27 Bad liar

As Jake left his office he decided that he would go straight home and not disturb Abby..

Yet here he was, standing in front of their house with a bag of fruits that he bought for them..

He nervously scratched the back of his neck, and mentally slapped himself..

He thought that he would not visit Abby today because he was afraid that Abby may think that he is being too clingy and annoying..

Although he said that he will just mind his own business and not interfere in Abby's life, he couldn't hold himself back.. He felt like he was being pulled in like a magnet—He no longer had control over it anymore..

'Should I just knock on the door and leave these there and go home? That'd look rude.. That may make them think of me as a stalker or something.. Should I give it to them myself? What if they think I'm annoying'

He thought as he looked down at the bag full of mangoes in his hand..

"You tell me what should I do" he asked the mangoes..

Anyone passing by would think of him as someone crazy for talking to the mangoes but that was just his nervousness..

He gathered up the courage and walked to their door..

Jake took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell..

As soon as Abby opened the door, he pushed the mangoes in front of his face and said..

"I'm sorry I just..uh…uh… Ruby said you didn't come to the office today so she send me to check up on you"

It would've been déjà vu for Abby only if they still remembered—Remembered how he used to go up to them making random excuses..

He would buy mangoes for them every time they would get sick and skip school—And every single time he would lie that it was from their teacher and every time Abby would know that he was lying..

He was never good at lying after all..

Abby chuckled seeing him.. He took the bag from his hands..

"Come in"  they said while walking back inside..

"How did you know that I like mangoes?"

"Oh.. Y-you do? Haha? I didn't know that at all.. It was just that .. I went to the market to buy something and saw these and then I thought that I should go and check up on you and see how you doing and I was just passing by and-"

He was cut off by Abby's laugh..

"Have anyone ever told you that you're really bad at lying?"

'Yeah.. You did' he thought..

…

15-year-old Jake had his eyes shut tightly—He was extremely nervous.. He hid his face behind the bag of mangoes and he begin to make the most random excuses..

Young Abby couldn't help but laugh at his failed attempt.. They grabbed the bag of mangoes that he was using to hide his face..

Jake slowly opened his eyes to see Abby widely smiling at him.. The sight made his face turn red out of embarrassment..

"You're cute" Abby said while pinching his cheeks which made him even more flustered..

"Let me tell you something.. You're extremely bad at lying.. Remember that"

Jake just watched fondly as Abby begin to laugh again at his tomato face..

…

Years passed but the feeling and the look in their eyes remain the same.. Although one couldn't remember it and the other was too afraid to show it, that didn't change anything..

"Have a seat?" they said..

Jake sat down on the couch, looking around he noticed that no one was there..

"Where's Ms Jane and Lily?"

"Aunt Jane isn't here today and Lily is sleeping"

Jake nodded..

He saw them cutting the mangoes he quickly stand up and said

"No no, I brought them for you-"

Once again Abby laughed..

"And I am cutting these for myself"

He sat back down, embarrassed..

Abby came and placed the plate in front of him..

"You can have some too"

They placed another plate of sliced mangoes in the fridge..

"You still like them cold, don't you?" he said without realising what he was saying..

"How do you know that?"

"J-just a guess haha" he panicked and changed the topic..

"Lily usually doesn't sleep this early.. She must have played a lot today" he said while looking in the direction of her room..

Abby nodded..

Every time he would talk about lily, it would just make them guilty for some reason..

They knew that they weren't giving lily the love she deserved—It's not like they had a choice..

"Why aren't you eating?" Abby asked..

"Oh uh… Can I use the restroom first?"

With that, he left leaving Abby alone.. 

He looked at himself in the mirror..

'Why are you being so obvious? You shouldn't act like that.. But.. I can't help it… I just… Miss them.. The old Abby.. I miss the time we had together.. And I can't control the words that come out of my mouth whenever I'm around them.. I can't help it.. No! I shouldn't.. What if they think I'm creepy.. I can't-'

His thoughts were cut off by a noise..

It was the sound of someone yelling..

Jake quickly rushed out to see Abby on the floor with a red handprint on their right cheek, crying..

Standing in front of them was a man whose back was facing Jake..

He couldn't tell who it was—Until he turned around..

"Oh it's you again" the man said looking at Jake..