Chapter 277: Apologies (3)
"Have you extended your stay here?" Meredith asked.
Jake nodded. "Yeah. For a week."
"Me too," Meredith replied. 'OMG! A week! So many things can happen! We were so close to kissing, but I can't bring myself to talk about it! He also said he wanted to meet Loe Loe to thank her!
I recently used her nickname too many times! Ah, I'm so unlike myself because of him! It's all Jake's fault! This rogue!'
Jake stuffed his breakfast in his mouth. He wasn't in a mood to eat, but just sitting and nothing else with Meredith would be weird. She ordered a lot since it was at his expense.
Pancakes, scrambled eggs, toasts, and more, along with lots of orange juice, were perched before ravenous Meredith.
Jake didn't know where she had room to store all of that. "You have an abyss in your stomach?"
"All goes into breasts and thighs," Meredith replied as a matter of fact. 'OMG! Why did I say that?!'
Since her assertive self had come to terms with her complex, Meredith knew most men would fancy her chest.
For that reason, her assertive self didn't take much offense when her chest snatched the other gender's attention and even thought of showing more of it to Jake.
Her real self also had overcome that complex briefly before Meredith realized how indecent she had sounded.
Thankfully, she kept all to herself.
"I exercise and practice yoga," Meredith added. "I didn't have time for that as of late because of the tournament and preparations, though."
"I do common stuff and run mostly in the mornings," Jake replied. "You could teach me yoga."
"We'll find time for it," Meredith smiled.
"I also wanted to go to a concert here before returning home. I got more than one ticket because of Damien, but he can go somewhere else with Liza. Sounds good?" Jake asked.
"Yes," Meredith nodded. 'Yes, yes, yes! I always wanted to go to a concert but was so scared!'
The easiest way to elate Meredith was to take her to a historic square. Jake already planned to get her back to this place and see the rest of the monuments and remnants of the past.
She'd have a blast, and he would get a new burden lifted off his heart.
"How will we meet in the game?" Jake asked. "And European players must be excited to see our server after hearing our interviews… Casual Clowns about to get new haters."
"Think more about Justin and your apologies," Meredith said after wiping her lips with a handkerchief.
Jake smiled, "I did all I could have done… and there's only so much I can say. I will genuinely apologize, so you don't have to worry about it. Think more about our future."
"I believe you," Meredith replied. "We can't ask a game master for tickets because of the community backlash. You want to stream and put your heart into that, so you can't spend too much time with me. You must think of your career and not waste your victory's momentum. The only idea I have is to cross the ocean, but even high-level players can't do that yet."
Jake wanted to tell her he didn't mind wasting his momentum for her, but he could see Meredith entering that mood, which he couldn't name. He didn't want to call her mommy, either.
But that mood left such a stamp on him that he began to see boundaries much easier.
Meredith would prefer him to focus on his future instead of her, too.
Jake sighed. "You heard about Antarctica, right?"
Meredith nodded. "You mentioned it to other game masters."
"We could try going over there," Jake said.
"What makes you think it's easier to enter Antarctica?" Meredith asked.
"It's different from other continents, and there's a game master scheming something in there. If we combine those factors, he should have a view of others trying to enter his server. Antarctica sounds like a good place for the first stream, too. For example, I could make a snowman with you and my companions there."
"A snowman! Haha!" Meredith curved her lips up, grinning.
Jake chuckled. "You're so sweet."
"Ah, shut it. How many times will you tell me that?" Meredith asked.
It wasn't the first time Jake said the exact same words. It didn't trigger her, though.
Jake grinned, "For so long until I see that sweetest woman again."
'You're so intrusive, my rogue! It's strange how I don't hate it! It makes my heart flutter so nicely that I don't fear my real self getting exposed! It's so nice! Hehe, call me sweet more!' Meredith thought. "You'll struggle."
"But you like it, don't you?" Jake leaned closer.
Meredith threw a side glance at him and nodded. "Your other cheek would hurt you if I didn't."
"Haha!" Jake burst out laughing.
A particular couple rained down his parade then.
It was Mary and Robert.
Their presence wasn't so welcoming.
Jake rolled his eyes as he saw them coming toward them. Beside him, Meredith nearly choked on her food as she realized that Jake's family was approaching them.
She gulped down the food and wiped off her lips.
She even found time to put on a glistening lipstick on her lips.
Jake bit his lips when he saw hers glittering like that.
He turned his head over to Mary and Robert.
He said, "This woman is stupid, so ignore her. Just know her name. It's Mary. The man next to her is Robert, her boyfriend, and he's a good guy held back by the useless sister of mine."
Mary gasped. Her countenance screamed, "You dare?!"
Robert warmly smiled.
A hint of awkwardness could be seen in him.
He introduced himself to Meredith. She also reciprocated and correctly introduced herself. Since all four hailed from countries with native English, the greetings were smooth and fluent.
Jake arched his head back and hollered, "You'd better hire a famous and known estate guy."
Mary growled, "I will."
She was… quite docile today.