Blast From The Past

5. ENGAGED

A week passed and everything has been going smoothly. After the last threat they sent to Mia and Jason, no more threats came again. Nothing happened at all. Even Jason and Mia have been sleeping on the matter, trying to stay focused on Rick’s situation and his physical therapy.

“Why do you have to leave, today?” Mia complained as she hugged Jane goodbye while Damon was loading their luggage in the car.

“We have loads of s**t medicine studies that we have to go back to,” Jane said with a sad smile as they backed away from the hug. “A week was more than enough for us.”

“But it was the best week ever we had in years.” Mia pouted, not liking the idea of her friends departing ways with her again.

“Indeed it was.” Damon agreed as he came to hug Mia as well.

This past week they have been all spending it together, all of them! Included Rick whose spirit was missed in the group. In that past week every struggle, secret, lie, and argument was forgotten. It was just them friends having fun together while catching up.

“Will miss you, guys.” Jason emerged out of the mansion greeting both of them.

“Same, man,” Damon replied then they both were in their car and hitting the road back to the cruel reality.

“Something isn’t right with the” Mia mumbled as she rested her head on Jason’s chest while they watching the car speeding away.

“What do you mean?” Jason rested his chin on the top of her heard, circling his muscled arms around her.

“They are hiding something,…” she paused a little. “They seem as they are struggling.” The look in their eyes that they held made something in the bit of her stomach to flip. Especially that they were mostly avoiding making eye contact with her.

“Maybe,…” Jason muttered. “Also, maybe you are just being paranoid as you haven’t seen them in a while. You are concerned about them and that’s normal.” He shrugged and Mia nodded processing his words.

“Maybe…” something is off and she felt it. Her gut senses something fishy and Boss always told her to trust her gut feeling. So, she will get to the bottom of it.

^^^

“I am so done with this shit.” Rick huffed as he was sitting on the hospital bed with Jason beside him trying to shave his beard. Well, not completely shave it but lessen the damage because he looks like a damn terrorist with that bushy beard. “Every single muscle in my body hurts. These people are killing me.”

“Don’t move!” Jason hissed. Rick was like a damn kid who couldn’t stay put for a whole two minutes.

“Well, it should be. they are helping you to get better and be able to effortlessly move as before.” Mia reasoned as she was placing some new clothes in Rick’s cupboards.

“I know, but This s**t is taking too much.” Rick groaned.

“Stop f*****g moving!” Jason yanked Rick’s chin to the perfect position so that he could get to work.

“It has been what? Like ten days maybe?” Mia lifted her brows at him. “You are just impatient. Give it time, Rick.” She finished and came to take a seat on the empty chair beside his bed.

“You are acting like you are my mom,” Rick whined. Then looked to frowning Jason with a grimacing look. “And you are like my dad.”

“You are the one who is acting like a child.” Jason yanked his chin again.

“Also, there is no one except us who is capable to help you and stay by your side,” Mia added with a pointed look. “Everybody else is studying in another country.” Also, he doesn’t have parents as far as they knew. So, someone had to take the role.

“So, I am stuck with you both.” Rick threw his arms dramatically, even though the smile decorating his lips threw off his fake annoyed look.

Completely unaware of the presence lurking in the shadows, the three of them kept joking and discussing what food should they sneak tonight.

“Yes, I found him.” The hidden person, watched the three of them through the small window of the door, standing in a way that they wouldn’t glimpse him. “Got it, sir.” He paused listening to the demanding voice on the other side of the phone. “Yes, sir. I will keep an eye on him,… yes, all of them.”

^^^

"When are we going back?" Ella asked from the bed as Jasmine was getting ready for her date with Adrian.

"I don't know," Jasmine sighed as she was applying lipstick. She didn't want to leave yet, she likes it here among her people.

"Damon and Jane left ten days ago, shouldn't we be leaving too? The contest is so near and we have so much work to do!" Ella reasoned as Jasmine nodded knowing that sadly she was right. They have to go back to their studies.

