He got to work at the supermarket where he did a simple job of scanning the codes on goods and cashing money. Hillary also did same at a desk not too far from his.
"what do you think about a polyamory relationship" he asked her as both their desks were customer free.
"What's that?"she replied" Hillary was an African American. She had smooth dark skin and curly hair which she wore in braids.
" A woman having romantic feelings for two men"
"As in a threesome?"
"Not exactly...the two men don't engage in anything"
"Then it's kinda cool...lots of new things are the trend these days"
A customer walked to his counter with a basket in hand.
"Welcome to Happy shopping mall"he greeted without looking at the face of the person. He began scanning the bars on the stuff and packaging it. He finally lifted his head up and Alex was right before him.
"Hi" Alex said.
Jason ignored him and took the credit card he was extending to him and made the payments before handing it back to him. The receipt was printed out and he gave it to him. Miraculously his line had filled up with ladies cause of Alex.
"Hmmm" he muttered. Alex was still standing in front of him despite their finished business.
"When is your lunch break?" Alex asked.
Jason glanced sideways and saw the manager staring at him with her glasses hanging at the bridge of her nose.
"Thanks for shopping with us" he said in a high tone. " aren't you leaving? " he screwed his face and muttered in annoyance to Alex.
"I'll leave if you want me to"
He was annoyed as hell by the actions of Alex. Why had he come to his work place ? he wondered. What was he trying to prove. He'd met the guy thrice and on two ocassions he'd shown him how much better he was than him.
"Who was that hottie...seemed like he knew you" Hillary piped after they'd handled the customers.
"He's no one" Jason answered then sat on the chair and clenched his fist.
****
He was chilling and scaling through his book when he got notified of being added to a group.
"So there's this movie I wanna see and I thought it would be fun if we all saw it together" Vanya shared on the group chat she made for them three.
"Is it white jaguar?" Jason replied.
"Yeah, so what do y'all say"
"I have a test I need to study for and I have a shift tonight" Jason wrote, he so didn't want to seat in a cinema with that Alex dude.
" Its gonna be on a Saturday though..@Alex" Vanya tagged him as he wasn't responded to the messages, just reading.
"I won't make it" Alex finally replied then he went offline.
"On a second thought I can find time for you baby" Jason replied with hearty emojis.
"It won't be much fun if it's just the two of us" She texted.
Ryan came into the room with two wraps of food.
"Oh man I've been so hungry" He said sitting up and grabbing a bag.
"I'm your life saver"
"i'll try" " Alex replied.
Jason hissed as he read Alex's message. "What the hell is wrong with this dude though" he thought "how can Vee be attracted to someone so indecisive"
"Who you texting" Ryan asked.noticing Jason's glued stare on the phone.
"Your girlfriend " he retorted.
"You're crazy"
*****
On the day of the date, Vanya arrived earlier and bought three tickets for the movie. Jason joined her shortly.
They got two packs of popcorns and cans sodas.
The movie began but she kept waiting, anxiously looking out for Alex.
"Let's go in he'll find us when he gets here" Jason said.
"It's our first time I'm nervous" She replied, slightly nervous.
"what first time ?" Jason enquired. was it their first time seeing a movie together or she was talking about something else entirely, he wondered.
"Nevermind ....he's not responding to my texts" she swirled her phone looking onwards.
"maybe he's not coming...might be caught up at work...let's go in Vee"he pestered.
"Okay fine" she resigned. He carried their stuff inside.
When they got in, luckily there was an empty three seat row. Vanya spotted it and walked towards there. She sat down in the middle then reserved the seat by her left for Alex.
The movie began but she kept fidgeting and constantly checking the entrance.
"He's not gonna come just enjoy the movie" Jason said to her stuffing some popcorn in her mouth.
The movie was funny and they laughed into each other's faces. They locked eyes and he reached to kiss her but she backed off.
