"Who is it? Hazel?" I asked, furiously. "Answer me."

"Look, It's Jack" She was telling the truth. This time. "He probably called your phone and couldn't find you." The tone of her voice crafted a little honesty. "Do you want to call him back? He's calling me again." She showed me her phone screen.

"Yeah." I agreed. "Let me answer." I picked up. Jack was screaming on the other line. Like he won an award or something. He was happy for sure but he didn't want me to know about it. He just kept telling me that everything is going to be alright. He was going to explain everything when he gets here. I know it was about that stupid prophecy. He didn't tell me anything but I knew deep down that he wasn't at the mall, buying clothes. He hates shopping.

He was probably digging for more secrets.

'I'll call you back. I love you, brother' His words touched me. Jack hung up. He didn't even give me a chance to say it back. He knew the truth. He knew that he was really important to me and I was willing to do anything to keep him safe.

"Is he okay?" Hazel asked, curiously. "Why that face?"

"Everything is fine." I gave her the phone. "He's coming home soon."

"Do you want me to leave?" She asked, nicely. "I don't want to give you more stress. I can come by tomorrow if that's okay with you."

"You came here to talk, right?" I coughed. "So talk." My last two words were as dry as my phone. "What's the difference between today and tomorrow? You're still going to give me headaches anyway." I sighed, boringly. "Talk, Madam."

"Happy birthday, Hawk." She sat next to me on the bed as she tried to give me a pop kiss. "What's wrong?"

"Please, don't kiss me." I turned away. "I'm not in the mood right now." As rude as my words sound, it wasn't really how I felt about the whole situation. I was dying to kiss her but I was weak. I didn't want to give in. I wanted her to deal with the consequences. I wanted her to know that she can't just walk out of my life and expect me to just take her back the next day. I wanted her to know what a real relationship is.

She was all about games.

I wasn't.

I wanted something real. I wanted us to fight for our love but how can I do that if she doesn't want to cooperate?

"I'm sorry..." She apologized as she backed away. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'll keep my hands to myself from now on."

Stop Hazel. Don't do that!

Don't play the victim card here. You made me like this.

"If you're here to wish me a happy birthday then I appreciate it." I tried to be nice. "But don't expect me to believe your words or your excuses anymore. As I said earlier, I'm done with you." That lie killed me, completely. "And I don't think we should be together right now."

Oh God! That part murdered my soul.

Forgive me, Hazel. If I don't protect my heart, who will?

All you do is break it like it's some kind of useless glass.

"If you don't want to be in a relationship with me, I understand." She handed me a box. "But you can't say I didn't try."

"What's that?"

"Your present."

"Obviously." I snapped. "But what's in it?" The question perpetuated my mind, shockingly. "You didn't have to buy me anything." I was being honest. "A birthday without my dear father means nothing to me. Last year, my father got me a gold chain. It was a horse. That tiny little horse around your neck, Son, is a blessing from me. He said, smiling. One day, I'll be that white horse watching over you. That was the best birthday gift ever.

"Well, open it." She insisted. "Please."

"Fine." I obeyed. "I'm still not going to change my mind about us." A smile played on my face. "Now, let's see what it is."

As I demolished that little box with my hands. A sudden view blessed my eyes, shockingly. I was speechless for a few seconds. I didn't know what to say anymore. I felt alive once again. The darkness within me died out. That light came back over me. I felt free.

How did she get this? How did she know about it?

"Where--did--did--yo- you-- get this?" I was lost for words. "How--did-- you--?" I chuckled, nervously. "I thought... Oh- my--"

"I'm glad you liked it." She finally said. "Do you like it?"

I grabbed and hugged her so tight to the point that I felt like she was gasping for air. "I love it!"

In that little box, there was...

"Wait, does that mean we're good?" She interrupted my thoughts. "Do you forgive me?"

Back to what I was trying to say before I was rudely interrupted by Hazel Brown. In that little box, there were photos of Jack, my father and the lady that I was supposed to call 'Mom'. More importantly, the gold chain that my father gave me. I really thought I lost it. Thank God. On a serious note, my dad looked so happy in these photos. There, he was, on his famous desk, signing business papers. Books all around him, his black coffee on his side and a photo of myself in a rectangle frame behind him.

I remember that smile, Dad.

You were always smiling even when you had bad days. Keep a smile on your face, Son. That's how I met your mother. You might not be here on this present day but your words are stuck in my head like blood cells. Your voice is still haunting me at night and I know you're watching over me in heaven, every chance that you get.

And I'm sure your seductive smile is making the angels fall in love right now.

I miss you, dad.

I wish you were here.

"I... I don't know what to say right now..." I let her go. "You made my day."

"Not really."

Confused, I asked. "What do you mean?"

"It was Jack's idea." She revealed. "He came to my place and convinced me to see you. He told me that today was your birthday and you needed someone. At first, I declined but when he told me that you didn't eat for days. I decided to take my chance." She swallowed her saliva slowly as she tried to collect her words, patiently. "I also didn't know what to bring you but he told me not to worry about it and gave me that little box that was supposed to be his gift for you. I felt bad and I hesitated but then he told me 'The cold heat between the stars can bring....'.

"Can bring death upon us." I finished Hazel's sentence.

"Yes! Yes!" She agreed. "That was exactly what he said to me." Her brows arched. "What does that even mean?"