"Okay, fine." Jasmine huffed, gathering her purse. "Book our flights today, see the nearest flight and book it."

"On it!" Ella said enthusiastically as she grabbed her laptop.

A knock sounded on the door. After yelling enter, the door opened revealing freshly shaved Adrian, wearing slacks and buttoned-up shirt. He looked deliciously handsome that Jasmine had to subconsciously lick her lips.

"Ready to go?" Adrian asked cheekily as he noticed Jasmine's reaction.

"Yeah," Jasmine's voice was hoarse, almost a whisper which resulted in Adrian to smirk loving the effect he has on her. She cleared her throat, shaking off that squeaky feeling in her stomach. "Let's go."

"Have fun!" Ella yelled after them while Adrian was closing the bedroom door after them.

"You look amazing," Adrian placed his hands on her waist, his lips hovering over hers. "Simply beautiful."

"T-thank you." Jasmine's cheeks warmed, her eyes fixated on his lips. "You look good, too."

"Only for you." Then he slammed his lips on her. Finally, freeing her from that anticipation she was hanging on. "Let's go, we have a reservation." Adrian breathed heavily. Taking everything in his willpower to cut that kiss. He loved kissing Jasmine, he would never get enough of her.

"Okay." Jasmine herself was a hot mess, barely controlling her urge to r****h him. Especially that this will be the last day before they separate ways again and meet after months. "Where to?" Jasmine asked as soon as they buckled in the car then Adrian ignited the engine.

"Your favorite restaurant." Adrian simply replied, sending her a wink for a split second before giving the road his full attention.

"You know me so well." Jasmine kissed his cheek. And soon enough they were engulfed in a conversation, passing the time as they made their way to the restaurant.

"We are here." They got out of the car after parking it. Then they started making their way inside the restaurant, Adrian whispering to the waiter with Jasmine clueless to it. Soon enough another waiter was leading them to a secluded area.

"Adrian, what is that?" Jasmine asked mesmerized by the view in front of her. They were on the terrace with no tables except them, a dim light enhancing the place and flowers of all colors decorating the scene, along with classic music adding to the romantic mood. "That's too much!" 

"It's nothing for you, beautiful." Adrian pecked her forehead softly. He knew she was worried about spending too much money while in the middle of his studies but she also knows that his parents are insisting on paying for his college tuition so that he could concentrate on his studies and use his own money for accommodation and pampering his girlfriend as they adore her. "Come on." He led the way to the table and they took their seats.

They started engrossing in different kinds of conversations after ordering their food, they ate and enjoyed their time while drinking fancy wine that Adrian ordered specifically for her. Then it was time for dessert and something slightly changed in the mood. The light melody playing in the background faded as all the waiters vacated the place and the lights got dimmer if that’s even possible. Also, Adrian was taking slow deep breath seeming nervous which made Jasmine nervous as she sat there curious about that whole change.

“Adrian, are you okay?” She asked lowly starting to get nervous herself.

“Jasmine,” he cleared his throat as he stood up, straightening his clothes in the process. “I will do something and please don’t take it the wrong way or get freaked out.”

“Okay,” she dragged out, anticipating what’s he going to reveal next. Different scenarios started playing in her head.

To her surprise, he did the only thing that didn’t come up to her mind. He slid down onto one knee. “Adrian,…” she breathed out, covering her mouth with her hands after she caught on what’s he doing.

“Jasmine. my beautiful, kind and cutest Jass. I have had feelings for you as long as I can remember and I couldn’t even gather the courage and ask you ut until it was too late. I know how much you love me and I hope you know how dearly appreciate and love you.” He took a deep breath as he looked straight in her eyes. “I know how much you appreciate your privacy, so I wanted to do it with only me and you in a secluded area, just us in our own bubble as usual.” He then reached in his pocket and revealed a red box. Jasmine visibly gulped as her eyes started to blur. It was too much. Too much sweetness. “Jasmine, baby. Obviously, I want to spend the rest of my days with you that even if we do manage a long-distance relationship, I still want to call you my fiancée not only my girlfriend and hopefully one day my wife.” Then with wide eyes, he quickly added. “O-of course not now or in the near future. Just one day when we are both ready to take this next step in life. But for now, let me have the privilege to call you my fiancée while also concentrating on our studies.” He opened the red velvet box, revealing a really beautiful diamond ring which left Jasmine in an awed state as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Jasmine, would you do m—“

