CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTTY TWO

HELLO, GOODBYE

I wake up around 4:30 am to drop my parents and Daryn off at the airport. It's a thirty-minute drive and their plane departs at six. I'm feeling really tired because I didn't get enough sleep and I'm still in my PJ's and Armando joins us at the airport. When it's their time to check in, they come to say their goodbyes.

"You sure you'll be, okay?" Mom asks putting her palm on my cheek.

"Mom, I'm 18." I remind her.

"If anything, call us. Come on Darl." Mom says holding Daryn's hand as they walk to through the line to check in.

"Bye Milan." Daryn says waving at me.

"Take care of yourself." I tell her.

Dad looks at me and comes closer.

"I want you to make me proud, son." He says putting his hand on my shoulder. Then he comes closer and whispers in my ear.

"If you ever skip a game, then I'll kill you." he says to my ear and I try hard to hold my patience and just ignore him. He looks around to see mom staring at him.

"Don't ever skip practice." He says and leaves. Armando comes and bids me goodbye.

From the airport, I go straight to Real to get her and I find her in a black off shoulder blouse and jeans. I tell her to get her stuff and we leave for my place. I take her to my room and she seats on my bed.

"Wanna take a shower, will you join me?" I ask as I remove my shirt.

"What?" Real asks as she laughs.

"I've already taken one." She says.

I go for my shower and come out with a towel wrapped around my waist. I reach out for the draw to get a pill and drink with water from the water bottle on the table. Real looks at me wide eyed.

"What' that?" She asks.

"Painkillers."

"Really, I've never seen any like those before." She says.

I tell her that it's a new brand, besides, she can't know them all. Right now all I want is to stop thinking of whatever dad was saying. I know Real doesn't trust me; she just cares a lot. I go into my closet to apply lotion and get dressed. Meanwhile, Real is still reading the Wuthering Heights novel.

"And…finished." She says closing the book and handing it over to me.

"How was it?"

"It was awesome, only that romantic novels are all the same."

"Then let's make a different one." I wink at her and she looks away blushing and suddenly pushes me.

"Lan!"

"Fine, let's go have breakfast." I tell her laughing.

We go downstairs and have cereal since I don't have time to make a descent breakfast, not that I know how to make one. Plus, I need to go for practice since I have a game tonight. From there, Real drops me off at practice and I tell her to go home, but she insists on waiting for me.

It's seven, the entire stadium is full and there's a lot of noise coming from the audience. The Red Lions get into the court. I look around and see Real on the first roll cheering; seeing her just motivates me. The game begins and I make sure my team's leading because I don't want Real to be disappointed. The game ends at 46-50 with my team on the lead; this is crazy. We made it to the finals.

As soon as the game ends, the reporters don't let me breathe, one after the other. I'm the man of the match and it feels amazing. Due to the hugeness of the crowd, I divert my idea to talk to Real and just go straight to the change room to take a shower and get changed. I meet my team members on my way to the carpark and they complement me on the game as I gave it my full potential.

"Where are you off to, the whole team is gonna have pizza; coach is buying." Dylan says.

"Sorry guys, but I won't be there coz wanna spend time with someone special." I say,

"Owoo!" the guys say smiling at each other.

"Goodluck then." Dylan says."

"Don't miss the finals too." Karl teases.

"I won't." I say smiling as I walk towards Real. She's standing in the car park where a huge deal of people are; getting in their cars and driving off. I wrap one of my hands on her neck and the other on her waist; feeling her warmth.

Real offers to drive since I'm dog tired and I can't refuse. She tells me of how she doesn't think Troy hates me and that he's just jealous I'm better than him. We get home and order some Chinese and afterwards head to bed coz I'm still very tired.

I lend Real a long shirt as she's forgotten her PJ's and holy crap; she looks good in it. she ties up her hair into a messy ban and enters the covers next to me. I stretch out my hand to let her lay on it and I just keep staring at her in the eye as she does the same.

"What?" She asks.

"It's just that you're very, Real."

"Really, how many girls have been in this bed?"

"None, you're the first." I tell her.

"Really?" she asks.

"And Sasha, but she's in the past now." I tell her.

The sun's brightness makes my eyes burn, so I run my fingers through my eyes. It's morning. I look the other side to Real and oh, damn; she looks prettier in the morning. I smile upon looking at her crazy beauty; I wish every morning I'd wake up with her next to me. I gently push some of the hair from her face and she finally wakes up.

"You're awake, why didn't you wake me up then?" she asks.

"I didn't want to disturb you since you look gorgeous when you sleep and I didn't want to ruin it for myself."

"You crazy." She says smiling.

"Not as much as your beauty though."

Real groans as she gets out of bed. I join her and we both go to wash our faces and brush our teeth together. Then we go downstairs to make breakfast. Real is actually the one preparing it and I seat on the counter and my focus is on her. where has she been my whole life?

"So, you don't think I'm a jerk as most people do?"

"Of course not, people just don't know your value, and I promise the day they do, they'll be sorry." She says.

"You're such a positive vibe.

I hug her from the back; resting my head on her shoulder. She just smiles. I actually don't feel like letting go.

"Milan that's burning!" she screams and I quickly let her go and she bursts out laughing.

"Making fun of me huh."

I pull her by the waist with one of my arms.

"I meant it might burn." She say.

I gently push her against the wall and eyes lock. I aim for her lips and Real tells me she didn't switch of the gas, I ask if it's not one of her tricks again and she says no; so I let her go.

She asks me if we can visit DeShaun again and I agree. We go to the studio and she cries singing about her mom and I just know through the lyrics that she's deeply hurt. She gives me a dare to drop a bar in one of her songs and because it's her; I do just that, not that I have some kind of passion in music, but because it's her and I really like her; like a lot.

We get home and start watching movies; Real looks at me in some type of way which scares me.

"What?" I ask.

"Why do you like me so much?"

"I-I also don't know, I don't even know where and when it happened. It's like I can't focus when you ain't around and it really scares me. I-" before I can continue, Real gives me a gentle kiss which silences me.

 She looks me straight in the eye and smiles at me, I pull her back and give her a long kiss and she wraps her legs around me. As we both become breathless, I reach out for her blouse and take it off displaying her round breasts in a white bra. She also reaches out for my shirt and with her help I remove it. She reaches out for my belt and I hold her hand.

"Are you sure about this?" looking her in the eyes she nodes.

I continue kissing her and as I help her remove the rest of her clothes. We become even closer and I and Real become one; it just feels magical. I've never felt this type of way for anyone. I just want her to be with me forever. After a few rounds, I fall asleep with Real leaning her head on my chest.

In the morning, I wake up smiling as the first thought which comes to my mind is Real. I put my hand on the side she lay last night, but she's not there. I guess she's already awake. Last night was really crazy, but I don't regret it though. I go downstairs wearing my shirt with my pajama pants still intact. I call out her name but get no response, I go into the kitchen and it's quiet as hell. I find a note pasted on the kitchen counter. It reads;

Don't worry about me, I'm okay.

Love, Real.

I take the note and go back into my room and realize all her stuff are gone. Did I perhaps make a mistake?

"No, no, no, no." I say as I run my fingers through my braids. She should've said then. I take my phone to try and call her, but it goes straight to voicemail. What's wrong with her.

I take a shower and get dressed and wait for her in case she returns, but to no avail. The day ends without even hearing from her. on the next day I decide to go and take a look at her place, but there's no one. Everything is the way she left it; a chill of coldness passes through my spine.

Did she decide to dump me, if yes, then why didn't she tell me directly. Is she even, okay? What if something has happened to her?

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" I yell. What if I'm going crazy.