Friends

Chapter 34

A/N: Chapters 35-59 are on Patreon along with other exclusive content if you want to check those out!

Marcqwuan's POV:

I can't believe this is happening. Why is this happening? Maria is clearly stirring the pot, playing some kind of game that I didn't sign up for, and Jasmine—Jasmine looks like she's caught in the middle of a tornado, trying to decide if she wants to be mad at me or mad at her. I can practically feel the tension in the air, thick enough to cut through with a knife.

I did not plan for this tonight. I thought we were supposed to be enjoying dinner, getting to know each other better. Instead, it's like we're stuck in some bad reality TV show, and I'm the idiot who didn't see the cameras.

I glance between Maria and Jasmine, watching them—no, feeling them. Maria is smirking, clearly enjoying the discomfort she's causing. She's playing this with such ease, like she's done it a hundred times before. And Jasmine... Jasmine, she looks like she's about to either burst into flames or break down entirely. It's like she's trying to hold everything in, and I know it's not going to end well if I don't do something soon.

But what am I supposed to do here? I can't exactly tell Maria to back off without making it worse. That would just make me look like I'm choosing sides. But at the same time, I can't let Jasmine sit here feeling like she's being ignored, or worse, like she's not a priority.

How did I get myself into this?

I try to breathe—deep breaths, Marc. Calm down. You need to focus. But it's not working. Every second feels like I'm just digging myself deeper into this hole. Why does this feel so much harder than it should be?

I feel my palms starting to sweat. God, I hope they don't notice. But then again, I notice. I'm so damn aware of everything—the tension in the air, the way Jasmine's looking at me, the way Maria's lingering just a little too long, smirking like she's won.

I'm stuck. No matter what I do, I feel like I'm losing ground on both fronts. If I focus on Jasmine, Maria will keep pushing. If I focus on Maria, I risk losing Jasmine entirely.

And Jasmine... Jasmine is so important to me. This should be simple—just two people on a date, enjoying each other's company. But with Maria's shadow hanging over us, it's like everything has been thrown into question.

I glance across the table, and there's Jasmine—her gaze fixed on the table, her lips pressed together like she's fighting something inside her head. The weight of the moment feels heavier by the second. Maria is still standing there, throwing passive-aggressive comments with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Honestly, I can't decide either. I feel like I'm stuck between two people, both of them pulling me in different directions.

"Maria, stop," I say softly, my voice steady but firm. I make eye contact with her, hoping the message is clear. I'm trying to avoid being confrontational, but I need her to get the point. "We can talk and catch up later. I know what you're doing. I'm on a date. You're being rude."

She smiles like she's trying to act innocent, but she doesn't stop. Of course, she doesn't.

"Give us a few minutes. Let Jasmine figure out what she wants to eat," I add, trying to keep my tone as calm as I can. The pressure is building, but I can't let it show.

"Of course, babe," Maria says walking away from out table, and it hits me more than I expect. Hearing her say that word again stirs up a weird mix of nostalgia and confusion. Why am I only seeing her now? Why didn't she tell me she was back in town? These questions are there, but I can't deal with them right now. Not with Jasmine sitting across from me, so completely withdrawn.

I've noticed before that when Jasmine feels uncomfortable, she lashes out, says something mean, but this feels different. She's not reacting the way I expected—there's no outburst or heated words. She's completely silent, staring down at the table like it's the most important thing in the world. My stomach tightens, a heavy knot forming. I thought I knew what I was doing tonight, but now I'm completely lost.

"Jasmine?" I say gently, but she doesn't respond. I try again, firmer this time. "Jasmine?"

Still nothing. It's like she's not even in the room with me.

I have to get her out of her head. This silence is unbearable, and Maria's passive presence isn't helping. Maybe I shouldn't have told her about Maria. Maybe I shouldn't have brought any of this up, but now it's too late. The air feels thick, and the weight between us keeps getting heavier.

I slide my appetizer toward her, hoping the small gesture will grab her attention. When that doesn't work, I shift, standing up and going to her side of the booth to sit down next to her. I put my left arm around her waist and put my right hand on her lap where her hands are, trying to close the distance between us, hoping the gesture will help.

"Jasmine, I'm here for you," I say softly, trying to make my voice sound as steady as I can. "When you're ready to talk, we can, but please, if you care about me, it would be nice if we could do that before my honey croissant appetizer gets cold."

I'm trying to lighten the mood, but it's a shot in the dark. I don't know if it's what she needs or if it will even make a difference.

I catch the tightness around her lips, like she's trying to hold back a smile. And for a moment, I feel a flicker of hope—like we might just be able to find some kind of normal in this mess.

"You're impossible," she says, her voice soft, a playful edge creeping in despite herself.

That small comment is a relief. It's the first sign of life I've seen from her since all this started. It's like a little crack in the ice, just enough for me to breathe again.

But the tension doesn't fully go away. Maria is still lingering, still adding to the uncertainty. I can't shake the feeling that I'm juggling too many things at once. There's still something between Jasmine and me, and it feels like I'm one wrong move away from everything falling apart. But I think I might have a solution.