chapter 31

Alexa I changed my number. I don't want to talk to Elijah if he still wants me back in his life. I will talk to him if he already has someone in his life. That's it. "Mommy! Mommy!" I turned around to see Gabriella running towards me, who was standing on the balcony. "Yes, honey. Do you need anything?" I ask, and she nods her head yes. What is it?" "I talk to Daddy." She said it, and I sighed. "Baby, please don't get me wrong, but I think you should not talk about him now." "Why....?" "I lost his number, and I don't remember it. I am sorry, baby girl." I lied, and her expression changed immediately. "But-" "Oh yeah, I think Laila got Daddy's phone number. Why don't you go to Laila and ask her?" She nodded her head excitedly and then left my room. I smiled, looking at her. Just then, my phone rang. I picked it up. "Hello, this is Alexa speaking." "Alexa... Don't you remember me?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Who the hell is this? Ummm, sorry, but no. Care to tell me who this is?" As far as I know, I only gave my phone number to my secretary, Thea, and the babysitter. "Gosh, you're so mean." Gosh, this guy is really making me confused. Who is he? "If you don't want to tell me who you are, I'm going to hang up on you," I said in a serious tone. Woah, woah, ok. Don't be a too-savage girl; it's me, Jared. Jared Lanton. Remember now?" I think I'm used to hearing that name. But, oh my gosh, Jared!! How can I didn't recognise his number? "I am so sorry that I didn't recognise you," I said. I change my number this morning and forgot to tell Jared about it. "Even though it's hurt when you didn't want to tell me your new number, I will still forgive you." A wide smile creeps on my lips. Oh, by the way, how did you get my number?" "Well, I went to your office this morning. I met your secretary and to make it short, I got your number from her after a few hours beg for her trust." He explains. "How are you?" I ask. "I'm good. I call you because I want to ask you if we can still meet up today." "Sorry, I forgot, but sure, we can. Tell me the location." He tells me about the location and time. I smile, and then, after a few minutes, we hang up the phone to get ready to meet. Jared Lanton is one of my high school friends. We've known each other for about 5 years now. He was my partner at prom, and he is also the best guy friend I've ever met. I don't think I can meet a cool guy like him now. We separated because we got into a different university. I am glad we have finally reunited after all this time. We both met again, like two months ago. I am in a hurry to go to my appointment, and then I am being a clumsy Alexa for a second time and spill my coffee on his suit. That's how we met each other again after a few years apart. As you know, this is my second time meeting him. We didn't get a chance to meet each other in real life because we were both busy with our careers. For the whole time, we just talked over the phone and texted each other. I am so excited to meet him today. I wear my dark blue and white stripes shirt, then my black leggings. I let my hair fall behind my back and just comb it a bit to make it look neat. I put on some light eyeshadow, mascara, and nude lipstick. After I'm done, I take off my black wedges to wear them. When I'm all done, I leave my room and go downstairs. "Laila, I'm going out to meet my friend. Tell the twins I'll be home a little bit late." I said to her: "Alright Ms." She replies, and I get out of the house. The twins are taking their nap, so I don't want to disturb them. ***** I drive my car to the cafe where Jared told me to meet him. It takes about twenty minutes to get to the cafe. After I parked my car, I got out of it, and then I walked into the cafe. I look around to search for Jared. "Miss? May I help you?" One of the waitresses asks me "Oh yeah, I'm searching for my friend." I reply and smile. "May I know what your friend's name is?" Maybe I can help you." "It's Jared Lanton." Oh, wait a second, and I'll check it." She walks to counter and check his name. "Oh, Mr. Jared Lanton is waiting on table 10. That way." She pointed the way, and I thanked her and then walked to that table. "Jared?" It's come out as a question. He looks up from his phone, and then a smile appears on his face as soon as he sees me. "Alexa, here you are. Looking pretty as always." He hugs me, and then we sit down. "I already ordered you a cappuccino, and I hope you like it." He said that, and the waiter put the coffee in front of me. "Yeah, it's my favourite." I said, and he smiled. He's really handsome. It looks like I've been sitting in front of a hot model. "I became more handsome, right?" He asks, and I just chuckle. "So how's your life now, Dumb Jared?" I called him that because he always asked the teachers dumb questions like why strawberries are called straws and berries, why math has