23. Tyler/Keya

*TYLER*

"Where were you yesterday?" Martin asked as the both of us changed from our regular clothes to our gears.

The team is about to have a practice game in about a minute or so.

I ended up partying that said night with Elise and some of her friends. She got really drunk and I have to take care of her. We ended up checking in at a hotel and stayed there until yesterday afternoon. Obviously, we ended up having sex, again. I know! It's bad and we're totally having an affair now but I don't care.

This is what I want-- winning her back and I am slowly getting that.

"You're not answering your phone." He added.

"Sorry, I had to run some errands early in the morning. And I left my phone in my room." I lied.

Martin and I was supposed to go hit the gym together yesterday morning, but I wasn't able to come home not until the afternoon.

"Really? Keya told me that you're not home that day." Martin said as he adjusts the laces on his skates.

"Yo-you saw Keya?" I asked him in complete surprise. How come Martin knows who Keya is?

She broke my rules!

Martin nodded. "I came into your house yesterday and I caught her on the living room. Seriously dude, you let your baby mama stay at the maid's quarter? Who does that?"

"It's not a maid's quarter! It's a staff's quarter. There's a major difference." I replied, a bit annoyed now.

Keya's only been staying at my place for only three days and she already broke a rule. I'm starting to think that letting her live in my house was a bad idea.

"Whatever." Martin murmurs as he stood up and shouted at everybody in the locker room right before heading out. "Hustle up motherfuckers! We don't have all the time in the world."

After practice, I head straight home and fully intending to give Keya a long lecture about abiding my rules. When I arrived home, I saw her wandering around the kitchen. Based on what I have noticed she's stocking my pantry with groceries.

"What the fuck are you doing in my kitchen?" I said as I dropped my car keys on the kitchen counter causing her to flinch.

"Oh my goodness! Tyler you scared me." She exclaimed. "I was just returning the groceries I get yesterday. I forgot to bring my own groceries so I decided to get some yesterday d--"

"I specifically told you not to roam around my house, right?"

"I know, I know." She replied stuttering. "Don't worry I made sure that nobody is around right before I came out--"

"Oh really? Then explain why the hell Martin knew you were here." I cut her out.

"Ma-martin told you abo--"

"Even if he told me or not, you are still not allowed to get out of your room. Not until I say so!" I finally snapped.

"But I was hungry and I forgot to bring my own groceries." She explained and I can already see tears on her eyes. But I don't buy it, she broke my rules this is the consequence. But then again, I still have to consider the fact that she’s pregnant.

"You know what I will let this pass Keya, but once you'll broke the rule again I will have to kick you out. Understood?"

She nodded.

"Now, get the hell out of here right before some people arrives all of a sudden."

*****************

*KEYA*

He's mean.

He's fucking mea-- no!

He's not even a human.

I know I broke his goddamn house rules but he doesn't have to treat or talk to me like that.

Oh for fuck's sake! Why do I have to be such a broke bitch for me to end up living in this hellhole? There, I said it!

It's been only three days and I am already considering this as my own personal hellhole. But guess I don't have a choice! I have nowhere else to go. This is the only place I can live for free, only that I am obviously disturbing Tyler's life, but his life wouldn't be like this either if he didn't got me pregnant in the first place.

I swear to god, once I graduate and give birth to the baby. I will move out, or maybe once I got my own job and get stable I will never ask for his help. It's just that as of now, I need him.

So clearly, I have to suck it up and be strong enough for the baby.

When I reach my own room, I immediately grabbed my phone and jacket then head out. I need some air, away from that house.

It's still five in the afternoon, so I think it's safe to go on a walk around the neighborhood. Besides, all of the houses around here are all but mansions so I guess there are no fugitives living around here somewhere.

Tyler's house is pretty away from other houses up in here, and I'm surprised that he chose to live at a house pretty far from other neighbors because he's a celebrity. As far as I have researched, Tyler's hockey team is pretty involved around Houston so even if Houston people don't watch their games often because they prefer Basketball and American football, they are still somewhat well-known in doing societal works.

Which is kind of ironic considering the fact that he is a monster! I said at the back of my mind glaring. I sighed releasing the fear and hatred away from my chest.

Honestly, I was so scared and angry at him earlier that the only reaction I did was to cry my eyes out because that's the only power I have.

He was already kind enough to let me live there for free and all I have to do was to follow the rules but I wasn't able to abide to. But that was just one mistake, he can't just snap at me like that!

And besides, he might as well warn me that there are random people who shows up at his house unannounced! The only rule he said was, I am not allowed to live my room when he's friends are over and suddenly, Martin showed up out of nowhere yesterday!

