✷Chapter Twenty-Two✷

Sundays were just as normal as other days. Quiet, peaceful and relaxing. Alexa's afternoon talk made it even more normal like always.

Both ladies were seated in the living-room with the TV screen turned on showing their favorite daily program they had missed last night due to Gideon's sudden visit. Alexa's rumbling mouth disagreeing on the character the lead role was playing.

"I swear if I were to catch the writer of this drama, I'd strangle him or her. What the heck was he or she thinking about writing such a thing down for someone to play? Whoever it was should have thought hard on not making the lead character this stupid in this particular episode." Alexa groans out in frustration. Her glare shot laser shot on the screen.

Teresa let out a small laugh at the way her friend was overreacting. She was certainly overdramatic right now. Maybe it's one of the things about being a writer. Not that Teresa cares, her only interest was just to watch and see how the drama ends at the final episode.

This has always been their thing. Watching a particular new drama that is uploaded every once a week till it comes to an end. She'd never trade the moment with Alexa for anything. 

Alexa was like the sister she never had in her life. The bond between them will be something she'd miss if either one of them decides to go to their places or get married. 

Though there are times that they had their disagreement, the happy times cover up for the other negative side. Arguing with whoever we live with is a very natural thing, so Teresa completely understands. If people living together haven't had one disagreement once since living under one roof, then both individuals aren't being very honest with themselves.

"Before I forget." Alexa spoke out while the drama was still ongoing, diverting her gaze towards Teresa seated and resting her back at the curved edge of the couch, while Alexa was the other, with a pack of Lays chips on both their hands.

Teresa gave her a brief glance before returning her eyes back to the screen. "What's it?"

"Savannah is coming to New York on Tuesday. She wants to spend her one week leave with me and explore the city. So I told her she could stay here  If you don't mind." Alexa said carefully. Teresa could feel her eyes on her, painfully waiting for her response.

Teresa smiled at her friend. "I don't."

The frown on Alexa's face evaporated, giving way for a huge grin that almost blinded Teresa. "You're the best." She squeals, jumping on Teresa's body to show her gratitude.

Savannah Rivera is Alexa's elder sister from a different mother. Though toth ladies were stepsisters, there was no breaking the bond between them both. Alexa loves Savannah just as much as Savannah loves her. 

But that doesn't change the fact that Alexa's family hates Savannah for reasons Teresa found isn't the poor lady's fault.

Alexa's mother Georgia found it hard to conceive for years, which almost brought a huge damage to the family. During that trialing moment, Alexa's father Ronald had an affair with a prostitute he had met in a strip club, getting her pregnant at the process.

She had wanted to abort the baby, but Ronald, wanting a child of his, paid her a huge sum of money to keep the baby and when the day came after giving birth to the baby, she'd leave the baby for him and his wife. 

Though his wife hadn't taken the news of his infidelity well, the predicament has almost brought a divorce papers on their table till the thought of raising a child without the other woman present changed it all.

For years they both raised Savannah with love as Georgia showered the child with love. But it was as if Savannah's arrival became an open door for the family. Georgia conceives after three years of Savannah's birth, making Georgia pregnant for Alexa before giving birth to Alexa's younger brother Neil.

It was after Ronald's death that Georgia immediately started showing her true colors to Savannah, blaming her for a lot of things she didn't cause. 

Alexa happens to be the only one who cares about Savannah, while her mother and brother did the opposite. Which brought a little rift between the family.

From what Teresa knew about Alexa's mother, she viewed her as kind apart from her running mouth that Alexa inherited. She was okay. So when Alexa told her the history of her family, Teresa found it rather hard to picture the whole thing.

While Alexa is in New York being a successful writer. Savannah had studied really hard in being a psychiatrist in Texas. Helping those who had suffered psychology and physical.

"You know I would love her to come here. I think it's about time I met her physically." Teresa said, liking the thought of meeting the dear sister of Alexa who she wouldn't stop talking about. She hadn't met Savannah before in reality, she had only seen and spoken to her through FaceTime. It was about time she met such a lovely lady Alexa kept close to her heart.

Teresa and Alexa returned their attention on the TV to resume where they had stopped. They both watched the drama in silence, apart from Alexa's complaining voice and momentary laughter.

The instant the drama ended Teresa quickly remembered something she had forgotten to ask Alexa after she had returned from the grocery store earlier this morning.

"I heard something rather strange from Mrs. McGee, our neighbor this morning." Teresa spoke up, her eyes piercing on Alexa not wanting to miss an reaction from the things she was about to say.

Alexa had a confused frown on her face, her forehead etched in curiosity. "And what could that be?"

