The whole day, I was alone at Brent’s house. He had work, but he didn’t forget to cook for me, even though I knew he only knew how to fry eggs. After lunch, I went to the room and rested because my arm was still hurting.
I couldn’t help but smile as Brent’s declaration to make me fall for him again replayed in my mind. Well, he really has the ability to make me fall for him. When we first bonded after fifteen years, I almost gave in back then.
Moreover, it’s not difficult to love the guy. If I quickly fell for him when we were in high school, how much more now that he looks even more handsome? One of Brent’s best assets is his beautiful voice when he speaks.
Just his voice alone can make you swoon.
What if I agreed back then to get back together with him? Anyway, my contemplation is over because I’m still determined that Samer is the one I want.
If I need to repeat the guy’s name over and over again to not forget it, I will definitely do that. But I want to know if he’s also thinking about me the way I did about him. Does he miss me too? Because I miss him so much!
After thinking about what Brent said and the possibility of getting back together, I woke up in the evening. I was startled when the door opened.
“What did you bring?” I asked him, even though I suspected it was food he was carrying.
“Food for our dinner,” he replied.
During dinner, I struggled to eat with my left hand. The rice kept spilling, and I was getting annoyed.
“I’ll feed you,” Brent offered, attempting to take the utensils from my hand.
“No, it’s embarrassing,” I declined, not wanting us to be too close. Besides, his act of feeding me seemed too intimate.
“I just want you to eat properly,” he explained, while I continued to resist his request.
“You’re right,” I finally agreed with his request.
“So, let me feed you. Open your mouth,” he said, and I complied like a child following his command.
As Brent fed me, I suddenly remembered Samer. He was also sweet to me, but he had some toxic traits. “I’m full now,” I told Brent after a few minutes.
“Okay, just wait, I’ll get some water,” Brent said as he stood up.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know what to do,” I said to him.
“As long as it’s you, anytime,” Brent replied.
After dinner, Brent suggested that we watch a movie first since it was still early to sleep. “What’s a good movie to watch?” I asked him.
From the beginning, we were laughing so hard at the scenes. My jaw and stomach hurt from laughing, and the same went for Brent. But as the movie approached the ending, and the two protagonists were about to kiss, we both felt a bit awkward. Why was that? Why did I feel like kissing him too?
“Brent…” I uttered his name.
“Hmmm…?”
“You fool! What if I really kissed you?” Of course, it was just a joke.
“Why not? But after the kiss, I won’t allow you to go back to that Arab guy!” Brent threatened.
The movie was about to end when suddenly the lights went out.
“Power outage?” I asked Brent as I subtly moved closer to him.
“I think so. It’s okay; we’ll just sleep,” he said.
“Oh no, what now? I can’t sleep without lights,” I said to him.
“I’ll accompany you,” Brent offered.
“Nah, it seems like you have a plan.” I scolded him.
“Just let me accompany you; don’t overthink,” he seemed offended.
“You’re the one insisting; who knows what you’re thinking,” I teased him.
“Thank you,” I said to the man.
“I might appreciate it more if you tell me that there’s still hope for me in your heart,” Brent said.
“I think there is. As a friend,” I said to him.
Brent and I are lying side by side on the bed, but I know nothing will happen between us. I trust him, and I know he won’t do anything to upset me.
“Did you talk to Michelle again?” I asked him, feeling like I’m deaf to their conversation.
“Yes, and she’s letting me go, Jamie. I’m free to love you now,” the man said.
“But I thought your divorce wasn’t finalized yet,” I said, recalling what Michelle told me when I confronted Brent about him beating up Samer.
“I’ll be leaving soon too,” Brent replied softly.
“What do you mean? Are you going back to America?” I asked him.
“Yeah, but not until I finish my obligations at the hotel. I’ll only be there for a short time, I just need to take care of some papers, especially with the Navy,” he explained.
“But will you come back?”
“Will you miss me?” When he asked, I couldn’t answer right away.
“Hmmm, I think I’ll miss Michelle more,” I teased him. Like, seriously, why would I look for the woman who was the main reason for my suffering?
We’ve been rivals with Michelle at school for a long time. We’ve been competing not only for the top spot in class but also for the attention of Kevin Park. Or I should say, every guy I like, she also likes. Honestly, she shouldn’t be insecure about me because Kevin was right – she’s more beautiful than me.
“So, what now? Will you miss me?” Brent repeated his question from earlier.
I took a deep breath because I didn’t know how to answer him. “Maybe I’ll miss your antics, Brent, but I don’t love you anymore. Samer now owns my heart,” I explained, hoping he would wake up to the reality that we can’t go back to how things were.
“Is it really impossible?” the man asked again.
“I don’t want to be unfair to you either, that’s why I’m telling you now that Samer is the one in my heart and mind,” I said.
I explained everything clearly, so I didn’t expect what Brent did next. Suddenly, he pinned me down and forcefully removed my sleeping clothes. I was shocked by his actions.
“What are you doing?” I screamed, trying to squirm and break free from his embrace. He didn’t answer and just kept pulling at my shorts while I tried to resist any malicious intentions he might have.
I was getting overwhelmed by him, so I attempted to push him away, but he succeeded in removing my shorts and panties. Of course, I got scared because I knew what he might do next.
“No, please, don’t proceed with whatever you want to happen,” I begged him. And when he pointed his hardness towards me, I couldn’t help but cry.
When Brent came to his senses and realized his wrongdoing, he couldn’t look at me. He repeatedly apologized to me, but I actually understood why he did what he did.
“It’s also my fault,” I told him.
“No! It’s not your fault, Jamie. I’m the one to blame because I couldn’t control myself from touching you. I’m really sorry,” Brent said.
As he asked for forgiveness, I was tempted to engage with another man. I didn’t want to betray Samer, but what if he already had someone else? I might end up being pitiful.
“Can you take me to the hotel?” I asked Brent to drive me to the office. I realized that nothing would happen if I kept being a coward. I think I need to face our problem with Samer.
“Sure,” Brent agreed, even though it must have been painful for him to take me to another man.
“You’ll find a woman meant for you,” I told him.
“But it’s you that I love, Jamie,” the man insisted.
“Thank you, Brent, but I can’t reciprocate your love right now,” I said.
“I understand, and I’m willing to wait,” Brent said.
“Will you wait even if Samer and I drift apart?” I asked him, and when he didn’t answer right away, I got worried. He might have something bad planned for Samer.
“Yes,” Brent finally answered.
Nevertheless, he escorted me to the hotel, and some of the staff were surprised to see us together again. Brent called one of the concierge to take my bag upstairs. Before I went up, I asked the receptionist if Samer was still in the hotel and what his room number was.
Once I got the information I wanted, I temporarily forgot about Brent and immediately went to Samer’s room. I knocked on the door while my heart pounded loudly. It was still early, so I knew he would probably be awake. I just hoped he was alone because if he was with Kate inside, I might pass out.
“Sam…” I called his name when the door opened.
Sam just looked at me and didn’t say anything. But I could see in his eyes that he was glad to see me again. “I’m sorry,” I said to him and hugged him tightly. “I’m really sorry,” I repeatedly apologized to the man I love.
Wait, when did I realize that I love him?