Chapter 40
I made sure to guilt trip Valin through text message on my way home, I tried my best to keep him from getting cussed out when his pervy side came out, yet he betrays me immediately! The audacity! Worst friend ever!... even though he is technically my best friend...When I arrived, Zai was waiting on the front porch steps. I parked the car, and then I made my way over to the spot at his side.
"I'm sorry..." I started with an apology to show my sincerity,
"Your photoshoot is in 3 days... It's going to be out of town so we'll leave a day early to get a hotel room. I want you to get plenty of rest." I placed my hand on top of his,
"I realize that no matter what happens, you'd always choose me and I would choose you too. In every life, in all scenarios. I need you to understand that." Zai chuckled softly,
"I was trying to just let it go and avoid the subject."
"I know! But you don't have to." I explained.
"Then tell me the truth... I never mentioned this but, I can sense lies and half-truths. You've been giving them to me a lot lately, I didn't want to say anything because... I thought it would cause a fight and I don't want to fight with you." When Zai said that my heart sank and I knew I had to reveal everything... so I told him about my power, about the rabbit, the other life I experienced, and the book that Smoke gave me. "You never read it?" He asked, seemingly confused.
"When I got back I was so caught up with you and busy that I never had the time." My excuse caused him to raise an eyebrow then he shrugged and laughed,
"I guess... I never really gave you a lot of alone time when you got back... let's read it tonight, together." Zai offered. The relief I felt was unexplainable. I thought he'd think I was crazy if I told him the truth but it seems that his ability to see through lies came in handy for me. We went inside and pulled the book from my luggage, then read through the pages together. The trigger is I have to feel like I am in extreme danger, with no hope of escape. The rabbit allowing me to go through parallel timelines was likely triggered by indecision hidden deep in my heart... I wish Zai didn't know about that part but it's too late to change it now. There were only 2 different people with my powers, and they said, they believed that the rabbit would always "hop" them to a period where they could be the happiest.
"Zai... after I finish with this album... I think I want to take a break from music. I always wanted to share my songs but I can do that from home, and after I get more exposure, I'd like to focus on our family, I realize that will make me the happiest." After I said this he closed the book and laid his head against mine.
"That's a relief..."
"RJ said you traveled a lot before... are there any places you want to go? I'd like to take a trip together." I stated while lacing our fingers together.
"I can think of a few places that I want to take you," Zai answered. His tone sounded suggestive so I gulped before replying,
"By the way... tomorrow I'm not going to remember my life with Valin anymore, so all this weirdness should be cleared away," I assured.
"You mean your crush on Valin?" Zai asked in a mocking voice.
"I do not have a crush on him!" Zai clicked his tongue and then said,
"It better be gone... or I'll have to fight him." I gasped,
"You'd hurt him because I have weird time travel-related feelings?" I inquired.
"I'd try but... Valin is a counter for me. If he decided to fight back... it'd be hard for me to hurt him. Still, I'd need to let my rage out somehow and he'd be the best target." I groaned.
"You won't need to fight him! I promise." Zai kissed me, setting my body at ease, and then he dropped the book onto the floor and pushed me onto my back. We made love as if this was just a normal day. When I opened my eyes I was in the room with the mirror image of me, who I knew was the rabbit.
"Has your mind been altered since we last saw each other?" She asked.
"My... no, this is the right path. Even if I could be happy with Valin it's only if I ignored and hurt Zai.... and now that I'm here I remember how things went with RJ. Where I was weak and cheated on him, leading to my death. Under normal circumstances, I'd never ignore him so we'd always end up together. Valin and I aren't meant for each other... it would be selfish to choose him. Zai is my only natural outcome." She smiled at me and then handed me a White Poppy.
"I agree... some things will be easier and some will be harder but there is no doubt that this is the path you were meant to fall into. The others were only possible with my interference. I see I made no mistakes when sending you to that house." She declared while strolling away from me.
"I never thought I'd be living with Afarions," I muttered.
"I'm sure they weren't expecting to be living with a YOU, either." Then she chuckled lightly, "It's time to wake up now."
My eyes shot open, and I saw Zai sitting up beside me, still naked and reading through my book. He had on glasses... since when did he need glasses? It was like looking at another version of him, rekindling the awe I had when I first ever laid my eyes on him.
"Good morning, handsome." I greeted. He closed the book and smiled down at me.
"Hi to you too." Zai brushed my hair back from my face, just before pecking my lips and asking, "How did you sleep?"
"I slept great! I feel full of energy," I replied, then I sat up and threw my arms around him.
"Any strange dreams?" He questioned. I thought hard but I couldn't recall my dream at all.
"I can't remember but... I think I had a good one." I replied. Zai gently pushed me back and then looked into my eyes. Then he smiled and said,
"I did too... by the way, your phone has been vibrating a lot," I felt curious as to why so I picked my phone up from the bedstand and saw, a missed call and text from Lisa. The text was,
"Apparently, Valin and Sarai slept together before we became a couple. Which is fine, I have no right to be mad about that. I am but I will get over it. ANYWAY, she showed up at the gym today and saw us together! She basically made a scene in public, yelling at me. We've been friends for 2 years and I don't know what to do. I'm mainly just venting but if you have advice I'll happily take it!" Wow... looks like Sarai is sprung harder than I thought. What did Valin do to make her act like that? I scrolled down and saw Lisa sent a video, captioned "Someone caught it on camera, it already has over 100 views! I pray it doesn't go viral." I hit play and moved closer to Zai so he could watch too. The video showed Lisa standing with some of her friends with Valin holding her hand. Sarai was confronting them,
"You move on quick." She said accusatorily toward Valin. He didn't respond, as I expected. It was hard to see his face in the video, to make out his expressions, as well but I'm sure he was annoyed. "You need to know what kind of scumbag you're with. He cut me off for no reason and now he's with you?!" She said to Lisa,
"Don't talk about my boyfriend like that!" Lisa shouted; wow she's quick to defend him.
"I came to him heartbroken and HE! He took advantage of me! Do you, really, want to waste your time with a guy like that?!" Sarai yelled, I could hear the crowd muttering. They must be really entertained. That's when Valin finally jumped in and said,
"Actually, you're the one who took advantage of me... and show respect when you're talking to her, or I'll become the one in here making a scene." He stepped in between the two girls,
"I've been trying to contact you. Did our night together mean nothing to you? I just want to talk... please." Her voice softened when confronting him directly,
"There's not much to say... I'm not interested in you and I'm in a relationship. Move on." At that moment a guard walked over to the filmer and said
"You're not allowed to record in here," To which they replied,
"Sorry." That's where the video ended. There were at least 10 people other than Lisa's friends watching in the background. Sarai looked disheveled like she hadn't slept properly for days. Maybe I should ask RJ and Val what exactly happened with her, I'm suddenly more invested in the story than I was yesterday... Knowing them though they won't tell me anything.