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Chapter 8

�Hey, Jewel!� Paul knocked on the door of Jewel�s room.
�Hey, what?� she called back.
�The movie starts in 20 minutes. We have to leave now or we�ll miss it. Hurry up, will you?�
�I�ll be out in a minute!� Jewel replied.
She and Paul had planned this afternoon a few weeks ago. They didn�t get the chance to go through it because of their busy schedules. They finally had one free Sunday and they grabbed the opportunity. They�d go and see this new romantic comedy in the cinema first, then to the coffee shop for a quick bite, go window shopping in the mall, then to the ice cream parlor, and finally, to the park until dinnertime.
When Jewel finally went out of her room, Paul looked at her from head to toe.
�What?� she asked, looking down at her outfit. She was wearing a white long-sleeved top, a khaki skirt that fell just a couple of inches above her knees and a pair of black boots. As usual, she didn�t wear any make-up except for her lip-gloss and her hair is in a ponytail. �What�s wrong with what I�m wearing?�
�You spent about an hour in your room and that�s all you can come up with?� he said. �I was waiting for you since one o�clock, and I was thinking that maybe you�d emerge from your room looking like a glamour girl. Instead, what I got is just this,� he joked.
She pretended to swat him. �I am not out to impress any guy in the streets,� she said. �And what about you, huh?�
�What about me?�
�What�s up with those spikes in your hair anyway?� she put her hand on her hip. �You think some girl will get attracted to you when you look like a hedgehog? I don�t think so!�
�Hey, don�t knock the spikes. I think they�re cool,� he said, touching his hair.
�You would.�
�Besides, I�m not trying to impress anyone, either.�
�Yeah, whatever,� she started to walk towards the stairs and he followed.
They have gotten used to each other�s friendly criticism and sarcasm. In fact, they consider it a sign that they�re both in good terms. And if either of them didn�t mention even one criticism during the whole day, they knew something�s wrong.
�So, what were you doing in your room anyway?� he asked as they went down the steps.
�Well, I started typing a few paragraphs of the report that I was supposed to do.�
�You what?� he exclaimed. �Jewel, we promised that we will have a work-free afternoon today!�
�I know. I�m sorry,� she said. �I just couldn�t help it! I want to get a good head start on that report.�
�Yeah, but what about a good head start on that promise?�
They grabbed their jackets from the closet beside the bottom of the stairs. They went out of the house and walked towards the car.
�I�m really sorry, Paul,� she apologized for the second time. �Look. I�ll make it up to you. I�ll pay for our sundaes in the ice cream parlor.�
�If you think that you could just bribe me with ice cream,� he paused and turned to look at her. �Then you�re absolutely right.� He grinned.
Jewel laughed as they got into the car. �Great! I know we could always make a compromise.�
Paul started the engine and they were on their way to the cinema. They arrived there in about 10 minutes.
�You go get the tickets and I�ll get the popcorn and the root beer,� Paul told her.
�Right,� she said, and walked towards the ticket booth.
A few minutes later, they were already watching the movie and sharing their buttered popcorn. Throughout the movie, Paul kept sneaking glances at Jewel. He respected her wish that they would only remain as friends, but deep inside, he couldn�t help wishing that they were more than that. He wished that he could hold her in his arms, kiss her lips like on that disastrous night, and give her everything that she needs. But he feels that it is a very distant reality. Let it go, Paul, he thought to himself. Let her go.

