Chapter 3 Goodbye San Francisco

• Jasmine's pov
• May 3rd, 2021 (Las Vegas)
• *... has yet again, broken another girl's heart...*
• I tuned off whatever the reporter is saying... and focused on the dough I'm making.
• "These reporters have no life!" Adele grumbled.
• She huffed angrily, slammed her bowl of popcorn on the table and I can picture her rolling her eyeballs.
• "As if those girls ever complained about it!" She said.
• I ignored her and continue with my work, I'm making breakfast for my son and I.. today's school resumption day.
• Davis (my son) would be resuming school, he's in grade one and a very smart kid.
• "He's a heart-throb, what do you expect from him.. like, I would do any to get my heart broken by him" she said.
• This statement made me turned to face her, she's giggling and staring at the TV dreamily.
• "Adele, I have told you to stop watching news about that bast..."
• I stopped myself from finishing that word, when I saw Davis sitting next to her.. innocently staring at the TV too.
• Adele raised an eyebrow, daring me to speak any foul words.
• "... I have told you to stop watching news about that man in my house!" I said.
• My eyes moved to the TV, I glared at the man's picture boldly showing with so much hate.
• "Come on, you can not deny the fact that the guy is super hot.. like, he's a demi god of our time!" She fawned.
• "Demi god?" I growled under my breath.
• My hatred increasing every second as I stared at the TV, I quickly looked away from it and focused on my dough.
• Transferring all my aggression onto the dough.
• "Eish! You don't have to be so mean to that poor dough" she said.
• I guess she turned off the TV or changed it to a cartoon channel for Davis.
• Hearing PJ masks’ theme song play, confirmed that she changed the channel for Davis.
• "I have changed the channel, my lady. You should spare the dough now" she said.
• She pulled out a stool and sat next to me, leaning on the counter.
• "You seem to hate my idol so much.." she paused and sighed.
• Who wouldn't hate him?! He's a liar.. a cheater.. a coward!
• If only she knows how wicked he is, she wouldn't continue idolizing him so much.
• ".. every time I ask you why you hate him, you don't say anything. I wonder if I'm even your best friend!" She said.
• "I don't hate him, seeing his arrogant face just makes me sick!" I gave her the same reply I always give her.
• "That's what you've been telling me for three years now"
• She got up and walked to my small fridge, she opened it and came back to her stool with two pears.
• "I have known you for three years now, three good years.. I'm your first and only friend here..."
• Ok! I know where this is going.
• ".. in fact, I'm your best friend, but you still treat me like a stranger"
• "I don't treat you like a stranger"
• She scoffed.
• "Then answer me truthfully, where are you from?"
• Adele is trying to get me to open up to her but I can't, at least not now.. I'm not ready to face my past.
• "From a small village in San Francisco" I answered.
• "What happened to you? Why did you come to Las Vegas? What about Davis father? You still haven't told me who he is? Or why you left him?"
• I laughed mentally. If only she knew she was fawning over his father a few minutes ago.
• Why I left him?! He left me! He abandoned me! He left without a warning!
• "If you don't treat me like stranger, I'd know these things" she said.
• My mind flashed back to the reason I left San Francisco, the reason I came all the way here to Las Vegas.
• ***
• #_december_20th_2018 (San Francisco)
• Davis just managed to fall asleep, I reached out and felt his temperature with my palm.. his fever has died down.
• I sighed deeply and threw my head back onto the chair.
• "Jas, quite being stubborn and let me assist you" Arthur said.
• My eyes landed on his credit card resting on my small table, even the cheque he wrote me..a cheque of $2,000,000.
• "For how long are you gonna assist me? Forever?" I asked.
• "I don't mind assisting you forever" his eyes moved to Davis. "He already calls me dad, I can take the responsibility.. I can be his father if you let me"
• It's true that Arthur has being a father figure in Davis life, he's the father Davis knows.. but the fact remains that, he's not Davis father.
• "Don't reject my help, I... "
• "Arthur" I called his name quietly.
• He stared at me pleadingly, I can clearly see his love for me in his eyes.. but I don't need it.
• Arthur is like a brother to me and that's all he'll ever be to me... A brother.
• "Thank you for all you've done for Davis and I, but I think, I should go down the rest of this road alone"
• "What do you mean?" He asked.
• "I'll forever be grateful to you for your help, but I can't let you be Davis father... "
• I cut myself off when I saw his expression changed, he looked as though he's gonna burst into tears.. his eyes are red.
• "Why? Are you still waiting for Thanatos?"
• I didn't speak because I don't know how to answer him. Am I still waiting for him? I don't even know anymore.
• "Isn't it obvious that he's not coming back? It's being two years now.. why haven't he find you and Davis yet?"
• At his question, I felt my eyes becoming glassy as tears threatened to fall.. but I blinked them away.
• "You know what happened to you after you gave birth to Davis, it was a miracle you..."
• "Don't say it" I interrupted him.
• He kept quiet, I got up and walked towards the window.. I wrapped my arms around myself.
• I heard his footsteps coming to me, he stood next to me.
• "I wanna move from here" I said.
• "You wanna move from here?" I nod. "Move from this apartment or move from San Francisco?"
• "Move from San Francisco" I replied.
• "Why? Don't you like it here? Isn't peaceful here?"
• I simply stared out of the window in silence.
• "Your dad don't know you're here" he said.
• "I'm not moving because of him, I just want a change of scenario"
• "Why then?" He asked.
• "San Francisco.. it holds too much of my sad memories"
• "Huh?"
• "I suffered so much for my baby, I experienced what pain really is here, I experienced life and death here... I want to move away from all that"
• "I don't get what you mean"
• I smiled at him, a smile that doesn't reach my eyes.
