“Hello? Hello? Brent? Are you still there?” I panicked when I found out that he ended the call.
He said he would come to see me? At my house? Oh no, I don’t want the two guys to clash again. I called his number several times, but it just kept ringing and he didn’t answer. What should I do? What if Brent suddenly shows up at my house? I’ll be in trouble with Samer!
“Jamie? Are you there? Open the door, let’s talk, baby.”
I looked towards the door as if I saw a crazy person. If there were CCTV in my room, it would have captured how I glared at the doorknob. I was still annoyed with Sam, but if I let him stay outside and not let him in, Brent might catch up with him. So I didn’t hesitate and removed the blanket wrapped around me.
“I’m sorry,” Samer said when I opened the door for him.
“Sorry too,” I replied. I apologized because I had called Brent out of the blue when it wasn’t necessary. I felt foolish for what I did. “I’m sorry,” I repeated my words and hugged the man.
Samer raised an eyebrow when I looked up, and of course, I understood why. I got mad earlier and even did a walk-out, then suddenly I asked for forgiveness and hugged him.
“Why?” he asked.
As a woman who made a mistake, I panicked about how to answer his question. “Let’s go to the pet shop now,” I said to him.
“Now? Do you need to buy something?” He asked, checking the time on his watch.
“Yes. I want to buy a suit for Groot’s burial,” I told him. I heard him clear his throat, and I knew he didn’t like what I said. “Please?” I tried to persuade him with pleading eyes.
“Okay, let’s go,” he said.
When Samer agreed to accompany me to a pet shop, it was actually nearby, just in the neighboring barangay. But I’ll worry about our next outing later. For now, I already texted Brent that he’s not allowed to come to the house.
I breathed a sigh of relief when we exited the gate and got into my car. Samer was driving, so I just looked around at our surroundings.
Shit! I quickly covered my mouth before he could notice. I couldn’t make any mistakes! I saw Brent earlier on a motorcycle heading towards the house.
“Is there something wrong?” Samer asked again.
“Hmmm, nothing, why do you ask?” I replied with a question to avoid letting him know I wasn’t comfortable in my seat.
“You seem worried,” he said.
“Of course. I mean, I just lost a child,” I replied.
“No, it’s not that. I sensed that something’s wrong,” Samer added.
Oh no, I panicked even more when he said that something’s wrong. “Nothing’s wrong, Sam.” I assured him. “I’m just sad,” I added to make my statement more believable.
When we arrived at the pet shop, we entered together and headed straight to the dog apparel section. “Would this suit Groot?” I asked him, showing a pair of tuxedo for dogs.
“You would know better,” Samer replied.
“I wish you didn’t come if you’re going to be like this,” I complained to him.
“Sorry, but I really have no idea about your dogs or any dogs for that matter,” Samer made an excuse.
I just nodded because I didn’t want to argue with him. Of course, I still had something to do after shopping because I didn’t want the two of them to cross paths at home. He knows that Brent and I are no longer together, and I also know that I no longer have any feelings for my ex. But it would still be awkward if they meet. I didn’t want him to find out that I texted Brent about Groot.
“Maybe this one,” I said to him, showing a suit that I picked. “I’ll pay for it first,” I said and excused myself to the counter.
“Done?” He asked when I quickly returned.
“Yup. We’re the only customers now,” I said to him. “But I don’t want to go home just yet. How about we grab something to eat?” I suggested.
“You’re hungry already?” He seemed doubtful when he asked.
“A little, it’s because of you,” I said.
While Samer and I were eating, I still couldn’t relax. What if Brent doesn’t leave and just waits?
“I’ll take care of Groot since it seems your office appointment is important,” I told Samer while we were eating at the restaurant in Khalifa Hotel.
“It’s okay. We’ll go home together,” he replied to me.
“Thanks, Sam.” I said because I couldn’t think of anything else to say. Was there anything else? “But if ever you’re really busy or have something important to do today, it’s okay with me.”
“Wait a minute. I’ve noticed you since earlier, Jamie. Are you hiding something from me?” Samer asked, and I got nervous again.
