Thirty // J.G. (sequel)

fifteen.

     J A C K     

"I think this is right for us."

How exactly are you meant to get on with the girl you once had everything with? Was there a right way to do things? Are there certain limits to avoid?

We had both moved on, and even though we were both happy, Marley seemed to be a whole world away now. Of course, I could do nothing but support her, yet for a reason unbeknownst to me, I felt like something was missing. Like there's supposed to be more somehow. Surely I couldn't be having possible feelings towards Marley. It was just the shock and nostalgia of being in each other lives again, I kept telling myself.

So what was the proper way of dealing with said confusion? Go on a date, which is exactly what I was getting ready to do now.

"What is this, like, your third date? Getting serious, eh?" Johnson hounded me while I stood in the mirror.

"Nah, it's not like that yet." I insisted. "I think she just likes going out and doing shit together."

"Are you hearing yourself right now, bro? That's literally what couples do."

He did have a point, though I still didn't see the situation that way. It was more of a casual fling than anything, and I didn't have much expectations when it came to our supposed future.

"Well maybe she sees it that way, but I'm not serious about her." I stressed with an indifferent shrug. I then turned to face Johnson, showing off my outfit before continuing my campaign. "What's the rush to settle down anyway?"

Johnson studied me for a long moment, skeptical eyes navigating up and down my appearance, then realization slowly clouded on his face. "Bro." He summoned. "Is there something you need to tell me? 'Cause, you know, I'll find out sooner or later, but sooner is the easier way."

"What do you mean? I don't have shit to tell."

"Really? Nothing? Not even a short story about a gorgeous little thing that starts with an M and ends with you're still tripping over her?" Johnson put me in the spotlight, a teasing grin protruding on his lips.

"Get outta here, man." I took it as a joke like the idea was so far-fetched I couldn't believe it. "We're just friends now. That's it. Besides, would I be going on a date right now if I still wanted to be with Marley?"

"Hey, you said it yourself. You're not serious about dating this girl. Marley, on the other hand—"

"— is taken. Literally, getting married. So enough of that shit." I pushed it away with a dismissive shake of my head. Johnson put his hands up in surrender, and that was the end of that.

After the hell of a journey my relationship with Marley has gone through, I wasn't very keen on shaking things up so early in the reunion. At the very least, I wanted things to go naturally and as slow as they wanted. If I allowed such hopeful thoughts to cloud my judgment, who knows how disastrous we could end this time?

* * * *

"So... This was our third date." Gloria, the bright-eyed brunette sitting across from me now, pointed out with a suggestive smile. "I've been meaning to ask you something actually."

I kept a light grin, brows slightly raised with curiosity, although I knew fairly well that this was going to be the exact subject I had discussed with Johnson earlier. "I'll answer anything, you know me."

"Of course. You've never been shy about telling it how it is." She observed with an amused scoff. "Which is why I wanna ask.. I guess, where do you see this going?"