CHAPTER 32
Dennis recline in his seat, eyes close as he blast
Babyface - Reason for Breathing on the entertainment system. It blast loudly. The song paints everything he's going through at the moment. He exhales, feeling the music rushing through his veins as he sits in the dark. He already empty several bottles of Moscato. Feeling a great buzz at this point. But he wish he could numb the pain he feels inside. Wish the wine would numb all the pain Kimberly put him through. Nothing's going his way again. It's as if he's going in circle. An never ending cycle that always seem to get him back to square one.
Maybe he should give up. It seem like with every step forward he takes, he's forced to take ten steps back. He's never had to fight so hard for anyone in his life. He didn't realize how tiring and exhausting it can be. Is this was Kimberly had to endure the past two decades? If so, how could he have been so cruel and evil to her?
Suddenly the music cuts off.
"Dennis..." It's Yaya.
"Dude..." and Barry.
"I know I said you can stay here but I didn't say you can wreck my apartment..." Yaya shakes her head in disappointment, turning on the light.
"Dennis, why are you drinking again...?" she picks up the empty bottles on the ground, "Did you get into it with Kimberly...?" she flops next to him, staring at him in pity.
"Yes... Yes I did..." he takes another swig of the wine, "humiliated in front of everybody at Diem's wedding..."
Yaya looks up at Barry.
"What happen dude?" Barry gets a good grip of his shoulder.
"I told her I love her... I even announced it to everybody at the wedding, thinking maybe she'll give in..." he exhales deeply, closing his eyes as he remembers what happen earlier tonight, "But she left me hanging. A total dissed. She's harder to please than I though..." he shakes his head.
"Dennis," Yaya touches his arm, "She's not hard to please.. You're just not convincing enough. Have you thought maybe she doesn't want to hear you say 'I love you'...? Maybe she wants you to show it to her."
"Yaya--" He's getting frustrated with everything, "I've done so much for her already! Yacht rides, cooking for her, flowers, dozens of them, going out of my way for her--"
"See that's the thing, Dennis-- You're sugarcoating things. What is it you love about her?" Yaya ask.
"Easy answer--" Dennis looks up at her and chuckles, "Everything."
"But what is everything?" she crosses her arms waiting for him to answer.
Dennis sits in silence, pondering his thoughts, unable to answer Yaya.
"See you can't even tell me what you love about Kimberly... It's no wonder she keeps pushing you away..." She shakes her head.
"Listen man," Barry gives him a shake on the shoulder, "A woman loves the little things you do for them. Compliments about their hair, makeup, wardrobes, whatever, you name it. You just can't tell a woman you love them and not back it up... It's like with me and Yaya--" he grabs her with full force, hugging her tightly, "I can say I truly love everything about her and what I mean when I say everything is--- from the way she wrinkles her cute nose, to the way she pouts when she's angry at me to the way she snore and farts in her sleep--"
"I don't fart or snore and I do not pout!" Yaya pinches Barry.
"Ouch-- you just pout!" he smirks, "And you do snore in your sleep! I'm a light sleeper! I hear everything, including your farts! By the way they smell!" he pinches his nose, making a nasty face.
Yaya's face turns red, "Well-- well your shit stinks!" she barks back, pinching his arm.
"And yours doesn't?! Everyone's shit stinks my darling!" He smirks, rubbing his arm.
Dennis watches the two bicker. He wasn't sure if he made the right choice in letting those two to see one another. They argue more than a married couple. He clears his throat, trying to catch their attention.
"Done yet...?" he rolls his eyes, still trying to get use to the fact that Barry is sleeping/dating his sister, "I can't believe I let you date my sister..." he shakes his head.
"It's-- it's because I love your sister..." he tells Dennis sternly. Yaya blush, as Barry hides behind her, just in case Dennis decide to pulverize him for talking about Yaya in front of him.
"Sorry Dennis..." Yaya blushes, "The point Barry's trying to make is figure out what is about Kimberly you love and let her know.. You have to give her the ultimate wow factor. No more of the basic I love you stuff... It's 2011... Give her something that will sweep her off her feet for good..." she smiles at him, hoping it would get him off his feet.
He smiles weakly, "Thanks Yaya... Barry..." he slowly gets up from the chair, "I think I'll go for a drive..." he wobbles a bit.
"To hell you aren't!" Yaya scream grabbing him by the arm, "you're drunk as a skunk! You need to shower up and rest up! You can go see Kimberly tomorrow!" She snaps at him like a mother.
He chuckles, realizing he is a tad bit drunk, "Fine... I'll see you in the morning then... night guys.. thanks again..." He disappears into guest room, stripping off his clothes to take a hot shower. Hopefully it would soothe his nerves. He stands in the hot shower for a good one. Letting the hot water run down his body. The steam was slowly building up, helping Dennis breath a lot easier. He's feeling more calm, less stress. He's thinking of Kimberly, hoping she will forgive him in this short period of time.
After an hour of being in the hot shower, he's finally out. Feeling refresh, like a new man. But he was, however, tired. He quickly dries his hair and hops into bed. Exhausted from what he went through today. It's only the beginning of the a long week. Let's hope he can win Kimberly back.
Dennis wakes up the next morning with a slight headache. Damn those bottles of Moscato he drank last night. He's paying for it. He slowly rises from the bed, trying to start his day. Once he was done washing up, he was feeling much better compared to last night. He's excited for today. Feeling as if today will be the day he will win Kimberly's heart.
