Chapter 2 : The Bet

Jacob is supposed to be spending his Saturday at home. He usually goes to work from Monday till Friday. However, since his labor men work until Saturdays, there are some cases where he will be called to the worksite. Apparently, today is one of those days. He’s been dreaming for these two whole weekends when he planned to just sleep, watch tv, eat, then watch tv, sleep some more and eat and sleep again. Basically, he planned on doing nothing and just being lazy for two whole days. The past two months have been so hectic with work, projects, and turnovers one after another. Moreover, he was forced to file for a  leave of absence from work, not to rest or go on vacation, but to find a house near his work, and move. Nevermind! Work is work. He just has to plan a schedule for another leave of absence in the coming weeks, so he can get a good rest.

He was giving instructions regarding the collection of the rent to his roommate, Kevin when he felt a pair of eyes fixated on him. As a natural response, he turned to look at the owner of the gaze and found a bent-up woman looking at him shockingly. Why does she look so shocked? Is there something wrong? He thought of smiling at her, and maybe, asking her what’s wrong, but the woman quickly turned to look away. She even entered the other door hurriedly, so all he saw was her back. He didn’t really see her face, but he was able to catch the sight of her striking red lips. It was so obvious as her skin is really fair. Unfortunately, they may have met on a bad scene. This woman might have a chip on her shoulder. He smilingly shook his head at the thought, while on his way to work.

Today’s work is pretty chill. He just spoke with the owner of the house their team is renovating, while touring them. However, he stayed the whole day at the site as per the request of the client, since the financier of the renovation works overseas, and it’s the only time she can spare in checking the house. Nevertheless, at least he doesn’t have to stay past his working hours. 

After work, he stopped by the nearest grocery store to buy the ingredients for his dinner. He bought his favorite pork leg which he plans to roast, and a couple of dark beers to partner the meat. 

By the time he reached home, he saw a pair of a woman’s slippers outside the door. Wondering who it could be, he continued walking to the door and opened it. Shocked but mesmerized; shocked that the visitor seems to be the girl who snubbed him this morning, mesmerized that he never thought she’ll have such good features in that small face. She has perfectly arched eyebrows, which somehow complements her hairline, pointed cheeks which are still obvious even without smiling, really nice fair skin, and the feature that struck him the most is her deep red lips.

The surrounding seemed to move slowly as he was bewitched by this woman’s beauty. He was called back to earth when he heard Kevin called him out and tried to introduce him to her. 

“Bro, she’s Ate Esther’s cousin, she came to collect the rent”, Kevin summarized.

“Sorry, I was not able to get your name, you are?” he turned to her while reaching out his hand to her awkwardly.

She saw the woman looking at Kevin’s face, down to his hand blankly. The thing is, she never even bothered to accept his hand. Oh, man! That was awkward. He doesn’t have the slightest idea how to react to the situation. 

Good thing, Kevin has one of the thickest skin he’s known. This guy doesn’t seem to feel any embarrassment. He could just brush the cold treatment off as if nothing happened. Jacob’s pretty thick-skinned too, himself. He can just laugh off embarrassment. But he finds it hard to accept rejection. He finds it humiliating when some people are blatantly rejecting others in front of other people. Besides, out of all the women, they’ve met, Kevin seemed gentle in approaching her. 

What did they do to this woman? Did they unknowingly offend her or something? First, she frowned at him this morning, when she’s the one staring at him in the first place. Now, she didn’t accept Kevin’s hand when he was trying to shake her hand, although she said her name, at least, but still. She seemed to be really hostile towards them. She never even bothered to look up to him, when they were being introduced. Yes, she looked at Kevin when he talked, but it’s a look of disgust. What the hell happened before he arrived?

Slightly scratching his head, he wondered how many times she had to count the money until the woman suddenly forcefully excused her way out of the room. That’s when she looked up to him for one second and continued her way. And that’s also when he realized how small she is. With his 6 feet height, she just stands below his armpit. How cute is that?

Both Jacob and Kevin instinctively looked at each other’s eyes in a silent search of an explanation. Both chuckled at the same time and shook their heads in answer. Both oblivious to what has transpired, both head on to each of their respective rooms.

Jacob decided to rest on his bed for a while after changing into a T-shirt and short pants. He fell asleep after scrolling onto his phone and woke up thirty minutes after.

Kevin seems to be doing something with his laptop, on the couch, when Jacob stepped out of his room. He then proceeded to the kitchen and started working on his roasted pork legs. While in the middle of cooking, someone knocked on their door. Since the kitchen is nearer to the door, he decided to take it.

“I’ll get it”, he told Kevin who attempted to stand up to get the door, but apparently went back to his previous position upon hearing what he said.

Jenny showed up by the door when he opened it. He doesn’t seem to know how it happened, since she has an entirely different taste from him and Kevin, but she’s been friends with them since her college days. On her hand is a food container covered with foil.

“I made lasagna!”, she held up while presenting the food container to his face.

“Thanks! Right time for dinner”, he replied to her while accepting the food container and went back to the kitchen. 

Jenny on the other hand proceeded to the living room and chatted with Kevin. 

He scooped some lasagna onto a plate and ate while cooking his roasted pork.

