FROM THEN ON

Chapter Eleven

The next day, I went to do the interview and it was going great until the radio presenter asked, ''Okay Robert thanks for coming but before you go, I have gotta ask this question because I know that the listeners want to know, your fans want to know, in fact I'm pretty sure the whole of San Francisco wants to know. Okay so as we all know, this morning, a picture of you and Arianna Leblanche, One of San Francisco's own super hot models kissing was all over social media and on the front page of the ''Morning Times'' so it makes me and everybody else in San Francisco wonder, what is going on between the two of you?'' she asked curiously. I didn't even know that the picture was leaked. What am I going to say? ''Umm..okay so the truth is...'' I trailed off. ''Arianna and I used to date yes but there is absolutely nothing going on between the two of us now. That kiss wasn't supposed to happen in the first place. She forced herself on me even though I told her I wasn't interested in her anymore,'' I said honestly. ''Wait so you're saying that the Arianna Leblanche forcefully kissed you?'' she asked for clarification. ''Uh..yeah,'' I said. ''Well you heard it here folks from the horse's own mouth. There is nothing going on between Arianna and Robert except for the fact that it seems like Arianna wants Robert back,'' the presenter announced. ''Well that's all the time we have today but I promise to keep you updated on Robert and Arianna's love story. This was the talk with your host, Dina Lefey. See you same time next week but till then, stay safe,'' Dina continued and then went off air. ''You were great,'' she told me. ''Thanks but just so we're clear, there's no love story between Arianna and I. We are never getting back together,'' I said. ''Oh I totally get it. I just said that so people will keep listening to my show. Sorry if I offended you though,'' she apologized. ''Oh no don't worry about it,'' I said. When I got to the office that day, I asked Linda to bring me a leave application form, I filled it out and personally submitted it to Regina. ''So you want to take a 31-day vacation effective tomorrow?'' she asked surprised. ''I know it's a little short notice,'' I said. ''Ya think?'' she interrupted. ''Robert,'' Regina said calmly. ''Sit,'' she said gesturing me to sit on the empty chair on the other side of her desk opposite her. ''What's going on with you?'' she asked in a motherly concerned tone. ''I'm fine Regina,'' I said. ''No you're not. In fact you haven't been acting like yourself since you made that trip to Washington,'' she stated. I smiled and said, ''Actually, that trip made me realise a perspective of life I should have seen a long time ago. So in my view, I think that I have been doing nothing but acting like myself after that trip or at least the person I should've always been.'' ''Are you sure it was the trip?'' she asked curiously noticing the smile and happiness on my face. I laughed and said, ''Okay you got me. I met someone and honestly Regina, I have never felt this way about anyone before and don't even get me started about how much she's changed me.'' ''I'm happy for you Robert and because of that, I'm granting you the vacation,'' Regina said. ''Really?'' I asked unable to contain my excitement. ''Yes,'' she laughed. ''But just so you know, this is a onetime thing,'' she said sternly. ''Of course,'' I said. ''Thank you so much Regina,'' I said hugging her. ''Sure,'' she smiled and hugged back. ''But Robert I should warn you, do not let your emotions affect your work,'' she said. ''I won't,'' I said seriously. That day after work, I called Sabrina. ''Hey babe,'' I said. ''Hi honey. Why do you sound so excited?'' she laughed. ''Because today, my boss gave me a 31-day vacation starting tomorrow,'' I said excitedly. ''What? That's amazing honey,'' Sabrina said happily. ''I have great news too,'' she continued. ''I talked to my mum and she agreed to give me a break from working at the shop starting from Wednesday!'' she exclaimed. ''What? That's amazing,'' I said. ''Wait what about the diner?'' I asked. ''Well I talked to my boss today and he said he'd think about it. So all we can do is hope and pray for the best,'' she replied. ''Alright,'' I said. ''I gotta go now. Ryan doesn't know I'm back and I'm planning to surprise him and Serena,'' I continued. ''Awwn. Have I told you how sweet you are?'' Sabrina asked. ''Yeah....but I don't hear it enough,'' I laughed. ''Well then don't worry. When you come to Washington, you're gonna hear it every day,'' she laughed. ''Well okay. I'm at Ryan's house now so I really gotta go but I'll call you when I get home,'' I said unbuckling my seatbelt and getting out of my car. ''Okay. Tell Ryan and Serena I said hi,'' she said. ''okay. Bye babe,'' I said. ''bye honey,'' she replied and hang up. I rang the bell and waited. Serena opened the door and shouted, ''Robert! I thought you were in Washington!'' ''I got back yesterday,'' I laughed and hugged her. ''Come in. We were just about to have dinner. You should join us,'' she said gesturing me inside. ''Have a seat. I'll call Ryan,'' she said and went