Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman novel Chapter 619

"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.

Maranda glanced at Ronald. In an attempt to make the mood lighter, she put her tongue out at Jean. "Well, since we're all here and it's a very hot day," Maranda changed the topic quickly, "why don't we all go out for drinks?"

Jean looked at Ronald and raised an eyebrow, as if to ask whether or not he's game.

Roland looked at his watch nervously. "You know what," he said, "I'd better go. I forgot that I have other plans." In truth, Ronald felt uncomfortable around Maranda. He didn't quite like how she probed with her questions. "Hey, Jean," he turned to Jean as he pulled his phone out of his back pocket. "Can I get your WeChat? You know, for next time we're free so we can catch up some more."

"Yeah, of course. You're going back to Canada soon, right? Yeah, we should hang out some more before you leave." Jean took Ronald's phone and added herself on his WeChat. In no time, she handed it back to him. They said their goodbyes, and soon Ronald went on his way.

When he had walked a good distance away from the two girls, Maranda turned to Jean. "Are you sure about that Roland fellow? I mean, he may just be some creep claiming to know you," Maranda said and glanced back at Ronald who was now far away.

"I've already told you earlier. We've known each other before. An old friend. Can you stop prying?"

Jean snapped at Maranda. She walked over to an ice cream stand nearby, Maranda shadowing her steps.

"Don't you think it's weird? Do you know why he wanted to leave so soon? I mean you two had just met again after so many years. Wouldn't he have wanted to spend more time with you?" Maranda speculated as she sat down beside Jean.

"Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, he left because of you," Jean sighed, looking at Maranda implicitly. She called attention to a waiter passing by and ordered a glass of orange juice. Maranda ordered strawberry. The waiter jotted down their orders.

"What? What did I do?" Maranda asked defensively when the waiter had left. "You want to know what I think? I think that Mr. Classmate-From-Fifteen-Years-Ago likes you," she continued, a smug smile formed on her lips.