Urgh! If I wasn't scared to talk back earlier I would have had pointed that out. But I was afraid that he'll kick me out.

I released another loud groan again as I kick a small stone on the pavement.

“Be careful, you might hurt yourself and the baby.” Someone said behind my back and I totally flinched in complete fear. The road is starting to get dark and I’m not familiar with the whole neighbourhood, things might get scary.

I heard the person chuckled. “Relax. It’s just me, Martin.”

“Oh my gosh! You scared the crap out of me.” I exclaimed holding my chest. “Why are you here?”

“Following you.”

“Is that supposed to scare me?”

I heard him sigh as he puts both of his hands on his pocket. “I actually heard you guys earlier. I’m really sorry about my friend.”

“Yeah, like it’s as if apologizing in behalf of him will change everything.” I murmured and continue from walking. I seriously don’t know where I’m heading but I don’t care, I just need some air even more.

Martin kept up, and matches my slow pace with his long legs. Why does all of these hockey players are huge lads?

“You don’t have to walk with me or anything.” I said. “Tyler might see us and he’ll end up scolding me again.

“He’ll never know. Let’s keep this a secret.”

I stopped and faced him, I suddenly felt annoyed because he is the reason why Tyler scolded me in the first place.

“And what would you know about keeping a secret? The only reason why I got scolded is because you told Tyler. I specifically told you not to mention that to Tyler but you did it anyway.”

“Woah woah woah!” Martin said putting his hands up. “Calm down.”

I only glared at him because I just realized that I was also upset with him.

“Alright, I’m sorry for what I did but that’s also the reason why I came to Tyler’s house today and see if Tyler will confront you about it and—“

“And you heard the consequences of what you did.” I supplied sarcastically and pointed at myself. “He fucking scolded me, yay! Are you happy now?”

“You don’t have to be so sarcastic.” He said rolling his eyes. “Come on, let’s sit on one of the benches at the park. You have walked way too far now.”

I ended up not protesting, because when he told me that I have already did walked far enough from Tyler’s place I just realized that I’m exhausted. Martin seems cool and I don’t mind having someone to talk to this time, I mean I really need it since I can’t talk to my family about this since they don’t have any idea about my current situation. Plus, I can’t talk to my friends either or they’ll end up getting angry and maybe do some things that will make things even worse.

Martin and I sat on the bench as we look on the people slowly abandoning the park, some way, somehow, I felt calmer now. We were just seating there for a long minute not until Martin finally chose to break the silence.

“I’m sorry again, Keya.”

I slowly sighed. “Yeah.”

“The only reason why I did that is in order for me to find out how Tyler treats you, because when I found out that you’re staying at the mai—staff’s quarter I began to suspect that he’s not treating you right. So right after practice, I followed him and was able to witness it myself.”

“What?” I snickered. “Are you some kind of a detective or something?”

“No.” He chuckles. “But guess being a team captain kinda makes you have that kind of skills especially around your teammates. And besides, Tyler and I are really close friends and these past few years Tyler has been acting like a huge jackass on and off the ice so when I found out that he knocked up someone I started to feel worried about the girl. Which is you, obviously.”

“So are you saying that Tyler isn’t the kind of guy he was before?” I asked and Martin nodded, I can’t hide the surprise and curiosity about my baby daddy. “What was he like?”

“Oh, a normal enthusiastic guy.” Martin started. “Tyler was one of the best forwards on the league. He’s so focused on winning on games, taking care of his family. Not until he found out that his ex-fiancé have been cheating with him and that’s the reason why he became—“

“A huge asshole.” I supplied.

I sighed and looked far contemplating the things I have heard and all the thing I can utter is the word. “Wow!”

“I know.” Martin commented.

“He’s been having a shitty life.” I added staring at my feet. “And it became even shittier when he got pregnant.”

I should feel guilty for him but then again, I chose not to. My pregnancy was an accident because we are both irresponsible.

“But on the positive side, he still chose to be responsible of your baby.”

Yeah, I still gave him the credit for that.

Martin was kind enough to treat me on dinner at a small restaurant downtown right before he gave me a ride home. After the things we’ve talked about Tyler, I started to realize a lot of things.

And one of those is to understand Tyler on whatever he’s acting. He’s just upset about his messy life, and that instead of dealing with him in complete anger I should approach him gently. Besides, we never know there might be softy Tyler underneath those scary aura he’s giving me.

I was raised by my mom to learn how to see someone’s positive side even though you despise them.

If someone is on fire, there has to be someone who will act as a water.

I should be the water.