• "I can't start afresh, when everything I and do here reminds me of my sad and lonely days.. everything here just seems to remind me of my past.. I wanna move away from all of it.. I wanna start a new life for me and my son!"
• He nodded thoughtfully at my words, I held his hand.
• "Just help me again, please"
• "I'd help you without your pleading" he sighed. "Just tell me where you wanna go"
• I smiled, Arthur is such a nice guy and if I want he'd be a great dad to Davis.. but I will never make the same mistake twice.
• Don't ever trust a guy! That's what I've learnt from Thanatos leaving me behind.
• "Las Vegas" I said.
• "Las Vegas?"
• I nodded.
• "Yes, I wanna go to Las Vegas!"
• "Ok. I'll search for a good apartment for you" he replied.
• (back to present day)
• And that's how I moved to Las Vegas three years ago.. but I can't tell Adele that.
• I ran away because I couldn't face, I don't think I'm ready to face it now!
• "Hey! Jasmine!" Adele snapped her fingers across my eyes.
• "I'm sorry, Adele, I will tell you another time.. I'm just not ready"
• She smiled and nodded, she rubbed my shoulder in a comforting manner.
• "I know, I was just teasing you" she said.
• "You wanna kiss?"
• I narrowed my eyes, we both snapped our heads and frowned at the small figure that asked that question.
• I quickly washed my hands and carried him on a stool, I caressed his cheek.
• "Davis, where did you learn about people kissing?" I asked him calmly.
• "Uncle Arthur told me" he replied.
• My eyes closed as I inhaled deeply to control my anger in front of Davis..
• Arthur, how dare he teach my five years old son about kissing?!
• "Arthur is really a very good impact on this boy, I guess you'll be a mother-in-law soon" Adele said and burst into laughter.
• I passed her a stern look and she sobers up quickly, she coughed slightly.
• "Davis, kissing is bad, ok?"
• "But uncle Arthur said it's good" he argued.
• Arthur!! You're so dead! Just pray I don't see you today!
• From the corner of my eye, I can see Adele trying so hard to control herself.
• "Uncle Arthur said I can kiss girls" Davis said innocently.
• Adele couldn't hold it in any more, she burst into laughter.. holding her stomach as she laughed hard.
• "Sure, with this handsome face of yours.. you'll kiss a lot of girls" she said amidst laughter.
• I smacked her head and glared at her, she shuts up immediately. I turned back to Davis with a gentle smile.
• "No, baby, you can't kiss girls"
• "Why?"
• "Because you'll get cooties from kissing girls" I said.
• He frowned and stared at me doubtfully, as if I'm lying to him.. which I'm actually doing for his own good.
• "What is cooties?" He asked.
• "Cooties is a disease that you get from kissing girls, it'll make your tummy swell..."
• His hands moved to his stomach and he stared at me in horror, I smirked mentally.. I guess this would work.
• ".. it'll make you have bleeding nose.."
• His hands flew to his nose, as if covering it would stop the disease.. I almost laugh.
• ".. it'll make you lose your teeth and go bald"
• "I promise, momma, I didn't kiss any girls, I didn't kiss any girls, I didn't kiss any girls" he cried in panic.
• "Good boy, you're a good boy right?" He nodded. "Good boys don't kiss girls, ok?"
• He nodded again, I smiled.
• "Now promise me you won't kiss girls"
• He raised his tiny hand up and pulled out three fingers.
• "I promise I won't kiss girls"
• I nodded and ruffles his hair, I leaned forward and kissed his forehead.. but he pushed me away and wiped his forehead.
• He glared at me.
• "Momma, cooties!" He said.
• I exchange looks with Adele and she burst into another fits of laughter.. is my lie turning against me?
• "No, no, baby, momma's kiss don't give cooties"
• He frowned. "Sure?"
• "Sure!"
• He stayed silent and stared at me a few more minutes.
• "Pinky swear?"
• "Pinky swear" I said.
• He nodded, then leaned forward and kissed my cheek this time.
• "Now go back and watch TV, breakfast will be ready soon and we'll be ready for school in no time" I told him.
• "Ok, momma" he said and ran back to the living room.
• I sighed deeply and narrowed my eyes.
• "I swear, I'm not leaving my son under Arthur's care ever again!" I said.
• "But he's teaching him the ways of men... "
• She shut up when she saw my malicious glare, I grabbed a spatula and get onto business.
• Right at that moment, I heard the doorbell ring.
• "Continue, I'll go get it" Adele said.
• She rushed to the living room, to go get the door. Soon, I heard Arthur's voice.. I bite my lower lip.
• "Davis!"
• "Uncle!"
• That bast*rd! He dared to show up after trying to corrupt my son!
• "Who's ready for school?"
• "Meee!" Davis yelled.
• With my spatula in my hand, I turned to face them.
• "Arthur!! What did you teach my son?!" I asked storming towards him.
• Arthur slowly dropped Davis, he released a nervous laugh and waved me.
• "Hi, g-good morning, Miss Reinle"
• "This morning is so not good, you want to corrupt my son.. that's your intention, right?!" I growled.
• He leaned down and kissed Davis forehead, he grabbed the door handle.
• "I just remembered, I'm very late for the office.. see you later!" He said in a hurry and rushed out.
• I know he's getting away from my wrath, I laughed evilly.. I'll still see him in the evening.
• "Right, Arthur just reminded me.. hurry up we'll be late for work too" Adele said.
• My eyes locate the wall clock and I gasped loudly.
• "Darn! We're so freaking late!" I exclaims.
• Using words like *darn* in place of *damn* and *freaking* in place of *f**king* because of Davis.