Teresa shrugged her shoulders so casually like what she was about saying was a talk of the weather. "Something about seeing you with a man last night and both your lips locked together. And must I say from her description, it sounded more like she was describing Gideon. Is there something you aren't telling me?" Teresa asked not in an accusing time but in a teasing way. Both her eyebrows wiggled at Alexa.

Alexa's face instantly reddens at Teresa's word. She casted her eyes on her fingers which were fumbling with each other, and her lower lip caught by bee teeth. 

She immediately became shy, an expression Teresa had never seen on her friend's face. This was a first.

"Gideon asked me out on a date two weeks ago. Not long after you had both came back from your trip. I swear I didn't mean to hide this from you. It's just I was trying to take time to know if the whole relationship thing would work out. I'm sorry." She said, sounding regretful, thinking she had offended Teresa.

After returning from Lakewood Teresa had told Alexa the truth about her and Gideon's sudden trip, seeing as there was no need keeping it a secret anymore.

"Why are you apologizing to me?" Teresa said, watching as her friend's head immediately snapped up at her word. "It's not like I tell you everything about me." 

Alexa chuckled, the nervous look leaving her face quickly. "That's because I'm not the type to keep shut. I totally understand your reasons. If I were you I'd do just that."

Teresa laughed out loud at her friend's word, wiping an invisible tear off the corner of her eyes, before stopping with a serious look on her face. "Does he treat you well? Because if he doesn't I swear I'd knock some sense into his head." She threatened, meaning every single word she said, not caring that Gideon happened to be her friend also.

Alexa nodded quickly, tears almost spilling out from her eyes as the look of happiness plaster widely in her face. "More than any lady deserves." She said with such sincerity that Teresa couldn't deny it was absolutely the truth.

"That's what I need to hear. Come here." She spread her arms, offering Alexa a welcoming hug which she immediately returned as Teresa engulfed her in a tight hug. "I'm so happy that you're happy."

After their discussion Alexa had left home to see her manager on an important matter that was urgent, leaving the whole entire room quiet, giving way for the thought of Jacob to crawl in.

For a while she had tried forgetting about him, and his proposal. The thought of what he had said sacred her more than she would like to admit. But at the same time, the thought of anything happening with them made her stomach flutter in ways she couldn't deny.

She had called Gideon to try clearing the unanswered question in her head. She wanted to know if Jacob had by any chance spoken to him about anything concerning her.

Gideon had immediately confirmed going to visit Jacob the moment he came to New York to confront him from doing anything stupid like last time. And he had gotten the knowledge about Jacob liking her.

Teresa sensed there was more to the confrontation he wasn't telling her. But whatever it was, she knew it wouldn't be long hidden.

Now here she stood by the window side, her hands holding the jewelry tight, while looking through the window her eyes on the Mercedes Benz Jacob had driven yesterday.

He had meant every word he said. He really sent his driver with his car waiting at the driveway. The car had been there for over an hour since Alexa had stepped out from the house. Teresa had been curious to know if Jacob did send his car here, and to her surprise he did.

She had been restless since then, thinking about the pros and cons of Jacob's proposal. But with all she could count out. There were a lot of cons, giving her a clear reason to refuse his proposal.

Teresa took in a shaky breath as she picked up her long knee jacket from the rack by the door post. Not wasting time to enter the elevator and walked out straight to the car pack out.

Getting to the car she knocked at the passengers side window, waiting as it slowly rolled down revealing an elderly man in his early forties.

She opened her mouth and lifted her hands to return the jewelry as a sign of rejection to Jacob's proposal. But she found herself unable to, instead she said the opposite. "Take me there."

That was how she found herself taking the familiar road and car, leading to where Jacob was probably waiting for her.

With each turn and closeness of their destination, her heart beat loudly as she found it hard to breathe. The nervousness of the unknown getting to her immediately.

The moment the car stopped and she sighted Jacob, she became calm as if all her worries and trouble had disappeared.

She walked out from the car, slowly walking towards him as he surprisingly still had on the shirt of yesterday, though he wore a gray sweatpant instead. The tried looks on his face were even more visible. 

Teresa noticed his fidgeting, and she couldn't help but wonder if he was nervous. Seeing him like that also made her nervous along with him.

She only said one word, breaking the silence between them. As she pushed her hair behind her ears showing the emerald earrings he had given her, as she opened her jacket to reveal the necklace on her neck with the bracelet on her wrist.

"I want to do this with you." 

He smiled immediately, his face brightening like the sun had shone on his face, washing away the sad look on his face.

She was giving him a chance. But she never said she was going to make it easy for him.

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Thank you for reading Jacob's Game!!!!

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We will be hearing a lot from Savannah. She is another important person you need to know about.

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This chapter is dedicated to 100littledevils

Lots of love.
xxinloves.