Armando wasn't a snack person. He just used an ancient ceramic vase painted with plum blossoms as a trash can. When the lid was opened, a fragrance of plum blossoms emanated from it.
People would be reluctant to throw rubbish in such a can, but not for Janessa. She threw away those seed shell into it and began to peel off those chestnuts.
She looked pure like a fairy, but actually she was carefree and reckless. She would act on an impulse and do things in free style. She would be kind if she was happy, but vice versa. Dated back to those days when Armando followed her, the first thing he had to learn was to observe her mood change. That was why Armando could know everything that Janessa would be dissatisfied with when she frowned or pouted her mouth.
At this moment, Janessa shrugged her shoulders. Armando padded a pillow for her back. Then, he continued to peel the chestnuts, because he knew that Janessa did not like to do such things. She only liked to be served.
Sure enough, when she saw Armando peeled chestnut, she just sat there waiting for peeled chestnuts. For a time, it was peaceful and there only came the sound of peeling chestnuts.
While Janessa was waiting for the peeled chestnuts, her eyes wandered around Armando. Armando, who had short hair at that time, wasn't the one he used to be. He wasn't that little boy who used to follow her, but was ... a man. Greenish beard stubble grew around his lips. It wasn't a boy's fluffy beard. The stubble, hard and prickly, was a symbol of man.
"Janessa?" Armando put the peeled chestnuts on her palm and said.
"Huh?" Janessa raised her head. He had been standing there. Then, he took a few steps forward and bent down slightly. He was very close to Janessa. Then he seemed to feel it was offensive, so he took steps back.
"I want to hug you, could I?"
Yesterday when they got off the car, he hugged her, but that only happened in a few seconds. Time was so short and he was in panic. Besides, it happened in wrong time and at wrong place, but at this point, the atmosphere was so good and no one could disturb them. Therefore, the same evil thought surfaced again.
The first desire popped up in his mind was to hug her.
He lowered his head and continued to peel the chestnuts. "If you feel you are bothered, just pretend that you didn't hear me. I ... I..."
Janessa did not know what she should do, because she knew if he hugged her directly, she may not rebuffed him with struggles, because she didn't want to embarrass him. Fortunately, he still remembered to show his respect to her and ask for permission before he gave the hug.
Janessa, of course, rejected him. She chose to turn a deaf ear to him, but, in fact, she was on edge. After this, Armando had been lowering his head. She knew that he was somewhat disappointed and he just did not show it. When the peeled chestnuts were handed to her, Armando forced a faint smile.
Janessa felt a little uncomfortable. She stood up and said, "I'm a little thirsty. I'll go down."
That was her excuse to leave.
Armando didn't ask her to stay. It was a luxury for him to have her in his room. He had prepared for the worst, but when reality was revealed to them ... Janessa just pretended that nothing had happened. There was no kiss in that night, no confession, no....
There was nothing.
"You, well ... Are there good movies that you want to watch? I can watch them with you." When she reached the door, Janessa couldn't help but look back at him and asked.
In any case, she wouldn't stay for a long time. Why not spending more time with him? It may ease her anxiety.
Armando was stunned for a moment and then he nodded in ecstasy, "Yes!"
Janessa smiled and said, "What do you want to drink? I'll bring it here for you."
"Anything you like." Armando's mind was running on selecting movies.
He thought of someone. As soon as Janessa left, he called Jaquan and asked, "Jaquan, do you have any good movies to recommend?"
Jaquan asked mischievously, "To watch with your Janessa?"
"Yes...."
"The Invincible is most suitable."
Armando was lost for words.
Armando turned on his computer and projector. He scolded Jaquan, "Be serious."
Although Janessa ill-impressed Jaquan in the incident at Mount Phoenix, yet Jaquan changed his attitude towards her after having meals with her. Jaquan began to know she was fine and had no arrogant temperament of those young ladies. She was good-looking and had strong moral sense. He could find fault with her on nothing except that she didn't Arabella.
"Just choose one she likes. Thrillers, comedies and romantic movies. Which genre does she like?"
Armando had an axe to grind, so he whispered, "The romantic movies."
Jaquan did not tell Armando's hidden thoughts. Jaquan pondered for a moment and said, "Well, 'The Titanic', 'The Flipped', Roman Holidays', and 'The Chinese Odyssey'."
Armando asked, "Isn't 'The Chinese Odyssey' a comedy?"
Jaquan was mad. "It's a romantic movie! Don't you know the Monkey King deeply loves the nymph?"
Words failed Armando again.
