Chapter 48: Ice Cream Date 2

 Jason asked Marla to go in as he was about to pick the call,

"Let me get this one quick and I'll be with you in a second. Just take a seat anywhere" Jason said

"Ok, don't take too much time" she said as she walked into the ice cream parlor

Jason turned around and answered the call before it ended.

"Hello, what's up?" He asked

"Nothing much, I was just calling to check if you're good" she answered

"Yeah I'm good, what about you?" He asked

"I'm great, I'm literally going to a movie theater for the release of the newest film" she answered

"You're watching 'Mantis', with who ?" He asked

"No one actually, I'm all alone. Do you want to join me?" She asked

"Well that is going to be hard for me" Jason responded

"Wrong timing?" She asked

"Unfortunate yes, I would've loved to join you but I'm kinda caught up right now" Jason said

"It's ok, I understand. I shouldn't ambush you like that, anyways, how about another day?" She asked

"You want to meet up another day? When would that be?" He asked

"How about tomorrow after work?" She asked him

"I have a meeting after work, so I guess I'll be pretty tired. But on Saturday I guess I'll be free, since we won't be in the office this time" Jason suggested

"That sounds just about good, so Saturday it is. What time?" She asked

"Four in the evening, and don't ask where. I'll surprise you" Jason said." Now I have to go, so talk to you later" he said as he ended the call and walked in the parlor looking for where Marla had sat. After some scanning he saw her at the far end of the place in seated looking through the menu. When she saw him at the entrance, she raised her hand and waved at him. Jason waved back but first made a stop to the counter and placed an order before going to where Marla was

"I hope I didn't keep you long" he said as he sat next to her

"Not at all, I actually had some time to look at the menu. You won't believe how many things they have here" she said as she showed him the menu

"I know right, this place is like one of the few places I'd say I can order anything on the menu" Jason said as he looked at the menu. As they started talking they were served with two extra large chocolate ice creams by the waiter.

"You got me what I wanted" she said as she looked at it in delight

"I wanted to make sure I order your favorite, well now you can dig into it" Jason said

"Isn't this a bit much?" She asked

"When has ice cream ever been too much?" He answered her question with a question of his own

"Never" she replied in a way that suggested that the answer was obvious

"Then what are you waiting for, dig in" Jason said as he took his spoon and took a scoop of his icecream that was in a glass bowl. Marla followed suit and took a scoop of her icecream to. 

"Oh my God, this is delicious" she said as she took a moment to let the taste explode in her mouth awakening all her taste buds.

"This is why I brought you here" Jason said as he also took in a moment to savour the taste in his mouth 

"You've come here before?" She asked

"Of course yes, a couple of times. This is one of the few places in the city where I come to clear my thoughts" Jason said

"I can see why, have you brought anyone else here?" She asked

"What do you mean?" Jason asked before the intention of Marla's question sink in." Oh, that, no. Never have I brought someone here. I consider it as my happy place" Jason said

"If this is your happy place, why bring he here?" She asked

"Let's just say, you're one of the few people who make me happy" Jason said as he looked at her with the most comforting eyes that she has ever seen. Those mere words made her heart melt slightly but she tried hide it

"What if at one point I turn out to be not so much of a happy place for you?" She asked

"I guess then I'd have to kill you" Jason said bluntly

"What???" She asked a bit shocked at his answer

"Yeah, I'd have no other option but to kill you." Jason answered

"Tell me you're just kidding right now" Marla said as noticed that Jason still had that look his face

Jason looked at Marla intensely for a few seconds, he could see that she had started to get uncomfortable and uneasy. Suddenly he put his head on the table. Marla tried to know what he was actually doing but she was still cautious. She looked at him for about ten seconds before she noticed that he wasn't entirely still. She could see him moving, his shoulders were moving slightly. Her caution grew a bit more but mustering the little courage she had, she kind of poked him using her finger before pulling back. But her curiosity got the better part of her because she noticed that Jason's movement had changed. He was moving even more, like someone who was shivering with his face buried on the table and arms around his head

Jason's movement were becoming more severe, he looked like he was shivering but not just the normal shivering. She knew something was off, she poked again using her finger still wondering what more to do. That's when she heard smothered inaudible voices coming from him. He sounded like he was sobbing. They started to get louder and louder and that was when she realized that he wasn't sobbing. Jason wasn't sobbing at all, but this now raised her questions even more. Her previous fears started creeping back and she was suddenly caught off guard when he suddenly threw his head back to his chair and was struggling to get a breath of air. That's when she noticed what was happening, Jason wasn't having any breakdown or anything of that sort. Jason was laughing so hard that he could not even breath or speak. He was clearly trying his best to even breath as tears rolled down his face.

"You really are an ass" Marla said after realizing that he was laughing at her

"You really should have seen your face" Jason said as he tried to catch his breath. He wiped the tears on his face as he was finally getting a hold of himself

"This isn't funny" Marla said

"Come on, it's a little bit funny. I'm guessing it's because you didn't see your face freeze up when I said I'll kill you" Jason said as he muffled his laughter a bit

"Not funny" she said trying her best not to smile even though she wanted to she since Jason had clearly caught her unaware

"I wish I had taken a picture, your face was priceless" Jason said as he finally stopped laughing

"I'll get you back for this" she told him

"So you admit it was a good one?" He asked her

"No" she replied trying to avoid looking at him

"Come on, just say it" he teased her

"If I say you got me, will you promise to stop with the teasing?" She asked

"Pinky promise" he said as he pulled out his pinky

"I'm serious Jason" Marla said

"Okay okay, scout's honour" he replied with a half salute but still had the goofiest look on his face

"You got me, you happy?" She said then asked him

"Very much happy, now before you get anymore bossy, how about you eat your icecream before it gets cold" Jason said with one of his infectious smiles

"You just had to"she said as she continued eating her ice cream.