You've Got Dad ~ Part ...

a continuation from Part 1

Uncle Tan was not satisfied at all. In fact, he grew grumpier with each day that he saw Jake sans Nicole. And he would not fail to make his frustrations known to his son.

"Pa, Nicole and I don't love each other anymore. We tried, ok? It just didn't work out," Jake said wearily for perhaps the thousandth time as he wiped some spillover coffee on the cash counter.

"The heck you don't love each other," Uncle Tan fumed as he waved an empty plastic cup in the air. "I saw how her lips quivered when I mentioned your name the other day."

"Yeah, she was probably trying not to laugh at your attempts of putting us back together."

"No, son. She still loves you, I'm sure of it!"

"Well, if you love her so much, why don't you go and marry her instead?"

Uncle Tan's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets and he placed the cup into the sink with a bang. "Suey chai. I think I know why she jilted you!"

Jake sobered up a little and patted his dad's shoulders awkwardly. At his dad's age, he should be happily retired, instead of slaving away at some StarShots franchise. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that, Pa. Why don't you just give it a rest? I am sure Nicole would be happy with someone else much better than I am."

"What are you talking about? You are a good catch, and I'm not saying that just because I'm your father."

Jake knew better. Nicole had brighter prospects up her sleeves. He could see how her eyes lit up everytime she talked about her male friends who were all very much established in their careers as compared to him, a cashier/waiter at his dad's coffee shop. Jake was no graduate, but he had a good head on his shoulders and a good heart in his chest. Too bad Nicole didn't seem to appreciate it.

"It's ok, dad. I'll survive," he said. And to him, that was the end of the matter. He'll get over Nicole, even if it takes him a million years.

---

Jake was on his way home after class when he decided to just make a round past Nicole's house. For old times' sake, he told himself.

It's been two months since they had last spoken to each other. But he found himself still worried about her. The girl puts in very long hours at work, and he had always been there to give her a ride from the lrt station. He had tried to gruffly suggest that he continue doing that until she gets her Kelissa but the stupidly proud girl declined his offer.

"I don't need your pity!" she told him huffily. "I don't need you!"

Those words would be forever etched in his memory. But it still didn't stop his heart from worrying about the impertinent twit. Sometimes he didn't know who was the bigger fool. She for risking her pretty neck walking home late every night. Or him for still caring for an ex.


"One round, just to make sure she's safe at home," he told himself.

Soon he found himself in front of the house where she lived. He scanned for her room window. It was dark. The dratted woman wasn't back yet. He sat perched on his motorcycle wondering what to do next. Perhaps he should take a look-see at the lrt station. But before he could do so, a pair of bright headlights flooded the street as a car pulled over to a stop in front of the house.

"Jake? Is that you?" Nicole got out of the car as she gaped at the man in front of her house gates.

The driver of the Mercedes got out of the car, too, "You know this guy? Hey, Mister, what are you doing here?"

Jake raised both hands in mock surrender, "Whoa there, buddy. I mean no harm, I'm just here to make sure she got home safe. I'm leaving."

"Really? You could have fooled me, with your stalker-like behaviour," the Mercedes owner said sarcastically.

"Jake's no stalker," Nicole shocked both men, (and herself, too) for speaking up so suddenly. "He's my friend. You can't speak to my friends that way."

The car driver shifted on his heels awkwardly and said, "Errr, I'll best be on my way then. Ciao, babe."

With that, he got into his car and leaving the two ex-es alone.

"I see that you are a fast mover," Jake finally broke the silence.

Nicole held out her hand, "No, no fighting tonite. I'm too tired for that. And just so you know, he's a platonic friend. Nothing else."

Jake stared at her with a disconcerting gaze, "If you say so. You didn't have to tell me that, you know."

She bit her lip and nodded, "Yeah, I didn't have to. Just like you didn't have to come over and make sure that I was ok. That... that was really sweet of you. But I'm a big girl now, and I can take care of myself."

When he didn't look convinced, against all caution, she grasped his hand that was resting on the bike's handle. "Look, you can't be looking out for me all the time. I promise not to take silly risks. I'll make sure I have someone send me home from work if I come back late."

"As long as it's not the bozo with the Mercedes," he said with mock seriousness.

"No, no more bozos," she nodded and grinned impishly back at him. And relunctantly withdrew her hand from his.

"Well, I'd best be off then," Jake said gruffly as he started his bike's engine. "Go on in now."

"Good night," she said and he waited until she was safely in the house before going off into the night.

Both of them said a silent prayer for each other that night. Nicole prayed for Jake to find someone that he can love with all his heart, mind and soul. And Jake that Nicole would find a successful man without a bozo-like attitude.