"What does it stands for?" He asked while I racked my brain
"Our anniversary"
"You have never forgotten it before in your life"
"I'm sorry"
"I don't know what is going on with you, you've started acting weird since the beginning of this week"
"I'm sorry Chris" I thought
"We need to talk" he said after some seconds silence "You need to tell me why you're drifting away from me, from our relationship. I intentionally didn't call you this morning, I thought you were gonna call, but you didn't" he said hurtfully "You need to tell me what I'm doing wrong if that is why you're acting this way"
I tried not to cry as I was about to talk
"You did nothing wrong Chris"
"You even call me by my name"
"Stop finding fault in everything"
"But it's the truth"
"We will talk on Monday"
"Why can't you just make it tomorrow? I don't think I can survive three more days without knowing what is going on in that pretty mind of your"
"I planned to spend this weekend with Brent, he needs it"
"I know".
"Alright then, we will talk later"
"I guess your mind is made up. Okay, bye. I love you"
"I lo..." I trailed off and hung up the phone
"Why didn't you want me to talk with Chris?" Brent attacked the moment that I stepped inside
"I'm sorry"
"What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing. I just... have to be the one to pick it"
"Is everything okay with you two?" Mom asked
I nodded my head with a smile plastered to my face and went to sit on the bed
My phone rang, it was a text
"I'm still expecting your call" Jake texted
"Keep waiting" I replied and turned on my do not disturb preference
"Who are you chatting with?" Brent asked
"A friend" I replied
"Who in particular?"
"You don't know..." I almost said 'him' but fortunately caught myself before it could slip out of my tongue "You don't know her" I corrected
"I know all your friends"
"You don't know this one. He, I mean she just got transferred to our office"
"Okay" he said in understanding "And what is her name?"
"Ja...Ja... Jasmine"
"Is she pretty?"
"You know I only move with pretty people like you" I said and touched his cheeks
"I've always told you that I'm not pretty. Pretty is for the chicks. I'm a man and I'm handsome"
"You're pretty"
"I'm handsome and do you have a picture of her?" He asked
I did as if I was thinking about it for some seconds before shaking my head
"No" I said
"Okay"
Mom later agreed with I staying overnight while she went home to rest
"How many months do I have left?" Brent whispered to me in the middle of the night
"Forever" I replied while trying not to cry
Some months back, we were informed about the possibility that he might not be seeing next year and the thought of it alone was killing me inside
"I'm being serious" he said
"Stop asking questions"
"I don't why you guys are keeping it from me. It's not right"
"We have our reasons"
"Do you just want me to die without saying goodbye"
I held his hand and looked him straight in the eyes
"You are not going to die"
"I don't want to die" he said and started crying
"I know" I said, got out of the seat that I was sitting on and hugged him
"I'm scared" he cried
"Don't be because I'm here"
"You aren't going to be there when I die. Everybody will leave me alone and everything is going to be cold out there"
"Stop thinking like this"
"I'm going to miss you"
"Why are saying all this?"
"Because of mom, I know she is sad"
"Everything is going to be okay" I repeated mom's sentence
"And Kathy also" he added
"What about her?"
Kathy was the girl Brent's had a crush on but his health wasn't giving him the chance to make a move on her
"She will also forget me"
"She won't"
"Of course, she will, everybody will"
"I'm not discussing this again" I finally said
--------------
I and mom exchanged position in the morning
"Good morning, fiancee" Jake texted on my way home "I will be calling you now and it's better you pick up" he texted again
I packed my car before texting him back
"What if I don't?" I texted
"Don't provoke me"
That text reminded me of the first time he kissed me. The kiss wasn't bad but it wasn't good either
"Are you threatening me?"
"Maybe" he texted back and called
"What do you want this early morning?" I asked irritated
"To hear your voice. I've been yearning for it since you last yesterday"
I rolled my eyes and silently hissed
"I think I can now hang up since you've heard it"
"Wait! Don't hang up yet. How is he?"
"Fine thank you"
"It's nothing, you're my fiancee and he is my brother in law"
"I'm not in the mood for this"
"It's okay. I will call you later in the day, and make sure you pick up"
I hung up the call and started my car