30 Days Marrying You

chapter 25

After Xavier was gone, Jessica sank down on the sofa and cupped her face with her hands. She thought about running after Xavier , trying to catch him. But what would she say? What could she possibly say? You are so stupid, he'd said to her. Can't you see it?

She thought of hundreds things he'd said or done, his serious face when he warned her not to get close to Daniel . She was right. That was jealousy. She remembered what Xavier told her some time ago. You know nothing, Jess . Nothing at all. She had stopped to wonder what he was talking about, but now she knew.

Xavier's face as he left crossed her mind again. He was upset, tired and disappointed. She had never seen his face like that, and she never wanted to again. Perhaps, this is love. She thought. But that, she knew, was a lie.
If it was love, she would have been happy when he confessed earlier and not just sitting around like this, feeling miserable and exhausted.
All she knew and was sure of, she had to apologize to him. Apologize for she hadn't realized his feeling all this time.

When she finally lifted her head, Jessica saw the coat that Xavier left on the sofa. She picked it up and cradled it to her chest, craving the lingering feel and smell of Xavier .
She waited and waited for Xavier .
But that night, he didn't come back at all. And that night, Jessica slept in the sofa in the living room, waiting for him in vain.

She was woken by a musical voice calling her name softly. "Jessica ."

Jessica opened her eyes slowly. They felt gluey, stuck together. She vaguely saw a figure of man standing in front of her but her brain failed to register who it was.
She sat up quickly, expecting to see Xavier .

"Xavier !" She exclaimed.

"Actually, it's just me." She was wrong. It was Daniel .
"Although I've been told the resemblance is startling. You know, we are cousins after all." Daniel said. He waved his hands in front of her face. "You ready?"

Jessica blinked. It took her a moment for her brain to process what he was saying. Something flashed in her mind. Right, Disneyland.

"Well, I guess you are not. Seeing as you are still wearing yesterday's dress." Daniel looked down, examining her clothes as he spoke.

True enough. She was still wearing the floor-length white gown. "Yeah, sorry." Jessica sent him an apologetic smile.

"That's okay." He smiled, bright as sunshine after rain.
"By the way, why are you sleeping here?"

She hesitated. Though Daniel already knew everything about their marriage, Jessica doubted the confession last night was the conversation she particularly wanted to have with Daniel now, or, in fact, ever.

"I must have fallen asleep while watching the TV." She said lamely. She wondered if Daniel bought the poor excuse and she could only sigh in relief when he didn't ask further.

"Where is Xavier ? Is he at work?"

Her eyes dropped down at the question. That was what she wanted to know too.
She realized she was still hugging Xavier' coat.
"Maybe." That was the only reply she could think of.

"I see." He looked like he wanted to ask more but stopped himself when Jessica raised her head and looked at him.

"So, I guess we have to cancel the trip to Disneyland." She smiled apologetically.

There was a silent for a moment before Daniel spoke. "I can wait while you get ready."

Jessica wanted to protest, telling him not to wait because she couldn't go after all.
But, as she looked into his stubborn eyes, she changed her mind. "Then, you have to wait for a while." She agreed in the end.

Disneyland was like she had always remembered. Coloured lights shined through the whole place, turning it into a
multi-coloured fairyland of blues, hot golds and acid greens. It was like a carnival was going on inside the indoor portion.

(A/N : I've never gone to Disney so I don't actually know how it looks )

"So," Daniel said, "awesome rides, right?"

Jessica didn't reply. She was still feeling dizzy from riding the Giant Loop just now. The 360 degree spins of the roller coaster ride really made her feel like flipping in the air.

"I, for one," Daniel went on, "am enjoying myself immensely."

Jessica stared at Daniel in disbelief. The thought of Daniel liking thrilled rides never struck her mind.
So far, she had tagged along with him at the Magic Island riding the Swing Tree and Bungee.
He looked less of someone who loved adventure and more like someone who would get starry eyes for Disneyland.

She only smiled faintly, resisting the urge to puke remembering all the rides she'd gotten on since she arrived at Disneyland.

"Are you feeling okay?" He asked when he saw Jessica touching her forehead.

"Just a bit dizzy," she admitted.

"Well, I guess that's that. Let's go home," Daniel said. "Oh, but can we make a stop somewhere?"

"Sure," Jessica said. "Anyway, how do you endure all the rides?" She asked as they exited the building and walked to the parking lot.

Daniel grinned all over his face. "Well, the truth is I have a supernatural power. Because I am an alien.
Sorry for not telling you all this time," he said confidingly.

Jessica gasped. "That's it! I knew it! I have a feeling this story is a science fiction story."

Her reply earned a chuckle from the cute guy. "Oh? You believe it?"

"So, it is a lie?" She asked, trying not to sound like a deflated party balloon. There went her fantasy.

"Of course." Daniel was still laughing while Jessica could only pout. He thought her response was too gullible.
And cute. His heart started to beat crazily. A beat that was different from riding all those scary rides. He already lost count how many times his heart thumped for that same girl.

"So, where are we going?" Jessica asked when they were inside the car.

Daniel snapped from his reverie. He smiled mysteriously. "Just wait and see."