One night, Jewel and the boys were having dinner. Halfway through the dinner, Paul stood up.
�Alright,� he said. �That�s it for me.�
Mark raised one eyebrow. �Well, this is new,� he remarked. �Are you in a diet?�
�Nope. I�ve got a date,� he simply said, bringing his plate to the sink. Everybody stopped eating and stared at him. Jewel�s eyes widened.
�But I can�t talk about it right now,� he said. Then looking at his watch, he added, �I�ll be late.� He dashed towards the stairs and then went up to his room.
Ben looked at Jewel who was sitting beside him.
�Hey, did he mention anything to you about meeting any girl?� he asked.
�No,� she said, shaking her head slowly.
He stuck out his lower lip and shrugged. �He must�ve found somebody else already.�
Christian kicked him under the table.
�Ow!� Ben shouted. �What was that for?� he asked Christian who was sitting in front of him.
Christian nodded towards Jewel, who was staring at her plate.
�Oh!� Ben realized what he had just said and then put an arm around Jewel�s shoulders. �I�m sorry, Jewel. I didn�t mean to-�
She cut him off. �No. Don�t worry about it,� she forced out a smile. �I�m fine.�
�Are you sure?�
�Yeah. Hey, Paul and I are just friends and we�ll always be,� she said, and then grimaced. �Ugh! That was a corny line, wasn�t it?�
�Jewel,� Mark reached out and put his hand over hers. �You know we�re always here if you need to talk, right?�
�I know. And I really appreciate your concern,� she said, looking at the three of them. �But I really am fine.�
�Alright. If you say so.�
Changing the subject, Christian said, �Are you guys finish with those?� referring to their plates. �It�s my dishwashing duty tonight.�
They were all helping out in the kitchen when Paul went downstairs.
�I�ll see you all later!� he called out as he went out of the door.
He seems very excited about this date, Jewel thought. How come he never told me that he met someone? She continued to wipe the table. Images of Paul being with some girl, dancing with her, making her laugh and kissing her, kept floating in her mind. It made her feel uneasy.
�Table�s done,� she said. �I�ll think I�ll just go up to my room for a while.�
�Alright,� Christian answered.
She went up to her room, turned on her laptop and started typing a manuscript that she brought home from work. But she couldn�t concentrate. She kept thinking about Paul and his date. He�s got every right to date anyone he wants, she told herself. I should have no problem with that. In fact, I should be happy for him. What the hell is wrong with me? She turned off her laptop. I need to get out. I have to get my mind off this.
She walked towards her wardrobe and pulled out a short dress. It�s silver with black swirls and has spaghetti straps. After putting it on, she brushed her hair and used a silver clip on one side. She decided to use just a little make-up and then sprayed herself with her favorite perfume. Then she put on her black high-heeled sandals, grabbed her small shoulder bag, and went out of her room and down the stairs.
�I�m off to the club, you guys!� she said and before the guys could say anything, she was already out of the door.
I�m going to dance all night and have fun. I�m not even going to think about Paul.

The club was full, as usual. As soon as she arrived, she made her way to the dance floor and joined the others dancing. And as she promised herself, she didn�t think about Paul at all. She just concentrated on the music and on dancing. She was enjoying herself.
A few songs later, she decided to catch her breath. So she headed to the bar and ordered a shandy. She was quietly sipping her drink when suddenly, someone sat on the stool beside her.
�Mind if I join you?�
She turned around and saw a tall, blond guy whom she has never seen before. He was holding a glass of beer.
�Not at all,� she shrugged.
�Pretty busy place, huh?� he commented.
�Yeah.�
He turned to look at her and said, �I saw you dancing out there. You look pretty hot.�
She just gave him a half-smile. Then he leaned closer and said, �How about we leave this place and go somewhere more private?�
�How about you just leave me alone?� she countered.
He raised his eyebrows. �Hmm� playing hard to get, huh? I like that.� He ran his hand up her arm.
She pushed his hand away. �Get away from me!� she shouted.
�You don�t have to make a scene. I know what you want,� he said with a gleam in his eyes.
�I want you to leave me alone,� she said calmly.
The guy just smiled and leaned even closer.
�I told you to leave me alone!�
�What�s going on here?�
Jewel was surprised, but relieved, to hear that familiar voice. Paul was standing behind her and he was glaring at the blond guy.
�What do you think you�re doing?� Paul asked.
�This is none of your business, mate,� the guy answered.
�It is my business,� he said. �You�re hassling my girlfriend.�
Jewel was surprised and looked up at Paul. He put an arm around her shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze.
�Your girlfriend?�
�Yeah, that�s right. Now, get out of here,� he said in a threatening voice.
Jewel gave a sigh of relief, as the guy stood up and went away.
�Hey, are you okay?� Paul asked, sitting on the stool vacated by the guy.
�Uh, yeah,� she answered. �Thanks for rescuing me.� She smiled at him.
�Don�t worry about it,� he smiled back. �What are you doing here anyway?�
�I can ask you the same thing. Where�s your, uh, date?� she took another sip of her shandy.
�Oh, he already left.�
She almost choked. �He? Your date is a he?�
�Yeah,� he answered, but added quickly, �But it�s not what you think! I bumped into an old friend of mine in the mall. He said that he�s visiting his aunt who leaves in this town, and that he�ll be leaving tomorrow. So we decided to meet up here for a few drinks.�
�Oh, I see,� she nodded. Well, that�s a relief, she thought.
�So, what are you doing here?� he asked.
�Well, uh, I just decided to, uh, go out for a while and take my mind off work,� she made up an excuse. It�s more like �take my mind off you�.
�Oh, yeah.�
Suddenly, the DJ played an old love song. It was entitled �It Might Be You�, and dance floor was now filled with couples.
�Want to dance?� he asked her.
�I�d love to,� she said.
They went to the dance floor and were soon swaying to the music. They were looking at each other, and Paul smiled at her. She smiled back, and laid her head on his shoulder, fearing that her eyes might be communicating what her heart is feeling. Relax, Jewel, she told herself. It�s not like you�ve never danced with him like this before. Then she remembered that night in that same club. She was left with a mixture of emotions back then, emotions that she had buried deep inside, emotions that are now resurfacing. She closed her eyes, allowing the music to soothe her. But she could not relax when Paul�s body is so close to her. They were like pieces of a puzzle, a perfect fit.
Suddenly, she felt dizzy. Her knees felt weak and she started to sweat cold perspiration. Paul noticed this and faced her.
�What�s wrong, Jewel?�
�I� I�m not feeling well�� she tried to say.
�I think we better go home,� he said.
They left the dance floor and Paul removed his coat and placed it on her shoulders. They went out of the club, and got into the car. They were in the house in no time. The house was dark, except for the light in the hallway.
�The guys must be asleep already,� Paul said. He helped Jewel up the stairs and led her to her room. He turned on the lampshade beside her bed.
�Can you please get me a glass of water?� she asked, sitting on her bed. �I�m just going to change into my house clothes.�
�Alright. I�ll be right back,� he told her and then turned to go out of her room.
When he returned, he saw Jewel sitting up on her bed, wearing a t-shirt. He gave her a glass of water and sat on the bedside as she drank.
�Feeling better?� he asked.
�A bit,� she gave him back the glass, still half-full, which he placed on the bedside table. �I still feel dizzy. I guess I�m over-fatigued because of my work.�
�Yeah. I noticed that you keep bringing your work home,� he said, referring to a pile of folders and papers in her desk. �I think you better get some sleep.�
�Alright,� she lied on her bed and pulled up the covers. �Thanks, Paul. I think you better get some sleep now, too.�
�Don�t worry about me. You just go to sleep.�
She smiled. �Okay. Goodnight,� she said and closed her eyes.
Paul sat by her side and watched her as she drifted off to sleep. He decided to stay in her room for the night, just in case she�ll need something. He turned off the lampshade and sat on one of the armchairs near the window.
�Goodnight, Jewel,� he said, and then went to sleep.

