Meeting The Church Girl (NaNoWriMo2022)

Chapter 5: Let's Meet Up

“I don’t know. I think we should have more of this gathering.” Asher nibbled on his lower lip, interested in Jack’s idea.

“We should have genuine conversations like this. You guys don’t think so?” Jack raised.

“Yeah, yeah, of course.” Denim agreed.

“Especially with the ladies.” Asher blurted, stroking an imaginary beard. Jack shot a frown at his lame talk.

“Why would I want to do that every evening? I work, you know?” Rose answered.

“I know you work. I’m telling you not to work or to leave your work. I’m also not saying that you’re jobless, but whenever you are free. We should spend time together on free evenings and days. Have you ever heard the word platonic love?”

Rose put down the glass of wine from her mouth and replied. “Yes.”

“Outstanding! That’s the pleasure I deserve from being with you.” Jack pointed out.

Rose’s head dropped by his sudden confession. She held back her wine glass, sipping on it.

“Okay, I guess everyone has something to say.” She turned to her friend who was suddenly quiet. “Kimberly!”

“Hmm...”

“You’re distracted by your phone.”

“I’m just checking my mails.” Kimberly replied in a flat tone with her gaze, still fixated on her phone.

“We might get along after all.” Asher lips tucked a small smirk, handling her his mobile phone in a gentleman way. “Can I have your number? I will love to text you once we you get home.”

“Oh, sure.” She collected his phone and quickly typed her number and input the rest of her info. Jack’s eyes squinted as he watched her type her number. Then she handled it back to him and blushed a little. “It’s Sister Mary.”

Jack gasped for air as if caught off guarded.

“Okay.” his cheekbones raised in a smile.

“Kimberly, I’ll also need your contact too.” Asher brought up.

“Oh, don’t worry.” Rose objected. “I’ll text you her number once I get home.”

“Okay”

“Thank you, ladies... I think we’ve had a great time.” Jack rambled, directing his words at Rose. “Thanks so much for honoring my invitation.”

“You’re welcome, we are all friends but my invitation is for you guys to come to my church.” She clasped her hands in a plea.

Denim rolled his eyes inwards and threw his head back. Watching their drama was sickening. He was tired of it.

“Yeah, sure. I will come to your church.” Jack told her.

“I will come to your church, too.” Asher added with a promising smile.

“Thank you, Jesus!” She raised her hands, waded it in the air briefly in praise. “Really?”

“Yes!” they chorused in reply.

“That will mean a lot.” She said and turned to her friend. “We have to leave now. It’s almost 10:00 p.m.”

“Okay guys, thanks a lot for tonight. We had a pleasant time.” Kim told them.

Denim nodded with pursed lips and a raised brow. Briefly rumpled to the front of his hairline. The edge of his lips pulled down in disinterest. His relaxed look made it look as if he hated outing maybe with the wrong people.

Kimberly and Rose stood up at once, and Asher stood up as well.

“I’ll accompany you girls out.” Asher said and blushed. His pasty white skin made it effortless to reveal his blush. Without words, Jack pulled him by his shirt to sit down. He sat, still focused on Rose.

“Alright, bye.” Jack smiled in appreciation while Denim nodded with a dry smile.

“Sister Mary!” Asher called, hoping to get more attention.

She turned to him vividly and uttered the word, “Bless you.”

“Bless you too.” He drew an imaginary cross in the air and they walked out.

“Are you mad? What the hell was that for?” Jack fired at Asher once the door banged close.

“What was what?” Asher replied, puzzled by his sudden attitude.

“You asked for Rose number in my presence! I hosted this fucking date! Are you okay?”

“Man, come on. I’m a friend with her too.” Asher explained in innocence while Denim stroke an imaginary beard, watching the both of them. Calmly sipping on the glass of strawberry wine.

“You almost slapped that girl in highschool, remember? What friends are you with her?” Jack's veins struck out if his neck as he fumed. “I was trying to pull strings to someone I like and you’re here playing the smart one!”

Asher turned to Denim, pissed. His gaze requested for Denim’s words. “Do you hear that?” He was like the Don among them, but they didn’t refer him to that.

“Why won’t he ask for her number?” His fingers sprayed in a fan as he tried reasoning the issue.

“Oh, so you have her number, too?”

Asher stroke an imaginary beard.

Denim close his eyes and nodded, pathetically. One would think he was already getting lightheaded from drinking the fruit wine.

“Men, let’s go. Look, Jack, I’m tired of your insecurities!” Asher pointed out. He tossed down on his wine glass one more time before going.

It was Monday morning. Rose was having pasta and spiced sauce for breakfast when Kimberly walked towards the dining table. She dressed in a simple blue nightgown while rose had a pastel purple blazer and trousers, with her black hair neatly packed up in a bun, ready for work.

“Hey girl!” Kimberly stared, handling her phone over to Rosemary. “Have you seen this?”

Her well trimmed eyebrows pulled up in a tight frown. It was her picture from two days ago. Jack posed it on his Instagram page.

“When did he take the picture of the both of you?” Kimberly asked out of curiosity.

She knew they sat down together and Rose hardly take pictures.

“I didn’t notice!” her lips pressed together under her narrowed, blue eyes,. Watching his update in dismay. “What? It’s impossible! Why would Jack stoop so low? Taking abd posting my picture without my consent!”

Kimberly smiled and nodded negatively to his moves. “On Saturday night, I noticed the guy was staring... Like he’s been over you.”

Rose eyed her friend, handling back her phone. She deepened the fork into the plate of pasta, giving it a good chew without replying.

“We had this talk about settling down, Rose. If a guy comes up as working class, nice and caring, charming, and all over you, he likes you. Give him some attention, at least.”

Rosemary dropped the fork, her fingernails clawed in her neatly low tied hairstyle. Rose let out an exasperated sigh, tired of the topic. She just faked a smile at Kimberly and told her, “thanks!”

‘Ring! Ring! Ring!’

Her phone vibrated beside the plate of pasta. Kimberly stretched her eyes to see the caller.

Jack’s calling she blurted, and Rose picked up the call.

“Hi, Jack.”

“Good morning Angel-face, hope you’re bubbling this morning!”