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Chapter 16 – 72 Hours before the Shanghai Tour

After reading the letter, I can’t help but to take a deep breath and close my eyes for a minute, it felt like an hour, he wants to meet but he also want me to withdraw from the trial, to be the witness. Anyway, Me, attending the trial or not is just the same. He will be in jail but I know that Archie will be happy if I went there. The last part of the letter says “Don’t resist this time or else I am stepping in”.

With this kind of threats from him is not a surprise but a challenge to me as well. I can’t deny the fact that he uses my mother as a bait to every plan he does. I can’t tell whether he’s bluffing or not but I know that he won’t use my mom to me. She wouldn’t hurt her for she treasure her as well.

Eli stepped in and called me to drink with her outside the hotel. I can tell she has a problem for the fact that when she’s down, she always take me to bars and party. I hid the letter under my pillow and went out. Her favorite drinks are the strong ones so I can’t drink because I’ll be her driver when she’s busted but sometimes, I called for a driver or Jonathan will pick us up after pouring her emotions. The music is too loud in here, I can’t even hear whatever Eli’s saying with that big guy near the stairs. We booked a private room, ordered something a little bit strong, I ordered first, so she’s a little bit sober for now.

After drinking three bottle, she started spitting out her problems. “You know, I can’t believe he dumped me just because I don’t see him everyday. What an asshole! He knew from the start that I am busy yet he still want to be my boyfriend. Isn’t he an asshole? He is so unbelievable. Damn him!”. she didn’t stop there. “This is his fault….” slowly talking means he’s talking about his forever love but he’s nowhere to be found. “…If he didn’t cheat on me, I wouldn’t be like this with boys.” I raised a brow thinking he calls her boyfriends boys, feel like he dated a bunch of kids.

Venting her anger on the dance floor is not a good idea. I like to invite her to a firing range but she’s too drunk to even walk. She reached for her phone and dialed a number, I waited and looks like the other line answered because she started talking to him. “You are nothing in my life now. You are just a big typhoon in my life. You jerk!!!” she shouted. She dropped her phone and when I looked at her, she’s already sleeping. I sigh but realized that the other line haven’t hang up yet so I picked the phone and greeted the other line without looking at the called ID “Hello?” the other line answered asking where we are and I asked him “Who is this?”. he was hesitant to answer but soon said “Alden Roman”. he sounded like a very respectful guy. I didn’t tell him where we are and we headed out with Eli asleep and I asked for an assistance. Thankfully, Jona was already there waiting outside the bar so we were able to get out there without a problem.

Thankfully, she slept and that someone called her again but when I looked at the ID, it says “Attorney”. why would a lawyer call her at this time so I picked it up and answered it without hesitation “Hello?” I said. The lawyer did say “You again?”. when I heard his voice, there I knew who he was “Mr. Roman? Do you need something?”. He asked if Eli was okay and when I told him she was sleeping, he thanked me and he told me “Can I ask for a favor, Mr. Black”. I laughed thinking he was so formal. “Go ahead” I told him, then he told me if I could delete the recent calls by his name. I asked him why but all he gave me was “I don’t want her to be embarrassed after seeing it”. I didn’t ask anymore and I did what he asked for and left Eli in her hotel room.

I slept well today so I am in a very good condition. I would run around the stadium to play with the staff especially the securities around me. They are very cooperative so I can’t help but get excited. We played a lot of sports in our free time. Table tennis was too easy for Kendrick but he can’t beat me on that. We played Tennis, basketball, soccer, and a hide and seek. It was very childish but it was fun.

While practicing, I got a call from an unknown number. I was hesitant to answer but I did it anyways. “You’re not going right?” He said with a lot of authoritative order. I went to a silent part of the stadium and that’s when I told him “Hi, Mr. Grant. Chill out, mind your blood pressure”. I can’t sense it in his voice that he is pissed but he’s burning with anger, that I can feel. “You know me, I don’t back down on my word, son”. I am very aware of that, I grew up hating him because of that. “Is your father still visit your mom?” he asked unexpectedly. He really know how to get me angry but I won’t be angry because today is a good day.

