n

n

nJeremy, overwhelmed by his emotions and the immense high given by her feminine scent wafting into his senses, got closer to her. His arms gently lifted her close to him and his lips wanted to unite with hers.

n

"No,

" she said and her eyes widened.

nThe next thing he felt was her cold fingertips on his lips and even that coldness gave him an odd warmth all over her body. But he knew she is resisting and he decided not to go through with his desires.

nBut before he lowered her down, she jumped from his embrace and within seconds she ran up the stairs and got inside her room. He heard the sound of the door locking and an odd feeling of loneliness washed up in his heart.

n

"That girl is really fast, isn't she? Like a squirrel... Bobby was right to give her that nickname.

"

nJeremy sighed hearing that familiar voice.

n

"Mark! What brings you here?

" He got down from the stairs.

n

"You should start locking your doors, Jerry,

" Mark poured himself the rum he helped himself.

n

"The tigers are very quiet after their leader's lady died. There are rumors of a baby left behind,

" Mark started to gossip, but Jeremy was not in a great mood to listen.

n

"I see you've changed your mind about letting her go,

" Mark came to the topic he wanted to talk about. He wanted Jeremy to be together with Jerlina since their backgrounds will help eliminate the scums in this area.

n

"No! What made you think that?

" Jeremy started eating the roasted cashews in the bowl.

nMark shook his head in disbelief. Who was teasing and trying to kiss that girl sometime before?

n

"Don't give up. You still have a chance. A big one, actually,

" Mark said patting Jeremy's back.

nJeremy looked with utter disbelief but then he too wanted to believe he had a chance.

n

"You've met her father, right? I've never seen him speak loudly or using a cuss word. He was always respectable with everyone. You know. He was courteous towards you even though you were shouting,

" Mark said and Jeremy took in a deep breath.

n

"Patrick doesn't raise his voice either. She had a different bearing and it was not easy for her to accept that loud people are good people too. Once she starts losing that prejudice, it won't be hard for-

"

n

"She's not prejudiced. She misunderstood. There is a difference...

" Jeremy interjected him.

nMark saw Jeremy unwilling to talk bad about her and knew he didn't have to convince him a lot to not give up that girl.

n-----

nJerlina leaned on the door and she patted her chest that was fluttering. She was scared to jump down, but she did it anyway and she ran as fast as she can. All because...

nWhat was that about?

nShe started at her hand that was still tickly after touching his prickly facial hair. But contrarily his lips were very soft.

nUh! What am I thinking!

nShe took a bath and went to bed. Lately, she's been sleeping well and that night was no different.

nIn the morning, she heard the usual noises from the shed and she was curious as to what he does in that shed. So after taking care of her planter, she went to take a look at the garden she was making. The planters have arrived, although Uncle Pat was curious why she wanted the exact same planters.

nDaisy was preparing with the help of Bobby to move some bushes to the house and everything was going well as she planned. Well, her actual plan was to have an escape plan available, but Jerlina didn't think that she needs that anymore. She believed Jeremy will let her go when everything is over.

nNow she wanted to have a garden as a hobby. She found that gardening can be therapeutic. It distracts her from the idle thoughts that always leaned pessimistically and gives her some sense of achievement when she sees the plant she takes care of is flourishing.

nShe went to the shed and was surprised to see it was bigger than she anticipated. There were all kinds of tools fixed on the walls and there were some machines she didn't know the name of. The entire place was filled with sawdust and Jeremy was squatting on the floor, with a cigar in his mouth.

nDidn't know he smoked!

nHe was filing a piece of wood and the movements of his hands were so smooth. He was concentrating solely on his work and she could see little by little the piece of wood taking shape to an armrest.

nJerlina liked watching things getting created. That's why she loved going to her company at times and will watch the glassware being made. Most of the amazing things she had seen, came out of the skillful work of talented people from seemingly simple things.

nPlus, she had a thing for men who create things with their hands.

n

"Have you admired me enough, Missy?

" Jeremy asked looking at her with the cigar still in his mouth.

n

"Yeah,

" she didn't refuse.

"You're good at this...What are you making?

" she asked.

n

"A swing chair for your balcony,

" he replied and got on with his work.

n

"I don't need a swing chair,

" she tried to get closer and he pointed at the safety goggles hanging at the side.

nEh, he's not wearing one. Why should I?

nShe thought, but she wore it anyway and got closer. He pulled a small stool for her to sit but she waved her hand and looked around.

nJeremy with a smile carried on with his work. Ever since he saw her on the floor of the balcony, he decided to make a chair for her. If she feels like it, she can spend time with that planter sitting on the chair and not on the floor.

nHe decided to build some birdhouses so that she can have a better mood watching the little birds and hearing their happy chirps. There are only a few things he can do to make her happy and he will surely do them for her.

nJerlina saw a lot of pictures of Jeremy with a lot of people and she identified Bobby and Scarlett being among them. They looked very young as they were in their early teens. And there was another boy with them. Those four were in a lot of pictures together.

n

"It seems like Bobby and Scar were with you for a long time...And who is this other guy? He's with-

"

n

"That's Dave,

" Jeremy said and Jerlina noticed his eyes getting sad as he took a drag from the stub.

n

"Oh?

" Jerlina didn't want to ask more since he looked forlorn. She assumed he had lost his friend.

nAmong the pile of photographs on the worktable, Jerlina's eyes fixed on one of the photographs. A handsome young man with a goatee beard was smiling softly with a little husky puppy in his hand. Jerlina's eyes fixed on that face as she picked the photograph.

nThat's him, alright... that's the one I was with...

nHer heart fluttered again.

n