A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"I'm here to see if you are staying up late," Jacob answered, seeming concerned, squinting at the girl in front of him.
The girl was dressed in a baby-pink rabbit onesie, which was selected by Jacob. With bunny ears on the hood and a small cotton
tail at back, the onesie suited Emily perfectly.
'Wow... She's just absolutely adorable, ' Jacob thought.
"I wasn't going to stay up late, but I need to go out for something important," said Emily, as she tried to push Jacob away to walk
out the door. She was leaving in a hurry so she had no time to explain anything to him.
However, her effort was in vain, because Jacob grabbed her from behind and carried her back in his arms. "It's past midnight.
Where are you going? What happened?" asked Jacob.
"I..." Emily struggled to get out of his arms, but failed. Frustrated, she sighed and explained reluctantly,"My best friend Rita, I
think you've met her once, needs my help with an urgent matter. I must go and check whether she is all right or not."
"So that's the reason why you have to go out at midnight? For a girl?"
Emily was surprised to find some jealousy in Jacob's voice; she stared at him and nodded,"What do you expect?"
The next minute, Jacob bit into her lips as if to punish her.
"I will not allow you to go outside, not at this hour."
"I have to go. What if something bad happens to her?"
With a discontented look on his face, Jacob retorted with an unpleasant tone,"She is not a baby. As an adult, she should be able
to take care of herself, instead of being taken care of by you; you little twerp."
"Why are you being so unreasonable?" Emily did not want to talk to Jacob any more. She punched him in the chest and
yelled,"Let me go. You have no right to interfere with my freedom and my life. Do you understand?"
Jacob, however, did not let go of Emily. Instead, he held Emily tighter in his arms. 'What is she talking about? How could Emily
care more about another girl than me?' Jacob thought.
His thoughts were interrupted as Emily dug her nails into his arms,"If you don't let me go, I will..."

Emily was about to say "I will move back to my apartment", but before she could finish, Jacob lifted her closer as if she were a
little puppy, and stared at her with affection in his eyes.
"Where is she?"
"What?"
Jacob brushed Emily's hair between his fingers and continued in a disgruntled way,"I will come with you."
After all, how could he allow Emily to go outside alone at midnight?
As soon as he said that, Emily smiled from ear to ear,"Thank you, Jacob."
"Why not show your gratitude by kissing me," Jacob took a chance to take advantage of the situation.
Emily pondered and nodded to herself,"Then I think I'd rather take back my gratitude to you."
Baffled, Jacob was at a loss for words.
'What a cunning girl!'
Since they did not have time to change clothes, they both just put on coats, turned on the air-conditioning system in the car and
left home. On the way, Emily took off her coat because the temperature in the car was getting warmer, exposing her slender and
delicate legs.
Jacob cast a short glance at her; in his eyes flashed a trace of displeasure. He then pulled the coat to cover her legs and turned
away to continue driving the car.
When they arrived at the place Rita had told Emily about, Emily saw that Rita was sitting on a bench, through the window. With
her face buried between the knees and arms clasped round them, Rita was trembling in the cold of the night wind, and her
appearance looked somewhat forlorn and lonely.
'What happened to Rita?'
Emily was so worried that as soon as the car stopped, she quickly opened the door, but just when she was about to jump off the
car, someone stopped her from behind.
She turned round, and found Jacob clutching the long bunny ears on her hood, stopping her from getting off the car.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" 'Why does Jacob always treat me like a child?' angry and anxious, Emily gave Jacob a
ferocious stare.
Jacob's look suddenly turned hard and somber,"It's cold outside. Put on your coat before you get out of the car."
Emily was surprised by his words; she felt like her anger was suddenly put out by his considerate words because she had totally
misunderstood his kindness. In an embarrassed tone she said,"Okay."
Jacob flouted, and released Emily as he turned his face away from Emily—It seemed like he was angry for some reason.
Guilt-ridden, Emily put on the coat without another word, got off the car quickly and ran towards Rita.
Jacob was expecting to hear Emily's apology, but there was only silence behind him. He turned round only to find that Emily had
already gotten off the car. Filled with anger, he also got off the car and ran after Emily.
Rita did not notice Emily approaching; she seemed to be immersed in her own thoughts. Not until Emily called out her name that
she raised her head slowly.
Emily was startled by Rita's red eyes when she raised her head,"What happened to you, Rita? What's the matter with you?"
Emily's impression of Rita was that she was an independent, capable and experienced girl with a strong will. Emily never saw
her crying like this.
"Emily, I don't want to talk about it right now." Rita wiped the tears off her face, and said in a hoarse voice.
Rita's words made Emily's heart ache. Moreover, she felt guilty because she couldn't do anything for her friend to make her feel
better. In the end Emily nodded,"Okay, let's get in the car first. It's cold out here."
During that time, it wasn't so cold in the day, as autumn was just at the door, but at night it would get really cold.
Emily touched Rita and found that her hands were as cold as ice. Without hesitation she took off her own coat and put it on Rita.
Before long, Emily was covered by a man's coat. A strong smell of manliness surrounded her, and the warmth from the coat not
only warmed her body, but also warmed her heart.
Emily turned round and found Jacob standing behind her with a scowling look,"Jacob, you..."

"I don't want to talk to a twerp."
Emily was speechless.
She was just moved by Jacob's affectionate gesture, but his words turned her impression the other way.
It was at this moment that Rita noticed Jacob. She looked at the pajamas Jacob and Emily were wearing, and suddenly realized
something was going on between them. In an apologetic manner she said,"Sorry to have disturbed you."
Immediately, Emily assured,"No, it's not what you think..."
Rita gave Emily the "I know everything" look and smiled,"No need to explain."
Emily choked up at Rita's expression, 'What is Rita talking about? I can't figure it out!'
"Let's go."
Jacob had no interest in waiting out there in the cold. He put his arms around Emily's shoulders peremptorily and walked towards
the car.
Once all of them got into the car, Jacob started the car and turned on the radio to play classical piano music. For a moment an
awkward silence fell into the car, except for the music.
Emily had planned to take the back seat with Rita, but Jacob insisted that she sit in the front passenger's seat. She could only
look at Rita through the rear view mirror. To her relief, there seemed to be nothing wrong with Rita at that moment.
"Hey, Jacob," Emily turned back at Jacob and whispered,"Could you let Rita stay at your home tonight?"
Jacob answered with no hesitation,"No."
Emily suddenly became disappointed,"Why?"
"Because she could stay in a hotel."
'What is Emily talking about? The door of my house is not open for all, ' Jacob thought.
Emily implored,"She looks pretty bad now. I am afraid that she will do something silly if she is left alone. Can you just do me this
favor..."

"No," Jacob declined once again, in a stern voice.