Alex arrived when the movie was halfway done. Jason hadn't noticed his presence till he felt Vanya looking at someone at his direction. Alex moved through people to get to where they sat. He got to Jason's side and asked Vanya to scoot over to the seat she had reserved for him. She was about protesting but People were already hissing in complaint as Alex's towering height was obstructing their view. Vanya finally moved over then Jason did too and Alex took his seat.
"Can you give me a recap of what I've missed" Alex whispered to Jason as he sat. His voice made Jason's ears vibrate and ring.
"No I won't " Jason bluntly said as he scratched the itch off his ear. He focused on the screen eating his popcorn when Alex shoved his hand into his pack. Jason was startled at the unwanted intrusion.
"Why didn't you get some popcorn as you were coming in ?"
"I'm not a fan of popcorn "
"Then what was your hand doing in my pack"
"Well the way you're crunching it makes me feel it's really good and I wanted a taste"Alex winked with starry eyes.
"Hey what are you guys talking about ?" Vanya piped in feeling left out. She had noticed them whispering to each other.
Jason stared at him dumbfounded and as their eyes were still fixated on each other Alex sent the piece he'd taken directly into his mouth while he watched.
"Let's swap seats" Vanya said to Jason.
"weirdo " Jason muttered. "gladly" he said to her and they swiftly did.
"Should I tell you the part you missed ?" she leaned into his shoulder.
"Don't bother just watch okay" he said and pat her head.
After the movie Vanya was excited and locked hands with both of them but as they got to the exit she separated and it was just the two of them.
"why did you do that?" Jason asked as they walked.
" do what?"
" Come to my work place"
" I was passing by and I happened to see you there"
" don't do that again ..if you see me asides when we're with her ignore me and I'll do same"
"But I don't want to do that...I want us to be friends"
"No...we can never be anything"
They got out and she was waited for them.
"Let's have dinner" Alex suggested.
"It's too late...maybe another time" Vanya said.
"Are you interested " Alex asked Jason.
"I'm not" Jason said although his stomach roiled inaudibly in response to the question. ' I just fucking told you I want nothing to do with you and you're acting like all is fine' he thought.
"I'll get some burgers you guys should wait by the car" he stalked off to the food counter.
"I'll leave now" Jason proclaimed.
"Jason...there's no harm in being nice to him"
"I don't wanna Vee...I just can't like him"
"Please babe...do it for me. You always have this irritated look when he talks to you and it breaks my heart" She sulked clutching his hand.
"I'm trying here Vee...trying to make this work, I can't force myself to like him "
"You can try...one step at a time"
Alex arrived with three packs of burgers.
"Let's go" he said and beeped his car open.
Alex got into the car and both Jason and Vanya stood in front of the door of the passenger front seat.
"Sit at the back" she instructed.
"I wanna 'try' " Jason said emphasizing on the word 'try' with air quotes.
"Okay fine" she entered the back.
Jason opened the door and got in. Alex stared at him then gave off a little smirk. The car was filled with the scent of the juicy yummy burger. Like that wasn't enough Alex opened a pack and began munching on one.
"You can have one if you want" he said to him.
Jason rolled his eyes and looked out the window. He was being tapped by someone and even he turned a burger bumped into his lips.
""Have it" Alex said " the sound from your stomach is soul wretching"
Jason resigned and ate. He did it cause Vanya was looking at him. Wanted to show her how he was listening to her. Though deep down he was hungry.
"Told you it was good " Alex said.
"It ain't fair...you two are eating without me" Vanya complained.
"Well you don't eat by this time" Jason replied.
"Yeah yeah...so as a sweet boyfriend you shouldn't choke me with that fact then "
"Here" Jason said giving her the veggies from his burger.
"Am I a goat..." she sighed and took a bite from his burger " a little bite won't hurt" she giggled.
*****
"You know I'm doing this for you...have you learned yet" She said as they got closer to her dorm. They had dropped off Jason first at his.
"Come on give me some more time...I've not been around long enough" Alex replied.
"okay take all the time you need" she replied then got oof, rounding to his window. He drove off before she reached there to tell him goodnight and maybe a goodnight kiss.