Chapter 9
One more week has passed and Brian is slowly recovering. Alissa has been slowly and greatly irritating Adri. She's not sure if she could take it anymore. It's not that she's jealous, it's just the utter disbelief that Brian would actually date a person like her.
Of course Alissa was pretty, but her personality was a whole other story. Adri tried her best to be polite, but soon the irritating remarks and gestures Alissa threw at her will take its toll.
The relationships are getting worst between the other 8 people. Howie and Nhi seem to be the only sane couple. They love each other and show that. But on the other hand, De and Kev was slowly falling apart. For the whole week, De has been avoiding Kevin in fear of getting into a fight and he's been cold and aloof to everyone, especially himself.
Annie and A.J are once again on non-speaking-terms. Annie has been spending a lot of time with Adri at the hospital because she felt bad for what was happening to Brian and her cousin. A.J on the other hand was not his usual self. His and Annie's relationship was becoming repetitious everyday. They woke up, ate, went to the hospital, and then did some promotion things here and there, eat dinner,and eventually wander back to their hotel to sleep. Annie felt it too..she didn't feel the sparks between her and A.J anymore. Things just weren't the same.
Nick and Cecilia have been ok. Their relationship too was becoming a daily routine. Cecilia is having problems at home and might have to return there. Nick was not being his usual affectionate self and in the time when all Cece needed was a little bit of affection.
~~Annie~~
I plugged in the blowdryer and stared at my reflection with the dryer in hand. Thoughts of A.J and I filled my head. Things just weren't as great as it used to be.
Sighing, I flipped the switch to turn on the dryer and solemly dried my hair. After a couple of minutes of that..I trouseled my layers a bit and patted out my shirt. I was on my way to the hospital to see Adri and maybe talk her into going to lunch with me.
Tying the last shoe lace of my Air Maxs, I walked into the bedroom to grab my purse.
"Keys..keys..keys..Where are those damn keys?" I mumbled to myself while searching the dresser. Giving up in the search..I walked into the living room where A.J was.
"Hunnie?..You seen ma keys babe?" I asked while wandering the room. He looked up at me with a distraught look on his face. I dropped my purse on the couch and walked over to him.
"A.J..Boo..what's wrong?" I asked while carressing his face.
Still..the expression never left his face. I noticed him clutching a typed peice of paper. Taking the paper from him..I read on. My eyes grew wide at what was stated. Shit! This was not happening. I knew our relationship wouldn't survive this. So this is why the incident after the club a month ago wouldn't leave my mind. I placed the paper down on the dining table and sat across from him in another chair.
"A.J? Babe?...Are they sure?" I asked hesistantly.
I prayed that they weren't. Management had to be kidding. He nodded slowly..he too was in disbelief.
"I'm sure...they wouldn't be wrong about something like this." he said. I sighed...this was actually happening.
"What are you gonna do?" I asked while scanning over the letter.
He groaned out in fustration and ran his hand through his knewly highlighted blonde hair. I saw him set his head in his hands. I looked over at him in sympathy.
"I'm going to have to take responsibility. I mean...I can't just ignore it." he said.
I got up out of the chair and kneeled down beside him. A.J still held his head in his hands. I raised his chin to my face and forced him to look at me. I tried to smile at him. He looked at me worriedly.
"A.J....I don't know what to say. Our relationship has been...well...not the same lately." I started.
He grunted in decline as if he knew what I was going to say. I shook my head disapprovingly and clutched his bigger hands in mine.
"Baby..listen to me. I know you feel it too. I mean..we never even utter more than 3 words to each other everyday. This is probably the most decent conversation we've had in a whole week." I said truthfully. His eyes searched mine and nodded in agreement.
"What I'm trying to say is....well...maybe we shouldn't see each oth--" I said but couldn't bare to say it in fullness. He held my hand tighter and sighed.
"Annie..what you're saying is true. I know we've been through a lot lately and we've just been going out for a little over three months. But honey..I love you with all my heart. I don't want you to go. I can't stand being around you and knowing that we're not together. I promised that nothing will come between us. I won't let that happen but if you go...I can't make evrything ok with you gone." he said softly. I knew he was going to make it difficult for me.