to be so complicated, and all that. "As you know, I've become a good person now, and I also don't ask dumb questions anymore. I work as a doctor, and I just got transferred to Los Angeles, like two weeks ago, when I saw your face in a paper. That's when I thought I could meet you." He said. "Oh, I see. So you told me your wedding was cancelled twice. What's wrong?" I ask, and he tells me about the first time he met with his dear bride-to-be and all. I must say that he is so handsome, and I nearly zoned out when I looked at his face. He tells me all the details about his life, and I swear I only hear about half of it, and the other half just got into my right ear and got out of my left ear. Don't blame me because he's just too handsome. Puberty must hit him hard. Okay, enough about me. Tell me about you now." He said, and that's a good thing I wasn't looking at his face too long before I realised that he asked me to tell him about my life. "Well, I got married three years ago and then got divorced because he said he didn't love me anymore. Basically, he cheated on me and said that he didn't love me anymore. He told me that he needs to settle down at an early age when he can have fun with lots of women. At first, I was so broken, but now I think I'm getting stronger. And we met again after three years, like a few months ago. You know, He said that he wants me back, but I won't ever go back to that jerk ever again." I explain. "That's sucks. Well, from what you told me just now, I think you better not be with him again, or maybe just give yourself a bit of time to think about the next step." He said. "I don't know. But once a cheater, he will always be a cheater, no matter what. I feel like maybe we should just stop meeting each other forever. That's the best way to prevent me from getting hurt again." I take a sip of my coffee. "Who knows, maybe he actually meant it when he said he wanted you back. You need to think wisely before both of you tear apart." I sighed when he said that. "When he said he still loves me, I just thought that three words were not special anymore." "As a doctor, I will tell you what love is. Love is a kind of dementia with very precise and oft-repeated clinical symptoms. You blush in each other's presence; you both hover in places where you expect the other to pass; you are both a little tongue-tied; you both laugh inexplicably and too long; you become quite nauseatingly girlish; and he becomes quite a ridiculous gallant. You have also grown a little stupid. For a woman to obtain success, she is obliged either to weep, to nag, or to sulk." I stay silent and let him continue. "Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is why I love it. Love is not breathlessness; it is not excitement; it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion; it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the day; it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every cranny of your body." "This is just being 'in love', which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it; we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches, we found that we were one tree and not two. But sometimes the petals fall away and the roots are not entwined. Imagine giving up your home and your people, only to discover after six months, a year, or three years that the trees have no roots and have fallen over. Imagine the desolation. Imagine the imprisonment." He stops for a bit and takes a sip of his drink. Then continue. "One can only forgive a sin after the sinner has finished committing it because we cannot allow ourselves to condone it while it is being perpetrated. I admit this possibility; indeed, I would be happy with it." I open my mouth to say something, but he puts his hand in front of my face to prevent me from talking. I look at him. No, don't look at me like that. I am not ignorant or stupid, and I was not born yesterday. Also. I am a doctor, and I deal not in impossible moral commands but in demonstrable facts. No one can tell me that just because someone is young, good-looking, well-educated, and sensible, they are not also inflamed. Well, that's enough of that. So, thank you for hearing my speech about Love." He finally stops. It took long enough for him to stop talking. "Wow, are you a love doctor or what?" I ask. "You can say that. But I really think you shouldn't give him another chance. I know a man like him will never change and might do it again after he gets you. Don't worry, I'm here for you, and maybe I'll be your someone special. Who know." He said that and winked at me. I look at him in disbelief but feel a bit shy when he says that. "Whatever, "I said, laughing awkwardly. We laugh and then continue to talk about what's going on in our lives. _________________________________________________________ How's chapter 31? Vote Comments Share ****** Much love from me. Little munchkins