Nathan
“Nathan?” James said, looking surprised to find me knocking at his door, and kept looking around as if checking to see I’m alone.
“Hello Mr. King” I said and smiled warmly.
“It’s James, please. Come in!” James smiled back at me and led me to the living room. The house was still the same, old colorful carpets everywhere, beautiful furniture, and the large gorgeous chandelier I loved a lot.
James handed me a cup of coffee and smiled when he saw me admiring his house, just like always. I smiled back at him and took a sip of my coffee. I couldn’t help but notice that colors have come back to his cheeks, and he didn’t look as pale and unhealthy like before.
“I thought you’ll come with Jessie” James said, looking at me out of the corner of his eyes.
“Well… I liked to come alone today. We’ll visit you with Jessie another day I hope” I said, and looked away from him.
“Ah. Alright” James mumbled.
“I actually came here because you wanted to talk to us both” I started, staring at the cup of coffee in my hand. “Since Jessie is… busy right now. I decided to come alone”
“I’m glad you did, son.” James said, smiling. “And I’m glad you’ll be my son in law one day”
I frowned, clearing my throat, “I think it’s too early to talk about those things, besides… I came here to know more about Jessie”
James arched an eyebrow and stared at me carefully.
“What do you want to know about her?” He asked, looking away from me and sipping on his coffee.
“Everything” I admitted. I have come this far, I might as well know everything about her.
“Forgive me, but I have to ask you a question first” He said, making me frown in confusion. “Do you really love her?”
I sighed and smiled, this was the easiest question someone has ever asked me in my entire life, even easier than the question I got asked all the time, the question was ‘What do I want to be when I grow up?’, and the answer was always the same ‘ a dentist’.
I stared at James, answering him confidently, “I’m so in love with her, James”
He sighed, nodding his head. “Good to know. Since I think you’ll be the one who can bear with her” I stared at James, confused again, making him chuckle. “I think you already know that she’s very kind and very sensitive”
“I know” I said, smiling.
“She’s… different” He said, suddenly looking sad, “what I’m about to tell you should remain only between us, okay?”
“I…what-“
“Nathan…this is very private, even Jessie doesn’t know about it, you won’t tell anyone, okay? Not even Jessie” James said staring deep into my eyes.
“Okay…” I mumbled.
“Good” He said and put his empty cup on the small table nearby. “After a few years of getting married, me and Gabriella had a baby, we named her Jessica. We were a happy family, I loved Gabriella and Jessica a lot. But sometimes life has other plans for you. Gabriella was acting weird when Jessica was five. She wouldn’t come home at night and said she had work to do and needed to sleep in her office. She wore pajamas to work one day, and she kept saying that someone was following her”
I gulped, “It’s just like how Jessie has been acting lately”
“Exactly,” James said and smiled sadly, “ Jessica is very much like her mother, I’m afraid. I was hoping she’s not like her regarding that matter…”
“What matter are we talking about James?” I asked impatiently, feeling the vein in my forehead throb painfully.
James took a deep breath and looked away, “Gabriella was schizophrenic”
And just like that, my whole life crumbled and suddenly the pieces of the puzzle all fit together. The confusions and questions I had about Jessie were all answered in a second, but I needed to confirm these crazy thoughts, I had to ask the question.
“Y-you mean Jessie is schizophrenic too?” I asked, my voice shaking, my hands trembling, and my vision getting blurry. The vein in my forehead pulsating faster than ever, and my heart beating furiously against my ribcage, afraid of the answer.
James sighed and put his hand on mine, patting it gently, “We’re not sure yet”
“We?” I asked and frowned.
“Me and her psychiatrist” He answered,” I have noticed Jessie’s weird actions have ceased for now. Dr Phillips said we need to confirm it first.
“So you’re not sure if she’s schizophrenic too?” I asked.
“Not yet” James said shaking his head.
“But her actions…” I mumbled.
“We’re hoping she’s not” He replied. I bit my lip so hard that I was sure it was bleeding but I couldn’t feel the pain at all. To say what James was saying was shocking is an understatement. It all seemed unbelievable actually. Jessie having schizophrenia… what kind of joke is this? What if she’ll really schizophrenic?
“We’re hoping she’s not, Nathan!” James said firmly, glaring at me.
