Chapter 7: One More Night

"What is your decision, babe?" Jack finally gathered the courage to ask.

Briana cleared her throat. "I decided that..."

The loud sound of Briana's phone's ringtone cut off their conversation, letting them know that she had a call.

"I'll answer the call first," Briana said, grabbing her phone from the side table. It was her father calling her. She adjusted the volume to full so that her companion could also hear her conversation with her father.

'Hello, Dad!'

'Hello, daughter! Have you seen the photos I sent you in your messenger?"

'What photos?'

'Our honeymoon photos were taken from our cruise ship.'

'I haven't checked my email yet. I'll check it later. How's the honeymoon going?'

'Fantastic, daughter. My new wife is amazing, I love her to the moon! The cruise ship is incredible, with all of the rides and entertainment available both day and night. You should join us on a cruise ship one day, together with Rosita's son Gabriel. You will meet him soon enough. Next week, my wife and I, together with Gabriel, will come to visit you there in your apartment. We will have dinner together so that the four of us can get acquainted with each other just like one happy family.'

'Sure, Dad! I can't wait to meet your new wife and my stepbrother!'

'Great! I can't stay long, daughter. See you next week, on Sunday!'

'Okay. Bye Dad! Take care. Give my regards to your wife!'

'Sure!'

'Enjoy the honeymoon, Dad!'

'Enjoy your weekend too, daughter! See you soon! Bye'

'Bye Dad!'

Briana put her phone down and looked at Jack. "Did you hear everything?"

Jack nodded his head. "Yup, loud and clear!"

"Next week, the four of us will finally meet and get to know each other as a family at a family get-together. Ironic isn't it?" Briana said she doesn't know if she will cry or laugh at the absurdity of their situation.

"Yeah, ironic and sad all at once." Jack agreed woefully.

"Um, regarding my decision..." Briana said.

Jack heaved a sigh. "Alright, let me hear it once and for all," he said, ready to accept her decision temporarily because he didn't want to cause her any further distress. Heaven forbid, he will never let go of Briana no matter what happens in the future!

Briana cleared the lump in her throat, finding it hard to break up with him.

"Babe, I'm waiting. Go on, the waiting is killing me! Bring it on!" He coaxed her. Rather than living in constant fear, he would rather face her decision once and for all, no matter how painful it is.

"Jack, I think we should put some distance between us," Briana finally said.

Jack took a long, deep breath, sucking in the air. "As I expected..."

"I'm so sorry. I don't want to let you go, but I have no choice, my morality can't accept our situation! I can't have an affair with my step-sibling! I just can't!" Briana bit her lip as fresh tears rolled down her face. She began sobbing hard, overwhelmed by the severity of their situation.

Jack's heart died after hearing her decision. Although he already expected her decision, it still hurts like hell. He saw the tears rolling down her face. He cradled her face and hugged her tightly, sharing her pain. "You just broke my heart into tiny pieces, babe. But I can't blame you. I completely understand your decision. Please stop crying, it hurts me deeply seeing you cry like this..."

Briana cried silently in his arms.

Jack rubbed her back gently, wanting to share her agony. He can't cry—not yet, the fight is not over yet! He will defy heaven just to have Briana by his side, come what may!

"Shhh, calm down. Please stop crying. Our relationship doesn't end here," he said softly. He looked out the window and saw a storm brewing ahead. His fight for Briana and their affection for each other won't be an easy task, it's going to be a hard fight, but he believes that true love endures until the end of times.

Jack held Briana in his arms until she stopped crying. "Can I stay for another day by your side?"

"No!" Briana looked at him with tear-stained eyes. "I think you should leave now. Let's not prolong our agony. We must end this today!" she insisted.

"Babe, just one more night and one more day with you, please?" He begged her, with tears welling up in his eyes.

Briana shook her head. "No. You have to go now. It's best that we forget what happened between us and start treating each other like siblings starting today," she said calmly.

"Alright, I won't force you anymore. But you have to promise me one thing, you can't have a boyfriend in the next five years while I figure out how to solve our problem. Can you do that for me, for us?" Jack asked, feeling hopeful, his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Can you do the same?" Briana asked him the same question.

"I swear to God I'll keep my promise to you—that I won't get involved with another woman within five years," Jack said solemnly. "Now it's your turn, babe!"

Briana sighed. She hates making promises to anyone because promises are meant to be broken, but for his sake, she has to oblige him. He was looking distraught right now—like a blind man drifting in the open sea with no help in sight. "Okay. I promise you that I will never enter into a relationship with anyone in the next five years."

Jack smiled in satisfaction. "Thank you so much, babe! At least, despite the fact that we break up today, I am relieved that you will keep me in your heart for five years. Rest assured, I will do the same. I swear to God, you are the only woman I will ever love!"

Briana looked at his face closely. "You mentioned finding ways to solve our problem. Can I ask you something before you go?"

"Yes, bring it on," Jack said, his mind already busy thinking of possible ways to solve their impossible dilemma.

"Do you have plans in mind for how to solve our current situation? We can't be together unless our parents’ divorce," she inquired, intrigued by the inner workings of his mind.

Jack's eyes glimmered for a moment, the expression on his face suddenly turned serious. "I'm planning to devise a plan to break our parents' union if they don't separate within five years. That's my plan..."