Without even getting the chance to finish his sentence, Jasmine threw herself on him resulting in them both to fall on the ground with Jasmine on top and tears running down her cheeks. “Of course I will f*****g marry you one day!” she backed her face away from him a little so that she can gaze in his loving eyes. “After that long and fascinating proposal, I would definitely be the one honored to be engaged to a beautiful man like you.” She held his face in her hands with happy tears wetting her freckled cheeks. “I love you, Adrian. I love you so freaking much!” then she slammed her lips on his, devouring him whole and pouring all her heart contents into this demanding and lustful kiss.

He took a hold of her waist as he managed to sit them upright with her situated between his legs. His legs caging her from either side as she pressed herself further into him, not able to get enough of this amazing man that she got blessed with. “I love you too, Jass. More than anything.” He said breathlessly as they both were catching their breath after that heavy kiss. He then started slipping the ring onto her soft fingers. “Even though, I really wanted to finish my proposal speech as it took me a while to prepare it and another while to gather my courage and pour it all out to you. So, you kinda messed up my plan. But hey I am not complaining!” he held her fingers up, closer to his face as he gazed down at her long finger that’s holding their engagement ring. “perfect,” he mumbled as she smiled softly at her hand as well. “Perfect fiancée.” With a soft smile he brought his lips to hers and like a magnet he was pulled toward her and she happily accepted his soft lips on hers.

“Perfect fiancé.” She whispered between their kiss. They both smiled, happy to start this new chapter of their lives. Connecting their lips back together, Jasmine brought her fingers to his hair as she started tugging on its ends while Adrian circled his hands around her waist bringing her closer to him if that’s even possible. Just like that, they kept making out on the ground, both not bothered by the cold floor. It was only them and this memorable moment.

^^^

“Yes, I left my parent's house,” Ben said through the phone as he was making his way out of his car. “Yes, Jason I am at your house. Making my way now in.” he slipped the extra key that Jason handed him just like he handed each one of their friends. “Now, tell me exactly where are those wine bottles that you want me to bring?” he was going to the hospital where Mia and Jason at with Rick. Adrian and Jasmine were on the way there as well and Mia told Jason to call Ben and make him bring their celebratory wine –which they will have to sneak in- that’s held for special occasions as there would be soon something special revealed as soon as Adrian and Jasmine arrive. “Okay, upstairs in the pantry room –wait! You have a pantry room?-“

“Just concentrate on the main task now, Ben.” Jason groaned from the other side of the phone.

 “fine, fine, I am concentrating. Got it! The pantry room is located beside Jasmine’s room.” Which Ella is staying in as well. Ben mumbled to himself.

“Exactly!” Jason sighed. “Now bring them and head straight away to the hospital!”

“Okay, see ya!” Ben hung up then slipped his phone into his jeans pocket. He made his way upstairs and walked through the long hallway until he stumbled upon the pantry room. He was gripping the doorknob, ready to open it when he heard a weird noise from the room with the closed door beside it. Jasmine and Ella’s room. Jason told him that no one was home as Ella went to visit her mother as she informed Mia earlier. Just out of curiosity, taking his precaution he made his way towards that room and pressed his ear to the closed door just when a painful groan sounded from the other side of the door. A familiar painful groan that immediately made his heart jump in fear. Wasting no time he shoved the door open just to be stumbled upon one of the most heart-wrenching scenes.

“Oh my god…” In a breathless voice that held so much worry and pity. “Ella…” Her eyes suddenly shot up to him. She seemed out of focus as her wide angelic eyes held that anxious and shock look in them.