I could tell him about Brent, but I was afraid he might misunderstand. I didn’t want him to get mad at me.
“No, why?” I tried to play it cool and pretended to pick up a sushi and put it in my mouth.
“Nothing. I just noticed that you’ve been acting awkward since earlier,” Samer continued.
“That’s just your imagination,” I said, but he was right.
After we finished eating, we didn’t stay long and headed to the parking lot to go home. We still needed to bury Groot.
“Jamie, wait!”
I felt like fainting from nervousness when I heard Brent’s voice approaching. When I looked at Samer, he just shrugged and looked at me too. I approached Samer and held his hand to let him know that I chose him from the beginning.
“Brent…,” I said as he approached us.
“I went to your house, but you had already left by the time I got there,” Brent said.
“This is Samer, my boyfriend, in case you forgot,” I said to Brent in case he forgot about the man or didn’t notice him at all. He didn’t even glance at Samer.
“I’m sorry for Groot,” Brent said.
I closed my eyes when Samer squeezed my hand. I knew I made a mistake earlier and let my emotions take over. I looked up at Samer and apologized, but I couldn’t read the expression on his face.
“You went all the way here just to give your condolences for my dog,” I told Brent.
“It’s okay, as long as it’s you, and besides, Groot was my friend too,” Brent replied.
“Jamie, invite Groot’s friend to our house,” Samer said, and he went ahead to the car.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked Brent because if he hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have any problems. So, Samer got mad at me, and I didn’t know how to appease him.
“I saw you crying earlier, so I thought you were alone. Anyway, I’ll just follow you,” Brent said.
“Brent, I’m warning you! Don’t visit me at home,” I said, but he just grinned. For the first time since we met again, I felt annoyed with him.
“Your Arab boyfriend invited me,” Brent jokingly replied, and I didn’t like that, to be honest.
“Jamie, come on!” Samer called me again, so I left Brent.
As I got into the car, I smiled at him, but he didn’t respond. He just gestured for me to put on my seatbelt, and I complied.
“I’m so- Ayyyyyyyyy!” I screamed loudly when Samer decided to show off his driving skills.
I glared at Samer, but he didn’t care that I was mad at what he did. My soul almost left my body when he sped up the car. He didn’t even care that we could have had an accident because of what he did.
When we arrived at home, I still felt annoyed with him. He could have told me that he didn’t want to see Brent’s face at home or that he was mad at me for calling my ex. Instead, he just ignored me in front of Brent. It’s more infuriating when it’s like that, my dear!
“So, is this how it’s going to be?” I asked him. “FYI, I don’t like this. If you’re mad at me, just say so. If you don’t want me anymore, just tell me.”
I gave him an ultimatum.
“Don’t I have the right to be mad?” Samer retaliated with a question.
“You do, but not like this. It’s even more annoying that you’re ignoring me!” I said to him.
“Why did you call him?” Samer asked.
Finally, I heard the most important question I wanted to hear since earlier. “I was annoyed with you,” I told him.
He furrowed his brow while looking at me. “You were annoyed with me? Why?”
“You said Groot was just a dog. FYI, he’s family, not just a dog!” I answered him truthfully because that was the reason why I cried in frustration.
“A little misunderstanding, and you called him right away,” Samer said with a voice that seemed to be sulking. “Tell me, Jamie. Do you still have feelings for him?”
“None,” although my answer was short, I knew in myself that I no longer had any love for Brent. I’ve known for a long time that I no longer have any feelings for him. Besides, he already has a family.
“Why did you call him then? You probably have friends, right?” Samer added.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t have friends, Sam. It’s just work and home for me,” I answered him. “You’re the only friend I have, and you got mad,” I said to him.
For a few seconds, he just stared at me and didn’t say anything. “Ex-lovers can never be friends, Jamie,” Samer said.
“Really? What about you and Kate? Are you enemies now?” I questioned his statement that ex-lovers can never be friends.
“Our situation with Kate is different because we have kids,” Samer replied.
“I also had a child with Brent, she just died. Wait, are you still up for a fight, or should we just kiss?” When I changed the topic, he gave me a stern look and then smirked subtly.