Mission XX: Seducing The Great Seducer

"If it is nothing then let me see your hands," Catherine said as she slowly stood up from the couch. Without giving a hint she swiftly turned back and snatch what Jasmine had hidden behind her. She was surprised when she saw that it was a gift box.

"I thought you said you weren't hiding anything, so what is this?" Catherine said as she extends her hand which was holding onto the gift box.

"I bought it for you as your birthday gift but I was afraid you wouldn't like it. Within these eight years of our friendship, I have given you so many gifts to the point that thinking about the idea of what I haven't given you is exhausting. I wanted to give a perfect gift, something you would love and I cracked my head for months but I couldn't come up with anything special....,"

"Jasmine, you know you don't have to always give me gifts on my birthday. Our friendship is the best gift you have ever given me so there is no need to crack your head to search for a perfect gift when you have already given me that eight years ago," Catherine said as she smiles at her.

"How could I not give you a gift on your birthday? That is not possible," Jasmine said as she sat down on the couch.

"There is no way I wouldn't give my best friend a birthday gift on such a special day...,"

"You have already gotten one for me so why are you frowning? You know I will always love what you give me," Catherine said as she sat down beside her.

"I know but I am not very satisfied with the gift so give it to me, I will give you something more amazing than this," Jasmine said as she stretches her hand to collect the blue box from Catherine's hand but Catherine quickly retracts her hand before Jasmine could snatch the box from her.

"You have already given it to me so why do you want to take it back? I will cherish whatever you give me," Catherine said as she gently opens the box. She turned to stare at Jasmine when she got a full view of the gift.

"See, I told you that you wouldn't like it. I bought you a car on your 20th birthday, I should have known that buying you the latest sports car wasn't a great idea. I can't believe how stupid...," Catherine hugged her before she could finish scolding herself.

"Thank you, Jasmine," Catherine said as she pats her back. Jasmine was surprised to hear her words so she abruptly pulled out of her embrace to confirm something.

"You like the gift?" Jasmine asked in confusion.

"Jasmine, are you silly? How could I not like a gift in which the price is equivalent to that of a mansion? Of course, I love your gift," Catherine said smiling broadly.

"Thank goodness you love the gift. I was so anxious that the gift wouldn't be to your liking. I even thought you will reject it like you rejected the mansion I bought for you but I am so happy that for the first time I guessed your thoughts wrong," Jasmine said as she heaved a sigh of relief.

"I would love to reject it....,"

"Hey, girl don't try it because I am gonna get so mad if it repeats itself for the third time. Forget ignoring you but our friendship might suffer because of your decision so think carefully about your decision," Jasmine said subconsciously standing up to her feet.

"Jasmine let me at least finish my sentence before you get mad at me ok?" Catherine said as she pulled her by the hand. She made the still angry Jasmine sits down.

"I meant to say that I would love to reject it but I know that my Jasmine will murder me if I dare reject the gift that is why I will accept it. Despite that, the gift is super expensive it is the thought behind that gift I am after and not the price of the gift...,"

"I know what you are trying to say. The reason you always rejected those super expensive gifts is because you think that people will think that you are a materialistic friend. You are afraid that they will say that you became my friend because of my family's wealth but I know that is not true. My Cat isn't after my wealth, I know that so stop caring about what others will think or say. Be like me who doesn't give a damn about their nonsense words," Jasmine said as she winked naughtily at Catherine.

"Jasmine, do you know that you sometimes act like someone who has bipolar disorder?" Catherine asked playfully.

"You are not the first person to tell me that, so I know. Despite that people out there think of me like this I don't care. Don't you know that life will be very boring without these different shades of me?" Jasmine said with an air of indifference as she stands up.

"You are right about that. Although you can be very naughty and uncontrollable sometimes, I like seeing these different sides of you...,"

"I know you do so stand up and let's go," Jasmine said as she pulled Catherine up from the couch.

The two ladies both adorned in a pair of jeans trousers and a comfortable shirt both headed downstairs with their chain handbags in their hands. Jasmine wore a pair of blue jeans while Catherine wore a black one. The two friends wore a white shirt but the shirt wasn't identical. Because of the type of games they wanted to play they wore sneakers instead of their usual high heels.

The moment they climbed down from the stairs, a visitor arrived. Jasmine who never expected any visitor that day was surprised to see the guy.

"Are those for me?" Jasmine asked staring at the bouquet of roses in his hands.

"I guess they are not for me," Jasmine said when she saw the way Jeff was staring at Catherine. Seeing that Jeff had something to say to Catherine, she went to sit down on the couch leaving them together.

Jeff walked closer to her and stretched his hand to hand the bouquet to her.

"Happy birthday, Catherine," Jeff said smiling at her. Catherine turned and shot a murderous glance at Jasmine staring at them.

"It wasn't me. I didn't tell him anything about your birthday, believe me," Jasmine quickly defended herself.

"Jasmine did not tell me about your birthday," Jeff quickly vindicated Jasmine.

"Thank you but I can't accept the flowers," Catherine said in a serious tone to the disappointment of the smiling Jeff.

"Cat, he isn't asking you to marry him so just accept the flowers. Besides haven't you always prioritised the givers intention more than the price of the gift, don't tell me you are rejecting his gift because you think that it is not that expensive?" Jasmine asked.

"You...," The speechless Catherine pointed accusing fingers at Jasmine for shamelessly siding with Jeff.

"If you don't want either of us to think that is your reason for rejecting his gift then just accept it," Jasmine added in a firm tone.

"Thank you so much for the gift. I didn't firstly reject your gift because of the price like Jasmine said. She is just kidding around. I did not accept your gift earlier because I didn't want any misinterpretation of feelings," Catherine said as she accepted the bouquet of roses from him.

"I understand," Jeff said in a calm tone.

"I was thinking that we could hang out today, what do you say about that?" Jeff asked in a gentle tone before she could walk away. The way he acted was so like his usual lively self and the two ladies noticed it.

What the hell is wrong with him? Has her first rejection traumatised him to the point of making him timed?

Jasmine thought her eyes glued on Jeff's face.

"Sorry, but Jasmine and I were about to go out before you arrived...,"

"Cat, you can go out with him. We have always hanged out together on your birthday so go out with him for a change. I am sure spending time with him will be more fun and adventurous than spending it with me," Jasmine interrupted her yet again. Her words earned a disapproving gaze from him.

Catherine walked over to where Jasmine was sitting without giving Jeff a reply.

"Jasmine, what is wrong with you? Why are you trying to pair us together? He might get the wrong impression about my feelings for him," Catherine whispered into Jasmine's ears.

"Didn't you say you want me to give love a second chance, so it is a deal on my part. But only on the condition that you will give love a chance. Is it a deal on your side?" Jasmine said as she stares at her for answers.

"Are you sure of what you said? You are not lying to me right?" Catherine asked suspiciously. Her best friend she knew would never agree to fall in love again so Jasmine agreeing so easily to her earlier wishes was something unimaginable.