JUST AS Jason said he came early the next day to help her with everything she was going to do with baking.
"Jenny, is Jason courting you?" her mother asked as they were in the kitchen setting the table for breakfast.
Jenny sighed at that question and then finally finished brewing their coffee. She laid the three cups on the table and then turned to her mother to answer her question.
"He told me, Mama, when we were in Baguio," she would tell the truth.
Rowena nodded at her answer. "Why don't you seem happy? Isn't Jason your first love?" her mother asked again as she laid a platter of smoky fried rice on the table.
"Because I'm not ready yet Ma," that's really the truth so that's what she said.
She doesn't keep secrets from her mother, she says everything to her except for two things. What was the real reason for Jason and her separation then and about how many times she allowed to do that with him then and recently.
"Is that so? Anyway, what Ryan did to you was not simple. But by the grace of God, he hasn't come back since I drove him away," said her mother who could barely hear the anger in her voice. "Oh hey, call Jason while this food is still hot. Oh, he'll definitely like this Daing Bangus you prepared for him," her mother repeated.
In Jenny's heart, she couldn't help but smile because of what her mother had said. She knew Rowena didn't mean anything there but to her, there was a memory that returned with what she had said which was the reason why she couldn't stop smiling.
"Wow, I like what I see on the table," Jason immediately exclaimed as he stared at the Fried Daing na Bangus that was served on the table.
Jenny laughed softly there and never spoke again. Soon they were happily sharing that breakfast.
"Nothing has changed, it's still delicious," Jason said after tasting the Daing na Bangus on his plate then looked at her with a smile.
As Jenny stared into the young man's eyes, the young lady couldn't help but smile as her heart was caressed with indescribable happiness. But in the end, she also couldn't stop the other possible meaning from what Jason said, which caused her whole face to heat up quickly. And since she did not want the man and her mother to notice that, she decided to bow her head and continue eating.
After eating Jenny just took a quick shower. And then together she and Jason left and went to go to the studio-type apartment she was renting and she made a kitchen where she baked orders.
"It's good, it's not that big and it's not crowded and it has proper ventilation," when she welcomed the young man inside her shop.
"That's why I liked it, because of everything you said. But most of all, the rent isn't expensive so I can save more," she replied as she laid the things on her working desk in her small office.
"Sit down first, you don't have anything to do, I'll just tell you," she said to Jason who saw him smiling watching her.
The man nodded at what she said.
"You know, Mama and I used to think of setting up a coffee shop in Baguio so that our guests wouldn't have to go far in case they want to have coffee?" started the young man after a while.
It was then that Jenny turned to him as she was busy fixing her hair which she eventually fitted with a hairnet.
"That's good so that they will not end up like me when I spill my coffee because I bumped into this man who was so busy on his cell phone," she said, unable to stop laughing weakly when she remembered the scene when she and Jason were when they met again.
Jenny saw Jason's eyes gleam because of what she said. And that's when she seemed to want to regret why she was even able to say that and remind the man.
Therefore, to avoid any strange atmosphere that is now forming inside the shop, Jenny chose to avert her eyes from him. She didn't want something to happen because she has a job to finish.
"Do you think it's a good idea if you just put a coffee shop there? Isn't that your dream?" instead she heard Jason answer her so she turned to the young man again.
"What did you say?" Jenny asked in a tone of disbelief.
Then Jason stood up then stepped closer to her.
At that point, her chest began to throb abnormally and that was not new to her. But just saying it’s not new doesn’t mean he’s immune. Because no matter how many times something happens to them, the discomfort will remain in her body which always becomes active every time he approaches her.
"I was telling you, just in case, would you just want to put a coffee shop there? Isn't that your dream?" then Jason gently caressed her cheek as his eyes remained staring at her in such a way that he seemed to absorb all the strength she had.
"It's good, it's just that right now I don't have the money for that," she said, preferring to keep the distance between the two of them to avoid temptation.
"There's no problem with money if that's what you're worried about," Jason replied still standing where she left him but she felt his sight still follow her.
“It’s hard what you want to happen," Jenny replied.
"It's not difficult. I'll take care of everything, the construction of the shop and all the expenses," Jason said.
When the young man said that, Jenny stared at him again. "Are you serious?" at this point, Jenny could no longer contain the intense excitement that welled up in her voice.
Then the young man smiled broadly and then nodded one after another. Then he stepped closer to her and closed her face with both of his hands.
"I believe it's not too late for us, and I want to start by fulfilling your dreams," the young man said passionately then bowed to her and kissed her forehead.
"Don't worry, I'll think about it," she replied with a smile.
That's when Jason clicks his tongue. "Don't think about it, just agree because after that we will start to dream more dreams again, and this time, I will assure you that I will do everything to make all of those come true as the two of us together," the young man continued.
Jenny's smile widened as Jason's words pierced deep into her heart.
She liked what he said.
She wants to dream a lot of new and beautiful dreams with Jason.
And most of all, she also liked what he said, that this time he would do everything to make them able to fulfill those dreams, together.