A Lover of Rain

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:

After months of getting rejected by Shay and not talking to each other, he suddenly appeared in her life. But the Jacob standing in front of us looked different: his hair became shorter, the build of his body became bulkier than what was before, and the way his style change into more laid back outfits unlike the long-sleeved shirts he used to wear that made me think that's the only clothes in his wardrobe. Although one thing remained the same with this upgraded version of Jacob Riano Brent standing in front of us is that his eyes still have the same glow whenever he'd look at Shayla Gail Chaves.

There was hesitation yet longingness from the way he looked at Shay. He couldn't exactly pull her into a hug the way he used to since they're no longer together. Many words they left unsaid to each other started flooding their minds yet no one initiates to say these words. They just stood, twenty feet away from each other, lost in each other's gazes they haven't seen in a long time.

"Let's leave them alone." Maya suggested, making Jacob look at her before nodding. My curiosity got piqued as to why he nodded at her.

There was one other person who couldn't seem to get their feet unstuck to the floor. Jae watched them while standing on the side, his gaze went back and forth to Jacob and Shay. Our friends started walking to go on with their day until there was only Jae who was the last one to leave. I went back to our room to catch some rest that I didn't get to have on our way back to the resort but my mind was flooded by questions of what I just noticed. When Maya entered the door, I asked her to get some coffee with me at the restaurant which she agreed to. She clung into my arms as we descended down the stairs.

"I noticed Jacob nodded at you." I asked without any hesitation. Maya turned her head in my direction with her jaw slightly dropped. She probably didn't anticipate someone would notice such minute detail yet here I am. "What's going on?"

"Okay, okay..." Maya stopped walking in front of the pool to give me some explanation like I caught her doing something. "I was upset because of the game which you already know but before Yohan found me outside, I just got off the phone with Jacob."

"I called him. I don't exactly know why either... maybe it's because I couldn't bear to see her cry anymore from missing him, or that there's an ulterior motive with my call. I was just upset. I told Jacob the gist of her guilt: that she just needs time to move on properly with Felix and that he rushed into asking her that question. That's all I said before telling him to get his butt here in Cebu." Maya covered her face from shame of what she had done like I'm gonna scold her for summoning Jacob to where we are.

"I was actually thinking you did great." Like it was a shock I praised her, Maya slowly removed her hands from covering her face. "It's been months since she rejected him yet within that time, all Shay did was miss him and be guilty of hurting Jacob where in fact... all they need to do is have a proper conversation then figure things out later."

We started walking again to the restaurant where we got some iced coffee and bagels to eat. We chose a table near the window and as I started sipping my coffee, I heard two familiar voices at the table behind Maya. I tilted my head only to find Jacob sitting in front of Shay. We were oblivious to the fact we chose the table next to them who were trying to talk things out.

"I really thought you were gonna be mad and think I'm a bad friend because–" I shushed Maya to stop her from talking. She squinted her eyes at first which made me tap my ear to signal her to listen. When Maya realized who was sitting next to our table, she bit her lower lip to stop herself from speaking.

There was an awkward silence on their table yet I could feel the tension between them. They were talking about Shay's work earlier when I sat down but then she replied it was good which cut their conversation. A part of me kept hoping she'll start being honest to tell him what she really feels. All those feelings whenever she'd talk about Jacob to me when we're alone. This is that moment she's waiting for. But the first word she said was the one that mattered the most for Jacob.