42

Jack.
After I returned from the island, we all went to Maya’s house, but Selena left us, informing us that she was done with the situation, accepting the harsh reality that Tomas and Jennifer would be together forever. It felt like a weight had settled over the room, heavy and suffocating.
“And what about you, Jack?! Are you really going to ignore Jennifer and abandon her for Tomas?” Maya asked me, her voice filled with concern and frustration, her brow furrowed deeply.
“Absolutely not!” I grunted, my resolve firm, though inside I was a tempest of emotions.
“Then we need to talk. We have to come together and come up with some plans. This is not going to be as simple as I thought it would be,” Maya insisted, her eyes pleading for my cooperation, her urgency palpable in the air.
I nodded in agreement, though a sense of dread settled in my stomach. “Okay, but not today, Maya. I need to go home and collect my thoughts. I’ll return tomorrow, and we can discuss everything then,” I replied, trying to keep my emotions in check, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.
As I left Maya’s house, heading toward my own, I stopped at a restaurant I used to visit with Jennifer. It was a place filled with memories, and the thought of stepping inside sent a rush of nostalgia through me. I opened the door and sat at our usual table, staring around, feeling a wave of longing wash over me. It was an Indian restaurant, and Jennifer had always said how much she loved the culture, the food, and the people. She enjoyed immersing herself in their lives, even if it was just for a short while.
I remembered the day she had asked me to dance with her in this very restaurant. The owners and the Indian patrons would always greet her warmly, and on that day, the place was reserved for a private Indian wedding. But when she arrived, they welcomed her and invited her to join them. She was laughing and dancing like a carefree spirit, and I couldn’t help but smile at her joy. Her laughter echoed in my mind, and her radiant smile was permanently etched in my heart.
The aroma of spices in the air reminded me of the countless times we spent together, and I felt a pang of longing and regret. We used to do everything side by side. She was always there at my meetings, my community events, and my shows, inspiring me every moment. She took care of my clothes and prepared my meals, making my life feel complete and whole.
The vivid memories of her in that stunning red dress flooded back to me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that weighed heavily on my conscience. I knew I had hurt her deeply, and I regretted not expressing my true feelings for her. I thought I was protecting her by distancing myself, thinking that it would shield her from the media frenzy surrounding us. But now, the news was all about her, and I felt like a fool for believing she would wait for me.
I didn’t expect it would be so hard to forget her. I thought that by sleeping with other women and keeping myself busy, I could push her out of my mind. I didn’t cheat on her, but I couldn’t be selfish-her reputation would have been ruined if I had stayed with her longer, and I convinced myself that this was for the best.
As I sat there, my mind raced with thoughts of her. I couldn’t escape her presence; it felt like she was everywhere around me. I could almost hear her breathing and laughter surrounding me like a comforting blanket. I had to get out of this place before the memories suffocated me. I needed to find clarity, to figure out how to reclaim what I had lost before it was too late.
I drove home, my mind swirling with memories of Jennifer. I glanced at the car I had bought, the one she had helped me choose. I remembered asking her what kind of car she liked, and she had picked this one! How could she be so naive? How could she believe I would betray her with another man?
How could she think I was gay after all the intimate moments we shared? I knew I had been arrogant and reckless, but she saw through my bravado. She understood me better than I understood myself, and that realization stung deeply.
As I arrived home, I wandered through the garden, looking at the white flowers blooming brightly. I recalled how she would always pick a single white flower each morning and place it on the dining table. I remembered asking her why she chose just one, and she had replied, “Because I want our life together to be simple and beautiful, without conflict. I want each day with you to be a new beginning, filled with joy.”
Her words echoed in my mind, and I realized how deeply I had fallen for her. I remembered our first trip together, flying to a concert where she clung to my hand for the entire journey, afraid to let go as if I might slip away.
I could still picture her attempting to make breakfast for the first time, nearly burning the house down. She would fall asleep watching TV, forgetting about the food in the microwave. When I yelled at her, she’d burst into tears, apologizing profusely. That was when I learned about her past in an orphanage, how she had never really cooked for anyone but had wanted to impress me.
I walked to her old room, a space she had transformed with toys and candy, painting the walls a soft pink. I remembered how happy she was when I agreed to her requests, her laughter ringing in my ears, making my heart ache with longing.
But now, she was with Tomas, a man I knew was dangerous and unpredictable. The mafia lord had an army at his disposal; he could hurt her or even kill me without hesitation. I had to find a way to make him break up with her without causing her pain. I was so confused, and I couldn’t tell if she still had feelings for me, or if she had truly moved on.
In the end, I resolved to go to Maya and put some plans in motion. I needed Jennifer back in my life, no matter the cost.
After a few hours of wallowing in memories of Jennifer, my agent arrived, interrupting my thoughts.
“Where have you been, Jack? What the hell are you doing?! I’ve been looking for you everywhere! How can you just disappear like this?” he said, his voice a mix of concern and irritation, his brow knitted tightly.
I raised my head from the couch, giving him an irritated look. “What do you want from me?” I yelled, my frustration boiling over like a pot about to spill.
“What?!” He scoffed, approaching me with a mix of disbelief and annoyance. “What do you mean, Jack?! I’m your agent, and I care about your career! Do you have any idea how many shows I’ve canceled because of you over the past few days? You’re costing me a fortune!”
I stood up and stepped away from him, trying to avoid his piercing gaze. I opened the door of my house, crossing my arms defensively. “I don’t care! Now get out of my house!” I shouted, my voice echoing in the empty space.
“What?! Why?” he yelled, clearly taken aback, his eyes wide with shock.
I turned to face him, my anger flaring like a wildfire. “Because you’re the reason I lost Jennifer! Your twisted mind convinced me I should protect her by pushing her away and telling her I was involved with you! You pressured me into that ridiculous photo, and now she’s gone! Just go to hell, and consider yourself fired! I never want to see your face again!”
“You can’t do that,” he replied, a smirk appearing on his face, as if he found amusement in my turmoil.
I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to back down. “Why can’t I? Is it because of the contract?! Is that it?!”
“No, Jack, it’s because I love you! I really do!” he confessed, his tone shifting dramatically, leaving me momentarily speechless.