Chapter 9: THE BEST "BOY" FRIEND

Jewel was in a panic after seeing Larry at the party. Her legs wobbled and her voice got stuck in her throat. She's speechless. 

She was glad and assured when Simon hold her waist tightly and gently caressed her hands for support.

On her behalf Simon keep the conversation going.

The entire time, Larry was insulting her and Simon spoke up for her. He sounds like a man whose so inlove and ready to accept his woman's past.

Larry's displeasure was so evident especially after Simon excused himself with Jewel and left. He eyed the arms that locked in Jewel's waist the entire time. 

Simon led her in the woman's lounge area. There are some guest as well. She slowly sit in the couch. 

"Are you alright?"  Simon's thoughtful look made her relax a bit.

"Yes, Thank you."

" I doubled check the guest list earlier but i didn't saw Larry's name on that list."  Simon sighed and caressed her cheek. They knew that there's a representative from Larry's company since they confirmed attendance, what they didn't know that it will be the CEO himself .

In order to enter the venue guest was just asked to show their invitation there's no need for a specific name since they gave out those invitations to let every company to choose their own representative for the event. 

Simon looked very apologetic. Jewel reach for his hand and gave him a gentle smile. 

"Rest here for a bit, I'll ask my assistant to take care of everything then I'll take you home."

Jewel felt a little relieved, she really wants to go home now.

She nodded.

She's in the female guest lounge; from here she knows Larry will not dare to cause any trouble.

She can't help but wonder. The way Larry stared at her belly it seemed that he knows something. It's impossible she thought, no one knew about the baby's father  except Simon.

Another thought occurred, her unsettling feeling arise. What if Larry is just trying to humiliate her. The way he talked earlier, she knows his still full of resentment. Does he really believed that she help Cherrie stage a drama just to break up with him and hide her betrayal.

She's worried that he might harm Simon and his family to get his revenge. How many months have passed she thought he already moved on and forget about her. She recalled what he said. He came today to remind her of his presence.

How could she love a person like him?

She's very greatful that Simon was on her side. Honestly, if she did not know the truth about his confused sexual preference issue, she might have fall for him instead of Larry.

A smile graced Jewel face when she recollect the day he accidentally blurted out his feelings for a certain boy named Joe Hensen.

It was after his summer camp. Jewel's father need to accompany the CEO in his business trip to New York. Just like always he dropped her off to Hall residence. Mrs. Hall is the one who suggested it when she heard that they don't have a house maid to stay with her. Now it becomes a routine everytime her dad and his boss was out of the country for business, she would stay at the Hall residence. 

"Welcome back." Simon greeted her with full smile. The Hall residence becomes her second home.

"Thank you, I heard you just came back from your Summer camp. How was it?" Jewel was excited to hear his story.

"It's really good." 

"I have never been to a summer camp. I wish our school organize an activity like that." She frowned  at the thought she was studying in a Semi Private schools  with her best friend Cherrie. 

"I really had fun esp. with my buddy Joe." Simon smile reminiscing his time.

"Is he a cute one?" Jewel asked innocently, she just really want to know if Simon has good looking friends she could meet.

"Oh yeah.. His cute I think I like him." He sounds like confessing.. Jewel eyes widened and Simon realized his mistake. He was a boy and he should not like his buddy in the summer camp. He glanced at Jewel shocked face. After a minute the girl stunned face became serious.

"I don't have the right to judge you so don't worry I'll keep it a secret." Simon felt relieved and they start talking about it. 

When class resumed after summer she noticed Simon was upset after returning home. 

"What's wrong?" Jewel was curious.

"His changed."  Simon looks really sad although she didn't understand she patted his shoulder to let him talk more. 

"Who changed?" she asked again.

"Joe, his different, his no longer talking to me as if he didn't know me at all."  Simon teary eye makes Jewel heart melt. Since then Simon no longer talked about his unrequited feelings. Simon actually never liked any other man. He admitted he was disgusted if same sex showed interest on him but at the same time he feel sorry about it, same with woman he never get attracted although his not really grossed out near them.

Simon once said if he will be attracted to a woman Jewel would be definitely his type but he never did like her as a woman. From then on Simon was confused if he really is a gay or not.

Jewel heard her name, she was so immersed on her thought she did not noticed Simon came back. 

"What were you thinking?" Simon asked

"I'm just reminiscing the past, how I got so lucky to have you." She smiled mischievously. 

"Yeah, you are so lucky to have a handsome and rich fiancée. You should be thankful." Simon winked at her. 

"Good Lord, you should add the word humble in your vocabulary; don't you think so?" She grimaced. 

"What for? I'm handsome and rich. What's there to be humble about?" He chuckled. Jewel noticed that everytime they joke around Simon laughed whole heartedly and somehow it makes her feel at ease with him. 

They are pretending to be inlove but the way they are now, no one can even guess their faking it. They are very comfortable with each other, maybe because they both know their biggest secret. 

She rolled her eyes at him. Simon laughed even harder. 

