CHAPTER 55: LIVE-IN LOVER - PART 19

"Right now... aren’t we looking like that one meme?" Jeff said, as he kept standing beside Jess to make sure every guy ogling at her understood that she had a boyfriend.

"What meme?" Jess asked, unable to comprehend what Jeff was talking about, as she leaned closer to him while waiting for the escalator to take them down a floor.

"That meme with the gamer nerd guy carrying a box of PSX and other computer parts, with his sexy girlfriend standing beside him as they go down the escalator."

Remembering the meme Jeff was talking about, Jess thought they did indeed look like that in their current situation—Jeff carrying all the high-spec computer items they had just bought, including a brand-new laptop, with her standing beside him.

The difference, though, was that the gamer nerd was Jess, and the one who bought all the expensive items for her was Jeff. And to add to it—

"You’re too good-looking to be called a nerd—" Jess said, actually feeling proud of it, "—and for anyone to figure out that you’re actually a huge pervert with a sister fetish."

Jeff thought she would feel embarrassed once she understood what he was talking about, especially with all the stares from the people around them. But instead, Jess wrapped her arms around his right arm, basically telling everyone looking at them that they were in a relationship—or, to be more accurate—

"We’re like husband and wife going on a shopping date."

"Just boyfriend and girlfriend, idiot. And don’t forget, you’re just my convenient boyfriend whenever I need or want one."

Regardless of Jess’s refusal to acknowledge him as her official boyfriend or accept his previous marriage proposal, Jeff was at least sure that with everything that had happened to them, with everything he knew about her, Jess was in love with him.

Even her demand that he make amends for ignoring her for the last four years before letting him be her boyfriend only made their relationship more exciting.

"What, you got a problem?" Jess grumbled, noticing Jeff intently staring at her.

Leaning down to whisper in her ear, Jeff gave his answer.

"My only problem is concealing my you-know-what—"

"—Pervert."

After bringing all the items they bought to the shopping mall’s delivery hub to be sent later to their house, Jess and Jeff headed to a buffet at one of the mall’s restaurants for lunch.

"We could go to a more expensive restaurant, though," Jeff said, wanting to treat Jess to a more romantic, elegant date.

"What’s wrong with a buffet? The food here tastes great and there’s a lot of choices," Jess replied. "Besides, you already spent a lot on me today. You don’t have to spoil me that much."

Seeing Jess acting flustered, blushing as she looked away to hide her embarrassment, Jeff couldn’t help but want to tease her further.

"What’s wrong with a boyfriend spoiling his girlfriend?" he said, embracing Jess from behind as they lined up for the buffet.

"What are you doing? Everyone’s looking, idiot," Jess retorted. But since she didn’t say no to his approach, Jeff didn’t stop clinging to her until it was their turn to choose their meal.

Having been with Jess since childhood, Jeff knew she preferred meat more than anything else, and that she had a large appetite. Yet no matter how much she ate, she never got fat.

Which was why Jeff wondered why Jess’s plate didn’t even have half the amount of meat she usually ate.

"Are you sure that’s all you’re going to eat?"

"Do you want other people to think your girlfriend is a glutton?"

"But I love watching you eat."

Pleased with his remark, Jess increased the amount of food on her plate—at least half of what she usually ate—

"—Wait, did you just call yourself my girlfriend?"

"You’re my convenient boyfriend right now. So obviously, I’m your girlfriend too, idiot."

Delighted by the rare chance that Jess was agreeing to be his girlfriend, Jeff embraced her again, wrapping his left arm around her while holding his plate with the other.

"If I end up dropping my meal, I’m gonna beat you to death, dimwit."

Regardless of her harsh words, Jess still didn’t say no or stop him, so Jeff kept clinging to her until they reached their table.

While eating their meal, their conversation went back to when they were buying Jess’s gaming computer earlier.

"Do you really have to do that earlier?" She said, glaring at Jeff to show she was a bit annoyed about what she was talking about.

"Do what?" Jeff asked, unable to comprehend what Jess meant.

"Clinging to me the entire time while we were buying all the computer parts and the laptop."

Having known him since childhood, Jess knew Jeff really liked to cling to her, especially when they were kids. Whether it was because he had been a crybaby back then or just a pervert with hidden motives for hugging her, Jeff would always cling to her whenever she allowed him.

And even now, with everything that had happened since he returned to her side, Jess knew Jeff still loved to cling to her. Considering he had done it the entire time, and that he was sitting beside her instead of across from her at the table, it was obvious.

Of course, Jess loved being embraced by Jeff. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t get embarrassed when he embraced her in public—or, more specifically, in front of the sales clerk while they were buying computer parts earlier at the tech store.

"Of course I would do that," Jeff said. "I’m your boyfriend—"

"—Convenient boyfriend."

"—I’m your convenient boyfriend, so I’m not just gonna let another guy keep ogling my girlfriend."

"Huh?"

Explaining his reason, Jeff told Jess that the sales clerk who assisted them at the tech store had been ogling her the entire time.

How did he know?

"Because I’m also a man—"

"—A pervert," Jess cut in, glaring at him as if daring him to see what would happen if he didn’t correct himself.

With that, Jeff was left with no choice. Even though he felt a bit embarrassed with other people overhearing their conversation and now looking at him, waiting for him to correct himself, he went along.

"Because I’m also a pervert who looks at you with the same lustful eyes."

—clap! clap! clap!—

A round of applause came from the guys nearby who overheard their conversation, while envious glares were directed at Jess from the girls.

After finishing their meal, it was time to head to the next destination of their date, which they hadn’t planned or decided yet.

"So, where do you want to go next, Jess?"

Even though she wanted to do it with Jeff later at the hotel, Jess still wanted to spend more time with him and do a lot of things before their date came to an end.

They could watch a movie at the cinema, play games at the arcade like they used to, leave the shopping mall and stroll through different stores outside, or even just take a leisurely walk and rest at the park.

Unable to choose, Jess left the decision to Jeff.

"Then let’s go to a place that you would definitely love."