Reverse-Harem Cafe!

XXVI. Return to the Cafe

(Meanwhile at the cafe)

3rd person POV

The bell jingles as Jacob enters the cafe. He quietly walks to the locker room passing, angry glares and murmuring lips. There is so much tension in the cafe; it feels like a bomb is counting down to detonation. He's fully aware of this but knows that he'll have to put up with it all. Even so, he decides to push away the thought of going back.  He knows that choosing Reika was wrong and that he would suffer consequences. But if Mae is safe, it is worth the pain. If he had to play the villain then he would even if it makes his heart ache for some reason. Would Mae hate him too?

Exchanging his snap back for a blank bandana, Jacob makes his way out of the locker room.

From behind the bar, Toby sighs while wiping clean a glass cup. "Jacob can you help Ervin in the storage room?" He asks hoping to break the silence. There's no doubt that he too is displeased with Jacob's decision but 'there must be more to it' he thinks. Jacob usually treats dating like a casual game but he seemed so cold and serious when he confessed to Reika. Did he really love her or was there another motive behind his actions?

"Yeah." Jacob answers and heads towards the back of the kitchen. On his way he passes Ulrich who purposely bumps into Jacob's shoulder as he walks by him.

"You showed up after all." Ulrich hisses, stopping Jacob in his tracks. Jacob looks over his shoulder and sees Ulrich glaring back at him.

"So what? Did I need your permission?" Jacob replies.

"I won't forgive you for what you did."

"For what? For loving who I want?" Jacob's voice is emotionless but his chest feels heavy.

"You can love a lamp post for all I care. I'm talking about just leaving Mae there! She was in danger and you only thought about yourself!" Ulrich clenches his fists, trying to control his anger.

"You wouldn't understand." Jacob ends the conversation and continues to the storage room. Rage builds up inside Ulrich until it's practically overflowing but he grits his teeth and suppresses his emotions.

Ervin looks up and sees Jacob standing in the doorway. "Need help?" Jacob offers.

"Yeah, can you help me carry this crate?" Ervin directs Jacob to the other side of the crate he's holding.

They grunt as they lift the heavy box. Jacob waits to hear Ervin's criticism but Ervin doesn't seem any different than he usually is.

"You don't really love Reika do you?" Ervin questions out of the blue, catching Jacob off guard.

Jacob's eyes widen in surprise. Did Ervin see right through him or..."What the hell are you saying?"

"Well based on the circumstances of the situation, it seems unlikely. The other day you mentioned Reika isn't your type. If you loved her you wouldn't have rejected her in the first place. Therefore you had incentive other than love to confess to Reika." Ervin adjusts his glasses, "Well it's only a hypothesis." Jacob is startled by Ervin's sharp intuition but brushes it off casually.

"Whatever, nerd."

+++++++++++++++++

(The next day)

Mae's POV

"You okay?" Ulrich asks me as he drives us to work. Frost tints the windows, threatening to seep into the warmth of the car. I glance outside. The snow is starting to melt, revealing the landscape trapped under it. Ugh. Hopefully it'll clear up by the end of February.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm over it!" I turn my attention to him and cross my arms triumphantly. There was no way I was going to let some petty little insults get me down.