Oh! God! Jack went after the last page of the prophecy.

"We need to find Jack," I yelled as I headed straight to the door. "Fuck! Fuck, fuck! That son of a..." I stopped in the middle of my unfinished sentence as I placed both of my hands on top of my head.

Locked.

Perfect.

"Are you okay?" Hazel noticed my irregular speed. "What's happening right now? Is Jack in danger?" Her question worried me. Maybe he was but I trusted him.

"Let me call him." I grabbed my phone on the little table next to the bed as I dialed his number. "He's not picking up."

"Okay, you need to calm down, Hawk." Hazel tried to console me. "Everything is going to be okay. He promised me that he was coming back in a few hours. I'm sure that he's going to keep his promise." She kissed my left cheek. "Inhale, exhale... You got this."

Inhale

Exhale

"Fuck that Inhale-exhale shit," I screamed, impatiently. "My brother is in danger. Do you want me to just sit here and practice Yoga with you in the room while he's out there, alone, trying to confront the enemy?" My words were out of line but I was pissed at the world. Not at Hazel. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Yoga..." Hazel laughed. "That was funny."

"Funny? Huh?" I asked, with a serious tone. "Everything is a joke to you, Hazel. Isn't it?" I shook my head, disappointedly. "You'll never be mature enough to understand life in general and it's just sad because of the fact that you're still the same, you'll never change," I spoke the truth. "And that right there" I referred to her behavior. "Just proved to me that you'll never take me seriously."

"I understand where you're coming from, Hawk but it's not my fault." She answered with so much confidence in her tone. "You need to stop blaming me. I didn't force Jack to leave. On the contrary, I told him to stay but he didn't want to listen to me. Therefore, I did my part." Her voice weakened. "I'm sorry for laughing but it wasn't towards the situation. I'm sorry if you feel this way about me. I'll just leave now."

I felt bad.

"No, I'm sorry..." I apologized. "I should've kept my cool." I grabbed her by the waist as I leaned her towards me. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. Come here..." I whispered under my breath as I crashed in for a warm long hug. "Stay... I need you more than ever..."

"Everything is going to be alright."

"I hope so," I passed my fingers through her soft hair as I kissed her forehead, gently. "We should stop fighting each other. "Today is my birthday, I want to have a good time and the last thing I want right now is for us to tear each other apart."

"Yes, we should." She agreed. "I'm sorry for everything I've put you through. At the end of the day, I still love you and I'll always be there for you. I hope you know that."

"Goddamn, Hazel." I held her tight. "I miss you..."

"I'm right here..." She chuckled, gasping for a little bit of air. "I'm not going anywhere. Please, just give me one last chance to prove to you that I can change."

"I gave you a lot of chances, Hazel."

"I know..."

"If I keep giving you chances, I'll end up breaking my own heart in the future." A smile burned her cheeks and stole my attention.

"Hawk... Babe..." Hazel stated. "This is our love story. We make the rules."

"I thought I was the one with the rules..." I chuckled as I reminded her of my previous rules. "You're always breaking them anyway. You're Hazel Brown, after all."

"What does that mean?" She smiled. "What are you trying to say right now?"

"Hazel Brown doesn't listen to anyone but herself," I smiled. "But no matter what, I still can't get over her. She's one of a kind, she will always have my heart." Tears fell upon my face slowly as I tried to wipe them away as quickly as I could. "I just want her to stop breaking my heart."

As a man, it's wrong to show your woman that you're weak.

I failed.

Hazel was my weakness and it was hard to control my emotions when she was around.

"Awe." Hazel broke down with tears. "I... I don't know what to say." Her voice was with tears. "Why do you still love me and tolerate my actions?"

"Because I'm a fool..." I answered as I grabbed her face, softly. "I'm a fool for you..." I enveloped her lips with a gentle kiss. "Waffle... You may fall from the sky, you may fall from a tree but the best fall... is in love with me..."

Hazel bursts out laughing. "You googled that, didn't you?"

"I have my ways..." I laughed. "Was that good?"

"Yeah, yeah..." She made fun of me. "Hit me with another one..." She couldn't stop smiling.

"Okay, okay. Are you ready?" I caressed my chin slowly, giving her the bad boy look. "Roses are red, violets are blue. I didn't know what perfect was until... I met you."

"Alright, alright, I see you!" Her cheeks were turning red. "It's working... Just a little bit... Don't get too excited"

I can imagine that underwear...

Dripping wet... Between her legs...

If she's wearing one. Of course.

"Are you a country? Because I want to explore every single part of you?"

Damn. That was a good one. I actually made that up.

"Oh!" Hazel yelled, joyfully. "That was pretty good. I never heard of that one before. You just made it up?"

" Yeah, I did," I told her the truth. "Come here..." She sat on the edge of the bed as I got on my knees. "Your hand looks heavy, can I hold it for you?"I grabbed her left hand.

"What are you doing, Silly?"

"Last one..." I was still holding her hand. She didn't even notice. "There's only one thing I want to change about you..."

"What's that?" I licked my upper lip as I grabbed that little box in my right pocket.

"Your last name..." I opened the box as that beautiful diamond ring flashed her view, shockingly.

'Will you marry me, Hazel Brown?'

She was speechless... Her answer was still out of reach...

Yes or no? Woman.

Answer the damn question...