A Rose, A Ring and A Promise: Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

“Stop that. You’re making Em look like your lover.”

Sapphire turned to look at Bryce who was sitting beside her.

Brad who was sitting on the other side of Em laughed.

The movie wasn’t starting yet so she could clearly see Bryce’s annoyed expression.

The four of them were inside the cinema. Nat was out of the country and Ken had a date so they couldn’t come.

“But it’s comfortable like this!” She whined.

“What you really mean is that you don't like dark places and you don't like horror movies.” Em said, not making any move to remove Sapphire’s tight hug on her right arm. It wasn’t because she didn’t mind though. It was more of she didn’t have any choice. She knew from experience that if she tried to shake Sapphire’s arm off, she would just latch them to her again. Sapphire was stubborn like that.

“You agreed to watch a horror movie.” Bryce stated.

“Trying to be brave.” Em said laughing.

“It's okay, I can handle it!” Sapphire said defensively.

“She get's clingy when she's afraid,” Em informed.

Bryce sighed then to their surprise, he pulled her towards him. Because the chairs in that movie house were the one where you could raise the ‘arms’ of the chairs, it was easy for Bryce to make her lean on him. He then wrapped one arm on her shoulder.

“It would be better to lean on a man on times like this,” he said then as if on an afterthought, whispered to her, “And I don't get why you cling to someone who's even scarrier than the movie.”

“Did you just…” She glanced at Bryce. When he saw the slight smile on his face, her suspicion was confirmed. “You did! You joked! The great and forever-serious-and-unsmiling Bryce Allegre told a joke!”

She must have looked so ridiculous, getting startled like that because Bryce laughed.

She pouted. It’s mean of Bryce to laugh at her like that.

But when she turned towards Em and Brad who both looked stunned, she realized one important thing.

Bryce was laughing.

Not a sarcastic or a forced laugh but an all-out laugh, the kind of laugh that you make from the heart.

Bryce must have noticed the sudden silence of his companions because he stopped laughing and scowled when he saw the look on their faces, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Em looked like she wanted to say something but changed her mind and just shook her head, smirking.

“We haven’t heard that laugh for a long time,” Brad said, smiling like a proud father.

“You look silly Brad,” Em said, raising an eyebrow at her friend.

Brad retorted something but Sapphire didn’t hear what it was because her attention was with Bryce. He was no longer laughing (probably embarrassed with what happened earlier when he did) but there was a ghost of a smile on his face and a sparkle of amusement on his eyes as he watched Em and Brad bickering.

He quickly hid his emotion however when he noticed her staring.

But it was enough for Sapphire. She already saw those emotions and now that she knew that Bryce was capable of making those expression and emotions, she became even more curious of him, curious of who he really is without all those walls he built around himself.

And when I get curious, there’s no stopping me.

Sapphire grinned and leaned closer to Bryce as the place became dark and the movie started.

Less than two hours after, they were going out of the cinema and Sapphire was chatting excitedly to them.

Bryce shook his head. He didn’t understand how that much liveliness can be contained in such a small frame. She’s practically bursting with energy.

“Hey Bryce, what’s your favourite food?” Sapphire asked all of a sudden.

“Why?” he asked back.

“Answer my question first,” she said persistently.

“Carbonara. Now would you answer my question?”

“Don’t wanna~” Sapphire said childishly.

“What are you, five years old?” He raised an eyebrow.

She stuck out her tongue, further proving Bryce’s point.

Em and Brad who were watching the exchange, grinned.

“Those two look good together,” Brad commented.

“Yes. Bryce usually won’t tolerate this playing around that Sapphire is doing,” Em said. “But right now, he’s not only tolerating it. He looks as if he’s actually enjoying.”

“Do you know how Sapphire is doing it? Getting close to him like that, I mean. So many girls have tried to catch his heart or even just his attention but they all failed. But Sapphire…” Brad said in wonder.

“Because it’s Sapphire,” Em said simply.

Brad didn’t quite understand but he somehow felt that Sapphire was perfect for Bryce.

Or I’m just influenced by Em. Brad grinned sheepishly at the thought, knowing perfectly well that even before she met Sapphire, he already accepted her as one of the group because she was Em’s bestfriend. He never doubted Em’s judgement.

“Oh fancy meeting you here Bryce.”

Brad looked in alarm at the sound of that voice.

“Stacey,” Bryce said formally, his face and voice devoid of any emotion.

Brad groaned. Stacey couldn’t have picked a worst time to appear.

Em looked at the girl with undisguised hatred.

Sapphire looked confused.

“You all know my boyfriend, right?” She said and smiled at the man beside her who was grinning obnoxiously, “Albert is a well-known international model after all and everyone knows his family.” The way she said that was obviously bragging.

“I’m sorry but are you sure you’re a model? I've been to several modeling shows but I haven’t seen you before,” Sapphire said innocently to Albert.

A bit too innocent. Em noted, her anger subsiding, replaced by a grin. Her bestfriend was the perfect example of ‘looks can be deceiving’.

“And who are you?” Stacey snapped at Sapphire.

“Sapphire, this is Stacey. Stacey, she’s Sapphire Deighton. She’s our friend.” Brad introduced the two.

“And Bryce’s girlfriend,” Em added.

Stacey laughed as if Em told a joke. “Really now? Well, I remember Bryce to have better taste than this. I guess I was wrong.”

To their surprise, Sapphire didn’t look even a bit insulted. Instead, she smiled brightly.

“Bryce has good taste but you see our relationship has nothing to do with tastes and everything to do with love.” She looked at Bryce as she said that, her eyes shining. Then she turned to Stacey again and the Oh-I’m-so-innocent look was back in her face as she said, “But I don’t expect you to understand seeing that you only base your relationship on taste.” She looked pointedly at Albert.

“Hmp! Let’s go Albert,” Stacey fumed and walked out with her boyfriend following her.

When Stacey and Albert was gone, Em, Brad and Sapphire looked at Bryce warily, expecting to be scolded for their act but to their relief and surprise, Bryce only said, “I had a girlfriend without me knowing it.”

Em and Brad laughed. They were so busy talking about what happened that they didn’t notice that Bryce had pulled Sapphire into a hug.

Sapphire looked at Bryce, puzzled.

“I’m sorry. And thank you.”

They were simple words but Sapphire understood the depth of those few words. Bryce knew she stood out for him and she was insulted for it.

But she would gladly do it again.

If it’s for Bryce.

So selfless now huh?

She ignored that mocking thought and leaned in closer to Bryce’s embrace.

To be continued~

Note: We finally meet Bryce's ex-girlfriend although no one's really pleased to meet her! But Sapphire totally rocked in handling that bitch girl, right? Any one who agrees with me? ;)