Just as he's about exit Yaya's apartment, his mother calls him. One of her employee, Mam, is in the hospital and she wanted Dennis to deliver some flowers to her. His mother promised it wouldn't take long so he agree to it. She tells him to pick up the flowers at Lai's Floral shop. Dennis quickly gets busy with his mother's errands, not wanting to waste any more time. He wanted to see Kimberly and badly too.
He finally arrives at the hospital. The woman at the front desk gives him the room Mam is staying in. He swiftly catches the elevator and power walks to the room. He peers in the room-- an old lady lying in bed and and old man besides her. Dennis knocks before entering.
The old woman doesn't wake. Instead, the old man gets up to greet Dennis. It's Mam's husband. He takes the flower from Dennis and thanks him for coming by. Dennis tells them he won't interrupt the two of them and slowly makes it towards the door.
Suddenly he overhears the television talk about a segment about winning back the heart of a loved one. What a coincidence? God must have heard his plea. He leaves the room with a smile on his face. Once he's in the elevator. He calls Yaya, "I need a big favor Yaya..." A smile on his face, "Okay... but you gotta talk Kimberly to it to...I'll talk more about it later... okay bye..."
The elevator doors open, too focus on his phone that he wasn't paying attention to where she was walking. Suddenly he felt something hard hit against his chest and an "hmph" sound. Another collision with a woman.
He quickly bend down to help, "I'm sorry Miss--" He picks up the brochures the woman drop. Pregnancy pamphlets. He smiles to himself, the thought of Kimberly pops into his head as he looks at the pamphlet. He thought it would be sweet if Kimberly were pregnant with his child. He like that idea.
Soon as he looks up at the woman, to his astonishment, the woman is-- Kimberly! His heart drops as she quickly snatches the pamphlet from him, and begins to walk off. Dennis doesn't move. His body's completely numb. In a daze of some sort as if he's experience a twilight moment.
"Kimberly's pregnant...?" His heart pounds loudly against his chest. Suddenly he remembers the morning they had sex. They didn't use protection. He must not have pulled out in time. He quickly rushes out the door, in search of her. Just when he thought he lost her, he finally spots her crossing the street.
"KIMBERLY!!" He shouts at the top of his lungs. She begins to walk faster not stopping for a second. But she wasn't walking fast enough-- Dennis finally caught up to her, grabbing her by the arm, forcing her to come to a complete halt.
"Kimberly--" he tries to catch his breath, "You're-- you're pregnant...?" He ask hastily.
She stares at him, tears slowly welling up in her eyes.
"Tell me, Kimberly...are you pregnant...?" he ask again, more calm than before. He begins to question if the child is his or Tom's. He did run into her that day at resort where she had a bag of condoms. They must have done it that day.
She scans the premises, watching the people pass by her. Her heart beating faster and faster. She's caught. There's no turning back. Why didn't she watch where she was going, instead of reading the pamphlet? she curse herself. Bad timing and bad way to start off the morning.
"Am I the father... of your baby...?" Dennis gets a good grip on her shoulder.
She still doesn't answer. Just stares him straight on.
"If you're not going to talk can you please nod or--or shake your head...?" he stutters. He was dying to know now.
"Am I the baby's father...?" he ask once more.
Kimberly inhales deeply, closing her eyes, and biting her lower lip. She nods her head, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes. Suddenly she felt his muscular arms wrap around her petite body, almost as if he's crushing her.
"I-- I AM!?!" he shouts with joy, happy as can be. "I'm going to be a dad! Do you hear that!? I'm going to be a dad! By the woman I love!" He's jumps with joy, ecstatic as can be as if he just hit the jackpot.
She quickly covers his mouth, "Can you please lower your voice? I don't want no one to know!" she tells him, letting him go. She begins to walk away, further away from him.
"Kimberly wait--" he follows behind her like a lost puppy, "When-- When were you planning on tell me?" He's blood rushing with adrenaline. Happy as can be.
She stops mid way, "I wasn't. You just happen to find out on your own. Now that you know that I'm pregnant, can you please keep it a secret? I don't want anyone to know..." she turns around and begins to walk away again.
"Not so fast--" Dennis stops her her, "Why-- why don't you want anyone to know? I want everyone to know."
"Well, I don't." she tells him coldly, "I'll tell people when I want to. And right now I don't want to. You're leaving here in a week anyways so it doesn't matter. I can raise my child without you--"
"But I have the right to it too Kimberly! I'm the father of the baby!" he's flustered in his thoughts
"And I'm the mother... I'm carrying this baby inside of me. Not you. So I'm making the decision... and my decision is I don't want you apart of my life as well as the baby's life. That's final. You can go back to your life in the States. Leave me and the baby behind..." the tears stream down her cheeks, "I told you Dennis, I don't want you in my life anymore..." she lowers her head and begins to walk away, "Goodbye Dennis..."
Dennis stood there numb all over. He didn't have the will to run after all. He's completely drained. Her words pierce his heart. The woman he loves is leaving and she's carrying his baby. What's he going to do now?
"I don't want you in my life..." her words pierces his ears. Everything seem to move faster as he watches Kimberly disappear out of his sight. His heart's shattered into millions of pieces. She trample over his broken heart, smashing it into bits and pieces. Tears slowly stream down the sides of his cheek.