Armando chose a few movies and read their introduction. The Titanic was a tragedy and he didn't like. The protagonists in The Flipped were too young. He wouldn't choose them. As for Roman holidays ... its plot was boring to him, not to mention to Janessa. In the end, he had only one alternative ... The Chinese Odyssey.
He hesitated for a moment, but e-mailed to take counsel with Randy.
Before long, Randy sent over a movie's name: "Forrest Gump."
Later, Randy replied again, "Dude, be a man. You know I have a contest and you ... you should have the mood to watch a love drama? Why don't you just watch porno?"
Armando replied embarrassedly, "It's not good. I'm not ready yet."
Randy was lost for words.
At this moment, Janessa was fetching some drinks downstairs. She drank a glass of peach juice, and then put a bottle of one on the tray. She took two cups and ready to go upstairs.
Armando's mother saw her and asked, "Do you drink these with Armando?"
Janessa nodded.
"He doesn't like peach juice. Just give him a bottle of mineral water." Armando's mother, Cynthia, opened the freezer. There placed an orderly raw of mineral water. She took a bottle of water and handed it over to Janessa.
Janessa was at a loss for a while and then she took it.
Cynthia saw that Janessa changed her expression, so she asked, "What's wrong?"
"I didn't know that Armando only drinks mineral water. He wasn't a picky drinker when he went out with me." Janessa moved her lips, as if she was forcing a smile. At that point, she had mixed feelings.
"Really? Maybe, he is happy to be with you." Cynthia smiled and then sighed when she thought of something. "Indeed, you are the closest one to him in the family. He has been back for so long, but he doesn't even like to spend time with me. Guess what? I just asked why he had that haircut, however, he was mad at me and left home for a month."
"He was unreasonable. Cynthia, don't be angry." Janessa comforted her.
Cynthia pulled Janessa and secretively said, "I'm not angry. I just feel that he falls in love with a girl."
"Ah?" Janessa was so surprised that she almost dropped the tray in her hand.
"It's unimaginable to you, isn't it?" Cynthia whispered, "Words between you and me. Last time, I eavesdropped he was chatting with a girl when I was at the door."
"Ah?" Janessa was really surprised. Was Armando chatting with a girl in his room?
"That's right. I was also surprised at that time. Later, I found it was a voice message. He checked that voice message for several times. I pressed my ear on the door, but I couldn't catch all the content of that message, just a little bit ... like 'Don't worry' ... 'came back' ... It's been too long, and I can't remember it clearly. Anyway, I'm sure that it's a girl's voice. He checked the message for several times." Cynthia pointed at the sofa again. "Someday, I even catch him checking that message with headphones. When I went over to ask him, he got up and left. He must be afraid that I would discover it, so I have to pretend that I don't know the whole thing. Don't tell him that I found it."
Janessa stood there with her mind being in turmoil.
"Don't worry. I'll be back for the New Year, Armando...."
That was the only voice message she sent to him.
When Janessa knocked on the door and entered the room, Armando had already drawn down all curtains. It was dark in the room, and she could only see the light from the projector. Armando walked to the door and took the tray in Janessa's hand. He gently pushed her to the bed and let her sit down. Then, he walked over to play the movie.
He poured peach juice into a glass and served it to her.
As Janessa looked at the glass of peach juice in her hand, Cynthia's words edged into her mind. She then passed the glass to Armando, as if to confirm something, "Take a sip."
Armando took a sip like a lamb.
"Is it good?" She asked.
"Yes."
Janessa was disappointed. She said, "I don't want to drink it."
"I'll change the glass." Armando thought that she refused the drink because he had used the glass."
Janessa didn't want to explain. When Armando took peach juice with a new glass, she just waved her hand and said, "I don't want to have it."
Armando was not mad. He just put it back.
Janessa hated him being so obedient. At that moment, she really wanted to storm out of the room, but Armando was looking at her with his burning eyes and said, "It's just like a dream."
He carefully picked a seat for himself. Actually, he wanted to sit close to Janessa, but he was hesitant. The light of the projector brightened his face. He had short hair and bushy eyebrows. Actually, he was still the boy in her impression. However, for some reason, all had changed.
"May I sit next to you?"
He seemed to be cautious and pitiful, but who could tell that it wasn't his plan?
"I'll take your silence as your tacit assent." He leaned over and touched her with his arm. He did it casually, but his arm never moved away.
Janessa stared at the projector and suddenly turned her head to look at Armando. It was a pair of eyes full of lust. In fact, his burning gaze never left her. He was like a caged beast found its prey.