upstairs. I sat in the couch and admired their lovely home. I spotted a framed picture of Serena and Ryan on their wedding day and I smiled. ''Rob!'' Ryan exclaimed as he came down the stairs and stretched his arms out for a hug. ''Hey man,'' I said hugging him. ''Good to see you,'' I added. ''Yeah you too. Why didn't you call me when you got back?'' he asked. ''I wanted so surprise you man,'' I laughed. ''Well come on let's go eat,'' he said and led me to the dining area. Serena's food was delicious but it couldn't beat Sabrina's. I smiled as I remembered the first time I tasted her food. ''What are you smiling about?'' Ryan asked. ''It's Sabrina isn't it?'' he asked. I just smiled and said, ''Can you stop teasing me already.'' ''What's up with you and her anyway?'' he asked. ''Well as you already know, Arianna pissed her off at the party so she run away to Washington and I went after her, I told her about how I don't believe in commitment and that led me to make a lot of stupid mistakes in my past relationships. So we sorted things out and promised to be honest to each other from now on and to trust each other. Oh and I took a 31-day vacation from work to spend time with her in Washington so I'm going back tomorrow,'' I stated. Serena and Ryan just looked at each other and smiled. ''What?'' I asked curiously. ''Should you tell him or I should?'' Ryan asked Serena. ''I'll take this one,'' Serena said. ''Tell me what? What is going on?'' I asked. ''Robert,'' Serena said slowly. ''I know you don't believe in commitment and all but I need you to logically think about what I am about to say,'' she added. ''Go on...'' I trailed off. ''So you met Sabrina a few weeks ago right?'' she asked. I replied, ''Well yeah but what has that got to do with...?'' ''Can I finish?'' Serena interrupted. ''Sorry continue,'' I apologized. ''So for a girl you just met a few weeks ago, you haven't been able to shut up about her, you can't stop thinking about her and you flew out of the country for her. I mean is it possible that maybe you're being committed for the first time in a relationship?'' she asked carefully. ''What? So because I show interest in a girl like I always do and go to great lengths to make her mine like I always do now I'm being committed?'' I asked confused. ''No Robert this time is different and you know it. You are the same person who said that this girl is different. I mean you promised not to keep anything from her and you promised not to leave her. If that ain't commitment, then I don't know what is,'' Serena replied. ''I didn't say I wasn't going to leave her I just said I wasn't going to leave her until I don't have feelings for her anymore,'' I defended. ''Whatever Robert. But honestly, now that you've met her, and you know what you feel for her, do you want it to go away? Do you ever think it will just fade?'' she asked. I couldn't say anything because Serena was right. I have never felt this way about a girl before. Could it be possible that for the first time ever, I am actually in a committed relationship that I want to keep until......until forever? No no no. This isn't me. ''What is happening to me?'' I asked freaking out. ''I'll tell you. You are falling for her and you my friend, are falling hard,'' Ryan replied. ''What?!'' I exclaimed. ''You mean like love?'' I asked freaking out. ''Yhup,'' Serena replied. I stood up panicking and said, ''No no no. I can't be in love, I can't be tied down, I can't.'' ''Calm down,'' Serena said as I sat down again. ''When you're in love with someone it doesn't mean you'd be tied down,'' she added. ''Yeah,'' Ryan replied as he took Serena's hand in his and they smiled at each other. Then, their faces magically changed into Sabrina and I's faces. ''I love you,'' Ryan who now looked like me said. ''I love you too honey,'' Serena who had Sabrina's face replied. Then I saw the rings they were wearing and then I heard loud crying noises like a baby crying. I turned around to see babies crawling all over the kitchen. My mind started to race and I kept panicking. Love leads to marriage, marriage leads to babies and then after babies, it's all hell. I began to sweat profusely then the room began to spin and then everything became dark and then, I fell on the floor. ''Robert? Robert can you hear me?'' I heard someone call my name. I opened my eyes and saw Ryan and Serena kneeling on the floor beside me with their faces above mine. Serena was holding a glass of water in her hands and handed it to me. I took it and drank. ''Are you okay?'' she asked. ''Yeah I'm fine,'' I replied. ''What happened man?'' Ryan asked worried. ''Does love really freak you out that much?'' he asked curiously. ''You have no idea,'' I laughed. ''I should probably go home now,'' I said getting up from the floor and heading for the door. ''Are you sure you're conscious enough to drive home alone?'' Serena asked concerned. ''Yeah I'm fine,'' I replied. ''Okay I'll call you tomorrow alright? And hey as much as you don't want to, I think you should think about everything we've told you. That is the only way to know where you stand and how you really feel about her,'' Ryan said as I