"So am I going to witness your breakup today?" Alice finally opened her mouth though I prefer if she stopped talking again.
Of course, I squinted my eyes in question as I did not know which part made her think that I brought her today to be a witness of my breakup. Well, maybe I might break up with Jordan someday, but obviously, it won't be today for sure.
"I mean, I do not understand the reason for you to bring me in a romantic lunch date if you are not breaking up," she shrugged, as if she didn't say something ridiculous.
"Stop exaggerating. It was Jordan's idea," I replied.
"Yeah, of course. That boyfriend of yours, I do not know what you find in him.., well I guess you do want to find anything in him but just bored to play single and landed with the idea of dating a loser."
"He does have nicer grades than…," you know who. I did not need to finish the whole sentence, Alice knew who I was talking about.
Alice looked at the way where Jordan was bush picking up the order, and instantly returned her gaze at me with utter displease. "Urgh! Just look at him and look at you, feels like a scholar visiting a circus."
"You and your problematic comparisons, these don't even make sense."
"They do make sense, at least better than you dating him," Alice huffed and puffed as she was ready to leave.
"Scholars do visit circuses too, be it for entertainment or artistic interest," I tried to reason her comparison to be false.
Alice looked at me for a long time as if she was trying to find my reasoning reasonable but felt defeated again. "Tell me to join when you decide to break it off. And thanks for the lunch," this time she directed her last words to Jordan who just arrived at the table with big tray in hand catching only the last words of her.
"She isn't staying?"
"It's not like she is going to enjoy being here anyway."
"I guess so," he tried to smile, but the smile wasn't reciprocated with another warm smile. Of course, he did not expect me to smile for him, did he?
"Jordan."
"Yeah?"
"Don't you think we are moving very slowly?"
The question came so out of the blue that Jordan didn't know how to answer right away. But I do have my reasons for being in this relationship. Not like I can be head over heels for someone but I do like Jordan for how discreet and against PDA he can be. Alice probably like it better if we could be more publicly affectionate but unfortunately, we do seem like a robotic couple on the campus.
Well, it was better than being single and being pestered by some perverted seniors. I might not be able to pull back if I engage in a campus fight.
Knowing Jordan is a good guy, I thought it would be easy until he avoided being alone with me.
"I have the right to question your behavior, don't I?" I urged as the other party remained mute.
"Rose…., well…"
"Yeah?"
"What a pleasant surprise to meet you here amiss Bennett!"
Uh, oh? I know this voice. I do but I don't expect to hear it here out of all places. Maybe it's just another imagination I am having after our brief meeting? Well, he is genuinely a charismatic person, I couldn't help but agree that he is someone to be remembered even if it's a brief meet let alone a whole lot with that.
Jordan was staring at something behind my back to make me realize that the imagination was not on my part after all.
"Mr. Lee." I turned my neck to confirm my illusion theory wrong and found that high and mighty business magazine figure standing there like a laid-back student in his bottle green cardigan and blue jeans holding some files and documents with one large and long hand of his. Well, he did look older than a college student but more like a young professor on his way to his class and I hated it that I was examining him head to toe for my eye feast.
Business and showbiz magazines do no justice to him I must say.
"Miss Bennett."
The casual playful grin he had on his face was knowingly unattached but it kept me thinking what if this man is capable of showing more of his brilliant smiles?
"Wait, if I am not wrong are you Mr. Vincent Lee?" Jordan interrupted, though it was not an interruption. Somehow I just felt irritated to lose my concentration upon his appearance.
"That I am. But did we meet before?" As casual as his smile, he sat next to me as if that was his seat to begin with.
We are close, and now I am uncomfortable.
"Well, of course not. But I follow the world and news." Jordan replied. "But it seems like you know Rose personally."
I did not like the choice of words as he and I have only a business relationship. That's what it is, no personal or hard feelings.
My thoughts almost betrayed my intentions when I heard him agreeing to my thoughts readily.
"Well, can't say personally. Miss Bennett has a great grasp on business so it was natural to encounter her for business purposes."
Jordan seemed a bit taken aback. He had the right to be like that as I never told him I was helping my grandma's business. After all, he knows very little about me to begin with though it's quite a time we are dating.
"Ah... I see. Well, nice to meet you here. I'm Jordan, Rose's boyfriend. Or that's what I think I am."
Jesus Christ!
Mr. Lee squinted his eyes in confusion if that's what he wanted others to see but all I could see was amusement. He is having fun.
"Jordan?"
"I'm busy, gotta catch up with my class. Talk to you later. It was nice seeing you here Mr. Lee," he ended shortly before getting up, ignoring my wilderness completely.
I did not know what got into me but I chased him as I preferred Jordan's anger over Mr. Lee's mischief right now.
"Jordan, what's up? You do not have any classes today after lunch," we are already outside of the cafeteria, and it was troublesome to have a conversation but I did find it more suitable than staying inside.
Jordan stopped walking and turned around to face me taking a deep sigh.
"You seem to wonder why I am this way but let me clear myself if you are looking for some hookup you can go somewhere else, Rose. I know I am the one who wanted a relationship with you but I don't think I feel any connection yet when I touch you and try to be close to you. We don't seem to be on the same page, Rose."
I looked at him. I didn't know he could be questioning my actions as I thought he was the quiet type. But the past few days, I was acting weird. He knows I do not do the things he wants in a relationship but I had to admit I was not myself at all to even call this a relationship in the past few days.
Reason? Well, I know the reason already but just do not have a desire to submit myself to it.
"Listen, we can sort this out. I just wanted us to be a little closer. You know I can be difficult but I do want us to work out, okay?"
Doesn't sound half bad although it was a rare sight for me to explain something to anyone for their better understanding which is actually outside of business. But alas, Jordan wasn't the least bit convinced.
"It appears that I came to know you better than you know me. At least from the part you show me." The reply was dry and mean and I couldn't help but frown on the comment.
"What do you mean?"
"At first, I was surprised that you might be changing for you to come after me but it looks like I was wrong. It isn't even the first time We argued, Rose. But it's the first time you came after me."
The statement almost sounded like a sneer and I could feel the presence of another being apart from us.
"Deal with him. I don't think you can avoid him by acting like you chased after me," Jordan whispered in my ears and I felt shivered. Not because of how close he was, but because someone seemed to throw cold daggers with their eyes towards our direction.
It was definitely a new feeling for Rose Mason Bennett.
"I wasn't eavesdropping," he said as soon as I turned around. Like hell I will believe it after seeing that arrogant grin lingering on his face.
"So it be."
I did not know what my face looked like but I was sure enough I couldn't show my usual self. I started talking towards the academic building where Jordan disappeared.
Vincent Lee is a danger, an absolute danger for me.