someone say that as their welcoming speech" Jade said to Jace
"Fist bump!" he folded his hand into a fist and held it out for Jace to bump. Smiling, Jace did the same thing with his hand and connected his fist to Jade's fist
"By the way. Alex" Olive called
"Yeah" he replied
"This is amazing"
"I know right. I used to be the best in my family since I was just a little boy in organizing special occasions. My mother even used to beg me to help organize for some people. I'm sure I would have been known world wide for the best event manager. I mean-"
"I meant the food" Olive quickly cut him off before he would turn our ears into red beef
"Although I sure you could be the best team dinner adviser who advices bosses to celebrate their newest employee six months after joining. You can even start pursuing that goal now" Ken said which caused everyone to laugh
After we had all calmed down, we continued to eat and drink. We talked about random things, laughed about almost everything. Even when if was not a tad bit funny, we still laughed. In short, we made sure we enjoyed ourselves but, as we were doing that, we made sure that we were not going to get drunk
After a while, Jace stood up
"I have to go. I am already getting tired" he said
"Sure, sure, safe journey. I will not hold you back, after all, the birth boy sometimes leave the party before the party ends" Alex told him
"Sure, see ya tomorrow" Jace said and started going
"You know what? I gonna leave too. Thanks for today, Alex. See you guys later" I said and left immediately before Jace could leave. Alex was about to say something but, I did not bother to listen to him- I can hear it tomorrow if it's important
Luckily, I caught Jace before he got to his car
"Hey" I called to him. He turned back to look at me
"Hey" he called back
"Welcome to our lovely abode" I said to him
"Hope you enjoyed it"
"Of course" he replied, "You all are so wonderful. I know for sure that I will enjoy working with love and enjoy working in your abode" he said with a bow. After a second, we both laughed
"Does he always set up a team dinner six months after a new employee?" he was referring to Alex
I scoffed
"Be lucky you got yours six months after. I got mine a year after, not that I was complaining"
"Is that his policy?"
"Nah, I'm sure he just forgets to have a welcoming party, then when he feels like having a team dinner or outing, he uses the newest employee as an excuse"
"Some boss we have"
"I agree"
We walked to where we parked our cars. Unfortunately, our cars where not parked beside each other, I had to walked down to my car
"My car is over there" I said to him
"I see. Then, good bye" he said but before he could enter, I stopped him
"Jace" I called him
"Yeah" he answered as if he knew that I was going to stop him but, didn't want me to. Well you know what that say in these situations, tough lunch
"Although that was a welcome to our abode speech by Alex, he is correct. We are here and can be like a family if you let us"
"Mel, you don't-"
"I know what I'm saying Jace. Act tough all you want, pretend nothing is wrong all you want Jace, but we both know that something is. I may not, for now, what the thing that is wrong is but, I know for sure that something is wrong" I cut him off
"You may not eve-" I cut him off saying. He has been saying what he wanted to say all this while, now, I was going to say what I wanted to say
"I may not even mean it? But, what if I can? I am just saying this now but, I will not be able to do it later? What if I am able to do it later? You would not know if you don't say. Even if you've told people and they didn't mean it at the end, how are you sure that I would not mean it at the end. We are of the same specie but, we are not of the same personality. Bye, see you tomorrow. Good night and sleep tight"
And with that, I left straight for my car
JACE'S P.O.V.
I stared at her as she walked towards her car. This was the only thing I could do right now
I knew she wanted to talk about what was wrong, but I had been avoiding it. Every time she would ask me about it, I would either give an excuse and leave, or adverts us to talk about something else if we were already talking. Sometimes I would ignore her or I would just simple pretend as if I didn't hear her
When she muttered "Trust me, I've told him. He just would not believe", I force myself not to react anyway to it
These past few months, I've been trying to be very active while having mixed feelings. I wanted Mel to think that I was okay and that nothing was wrong with me, but at the same time, I also wanted her to know that I was not okay, that I was faking being okay. I wanted her to mean everything she said and for her not to give up
I guess that she was going to follow me, so I tried to walk as fast as possible but, she still caught up with me. As she was talking, I wanted to tell her everything but I stopped myself. Not only am I trying to convince that I didn't want that, it would be too dangerous for her. I was having a really hard time convincing myself that I didn't need her especially how she was cutting me off and knowing what I was going to say
After she left, I could just stare at her. It wasn't after I saw her car passing by, that I got into my car and drove off as well
I can't, Mel. I can't