Third Person’s POV
Celina didn’t say anything about what Jefferson had told her, but there left a light of hope that their marriage will become fruitful in the future. Noli invited them to a meal and they obliged. “You should know that this is your treat.” Jefferson told him which made him laugh.
“When did you become stingy?” his friend asked.
“When I married her.” he replied, smiling as he knew that he would be getting a violent reaction from Celina. Which he was not wrong at all.
“When did I teach you to become one?” she asked.
“When I left you spent no more than 1000 a month. Maybe you were thinking that I am going to compute everything that you will be spending while I’m away, so I realized that I am stingy.” he replied, looking at her raising her brows not leaving her gaze.
“Eherm, love birds, please note that I am still here.” Noli said and Celina looked at him, shyly. Jefferson grabbed her hand and squeezed it slightly causing her to turn to him again.
“Don’t mention him, he was always like that. Being a third wheel to his friends’ dates is one of his hobbies.” Jefferson told her and they started eating. The food was good and Celina enjoyed talking to Noli as he was very gullible unlike Jefferson who looks serious.
Jefferson decided to leave his friend alone as he wanted to start his date with Celina. They walked hand in hand as they strolled around doing what normal couples do. They enter a jewelry store and Celina wonders why they were there but she just followed Jefferson as he was pulling her.
“What do you think of this?” He asked, holding a set of necklace and earrings.
“I don’t know.” she replied, uninterested in jewelry so she had no idea about it. “The design is beautiful though,” she added when she thought that he wanted her to say something. Then she looked around and a necklace caught her attention. She took a closer look and she couldn’t help but smile thinking she was seeing the design she made herself.
“What are you looking at?” Jefferson and followed her gaze. “Do you like that?” he asked again,
“What! NO!”
“Then why are you smiling like that?”
“That’s mine,” she replied.
“What do you mean yours?”
“The design, it’s mine.”
“The butterfly design?” he asked again and Celina laughed. The saleslady approached them.
“It’s an infinity broken heart design.” she told him and he looked at the necklace closer.
“Sir, this is one of our best sellers. Just like ma’am said, it’s an infinity broken heart. Although I wonder how she figured it out when all our customers look at it the same as yours.” the saleslady said, looking at Celina.
“Come on if you are not going to buy anything. And don’t plan on buying something for me because I don’t like jewelry.” Celina told him and pulled Jefferson out of the jewelry store.
Jefferson on the other hand wanted the necklace and earrings he was looking at earlier and was planning on getting it later for Celina. They stroll more, getting in and out of different stores without buying anything and Jefferson wonders why they even get inside when Celina has no plans on buying.
“If you have something you like you can tell me. We had been going in and out of stores and you can’t choose from all those in there.” Jefferson said.
“I didn’t say that we are going to buy it or that I am looking for something.” She replied.
“Then why are we doing it?” Jefferson asked, confused.
“This is what normal couples do, window shopping.” she told him.
“We’re just feasting our eyes on everything and had no intention of buying it no matter how much we liked it and we have money to buy it?”
“If there’s anything you like, you can buy them. I am not stopping you from doing so.” She replied, “But for me, I just like to feast my eyes with all the beautiful things that I see and that’s enough for me.” she added.
‘Whatever.” Jefferson said and continued what they were doing. “But I want you to know that we are capable of buying things that we wanted and we needed. So if there’s anything that catches your attention, just tell me and we will get it.”
“I thought you’re stingy?”
“Not when it comes to you.” he replied and continued walking, still holding her hand. “Where do you want to eat?”
“Anywhere is fine.” she replied.
“There’s a native restaurant here, do you want to try it?” he asked and she nodded then Jefferson led her. “Why don’t you hold me?” he asked while they were walking.
“We were already holding our hands.” she replied.
“But I was the one who took your hand,” he said.
“What do you want me to do?” she asked, confused. Jefferson took her hand and had it wrapped around his arms and pulled her closer like there’s no wind that could pass between them.
“I like this even more.” he said and they continued walking. They were almost at the restaurant when someone called Celina, she looked around and smiled when she saw her friend, Xia.
“What a coincidence.” Xia said, “You never go to places like this.” she added as she looked in their hands. Jefferson noticed it as well as a slight smugly smile.
“Who are you with?” Celina asked.
“No one, because you said you had a date so I decided to go on my own. You know I needed a break from work.” she replied but looking at Jefferson from time to time.
“We’re about to eat, you can join us if you haven’t eaten yet.” Celina invited her and Jefferson gave her “Do not invite her,” look which she didn’t notice because she was so happy seeing her friend.
“Is that so? If that’s OK with you then I am not going to say no.” Xia replied and ignored the look that Jefferson was giving her.
“Jefferson, this is Xia, my friend from the orphanage.” she said and then looked at him then at Xia who offered her hand but Jefferson did not bother looking at it either but instead, he took Celina’s hand and led her inside the restaurant as Xia followed them glaring Celina. She looks envious of her but when she looks at Jefferson, her eyes change. She likes Jefferson for herself.
‘I couldn’t believe that she managed to marry Jefferson. What’s so good about her that life has been good to her?’ she thought as she still follows them. Celina looked at her which made her smile sweetly.
Celina motioned her to come with her because for Celina, she was her best friend. She told Xia how she got married to Jefferson and him leaving the country. Although she didn’t like her suggestion, she thought that Xia was just concerned about her feelings and wellbeing.
They dined together and although Jefferson was irritated with Xia’s presence, he decided to just ignore her and take care of Celina. He had a feeling that she’s bad news and Celina had to stay away from her.
He thought that she was up to something because she already knew that they were on a date but she still chose to become their third wheel. He decided to look at her and make sure that she won’t be able to do anything to Celina and him.
Meanwhile, Celina was very happy when she saw Xia. Although they were on a date, she thought that Xia was her friend and it was also about time to introduce them to each other. Thinking that she was not just any other person to her but she was like a family. She was confused with Jefferson’s behavior but she just thought that he was not used to being with people that were out of league.
Xia on the other hand has started to make a plan for herself as she smiled at Celina like a true friend and gave Jefferson an innocent looking smile not knowing that he doesn’t feel good about her.