“No…. and he will never be. I will make sure of that”. I said. He laughed at my statement like I can’t keep it. “You know that I can drag you back in here, right?” he said sternly. That voice makes me scared because that voice was all I could hear growing up in that house. He wanted me perfect and when I did, he wasn’t even contented. After freeing from him, I tried a lot of that stuff that every kid do when their not satisfied with their parents, rebel. I would do everything he dislikes so I always ended up being grounded in my room like a prisoner.

If I had a father by my side at that time, I wouldn’t suffer like that with him. That’s why I hate my father because he left me when I needed him the most. My mother always cheers me up and that being with them will make me a good person. I always believe in mom and that becoming that person will never happen to me.

After the call, we continued for another hour then we left after the practice and went straight to my hotel. I called mom to check up on her but she’s not answering so I relaxed a bit in my room. I didn’t realize that I already slept for two hours. I showered and ordered early lunch and ate silently while watching some news about a typhoon coming next week. After eating, I check up on Eli, who was already up and in his outdoor outfit. Eli invited me to go sightseeing for a fresh air and I can see she’s in a better mood today. “Did you sleep good yesterday?” I asked her.

She put on her seat-belt and laughed “Did I went overboard yesterday?” she said. I told her she went too far, afar from that, I told her she called a guy named Alden Roman many times. She hurriedly checks her phone but didn’t found anything. I told her I deleted because the guy said so. He started punching my arm like a punching bag and it hurts. She asked me this after venting her embarrassment “I called him first? or did her called me first?”. I told her what happened yesterday and she suddenly screamed and I almost lose my sense of hearing because of that.

I told her to chill and that she can do that outside. She said “sorry” and inhale slowly. We went to a very nice quiet garden 200 meters away from our hotel. I asked some advice and didn’t tell her about Mr. Grant. “What are you going to do if you are force to stand down, and that meeting that someone for the last time will make you very relieved and calm or fight till someone has to sacrifice for you but got your last farewell instead”.

She looked at me and suspicions are all over her face. “Don’t worry this ain’t about girls allright?”. she then looked at me for a second time and that same face is still written in her face. I gave up and told her the truth, but not entirely, all true “Fine, it’s about Archie. So what? … What is going to be your choice?”. she goes back to looking at the the beautiful flower near the park. “I don’t know what this is about…but… I just wanted to say it’s better to just stand down and miss that last farewell than having someone sacrifice for your actions.”

Eli was right “Okay, thanks Eli, It means a lot” I smiled genuinely. There’s a lot of time where I can see Archie in the future but if I go on that day, I’ll be sacrificing someone for my actions and I know he meant it when he said he’ll drag me back inside that house again. It is actually okay if it’s just me but knowing that I’ll be sacrificing my mom’s freedom for my stupid actions hurts me a lot.

We walked for another 20 minutes and head back to the hotel. I practiced more on my vocal and played games until Eli knocked on my door and said we are leaving already. I fixed everything in my room and went on to the stadium to perform. Upon arriving, I was met with a thousand of fans outside and I can see how they’re very excited for the show.

I already went on and finally doing the final practice. My dance crew are already on the stage and we perform like we are live and it was very exciting and fun. Now, two more hours and we are finally starting the show.I was doing my makeup when a man in his 40’s came, together with Eli. I stayed in my seat and Eli introduced the guy who just walked in.

“Mr. Ye, Ian Collin. Ian, Mr. Ye of the Ye International Group”. Eli was very good with this communication, maybe that’s why Jericho put her in charge. I stood up and accept the handshake Mr. Ye was offering at this very moment. “Hi, it’s finally nice to meet you, Mr. Ye” I greeted him warmly. Mr.Ye was sponsoring the South African’s Music School that I created two years ago. He was a very big help in sponsoring the kids who have a lot of dream to pursue music but couldn’t. “Hello, Collins, It’s good to see you in person as well”. he said happily.

We chatted for minutes and signed his baby girl’s shirt that is also the shirt that I am wearing right now. “Hey peanut, you got a nice shirt right there.” she smiled and we took a picture with his dad. I had to leave and say goodbye because the show is already starting.