Jewel found herself in a beautiful garden. There are trees and flowering bushes everywhere. There�s a fountain in the middle of the garden. She walked around for a while, and then she heard a couple of voices laughing. She walked towards the direction of the voices and saw a gazebo. There was a guy and a girl kissing. She couldn�t recognize them, but when the guy lifted his head, she saw that it was Paul.
�Paul!� she called to him.
He turned to look at her, and so did the girl. To her surprise, she saw that the girl that Paul had been kissing was that girl in the club whom she saw crying.
�What are you doing here, Jewel?� he asked in a not-so-friendly voice.
�Well, I-� she started to say.
But he cut her off. �Don�t ever come near me anymore, okay? Just go away! I don�t want to see you!� Then, they both turned to leave.
�Paul, wait!� Jewel shouted. But they couldn�t hear her, and went on their way.
She felt like she was being choked. She tried gasping for air.
�Don�t leave me, Paul! Don�t leave me alone!� She collapsed to the ground. �I� need�. you��

 �Don�t go� please� come back� don�t leave me alone�� Jewel was talking in her sleep. �No� wait��
Paul was woken up when he heard her. So he bolted up from the chair and sat by her side.
�Jewel, hey Jewel, wake up,� he said, gently shaking her. �Wake up, Jewel.�
She suddenly sat up on her bed. She was breathing heavily and rapidly, and drops of sweat were running down her face. And there are tears in her eyes. She looked at him, and immediately realized that it was all a dream.
�Paul,� she hugged him. �You�re here!�
�Yeah, I�m here,� he said, stroking her hair.
�Oh, Paul! It was terrible� I� and then you�� Tears started to flow from her eyes again.

He pushed her back a little and put a finger on her lips.
�Shh�� he hushed her. �Don�t try to speak. It was all a dream. Only a dream.� He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her tears and her sweat. Then he reached out to get the glass of water on the bedside table. �Here. Drink this.�
She took the glass and drank the remaining water and she gave it back to him.
�Now, try to go back to sleep,� he said, putting back the glass on the table.
She laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. But she opened them up again. She reached out to take Paul�s hand and said, �Don�t ever leave me, Paul. Promise me you�ll never leave me.� She looked like an innocent child who wants to be told that Santa Claus really does exist.
He smiled. �Don�t you worry. I�ll never leave you,� he leaned over and kissed her forehead. �I promise.�
Jewel smiled at him and went back to sleep. Paul just sat there, stroking her hair like a mother does to a child.
�I can never leave you,� he said in a whisper.

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