"Yeah.. yeah.. What ever.." She exclaimed. 

"Alright thats enough bragging for today. Let's go. I already asked Felicia to take care of everything for now." 

"Are you sure? This event is very important to your company." 

"I will comeback later after sending you home." 

"Thank you so much, Simon. What am I without you? "

Jewel cant help herself tearing up. Ever since she gets pregnant her emotions are so erratic. She can easily cry with the smallest gesture of concern from Simon but she gets easily annoyed at him as well.

" Hey.. No crying we are helping each other remember?" 

Simon held her hands and help her stand up. He guide her to the back door exit. She felt relieved when they reach the parking area without seeing Larry. For now she is not ready to face him and its bad for her and the baby to be stressed out. She's lucky that Simon was always there for her.

Its a 10 minutes drive from the event venue to their condo that's why Simon can go back easily after sending her home. He walked her until the elevator door. 

" I ordered some food earlier. It will be delivered soon." 

" Simon, you shouldn't have to."

" Jewel'I noticed earlier you barely eat anything. You have a baby in your belly. You have to eat for the baby." 

" Okay, Thank you." 

Jewel was so touched she hugged him and lean on his shoulder while waiting for the elevator door to open.

" Your the best boyfriend ever. " She whispered.

" Don't you mean fiancée. " 

Simon smiled warmly and kissed her forehead before gently pushing her inside the elevator when the door opened. 

Jewel arrived at her unit feeling drained. As much as she wants to sleep she still needs to wait for the food that Simon ordered before sending her home. She went directly to her room to change into her nightdress. Feeling exhausted she sat on her couch and open the TV. While she waits for the delivery she continued searching for a good program to watch. She stopped at a lifestyle channel she couldn't be wrong..It was Cherrie, the guest of the show. She might want to forget about what happened between them but she's still curious to know what's going on with her. The interview was about the soon to be wedding of the Mason and Miller family. She's glad that Cherrie is marrying the man she chose even though it hurt Larry and destroyed their friendship in the process. The host eagerly asked all about the details, be it the Wedding Gown, the reception venue etc. She noticed Cherrie's off guard reaction when the host suddenly asked "Whose going to be your brides maid? Everyone knows from the previous scandal that your no longer in good terms with your best friend." 

Cherrie looks hesitant to answer but smile before answering. " I have a lot of friends to ask so it doesn't matter." That was a safe answer Jewel thought. The doorbell rang; though the show was not yet over Jewel turned off the TV. She has enough of Cherrie's news in a day. She walked slowly to the door due to her bulging belly. 

She looked through the peep hole and she was right, its the food delivery. Simon already paid it so she just need to sign and receive the food. She went to the dining room and put all the food in the table. She can't help but smile after seeing the food that Simon ordered for her, everything is her favorite. Sea food pasta, roasted chicken and a lemon iced tea. 

Its night time although she wants to eat all of it but she can't, she just took a small portion of the food to eat and keep the left overs. She would eat it for breakfast tomorrow.

She went to her room and look for another night dress, while eating earlier she smeared a pasta sauce on her clothes. A pink cotton dress took her interest, when she unfold the dress it has a bright pink flamingos design in front. She remembered it was a gift from Simon. Thinking about it, Simon gave her a lot more than she could ask for. Right now he is also her savior, the man that will be the father of her baby. Watching Cherrie today in the TV show made her realized that Simon was more of a better best friend compared than Cherrie ever was. She recalled way back that she and Cherrie rarely spend time together since they went to college. Its understandable since they both have different college major. Even if they were in the same university Cherrie usually goes out with her classmates, However Simon always asked her to tag along with him, thats why she knows most of his friends and that includes Larry. She met Larry first before Cherrie met him in one of their college event. Come to think of it she wasn't able to get close to Larry because he was cold and serious unlike any of Simon's friends. 

Jewel was drowned in thoughts of the past. Remembering how she met Larry she couldn't even explained how she fall in love with him. She recalled when she was introduced to him he just nodded and said "Nice meeting you." then he continued talking to someone else. Her next interaction with him was when Cherrie introduced him as her boyfriend. She was already head over heels with him at that time. The pain she endured for her unrequited love. 

Comparing Larry to Simon, setting aside the latter sexual preference, she was sure that Simon is a better man. She laughed at herself, how could someone love a person despite not knowing anything about him aside with his name. Larry broke her heart but she still love him until now. She's a living evidence that love is really blind. 

Her encounter with Larry today made her adamant to forget him. Jewel decided to moved on and leave everything about him behind. She's been foolish enough. 

She has Simon now, their love might be different than the way a man and a woman should love but that won't matter. Her baby will grow up as Simon's child and she knows he will be a good father. When she agreed to marry him she gave all her trust on him. She will pray hard for their happiness. In time she will forget the love she had for Larry and when that time comes, she wish that she would no longer need to tell anyone the truth about the father of her baby. 

She will be happy, she had the best "boy" friend ever, her soon to be husband and the father of her child.