Jacob can barely hear what they’re talking about, well, he’s busy eating and cooking anyways. Although there are times when he can hear both of them laugh so loud. These two are really touchy and flirty to each other. Looks like Kevin is showing her something from his phone as their heads are almost glued together. She also doesn’t seem to care when touching Kevin’s shoulders. She does the same thing to him too, at times. She’s like the opposite of the other woman from today. 

Jenny yanked Kevin’s hair as she stood up, laughingly in protest to Kevin’s joke perhaps, and bid her farewell speech.

“Ok, I have to go, you guys! I’ll check with my girlfriends if they’re cool with blind dates first Kevin, before giving you their numbers”, she told Kevin while walking on her way to the door. Kevin responded with a boastful laugh and that’s it. She then timidly looked at Jacob, clipped her hair to her ears, and said goodbye to him.

“You liked the lasagna huh? Make sure to leave some for Kevin.”

“I’ll leave him one spoonful if he doesn’t get his share”, he smirkingly replied to her while giving her a thumbs up, to show his approval of the taste.

“Hahaha! Silly! Let’s hang outside sometimes! See you!”, and then, she left.

Perfect timing that he’s half full and the roasted pork is finished. He decided to eat and drink in the living room so he could watch the replay of the San Miguel Beer team and Ginebra team championship which was held this afternoon. 

Kevin stopped working on his laptop and joined him with his so-called “chilling”, where they watch sports, drink beer, and eat.

“Too bad it’s a replay. I would bet for Ginebra, look at their lineup, man!”, Kevin excitedly muttered.

“Hahaha! Who cares about that? San Miguel Beer’s teamwork is great! I’ll bet on them”.

“Are there any more lasagna?” Kevin asked while rubbing his stomach.

“I forgot, I haven’t eaten, and yet I’m drinking”, he continued while walking his way to the countertop.

“Yeah! I left some on the countertop. I thought you had dinner man?”

“No, I just finished working on my design before Jenny arrived. Thank you!”, he teasingly said to him, making it obvious that he’s thanking him, not the Jenny who gave them the food.

“Shut up, man!”, annoyed, he replied, as he knows he’s trying to tease him with the poor lady.

“What? Why? Hahaha! It’s all thanks to you, she always remembers to give us delicious food. Told you, man, you just got to give her a chance”, Kevin provokingly said, before munching in a spoonful of lasagna.

“Come on! It’s not like that. It’s just you, and your malice. Because I swear, I’ve never felt it from her before, and I’m not feeling it until now”.

“Can’t you see? The way she looks at you! Hahaha!”

“...”

“Oh please? Can’t you really see it? I saw her many times, the way she looks at you, she looks… she looks…”, Kevin paused while trying to find the right word to say next, “smitten. Hahahaha!”, he continued.

“Hahahaha!”Jacob laughed at how Kevin described Jenny’s look to him. 

“But she’s more flirty and touchy with you. I bet you’re the one who doesn’t see it since she’s always locking arms with you every time she’s with us, and she talks to you a lot more..” he continued.

“That’s because if I don’t, you won't talk to her. You really don’t talk much, and I feel like she’ll feel awkward, you don’t even look at her that much, for Pete’s sake!” Kevin told him before throwing the pillow to him.

Defeated, Jacob just shrugged off his shoulder. He thinks he’s funny too. When he’s in the mood, and with the right people, every word he says sounds like punchlines. 

He doesn’t really talk that much unless necessary. Kevin is funny and talkative. He’s funny but quiet. Between him and Kevin, he’s the more serious one. Maybe it’s because of the fact that he has lots of younger siblings, and their father died while they were still young. He started working when he was ten years old, as a helper for his uncle who’s a foreman. At eleven, he taught himself some carpentry. He was able to handle and operate a welding machine, and weld steel by the time he reached fifteen years old. Growing up, being the seventh child, he bore on his mind that he has to be responsible, and help his mom and older siblings in taking care of the younger ones. Fortunately for their family, their sister was able to land a job overseas and help support him, and he was able to finish architecture.

“By the way, what can you say about Ate Esther’s cousin? Very pretty but scary, huh?” Kevin jokingly said. He’s still not finished talking about women.

“Yeah, man! I saw her this morning, very beautiful, but she seems snobbish?”

“If she could be more approachable, what a waste?” Kevin ruefully said.

“What? I think she’s my type, actually. Wonder what she looks like when she smiles genuinely.”

“I bet, that’s going to be hard, man!”

“I’d bet, I can do that”, he replied while looking at Kevin in the corner of his eye.

Not intentional, but he’s really very curious about this girl. He just can’t forget about her lips. Wondering, how would it taste to kiss those lips? Can’t imagine how those smooth skin would feel on his hands.

Jacob doesn’t really mean to say that he’d bet. Kevin on the other hand was quick to hear what he said and challenged him even more.

“Oh yeah? I’ll buy you the latest PlayStation PS5, give it say, three months? Is that enough? If you’re not able to, you buy it, sounds good?”Kevin laid out all the bets. All that’s left for him is to nod and agree or disagree.

Geez! It’s wrong to bet on people. Playstation would be very nice. He’s so thrilled about this bet, but not because of the fact that he’ll get a PlayStation in three months, but with the forthcoming relationship, he could have with the girl. At least now, he’s an excuse to really up his game and make the move to get close to her.