Three years later...
~Ren~
The doorbell sounded. A knock, loud enough instantaneously followed, enough for me to hear it from the closed door of my room in our humble apartment.
“I’m coming!” Gathering my still-wet hair into a messy bun, I took a glimpse at myself in the vanity mirror in my walk-in closet. When I’m sure I look decent, I practically run to open the door. Afraid that the wood might shatter to four from the loud pounding made by the person on the other side.
Skipping two steps at a time in my bare feet, I twisted the knob only to be met by gardens of lilies, Cali’s signature scent.
“I miss you, sissy!” Cali whispered on my neck.
~Devin~Rubbing my face with both of my hands, I tried to get up from my bed with a heavy sigh. The soft sheets of the duvet slid off of my naked body. I walked languidly to the bathroom and stood under the cold shower. This has become a routine. My body moves mechanically, calculated and accurate.Drying off my body with the floppy towels Mrs. Kelvin provided for me, I wrapped one around my waist and stepped inside my walk-in closet. The half part contains Ren’s clothes while the other half contains mine. Every time I walk in here, all I can smell is her apricot and lavender-scented clothes.Today was a slow Sunday, Evan invited me over for a beer in his newly acquired bar. He kept bugging me to give him a welcome party. My best friend knows how to annoy me all the fucking time.
~Devin~“Who’s the lucky guy? Is he that rumored Brazilian model, Daniel Cortez?” Kendra continued to squeeze out information from Ren about this boyfriend of hers.Ren’s cheeks burned with a crimson shade. My fist clenched and unclenched while waiting for her answer. “No. Daniel and I are good friends. This guy I’m talking about is not showbiz, so I’d like to keep it that way for a while.”Kendra huffed demurely, unsatisfied with Ren’s vague answer. “Here’s another question from @MiraClassics: Aren’t you one of Devin Mávros’ flings?”Evan choked on his beer. “What the fuck?”“Is this Devin, the one from Mávros
~Ren~Waking up to another continuous buzzing of my phone was not fun at all. Slightly, I was regretting launching ‘vulnerable’.Sighing, I smiled at the feel of small hands touching my face. They were soft, like fluffy cotton candies, and they smell like one too.“Mama…” an angelic voice whispered to my ears, prying my eyes open with the small soft fingers. “Mama... up! Up!”“Griff-griff,” stretching my arms to wrap around the small ball of energy at five in the morning, I pulled my son for a hug.The small man groaned. He didn’t like to be called a baby anymore. “Griffin.” he gruffly murmured, trying to sound mad.
~Ren~I was fuming, I’m a bomb waiting to explode. It was given that I’ll see that man soon enough, but not this early. He caught me off guard and our little interaction in the cafeteria went viral in just a few hours.This can’t be happening. I even had Dad’s tech guys deleting every video, but too many copies were made online already.Before I went home to the mansion in Malibu, I went to a gym to cool down.Letting my frustration out before I go home.Griffin can’t see me like this. He didn’t deserve to see my broken side. Being the smart kid that he is, he can sense when I’m tired or when I’m thinking about unhappy thoughts.&ldq
~Ren~What the hell are we doing here? Suddenly, I was connecting the dots. His threat, this trip to Athens, the hotel, that dreadful dinner.Gripping Natalie’s forearm, I pulled her away from the entire crew and ambushed interviewed her. “The sponsor, it’s Devin, isn’t it?”Natalie rolled her eyes, “yeah…” She grimaced, “did you lose part of that meeting in that head of yours? Everything was well laid out on you Ren and you agreed to everything!” The annoyance she feels was as clear as the day and it was directed towards me.I should be the one mad at her, not the other way around. But then again, I was there in that meeting, which technically made this all my fault.
~Devin~My feet were glued, not taking my eye off from watching Ren’s retreating figure disappear through the long stretch of white sand beach.Her words didn’t affect me - a little maybe - what pains me was the emotions clouding her jade green eyes. It was dark and deep, like a haunting fear that never allows its prey to take a wink of sleep. The kind of pain that only a person who’s been to hell and back will be able to tame, to hold and contain in the cell of her heart.My love.I can feel her pain radiating through her whole being. I wanted to take it away. Allow me to take it back.I followed her footsteps, not caring if she’d hate me more by my actions. It’s not as if she doesn’t hate
~Ren~I never knew a week away from my son would turn me into an emotional mess. This boy holds my heart in his hands. From those five days that we’re apart, his curly dark hair seemed to grow almost an inch longer. Or is it just me? He might have grown taller too.I’ve been ogling Griffin for about thirty minutes now, threading my fingers through his hair while he was still sleeping peacefully. It’s five in the morning on a Saturday and my mind was already wide awake with thoughts of the man who looks just like my son.What has gotten into me? Why did I agree to be civil and friends with him?Devin showed me the soft side of him again, the one I fell in love with.That rooftop garden he had in his hotel mad
~Ren~“Let go,” I argued, trying my hardest to pull my hand away from his hold.“Why are you being stubborn?” he asked inquisitively, as if he didn’t know why.“Friends don’t hold hands like this,” my voice was low yet the defiance is clear. The pilot hearing us was the least of my concerns. Devin has to stop doing these kinds of things.Devin stared at me with a flicker of pain, hurt. “I know. We’re not friends from now on.”Ugh! He’s impossible to deal with. I huffed and stared at the miniature world from up here.Sensing my defeat, Devin drew soothing circles on my knuckles. I don’t have to look at hi