Chapter 66
She was 12 the next time they met. It was at her pack this time and Jephthah as usual was huddled up in one corner of the garden while John, Royce and other kids played games and threw tantrums. They later went upstairs to play spin the bottle but he kept himself busy with his phone.
And then he noticed someone looking at him and glanced up.
His phone dropped to the floor and so did his jaw.
“T-Talia p>
She smiled and his heart flipped.
Though they had called (Well, she called) and had spoken over the phone several times, this was the first time he was seeing her after 7 years.
The chubby Talia he knew had an athletic body. She had a body fit for a female warrior. Her hair was long as usual, grazing the tip of her hip bone. Her eyes weren’t as huge as before but he would never admit they lost that same spark of light he had seen when they first met.
She held a tray of something but he didn’t mind that. He was bewitched by her smile. He didn’t even realize when she blushed and looked down until she chuckled.
He blinked and redened in embarrassment as he picked his phone. He had been staring like a stupid goldfish!
“I thought you didn’t come. It was John that told me you’d be here p>
She said and he just stared at her as she came close to him and stiffened when she sat next to him. That familiar scent of honey and blue berries enticed him like an expensive alcohol and he looked at his fingers, knowing too well that she was looking at him.
“I made this.” She said after a while and he looked down to see sweet cakes. He felt nostalgic looking at them. These were the same snacks that brought the two close.
“Are you going to keep staring or you’re going to have a taste. I really want to know what you think about them p>
He quietly but tentatively picked one and bit a small piece off. His eyes widened and he looked at her before looking away when their eyes met. He missed the slight blush on her cheek when he had looked at her with so much admiration in his eyes.
“It’s delicious…really delicious. You…you made this p>
“My mum helped but I guess you could say that. Do you really like it?” He nodded and she handed another one. “Here have more p>
“Aren’t you going to eat?” He carefully asked, not taking the last piece she offered.
“Hm. Okay. Let’s split this one.” She had a mischievous smile as she held the other piece in her mouth and leaned over, eyes closed waiting for him to bite the other piece off.
Jephthah wanted to refuse immediately but she didn’t look like she’d even listen. His face, extremely red, he looked around before shyly moving forward to bite the other piece, not realizing he had pulled her close by grabbing her arm.
She gasped internally and her heart skipped several times at the pull as she inhaled his masculinity.
He was careful not to let his lips touch hers and when he had pulled away, his face had completely turned beet red.
Talia, aware of what she did, laughed out loud and he turned to look at her. Her smile and the way she threw her head into the reflection of the moonlight made his heart beat so fast that he feared she might hear it.
She turned to him, her eyes lowered as she pushed her hair to lap behind her ear.
“Why are you always cooped up some where like some new kindergartner in class p>
“I don’t p>
“Don’t even deny it. You know it’s true. You’re so different from John. He’s rowdy and reckless…so unlike you. I guess that’s why… I like you more p>
He looked down and blushed again.
Talia grabbed his phone and said as she began fiddling with it.
“Mum finally got me a phone so we can exchange contacts and call each other on OUR phones instead. Hey. I also opened my own Instagram account last week and I already have 100 followers p>
She kept talking as usual and all he did was just listen, not feeling bored in the slightest but infatuated by her.
They exchanged contacts right there and she got up and offered him her hand. He trailed the hand up to her face and imagined the similar situation 7 years ago when she had stood in this exact same pose with the similar smile on her face.
Without asking questions, he just took her hand and felt strange sparks travel up his wrist as she led him somewhere.
“Where are we going p>
He finally asked
“I want to show you around the pack. It’s your first time here, isn’t it p>
“Yes but he was about to protest because going around meant meeting people which wasn’t what he was looking forward to.
“And where do they think they’re going to?” A sweet but stern voice called out from behind and the two turned to see the Beta’s wife, Talia’s mother, Indie.
“Mum, I’m just showing him around.” Talia calmly explained.
“Good evening.” Jephthah mumbled.
“Hey sweetie,” she turned to Talia. “Is this your boyfriend Royce was telling me about. The one you call almost every day p>
The red apron she had on couldn’t hold a candle to the color rising on Jephthah’s face.
Talia fumed In embrassment, blushing as she said.
“Mum p>
“Sweetie are you okay?” Indie said and Talia turned to see Jephthah looking like a tomato.
“I’m…fine” He managed to say and didn’t realize when he squeezed Talia’s hand.
Talia held onto his hand when she realized he was trying to pull his hand out, but he did anyways and left the two without a word.
Talia just stood there and watch him leave.
She ran after him but didn’t see him at the garden again. She went upstairs to see the others playing in Royce’s room but didn’t see him there either.
All night, she didn’t even spot him.
The next day when the twins were leaving, she looked down from her room and locked eyes with Jephthah before he got into the car without waving or doing anything. He looked like he was eager to leave.
She felt hurt for weeks and wondered what she had done wrong. She called after some time and realized the call was as usual very short ever since they’d grown since he barely said anything on the phone and she was usually the one who did.
She noticed he had never called her before. She was usually the one who did. So she didn’t call him anymore and anticipated his call but it never came.
Their next meeting was when she finally went to visit him alone. She was 16.