"A.J...don't you dare think that I don't love you. Because the truth is..I love you more each passing day than the day we went out. What I'm saying is...maybe we should date other people and see how it goes from there. I mean..with this whole thing that management has just laid on you..it might come across as I'm being selfish. But I'm not. It would be much easier for you to sort things out in your life without me in the way." I said while wipping away the tear that just trickled down his face.
"Hunny..please don't cry....I'm not saying it's forever..but some time apart can do us some good. " I said while engulfing him in my arms. He cried silently in my chest. I knew that he cried not only from our breaking up..but because of the things he's going through.
I knew this was the time when he needed me most...but there are just some times where you have to let go and let a person cope with the difficilties they have alone. I'm doing just that. I don't want him to feel as if..by taking responsibility and loving his child that was on the way, he would be neglecting me. This way..neither of us would hold a grudge. I never really knew how much more I love this man that's sobbing in my arms until now.But like some people say...most of the strongest loves that exist today..are loves that are loved from afar.
"A.J?" I whispered own to him. He slowy lifted his head to look at me. The redness of his eyes broke my heart.
"I want you to take responsibility of the baby..ok? I'll be supporting you in that all the way. I think that gurl would be grateful if her child had a father." I smiled.
"She'll be even more grateful to know that her child would have a man such as you as a father. I know you'll be a great dad." I finished while awaiting his response. A.J grinned at me appreciatively.
I looked straight into his soulful brown eyes and sighed lightly. I knew I was making the right decision. In my heart...I knew the child was a accident and that the girl he slept with to get back at me meant nothing to him. But now that she's pregnant..A.J will have to be a man and step up to be a productive father.
I looked down to his bare chest and smiled at all the ink work he had done on it. His newest tattoo was the flaming heart and chain on the bottom of his right arm. I ran my frenched nails down his chest and stopped at the bottom of his abs. He looked down at what I was doing and chuckled.
"That tickles.." he laughed. I laughed along with him.
"I have a couple of tattoos.." I informed him absentmindedly. A.J looked up at me in surprise.
"For real?..I never seen them." he said. I nodded and turned my back to him and pulled my shirt over my head.
"Ohh....that's a nice one. How long did it take you to get it done?" he asked while tracing the design of the dragon with his finger. I smiled at the sensation from his soft touch...
"Umm..I think a little over an hour. I got it for my 18th birthday." I answered. Adri went with me when I got it done and got a tattoo of her own. The dragon was on my left shoulder blade. It wasn't exactly big..but it was visible from a distance.
"The other one.." I said while reaching back to point at the back of my waist.. "is this one..it's Chinese characters for Love, Happiness, Serenity, Fortune, and Togetherness." I said while he ran his hand over the 5 Chinese letters.
"Thats deep.." he said. I laughed..
"Yup..it's the five elements of my life.." I commented.
"Good virtues to live by.." he replied while I turned to face him.
"Yup..." I responded while pulling my shirt back down. I watched as he reached for my hand. I let him take my hand farther into his palm and smiled up at him.
"So I guess this is goodbye?" he asked disappointedly while tracing the palm of my hand playfully. I nodded..
"Yup...but we'll always be friends A.J...I'm not saying that we are never to get along. It's just simply platonic. No emotions thrown in." I explained.
"So...to say it simply..we're just pals.." he sighed. I nodded in agreement.
"I'm a great babysitter if ever you need one.." I joked. He looked up from my palm to my face and broke into chuckles.
"I want you to promise me something Annie." he said. Sensing the seriousness in his tone...I straightened up a bit and nodded in agreement..
"Ok...." I said. He looked straight into my eyes and took in a deep breath..
"When I do get things under control...do you think we can be together again?" he asked. I smiled at him adoringly...I can't believe he loves me this much.
"Of course baby.....we'll be together soon enough. Just think of this as a break from our relationship." I reasoned.
A.J looked up at me. I knew he didn't want this..but then again..I didn't want it either. It's just temporary.
"I promise Boo...we'll be together again." I said in a soft and meaningful voice in attempt to convince him.
He nodded slowly and fell silently. I grunted at what I was putting him through and reached for him. I held him in my arms and treasured the feeling of it...for the last time.