Chapter 3: Uncomfortable
The next morning the sun had awakened, and the Lenovo smart clock on the desk next to the bed ticks. Jackson tossed on the mattress to avoid the irritating noise from his alarm clock. He did not want to wake up from the bed. His heart still hurts from last night's incident. And what he desires is to stay in bed and not have to go out.
He did not want to explain himself to his best friend. Who always notices when he's depressed. However, what he is experiencing is worse than depression. It is a heartbreak without the breakup part. Who could have guessed that he would spend his anniversary mobbing and alone in bed? Jennie messed up his entire plan. Yet, it is not strange to him. She has been canceling on him for the past eleven months.
The clock stops ringing abruptly, and he closes his eyes. He nearly fell asleep, but it screeched. "It's six O'clock!" Jackson woke up and yelled at his alarm, "I am awake, you idiot!" Then he laughed at himself, "whom am I kidding? I am the idiot," He uttered. Jackson left his bed, and when about his regular morning routines. He did a ten-minute exercise, brushed his teeth, took a cold bath, bandaged his wound, got dressed, and headed downstairs for breakfast.
It was unnecessary to prepare extra food because of the leftovers from last night. He sat at the table and set up to eat. Suddenly his eyes caught a glare at his watch. And time was not in his interest, Jackson needed to gobble his food or he would arrive late at his job. Jackson sipped his coffee and took a huge spoonful of his breakfast.
The wind was intense outside when Jackson came out the door; the snowflakes falling from the sky rested on his coat while he locked the gate to his house. "Good day Mr. David, is it fine to invite you over for brunch at our bakery?" Mrs. Harper asked. She stood at the front of the shop as though she had been expecting him to arrive. "I do not mind, but I can not prolong my time because I will be late for work." He answered her as he advanced to the bakery door.
"You should not bother, we won't use up your time, come in please," she responded and accompanied him inside the shop. The colorful tablecloths and fresh pastries scent regularly make the shop enchanting. But the real magic is Mr. Harper. His appearance remained frown every time he is baking, but his pastries are tasty.
Jackson has visited the bakery various times. Yet this time it seems unusual. When he walked into the shop, the mood changed. Mr. Harper jostles a young woman to serve Mr. David. Jackson observes quietly.
He thought she was beautiful and attractive. Her full rosy lips, curly dark hair, and brownish skin had the bakery crammed with gentlemen aspiring to pursue her. She walked up to Jackson and placed a tray full of Harper's signature donuts on the table.
"Thanks, what's your name?" Jackson asked her.
"Julie and what happened to your finger?" she replied with a cute but wary smile that got him to grin.
"I cut myself, guess men do not know their way around knives. Mrs. Harper, I see you have a new waitress, and she is modest." He stated in his humorous tone. Mr. Harper giggled and notified him that Julie was his Preston graduate daughter.
"She is more intimate with books than gentlemen. Although he wishes she would take an interest in a fellow, she is an adult. Settling down with someone ought to be on her mind, but Julie is stubborn as a mule," he explained to Jackson. Julie did not utter a word, but Jackson understood her parents' behavior embarrassed her. Mrs. Harper addressed Jackson. "How is your wife?" she asked, tapping her hand on his shoulder.
"My wife is splendid, and she will arrive home tonight. If there is no more to discuss, can I please have my donut package to bring with me to work? Is that okay with you, Mrs. Harper?" He replied. Jackson did not appreciate the awkwardness in the room, and he thought it's best to leave earlier. "That is not a problem. Julie, please package Mr. David donuts," she told her daughter with a smirk. "Sure!" Julie replied, taking the donuts and leaving in haste.
Mr. Harper observed how Jackson gazed at Julie with compassion. "Don't pay attention to her bashful approaches, that is her personality since she was a child. Can I ask you for a favor?" Mr. Harper said.
"As long as it is within my principles I can grant it." He explained to Mr. Harper and stared him in the eye to show his sincerity. "We have lived next to each other for five years, and we recognize that you are a decent man who respects his wife and has dignity for himself. That shows that your male friends have outstanding characters, you have heard of the statement that birds of the same feathers fly together.
Therefore, whenever you are available to hang out, please take Julie with you to meet a decent person like yourself." Mr. Harper pleads with Jackson.
At that moment, Julie arrived with the donuts package, "What are you people discussing?" Julie asked, looking at their suspicious faces. "Nothing serious, your parents asked me to do something for them, and I guarantee them when I have the opportunity I will fulfill their request," Jackson told her. He turned to Mrs. Harper, "since there is nothing different, I beg to take my leave," he said and left the bakery.
"What did you ask of him?" Julie asked her parents. "Nothing," they reply mutually. "Well, since that is the case, I am going upstairs to resume my job search. Please do not distract me again with useless matters." I have suffered enough humiliation from you guys." Julie told her parents and went upstairs.
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