Ungullible

Chapter 12: ENDEARMENT, APPEAL AND RESPECT (JASON'S POV)

After the day I visited her, I found myself longing to approach Novia , to apologize for anything I might have said that upset her. But she kept her distance from me, and it stung more than I expected. I noticed that she wasn't talking to her friend Abbie either, which made me realize that I had unintentionally caused a rift between them. The weight of that realization sat heavily on my chest, and I couldn't get her out of my mind. The thought of what I had done made it difficult to focus on anything else.

Eventually, I decided to speak to Abbie again, to offer an apology for my part in what had happened. I wanted to make things right or at least try. Abbie was cool about it, reassuring me that she would come around in time. This moment marked a shift in our own relationship, making us more open and understanding with each other. 

Abbie often asked me why I was so interested in Novia , and I could see the curiosity in her eyes as she waited for my answer. She smiled each time I spoke, though I could tell she had her own thoughts on the situation. She wanted to help too, but I felt it was important to take things slow, to allow Novia the space to open up again; whether to me or to anyone else.

Then, one day, Abbie texted me with a message that made my heart skip a beat, Novia had reached out to her. It made both our days. Abbie was eager to meet with her, and I felt the same. We agreed to take things at a snail pace to give Novia the time and space to speak freely, and only then would we determine whether we could move forward, or if we needed to give her more time.

That day led to a conversation between Novia and me, and, in some ways, it marked the beginning of a new friendship between us. But deep down, I knew that was not all I wanted. I had known for some time why I was so drawn to Novia, why her matters consumed my thoughts, but I was scared to admit it, even to myself. I pushed the thought away, not wanting to ruin a friendship that had only just begun to bloom. It felt safer to hold onto the idea of being just friends, even if my heart whispered something else entirely.

We were about to set off on the trip Abbie had suggested, a brilliant idea to escape for a few days and embrace the joy of freedom, even if just for a short while. The plan was to meet at the church so we could group up before heading out. I had brought my cousins; Jeremy, Jessica, and my nephew, Seth. Jeremy hadn't hesitated when I asked if he wanted to tag along. He'd gladly brought his twin sister, Jessica, and her little boy, Seth. It felt good seeing my nephew, who had once been just a baby, now walking around as a curious toddler, full of life.

We stood waiting outside the church when Abbie arrived, accompanied by her friends Mabel and Victor. After introducing ourselves and exchanging some friendly greetings, we waited for the last member of our group, Novia, to arrive before we could set off.

It wasn't long before she pulled up, stepping out of her car and waving a cheerful goodbye to an elderly lady. With a confident yet warm stride, she made her way toward us. She was dressed in high-waisted skinny jeans paired with a stylish blouse, effortlessly casual in a pair of canvas sneakers and carrying a simple yet chic tote bag.

"Hi, guys!" she greeted us softly, her smile radiant as she made her way over. She exchanged pleasantries with those she hadn't seen before, her warmth making it easy to feel instantly at ease.

"Hey Jason" She said

"Hi furball" I replied.

She then stood next to me, her smile lingering as her gaze shifted to Abbie. 

"Finally, you arrived," she said, placing her hands on her hips with a playful tone, her voice light but carrying a hint of mischief.

Her presence brought an effortless energy to the group, and the anticipation of the journey ahead felt even more exciting with her here.