Jasmine

16. 'Him Again?'

In the evening, Jasmine remembers Brandon wanted to take Jasmine and her family to church. She sends Brandon a message asking if that's still on. He replies with a: "Let's speak Monday."  Jasmine is relieved their church service attendance is postponed. She shouldn't be, but she is. She prefers her self-studies and her drawn out biblical discussions with her mother than going to church. 

Church is so self-serving and unvaried: it's the calling upon blessings for one's self through the chanting of a selected number of psalms and the rehashing of The Gospel - nothing about Old Testament doctrines, or the unveiling of apocalyptical visions. 

But Brandon loves church; Jasmine loves Brandon; so, Jasmine will learn to adapt. Jasmine never realised there'd be so much compromising to relationships. Has she perhaps bitten off more than she can chew?

Monday evening comes. Jasmine rushes to west campus where Brandon has his car parked. He's in the usual lot and near the spot he's accustomed to parking at, so it isn't hard to find him. She approaches his Land Rover. It's a new millennial one - that's as far as her knowledge on cars goes. 

Nearing, she sees someone in the passenger seat. A blonde. As she gets closer to the car, her heart beats in her eardrums hoping it's not Edwin. She isn't in the mood of being made a sport of after her arduous class. 

"Edwin," Jasmine says with a gritting of the teeth once she enters the motor. Her eyes are to the ground until she picks them up to look at Brandon. He has an innocuous grin on his face and Jasmine rolls her eyes away to view the lot. 

"And that?" Edwin states at the bad-tempered Jasmine. Jasmine looks at Brandon half-pleading 'not today'. 

Brandon says: "He's in a better mood dear." 

Jasmine not knowing what that is protests, "But we were supposed to talk today. Remember?" 

"I share everything with Edwin. There's nothing about me he doesn't know."

"Do you share girlfriends too? Cause I ain't about that."

"In your dreams brownie, you ain't my type," interjects Edwin. Jasmine opens her mouth, and for the first time today, looks at Edwin's face. She believes she hates him. 

But my God he is handsome! Pearly white teeth, big eyes, long lashes...

Brandon's voice indistinctly finds her ears. Jasmine faces his way and says "So he's sexist and racist?" Then muttering, "I hate the white male ego."

"I'm neither sexist nor racist," Edwin interrupts. "I happen to like ribs... brownies too..." Brandon cracks up. "Those brownies are the best, trust me," he sells. "Just the look and smell of them."

Edwin roars with laughter before emitting fudge costs you less. Jasmine gives both an angry look before glancing at Edwin confused. "I get the fudge bit," she says, "but what do you mean by ribs?" Brandon erupts with laughter. Edwin too. This is ongoing until Jasmine says: "Oh no, wait. I get it. How corny." Edwin shrugs his shoulders.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just cheesy," he says looking for some change in her interactions with him.

"We all descend from a common parentage, right Edwin? Brandon intercedes.

"Shem, Ham and Japheth?" Edwin expresses and Jasmine, for the first time since meeting him, wants to smile at him. But she doesn't - having mixed emotions about him. 

"I'm actually in a good mood today," Edwin speaks into the silence. "I thought I would come here and apologise about last time. But like an idiot I screwed up again," he jokes and Jasmine smiles reservedly.

"I'm sorry Jasmine," Edwin expresses seemingly sincere. "I'll learn to hold my tongue around you. Could we start over?" 

Jasmine warms up to him giving him a reassuring smile. Edwin gives her a wistful smile back knowing perhaps that her initial encounter with him hasn't rubbed off her consciousness. 

"Your humour is just 'out of whack' to her," Brandon consoles. "Hopefully you'll progressively become more in tune with it," Brandon adds looking at Jasmine. Jasmine smiles at him loving how Brandon is cementing her presence in his life indefinitely, but she still has her reservations about Edwin. 

"Okay bro," Brandon then says to Edwin, "We need to go now. See you at home." Jasmine is confused but says nothing. Edwin voices a soft "Goodbye" to Jasmine, patting her on the forearm before leaving.

"I thought he was staying for the chat," Jasmine puts forth when the car door is re-closed.

"That was a joke," Brandon clarifies. "He wanted to apologise for earlier, so we met up after my classes."

"Oh. That's a relief. It would have been so awkward," Jasmine lets out before climbing into the front passenger seat. She peers off into the distance and sees Edwin still walking off. 

"So, what car does he dri-" Jasmine asks still looking out the window hoping to see it. "Shut up! No ways!" She screams before Brandon can get a word in. Brandon laughs, asking, "do you even know what kind of car that is?"

"No clue. What is it?"

"A Bentley Continental. Ever been in one? It's insane..."

"No never. Ow-kay Ed-win: go get 'em tiger!" Jasmine shrieks. Brandon giggles. "Can you take me around in it? Pretty please?" Jasmine entreats.

"I guess," Brandon says with a cute eye roll, before he puts on his seatbelt, Jasmine doing the same. Brandon drives past Edwin who's still stationary. Jasmine waves at Edwin excitedly. He seems to ascertain the motive of her excitement and smirks at her picking up his hand. He then beeps and Brandon beeps back. The couple are on their merry way again.