I get off the motorcycle, take off my helmet and look with shocked eyes at the house where Jackson currently lives. It's a villa left to him by a friend. A white, two-story house with a large garden and a swimming pool.
- It's impressive, isn't it? - speaks up as the brunet stands next to me. - My friend loved such houses. I, however, feel bad in it, so I put it up for sale. I'm staying in it until I find a buyer. Thereafter, I plan to move to a regular apartment. Small interiors are cozier for me.
However, there is a particle of the old Jackson in it.
- And what about me? How are you going to protect me? - I ask. He lowers his face and looks into my eyes.
- I told you that you would be by my side twenty-four hours a day.
- Jackson, that sounds absurd. How do you imagine that? I can't give up my life completely.
- You have to, Alice. I swear it won't take long. Give me a month and I'll set you free.
I look at him with suspicious eyes, wondering what he is going to do. This man has been crazy all his life and nothing can stop him from deciding, so I feel uneasy about his words.
- What are you going to do during this month? You yourself stated that this time you are not dealing with usurers.
Brunet swallows his saliva harder, looking ahead.
- Just trust me. You don't need to know everything. I'll set you free after a month, but until then, arrange for a replacement in your daily life.
I furrow my eyebrows, piercing him with my eyes.
- Then tell me the truth, if you want me to trust you.
- This is a fucking joke! - A woman's scream sounds behind our backs. I turn around and see Jackson's girlfriend heading towards us, who looks like she wants to rip me to shreds. - With me, you would rather not live with me, and you have no inhibitions about bringing home an ex-girlfriend!
I'm terrified as she walks straight at me, ready to attack, but I'm shielded by Jackson, hiding behind his back.
- Calm down, Suzy. She's in danger because of me, so I have to take responsibility for her life.
The girl snorts under her breath, looking at me with murderous eyes.
- Poor lamb surrounded by wolves.
Jackson rests his hand on his hip, while rubbing his forehead with the other.
- Don't make a show of it. You know very well what the situation is. She has to give up her current life, and it's not easy for her.
She is right. It is damn difficult. I have to come up with a good lie that my best friend will swallow and take care of company business for the next month. I have no choice if I'm going to be trapped in Jackson's villa. And it's not that it looks like I've been kidnapped by him. It's to keep me safe.
- So let me stay here, too. - The girl does not let go. She crosses her arms on her chest and looks at him with intense eyes.
- No, Suzy, because I will not be able to sleep peacefully. I'll be worried so that something stupid doesn't come to your mind and so that you don't hurt Alice.
- Oh yeah? So that's the kind of person you think I am! - She raises her voice at him, but Jackson doesn't seem to care.
- By entering here you showed your face, besides.... we are not in an official relationship.
I am shocked to hear these words.
- Well, yes. You have to announce in front of your ex-girlfriend that I am just your friend, and occasionally, we like to have fun. You hope she will take you back, you fucking idiot.
And again that murderous look of hers with which she pierces me to the core, after which she shifts her gaze to Jackson and leaves the garden, slamming the gate door.
I'm uncomfortable. To him, too, as he scratches the back of his neck, looking somewhere in a distant place.
- She'll be fine, right? - I ask, and only then does Jackson shift his gaze to me. He nods and tells me to go inside. I follow his words, admiring the bright interior that lights up my eyes with opulence.
- On the second floor, all the rooms are vacant except the one opposite the staircase. You can choose the one you like best. Make yourself at home.
- I'll try, since I have no choice," I whisper.
Jackson walks to the right, ignoring the servants bowing to him. I watch his back with longing eyes for a long moment, and when he disappears behind the wall, I head up the stairs to the second floor. I bypass the room opposite and look into the next room. Furthermore, I'm not the kind of girl who freaks out, so the first choice is my final one. With beige walls, a bed under the window and a navy-blue couch in the middle, it's the perfect place for me to spend the next month.
I sit down on the mattress and try to come up with a good lie that my best friend will swallow. I have to do something before he realizes something is wrong.
Furthermore, I pull my phone out of my purse and, nervously swallowing my saliva, dial Kai's number. The boy answers after the third beep.
- Did you reach home safely? - he asks at the outset, and I'm doused with cold sweats when I think about having to lie to him.
- Kai, it's just that I didn't make it home....
