chapter 7

Alexa Now, I'm at the park because the twins forced me to bring them out today. So yeah, here I am. We were back in Los Angeles two days ago, and my tired body is still here. I'm still tired and need more sleep. I sit on the bench near the twins, and this time I'm not playing with my phone anymore because I don't want my kids to be missing again this time. I look at them playing and smiling. "Mommy! Help me to get on this." That's Gabriella. She pointed at the swing while Gabriel was already on it beside her. I walk to them, then pick up Gabriella and let her sit on the swing. I push them both, and they're laughing happily. I smile to see how happy they are now. I hope this happiness will last forever. I want them to be happy now and always. Gabriel and Gabriella are my life, and if they're sad, I will be sad too, but if they're happy, I will be happy too. After a few minutes, they told me to stop them. "Mommy, let's go eat." Both of them said it in unison. These kids really eat a lot. Before we got here, I already gave them some yoghurt and banana, but I think that's only a dessert for them. "Fine, let's go. Hold my hands." They hold my hands, and I walk with them to the nearest restaurant. I decided to bring them to eat at the Italian restaurant, which is just a five-minute walk away. We get in and walk to the empty table. This Italian restaurant has lots of delicious food, and every time I bring Gabriel and Gabriella here, they love it. They will end up eating two or three plates of their food. "Mommy, I'm hungry...." Gabriella whined while holding her stomach. "I know, baby, but what do you want to eat? You didn't choose yet." She quickly snatches the menu from Gabriel's hand and looks at it. I know what she wants to eat, but I just want to tease her, and it seems like she really wants to find her favourite food on the menu. "Mine!" And now both of them are fighting over one book of a menu. They both try to take the menu, and of course one of them will start to cry if I don't stop them. "Gabriel, Gabriella, stop fighting and give me that. Now." I take the menu and just choose the food for myself and the kids. After a few minutes, the food finally came, and we ate in silence, but the silence only lasted for a few minutes, and then here came the disaster. Gabriella started to steal Gabriel's food when she already had it on her plate, and now Gabriel starts to cry because his food has been stolen by his sister. I sighed and shook my head when I saw that this war between them would not end soon. "Gabriella, you have your own food on your plate; why do you keep stealing your brother's?" I ask, but she is a baby, so she ignores me and still steals and eats like that's her own food. I can't be mad at her with that cute, innocent face. "Okay, mommy will give you this. Stop crying, or we will go home now." I exchange their plates, hoping they will eat in peace, but Gabriella ends up crying. Oh my gosh "Okay, okay, here's your food back. Mommy won't take it." I put her back, and she finally quieted and ate. I end up ordering another plate for Gabriel because Gabriella took all his food, and we can finally eat in peace. ****** Right now, I and my babies are at the shopping mall. I want to buy them toys because they don't have many. So why not? I didn't buy them many toys because I didn't want to spoil them too much with all those toys, but I still bought them once or twice every two or three months. "Mommy, can we buy the Lego?" Gabriel asks, and I nod. " Barbie!" Gabriella said. "Barbie is not cool; Lego is the best," Gabriel said to her. "No, Barbie is pwetty!" Gabriella spoke back. "Okay, okay, both of you. If you guys fight again, I'm not going to buy it." With that, they keep their mouths shut. I smile at their cuteness. As soon as we see Toys R Us, both of them run into that shop. "Hey! "Before I could chase them, someone just blocked my way. When I look at who it is, my eyes widen in shock. It's Elijah "Hey, babe." He said. "Who's your baby?" I said and tried to walk away, but he caught my wrist. "Let me go!" Why, out of all the millions of people in this world, do I have to bump into him? Why? I don't want to meet him again. I don't want him to break my heart again. "Why? You didn't want our children to see me? Their dad? Or maybe you have a boyfriend now?" He asks me more questions. "Why do you care? Just let me go and leave me and my children alone." He didn't let go of my wrist, even though I tried to be free from it. "Look at you now. You're beautiful, sophisticated, famous, and rich. I'm impressed. You change a lot in three years." He said it with a smirk. I was quite shocked when he said that, but I wasn't that surprised because I know he is capable of doing everything. So, I just act like normal. "So? What's your point?" I ask. "I want you back. Be with me." I look at him in disbelief. "What do you think I am, huh? Do you think that if you said that, I'd melt and go with you that easily? I'm not the old Alexa, Elijah. The old Alexa is dead." I said to try to control my emotions or my tears would come out. I don't want to look weak in front of this useless man. This man that is standing in front of me now is the one who broke my heart and threw me like a piece of trash. I don't have any dignity. I won't go back to him. I WON'T! "You know me, Alexa; if I want something, I'll get it." He said it, and I scoff. I use my free hand to slap him in the face. He deserves more than just a slap, to be honest. "But you won't get me back, Elijah. Never." I said, and that made him lose his grip on my wrist. I take this chance to get my wrist back and walk away. That's a good thing that he doesn't follow me. I walk quickly and get into the shop to find Gabriel and Gabriella. ************* Elijah I followed her until here, just to get rejected. I fly to Los Angeles to persuade her to be with me again, and this is not as easy as I thought it would be. Well, let's see, Alexa, you're going to be with me again. Soon. I will never let go of you now. If I want it, I will get it sooner or later. I know she is a fashion designer now. I saw her face on the news after that event I attended a few days ago. It seems her life looks so fine now. I look at her and enter the Toys R Us shop. That means my kids are in there. I want to meet them and tell them that I'm their father, but I know that will only make Alexa hate me. So, the best plan is that I have to play it slow. I cannot force her, but the urge to make her mine makes me feel like I can't play it slow. I walk out of the mall because I have to meet with Joseph. I wait for my driver to bring me to the restaurant where I and Joseph are going to meet up. "Bro, I'm sorry I'm a bit late." I said this to Joseph, who was looking at his phone. I take a seat in front of him. "So, how's your plan going?" He put his phone on the table and asked me. "I think I have to take it slow. I can't just straight-up tell her that I want her back. Of course, she didn't want it. So, plan change." I said, and he nodded. "Well, I told you three years ago. Divorcing her was the biggest mistake you've ever made. Now, see what happens. You're like licking your saliva that you already spit." He said that and took a sip of his coffee. "Next week I'm going to Paris for my new project there. You want to come with me?" He asks me "I have lots of work to do, so... no." He just shrugged. My work includes my plan to get Alexa back. "Well, how long will it take to get there?" "Maybe 2 or 3 days." He answered, and I just nodded. We talk for a few hours about my plan and about serious stuff too. ********* Back in New York After a few days in Los Angeles, I am now back to reality. I'm already in my office because I still have a stack of work to do. I cannot stop thinking about Alexa and our kids. Every time I close my eyes, I keep remembering how stupid I am for divorcing her for a stupid reason. I need to get back what I lost all these three years ago. I stop what I am doing and pick up my phone to make a call. "Yes, sir." That's the private investigator that I hired. "Jake, I want you to do something for me but not investigate. I want you to follow this woman named Alexa Johnson. You can search for her on social media or Google because she is searchable. After that, give me a call and tell me all the details as soon as possible." I commanded. "I understand, sir. Anything else?" He asked me. "No, that's it." With that, I hang up my phone and continue my work. Alexa is going to be mine again because I still love her and I realised it too late. I know she hates me, but we have kids together. She needs to be with me, no matter what. _________________________________________________