walked out. As I drove home, a billion thoughts crossed my mind. Was I really in love with Sabrina? Did this mean I was liable to heartbreak now? Where do I go from here? Should I tell her? What if she freaks out? ''No Robert. You're not yet sure whether you love this girl so stop jumping to conclusion,'' I said sternly to myself. When I got home, I didn't call Sabrina. I even turned off my phone afraid that she might call. I just lay in bed, thinking about Sabrina and about what Ryan and Serena said. I thought long and hard and in the process of doing that, I fell asleep. I woke up the next day around 10:00am. My flight to Washington was leaving in an hour and I didn't even feel like going anymore at least not until I got myself together again because right now, I was a mess. I turned on my phone and saw that I had received three missed calls and a voice message from Sabrina. I listened to it. ''Hey baby. I called you but you didn't answer. I'm worried about you. Please call me.'' She said. Even her voice was amazing enough to get me going crazy about her. I can't go and see her when I'm feeling and looking like this and I sure can't call her to tell her either. Listening to the disappointment in her voice would just let me change my mind without thinking. So I sent her a text saying : Hey Sabrina. I'm sorry about yesterday. I'm just going through some stuff right now. It's no big deal don't worry but I can't come to Washington anymore. At least not today. I'm really sorry. When I finished typing that, something crossed my mind. Something I have never thought of saying or typing. The thing that caused Ari and I to break up. Yes, I started to type : I love you. When I realised what I was typing, I immediately deleted that sentence and sent the message. This is bad. This is really bad. Ryan was right I am falling hard and I don't know what to do. I thought of calling Ryan at first but I decided not to. I wasn't ready to admit that he was right. But who else could I call? And then it hit me. Of course. I took my phone, searched for her contact, and pressed the call button. On the third ring, she picked up. ''Hello?'' she asked. ''Hey mum. You home?'' I asked.

Sabrina's POV

''Anything yet?'' my sister who also happened to be my best friend, Alana asked me. ''Nope,'' I said as I turned on my phone for the umpteenth time this morning to see whether I had received anything from Robert. A text message, a missed call, a voice message, anything. But so far, I had received nothing and I was really worried. ''Don't worry sis. I'm sure he'll call soon. For all you know, he just wants to surprise you. He might be walking through that door right now,'' Alana said pointing to the door. I raised my headand looked at the door of the coffee and bake shop and right at that moment, someone walked through the door. But no, it wasn't him. But then, at that same moment, my phone buzzed. I pressed the home buttonon my phone and it turned on. ''He just sent me a message,'' I said happily as I unlocked my phone. ''Really? What does it say?'' my sister asked eagerly. As I read through the text, my smile faded and my heart sank. ''Why what's wrong?'' Alana asked seeing the expression on my face. ''He said he's not coming,'' I said sadly. ''What?'' she asked. ''What happened?'' she asked confused. ''I don't know. I am as confused as you are. He just said he's going through some stuff and I shouldn't worry about it,'' I replied. ''So what are you going to do now?'' she asked. ''I don't know,'' I replied. ''I mean for him to change his mind, it must be a big deal,'' I added. ''You think he is cheating?'' she asked. ''What? No,'' I replied. ''I trust him,'' I said yet I felt this insecurity that Alana may be right. ''I think,'' I added. ''Well there is only one way to find out,'' she stated. ''You want me to go to San Francisco? Are you crazy?'' I asked. ''Oh come on. Why not? He did the same for you, so why can't you do it for him?'' she asked. She wasn't wrong though but I didn't even know how I was going to do it. ''Because mum and dad would kill me,'' I replied. ''Saby. You are a 23 year old woman with no life. You haven't had a boyfriend since Mike broke your heart and that was five years ago. This guy might actually be God's way of telling you that you deserve to be happy again and you're going to throw it all away because you're a grown ass woman who is afraid of her parents?'' she asked. ''Listen, you are old enough to make your own decisions and your own mistakes and mum and dad would have to deal with it. It's time you stood up to them,'' she added. I couldn't believe that my little sister was giving me such amazing advice. ''You're right. I have to do this,'' I said. ''Yeah you do and luckily, your break starts tomorrow. You can choose to spend the whole break in Washington if you like,'' she stated. ''You're totally right,'' I agreed. ''Good so go into mum's office right now and tell her you're leaving tomorrow,'' she said. ''Alright,'' I said and knocked on the door leading to the small room at the back of the shop that my mum had converted into an office. ''Come in,'' she called and then I went in.