C15 A FRAGILE CONNECTION.

“Uh - um, I - I’m sorry” Laura broke the silence and awkward situation as her voice trembled and she gently pulled away from Jerry’s firm grip. Her cheeks burned red, she avoided his gaze and fumbled to straighten her dress and regain composure.

Jerry hesitated, feeling the heat rise to his own face.

He could feel the quickening of his heart in ways that he could almost hear it pound in his ears with every heartbeat. He coughed, averting his gaze from her. “Um - yeah, didn’t notice the floor was slippery too,” he mumbled, his voice unnaturally high.

The air between them felt charged, heavy with unspoken words and emotions neither was ready to confront. The faint sound of the cafe’s clock ticking was the only noise cutting through the tense silence.

“We, sorry, I - I think we should close right away, it's getting late” Jerry stammered as he stylishly took out his phone from his pocket to distract himself from the uncomfortable stares Laura gave him while she readjusted herself too.

“Oh my! It’s 7 pm already.” Laura’s exclamation was both a realization and an escape from the tension. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her movements hurried as she grabbed her bag from behind the counter.

Jerry stared at Laura quickly and his eyes remained glued to his phone. He needed more form of distractions from what had just happened.

“Yeah, um… yeah,” Jerry stammered again, his eyes flickering nervously to her face before darting away. His thoughts raced as he debated his next words.

Something inside him, some irresistible pull, made him blurt out.

“Laura, um please wait”, “I - I was thinking if it’ll be okay for you to give me your number, so we could keep in touch outside work too” Jerry pleaded as he felt the urge to get closer to her the more.

He stared at her like he was in need of it badly and prayed she would be comfortable with it too.

“Oh, sure, it's fine” Laura replied as she reached out for his phone in his hand and input her phone number.

“Save my number and call me too so I can save yours in return” Laura said with a smile on her face as she tried to make him comfortable. She also tried to ease the tension between them after the fall.

“Goodnight Jerry” Laura added as she walked out of the cafe without looking back.

Jerry stood frozen, staring at his phone as though it held a treasure map. Her name and number were now etched into his contacts, a small but monumental victory.

A goofy grin spread across his face as he hastily saved her number. Still grinning, he picked up his belongings, locked up the cafe and stepped out into the night.

***

Later that night, Jerry laid down on his bed and began to have unintentional flashbacks of what happened earlier at the cafe between himself and Laura.

Deep down he knew he felt a connection.

“Does it mean I have feelings for Laura?” Jerry whispered as he brushed his fingers round his hair in a circular motion.

“But… but she's just my friend”, “Also, i’m not even sure she sees me the same way, she doesn't seem to be interested in any relationship from what I see” Jerry continued to murmur to himself as he rolled from one end of his bed to another.

“These feelings seem not to leave my head and heart”, “My heart still beats like i can feel her, like I can see her, her smile, the way she walks, talks, everything!” Jerry continued to speak to himself as a loud knock on his door interrupted his daydreaming.

Jerry knew who it was, of course, it was Fred. He was the only one who lived in the same house with him.

“Yes? Who is at the door?” Jerry yelled as he sluggishly got up from his bed and headed for the door.

“Who is it?” He asked once more before he forcefully opened the door.

“Jerry…. Can we talk? Please?” Fred asked as he stood in front of the door like he wasn't ready to leave anytime soon.

“What do you want, Fred?”, “ As you can see I am so tired and I am also not interested in having any conversation with you. I had a very long day at work and I need to get some sleep,” Jerry replied to him as he attempted to shut his door.

“Jerry please just listen to me” Fred pleaded as he held the door and stopped it from closing.

Jerry paused as he stared at him with a disgusted look on his face and sighed.

“Come in then” Jerry commanded as he walked towards his bed.

Fred walked behind him as he tried to put his words together.

“Can I at least sit on your bed? Since you now hate me” Fred asked with a firm look on his face.

“Sit….. you have 10 minutes please” Jerry replied as he looked away and avoided any form of eye contact with him.

“C’mon, man!, you're taking this too far”, “Just because of Laura?”, “we’re now enemies?” Fred lamented as he stared at Jerry with disappointment all over his face.

Jerry stared at him and paused for a few seconds like he was searching for the right words to use.

“Laura is my friend, not just my friend, she got her job at the cafe through me, Fred!”. “What have you been up to? You've always been in her face, trying to make life difficult for the poor lady” Jerry explained to Fred as his body vibrated with anger.

“Fred, not every woman is a slut, not every woman loves to be toyed with and i need you to understand that Laura is not like anyone you have come across” Jerry instructed as Fred stared at the wall in front of them like he was regretting his actions.

“To crown it all, the lady doesn't even like you! she just wants you to leave her alone Fred” Jerry continued as he stared at Fred like he wanted him to take note of his words properly.

“Relax man, you can never tell, she might be secretly into me, they always are” Fred replied with a smirk on his face as his ego reflected once more.

“Fred, leave Laura alone, please”, “also she might come for the interview, I do not know yet, she's trying to make up her mind” Jerry disclosed as he looked at Fred with a warning look on his face.

“If she happens to, do not make life miserable for her at the company or… I’ll tell her how you stole her resume and sent her the email” Jerry warned as he stared into Fred’s eyes like he wanted to look into his soul.

“Oh really, so she's coming” Fred asked with a smile on his face as he rejoiced in his heart. His plans for Laura would still work out.

“And hey, would you stop threatening me?”, “remember you're in my house” Fred stated with pride all over his lips.

“Oh really? I could leave first thing tomorrow morning if you want me to” Jerry snapped back with an angry look on his face and a deeper voice.

“I was just kidding, you know I can't send you out of my house just because of a woman, that's wild” Fred replied calmly as he placed his hand on Jerry’s shoulder to make him feel comfortable around him once again.

“Remember, what I said Fred I’m not joking” Jerry reminded him to be careful with Laura as he stared at him again.

“And yeah, something happened at the cafe this evening” Jerry said as he smiled and stared into thin air like he was searching for something.

“What’s that?” Fred asked with a curious look on his face.

“Laura mistakenly slipped, the floor was wet and we were both unaware,” Jerry explained as he smiled.

“She slipped? okay? And what else happened?” Fred asked as he started to imagine what happened next.

“She fell right into my arms Fred, it was so magical”, “I felt something strong and I think she felt the same thing”. Jerry continued as he laid on his bed like he was daydreaming once more.

“She did what?” Fred exclaimed as his countenance changed.

“I think I have feelings for Laura, I - I think I love her, not just as a friend but more than a friend” Jerry disclosed as he continued to smile and stare into thin air.

“You what?” Fred asked and his face tightened.

Fred stared at him, his jaw tightened the more. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

Before Jerry could finish, a loud knock surfaced on the door, ending the quietness that had enveloped the room.

The two men held their ground, the sound reverberating as if it filled the whole room.

The knock wasn’t polite or casual, it was forceful, almost aggressive.

Jerry frowned, his heart pounding. “Who could that be at this hour?” He muttered, rising from the bed.

Fred said nothing, his gaze fixed on the door. Jerry moved cautiously, his hand hovering over the doorknob. “Who is it?” He yelled with everything he had but still didn’t generate any response.

And then came another knock. More forceful this time.

Jerry took a deep breath and opened the door.