“Sorry” I said, feeling embarrassed for saying that last part out loud,”but why are you telling all of these, James?”
“You’re my future son-in-law, and-“
“I’m not!” I cut him off.
“I think you are,” James said and smiled, “Jessie was very happy when she visited me last time, I can see why”
“If what you’re saying is true… I mean if Jessie is like her mother and has that… thing, what will happen to her?” I asked.
“Please, son. Don’t say that. Jessie will not be like her mother, I can’t stand losing another person I love in my life” James said, making me feel uneasy.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“It’s a long story”
“Please tell me!”
“Well… if you say so. You see Gabriella had a weak character, that combined with her disease not a very good thing. I already told you she was acting weird. But, there was more to it”
“More? How?”
James sighed and ran his hands through his short hair before he replied, “Gabriella was seeing another man”
I stared at James dumbfound, not believing what I was hearing, it was like someone was pouring boiled iron down my throat, my throat was burning but my brain was freezing.
“I didn’t know she has schizophrenia,” He continued, “ I was so ignorant, I suspected she was seeing somebody else, but I never knew she’s schizophrenic. One day she was in the bathroom when her phone was ringing, I couldn’t help but answer it. And I was very curious as to why somebody will call my wife at that time of the night”
“Was it…him?” I said, my voice shaking.
“Yes. It was him” James nodded, his eyes getting dark. “I picked up the phone and didn’t say anything. As I expected it was the man Gabriella was seeing. It was like somebody was stabbing and slashing my heart when I heard him say ‘Gabriella, sweetheart’”
“I would have talked to him if it was me” I mumbled.
“That’s what I did Nathan,” James said, smiling sadly, “I told him I’m Gabriella’s husband and we need to talk. It was difficult for him to believe me, but he soon agreed. Next day me and Hiking talked.”
“Did you just say Hiking?” I asked, frowning. Why does that name seem very familiar?
“Yes. I found out Gabriella has been dating Hiking way before our marriage” James replied.
“So they got together again five years after years after your marriage?” I asked.
“No. They have been together all this time, they even had a child together before our marriage. But that’s not why I kept Gabriella’s memories away from Jessie. I found out Hiking was a kind and intelligent man, he promised he’ll talk to Gabriella the next day. But to everybody’s surprise, I found Gabriella in the bathroom the next day, soaked in blood and dead”
“I’m so sorry…” I murmured, James shook his head and wiped his tear stained cheeks.
“I don’t know what became of Hiking then, he disappeared without leaving a trace” He continued, “But I don’t blame him, I found out she was schizophrenic from her best friend later. I was such a selfish and ignorant man…”
“Don’t say that please” I whispered, “You didn’t know. Why do you keep these from Jessie though?”
James stared at me and sighed, “I don’t want Jessie to find out her mother has committed suicide or that she’s been with two men at the same time, not that Gabriella was aware of it, but still.”
“And you don’t want her to find out you suspect her to have schizophrenia” I concluded.
James smiled and nodded his head in agreement, “That’s right. You’re a smart guy, Nathaniel. Also I just want her to live her life and be happy”
“I understand. I promise I’ll try my best to make her happy” I said and smiled at him reassuringly.
“Thank you Nathaniel.” James said and patted my shoulder.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, I smiled apologetically at James and answered. “Rach, I’m kind of busy. I’ll call you later”
I was about to hang up when Dave’s voice took me by surprise.
“Nathan! You need to come here. Come back quickly!” Dave was basically shouting, his voice was shaking he seemed very worried.
“What’s wrong, Dave?” I asked, frowning.
“Rachel, don’t cry please. Nathan, it’s… Jessie.” Dave said slowly, as I swallowed the lump in my throat when I heard Rachel sobbing loudly and calling Jessie’s name.
“What’s wrong with Jessie?” I asked, standing up in alarm. James frowned and stood up too, seeming as worried as me.
“What’s wrong Nathan? Did something happen to Jessie?” He asked.
“Jessie…she found out, I’m so sorry. It was my fault” Dave said, “Rachel, please don’t cry. I can’t focus, I’m talking to Nathan here.”
“Just calm down guys, take a deep breath and tell me what the hell you’re talking about” I said. Easy for me to say, when I was freaking out myself, pacing back and forth.
“Oh, Nathan! I’m so sorry! Jessie found out about you being her fake boyfriend”
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