Love Unfolding 95 The Shiftmate

The day of our departure back to Capital City arrived.

I joined Erika in the shower while Mei and Donna waited in our room.

Even with the shower on, I could still hear the bickering of the two.

'Really'

"You were basically drooling over him and it's disgusting."

That was Donna.

"And what is it with you?" Mei countered back.

"That was Kevin Lewis, Kevin Lewis, goodness."

So Mei's still not getting over with my brother.

"And what about him?" Donna bickered back.

"You were a creep staring at him the entire time."

"Again, what is it with you?" Mei fought back.

"That was the closest I'd been with him."

"Goodness." Donna snapped.

"You should have ask for an autograph or a picture then."

By then, I popped out my head at the bathroom door.

"Right Mei, how do you know Kevin?" I asked, well I was curious.

Mei gave me a 'really' look.

"Seriously?"

"Gosh…" , she sighed.

"My family is in construction business, and who would not know the man?"

'Shoot'

So that's it.

Donna and I exchanged a knowing look then I pulled back my head, closing the bathroom door behind.

Then I froze, my eyes went round along with my mouth, unable to utter a word.

My heart stopped for a second too.

'Just what have I done?'

When I turned to look at Erika, she did the same.

Well, I accidentally knocked her arm while she's pulling out the ring on her finger while she's was.h.i.+ng in the lavatory and… and the ring flew right to the water closet just the time when I just pushed it to flush.

We both stared and waited the water to calm and still then… then the ring was gone.

I swallowed a lump as I apologetically faked a smile to the furious girl on my side.

"What have you done?!" Erika shouted.

'Gosh'

I could already imagine the ring rolling down the pipeline bound to a septic tank.

[**********]

The trip back was full of tension, even Donna and Mei seemed to respect the air around that they did not bicker and banter the whole ride.

Erika was really furious and was not talking to me even until we reached our apartment.

"Love, I will buy you another one." I pleaded.

"It won't be the same anymore!" She angrily said.

"Yes, it won't."

"But it will be valued more because…"

"…because this time, I will personally put it on you."

Her face turned gentle with that, but only a little.

And yes, last time I gave her that ring was, you know, the plan back fired so…it ended up of her, putting the ring on herself when it should be me.

'Tsk'

"I'll go to the jewelry shop tomorrow." I informed.

I got no reaction.

"I will ask Sam to recommend me the most beautiful promise ring they have." I continued.

That earned me an arched brow from my girlfriend.

"Who's Sam?"

'Yeah, who's Sam?'

"Oh, she works at the jewelry shop."

"She's the one who attended me last time."

Erika just nodded and buried her face on my chest.

"And she's a beauty." I added.

's.h.i.+t'

I shouldn't have said that.

I think a volcano just erupted.

"And you've got the nerve to say that to your girlfriend's face huh?"

'd.a.m.n'

I held her tighter.

"But she can't compare to you, okay?" I rea.s.sured.

"Was she flirting with you?" She asked pouting.

I found it childish but I won't tell her that.

"No," I answered.

"But her s.h.i.+ftmate did." I added.

Oh, I think I shouldn't have said that too.

Erika pulled away from me and narrowed her eyes.

"I'm going with you then." She uttered sternly.

I laughed at that.

"Are you jealous?" I asked.

Well, it's clear as gla.s.s though.

"No, but I would like to see who's messing with my girlfriend."

I continued to laugh while hugging her in bed.

"Sam huh…" she repeated while smirking.

"Come on, Sam wasn't flirting with me, the s.h.i.+ftmate did."

"What's her name?"

"I don't know." I shrugged.

"Her name-tag was covered with her blonde hair that time so I didn't get her name."

"So she's a blondie." Erika noted and I found that cute.

"Yeah, just like Mei's." I answered.

[***********]

We were in my car headed to the jewelry shop for the ring replacement and to my surprise Mei tag along.

"And why are you tagging along this time?" I asked Mei glancing through the rear mirror.

"Of course, I won't let my cousin to annoy the b.i.t.c.h 'alone'. "

I rolled my eyes while the two synchronically laughed.

"What's the name again?" Mei playfully asked.

"Sam?"

I sighed. "Sam is out the equation."

"The s.h.i.+fmate." Erika corrected.

"Yeah, the s.h.i.+fmate." Mei repeated.

'Gosh'

The two were like evil witches on the hunt.

Not long, we have arrived.

The sound of chimes echoed as we entered the shop.

The manager greeted us warmly and of course, I immediately looked for Sam.

And there she was, still a beauty as she was last time.

Sam emerged and greeted me just a warmly as before but… but I sensed that behind her smile there was pain, loneliness, sadness, I don't know but something of the sort as it reflected in her eyes.

Even so, I neglected it and proceeded to my business.

I turned around to consult my companions but I was caught wondering as my eyes landed to both of them.

Both stood frozen side by side and they have the strangest and most bewildered look on their faces.

So I got confused and got worried.

I tried to follow their intent gazes and it landed on a girl who wore a similar expression as them.

That's the girl who was flirting at me the last time I visited the shop; the blondie as Erika named, the s.h.i.+fmate.

Then my gaze found her name-tag…

's.h.i.+t'

"Alex…"