Chapter 619 Special Feelings (1/2)

”Hey, why can't I show up here? Why so surprised?” It was Maranda. ”And now you're here at the mall, shopping, without even telling me!” she exclaimed accusingly.

Before more words started to spill out of Maranda, Jean replied, ”I know you're always with Ron, and the two of you are inseparable and totally in love and all that. I don't want to take up your time with Ron.” Jean gave a dramatic pout and looked at Maranda. ”I've thought about asking you out sometimes,” she continued. ”But I keep thinking that Ron might get mad at me... or that you'll think I'm asking too much from you.” After finishing her words, Jean burst into laughter.

Hearing that, Maranda let her eyes drop to the floor. ”Is that what you're worried about?” Maranda tried to say in between her giggles. ”No, Ron's almost always busy with his work. You should have just called me in the first place!” Maranda said as she flung her arms around Jean. Just then, Maranda saw the man standing close by Jean. ”Oh, who's he?” she asked.

”Oh right,” Jean replied. ”Uhm, this is my friend from elementary school. Maranda, this is Ronald. Ronald, meet Maranda.” Jean's face flushed with embarrassment; she had forgotten that Ronald was still there.

”Hello.”

”Hi.”

After their quick introductions, silence awkwardly dragged on. The three of them looked at each other expectantly.

”So...” Maranda finally said. ”You were here shopping with an old friend?”

”Oh, no. It's nothing like that,” Jean quickly denied. ”We just bumped into each other, that's all. Actually, it's been about fifteen years since we've last seen each other.”

”Wow, fifteen years?” Maranda's eyes widened, her eyebrows arching. ”And you haven't seen each other until now?” Her voice was filled with surprise.

”Yeah, not once...” Jean replied.

”How would you even recognize each other at a place like this, with so many people? And to think. Fifteen years! Surely both of you barely look like your childhood selves. It's a good thing you two somehow remember each other,” Maranda continued. ”I mean even if that sounds impossible. You two must have been really good friends,”

Maranda looked at Jean and Ronald with awe and speculation.

Jean paused. Now she also thought that it really was a bit unbelievable that her path would only now cross with Ronald's, and that they'd still be able to recognize each other.

'Well, she has a point there, ' Jean thought to herself. She looked over at the corner of her eye, and saw Ronald was starting to get a bit uncomfortable.

”Never mind that. Are you here to go shopping or to find something to gossip about?”

Jean asked, her patience starting to waver.