- What, are you all right? - He asks in a worried voice, and I'll give my head a slash that he's just broken out of his seat if he was sitting somewhere.
- Of course I'm fine.... well, maybe not quite, though, since I did something crazy.
The long silence reinforces my belief that Kai is nervous.
- What did you do, Alice?
- I gave up everything for a month to rest mentally and get my thoughts together. I need a rest to collect my thoughts.
- What are you talking about? You're starting to worry me.
I close my eyelids and take a deep breath.
- My car stayed in front of the company, but I left. It was a sudden and crazy decision, however.... I require it and I ask you to take care of everything in my absence. I have only you, my friend.
I'm sure he's clobbered, which is why he's silent again for a long moment.
- Is this a joke, Alice? Are you trying to screw me?
- I'm not joking. I'm completely serious. Too much has happened lately. I guess it's only now that my mother's death has hit me and I just need a break from everyday life.
- Do you know how absurd that sounds? I know you inside out, Alice. You are a person who would never go as far as such a crazy idea.
- Clearly, recent events have gone to my head. Just promise to take care of everything in my absence. I can trust you, right, Kai?
- Yes, but... where are you now, Alice?
I look around the interior, and my eyes glaze over with tears.
- Just in a certain, beautiful place. Don't worry about me. We are in contact. - I hang up before he can say anything, and a lone tear runs down my cheek.
I am afraid. I'm worried because my acquaintance with Jackson has once again caused me trouble, although now much worse than before. These aren't usurers who want money and the Mafia who are trying to destroy my ex-boyfriend, and I happen to be in the middle of this war.
I turn off the phone when Kai calls me again. Let him know that tonight I want to take a breather.
*
I leave the room and go down to the first floor. At the stairs I bump into Jackson, who presses a white T-shirt into my hands.
- That night you must sleep in my t-shirt. Tomorrow I'll make sure you have all the things you need.
I squeeze the material of the cotton T-shirt in my hand, looking into his eyes. He does not look away.
- Jackson, I... - I close my eyelids, and he doesn't let me finish, interfering with my sentence.
- No worries. This is the last night I'm in this house. I have you in my care now, so I will move out of here early, without waiting any longer for the merchant. My enemies could swoop in here at any moment.
- So why did you tell me to choose a room where I would feel most comfortable?
- I just wanted to be hospitable," he replies, and his lips curve into a smile. At this point, he looks like the Jackson of old. My Jackson that I have come to love.
As if mesmerized, I look at his face, feeling my heart begin to beat harder. After all these years, I still haven't cured myself of my adoration for him.
- I'm sorry that five years ago I couldn't get in touch with you. I'm sorry that I hurt you so much," I announce, looking into his eyes with a pained look. He looks shocked by my sudden confession.
- How did this happen, Alice? - he asks in a whisper.
- After my grandmother's funeral, my mother showed up. She forcefully took me to the car and prevented me from contacting you. I tried certainly, but she controlled me at every turn, saying that men are evil and make women weak. When I tried to reach you from a pay phone one day, you didn't answer.... You didn't have any social media accounts, so I finally gave up....
I lower my face, and he grabs my chin and forces me to look into his eyes.
- Is your mother still making your life miserable?
I shake my head in response.
- No. I recently buried her. She fought for a long time against a serious illness. In the end, she lost.
I see concern in his eyes. Jackson's attitude changes a hundred and eighty degrees.
- I'm sorry, although I know how hard life you had with your mother.
- And what about your brother? Did he finally show up?
Jackson leans with his hand against the railing by the stairs.
- That bastard will never appear in my life again. He knows very well what a swamp he has made. He'd better not show his face to me.
I nod in response.
- I go take a shower, then go to bed. I am exhausted. It's been a hard day," I explain, after which I turn my back to him and intend to go up the stairs, but he grabs me at the elbow area and stops me with him.
- I've missed you like crazy, Alice. It sounds selfish, but I'm glad this situation allowed you to be close to me.
I look at him with wide-open eyes, not believing that he said these words out loud. I follow his movements as he pulls a small packet of gels from his pants pocket and opens the package. He puts the blue teddy bear in my mouth, looking into my eyes.
- I do this to tell you: sweet dreams.
This bastard still has a charisma in him that makes my heart beat like crazy. Old feelings are revived, causing confusion in my head.
Yes, first love is wonderful, although it can have a tragic ending. I realize that.