Let's Play a Game

Let's Play a Game (Chapter Twelve)

I am wearing a very nice white suit with a nice turquoise necktie. The suit fits me perfectly, if I might add.

I see my mom walking beside me, holding my arms. She's wearing a very nice dress that matches the color of my tie. I look around and notice there are a lot of people seating in the rows of chairs, though they're all looking forward.

I try to focus on where I was going, I see another man dressed just like me waiting at the end of the line.

It's an altar, I realize that it must be a wedding.

Once we were at the front, my mom left me and went to the side. All I see now is the back of the guy dressed the same as me.

Is this my wedding?

The guy slowly faces me and I see his shoes are the same as mine, his suit, and his tie all the same as mine.

When I looked at his head, I saw that he didn't have a face. His head was like a mannequin's head, blank. No eyes, no mouth or nose even ears.

Once I opened my eyes everything was so bright. My eyes hurt. I realize that it's just a dream, a nightmare. I took me a while to adjust to the brightness. When my eyes adjusted to the light I see that my both my legs are in casts and my left arm is also in a cast. My body feels numb and I feel a little light headed. Then I see my mom's face beside me.

"Thank god!" My mom said with tears of joy. She went towards me and kissed my forehead.

"I was so worried." She said.

"Well, I'm not going anywhere." I tried to joke.

"What happened to you?" She asked.

I started remembering what happened to me then my head suddenly ached.

"Jake?" My mom asked.

"Jake!" My mom asked again.

Then all I see is black.

I had the very same nightmare again.

I wake up, my eyes slowly adjusting to the light of the room. My face is full of sweat. It's a hospital room with a TV in one side, a bathroom in the other and a few windows. It's already dark outside.

I see my mother asleep on my side. I try to adjust my body into a more comfortable one. In my attempt to do so, my mother wakes up from her sleep. Judging from the bags in her eyes that she haven't slept for days. How long have I been here?

"Jake!" My mom said in excitement.

"Hi mom." I said.

"Thank god you're awake." She said again.

"Yeah. Me too." I said.

"What happened to me?" I asked.

"The doctors said that your left leg is in pretty bad shape but they still have a chance to become fully functional again. Your left arm is not as bad but it is still broken." She said.

The room was quiet for a while.

Then I said, "Mom I think you need to sleep."

"Nonsense. Now that you're awake I can't go to sleep now. So are you hungry?" She asked.

"Well, I'm a little thirsty." I said.

She stood up and went to get a cup and put water in it. She went to me and started putting the cup near my face. I realized I couldn't move my right arm either. It feels very heavy at the time.

After drinking water my mom went to return the cup and when she came back she stood by my side and kissed my forehead again.

"I'm so sorry mom." I burst into tears.

"Ssshhh." She said caressing my face.

She continued to soothe me and said repeatedly said that it's okay, that it's not my fault and that I don't need to be sorry. I fell asleep afterwards.

I had the same nightmare again.

The next morning I woke up and I notice that my mom was nowhere to be found.

I see a familiar face looking out of the window, Gio, Alec is sitting by the window as well. They both look distressed and like they haven't slept for days.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" I asked with my voice full of hatred.

"Jake. I'm very sorry. Please let me explain." Alec started.

"Just get out." I said. A machine beside me starts beeping.

"Jake please. I'm begging you." Gio said with tears in his eyes.

"Get. Out." I said as calmly as I could. The machine's beeping goes faster.

"Fine, we'll leave but I just wanted you to know that I will never forgive myself for what happened to you." Gio said as they went out the door.

Just as he went out a nurse came rushing towards my room and started checking for my pulse and heart rate. She said that I should try to keep my heart rate down since I'm still undergoing a lot of stress. Just as the nurse was about to leave my mom comes in.

"Where's Gio and Alec? I thought they were going to keep you company." She said.

"I made them leave." I said.

"Mom, there's something I need to tell you." I added.

I started recalling what I heard in the hallway.

"What is it honey?" She asked a little worried.

"Mom, you know that Gio and Alec are dating me right?" I said.

Just the mention of their names makes my heart feel like it is being crushed over and over.

"They were just doing it because of a stupid game they're playing." I barely finish.

"Oh god, Jake. I'm so sorry." My mom said. She rushed beside me and hugged me until I cried my eyes out.

I just cried until there are no more tears. Even then I still feel like crying.

It made me remember everything that had happened to me the past few weeks. They were the happiest I've been. How stupid of me. It just wasn't possible that the two people I like would magically take interest in me. There had to be a reason. I can't believe I was too naïve to see it.

I remembered the kisses that Gio and I shared. The sunrises I watched with Alec. The talks we had. I wondered if any of those were real or they were just being forced to do that because of some stupid bet. It doesn't matter now.

I cried for almost an hour and my mom held me close. When there were no more tears my mom tried to make me eat since I haven't eaten in a long time. All I wanted to do is cry but I force myself to eat a very small portion of food.

The doctor said that I can go home after a few days and continue resting there.

It was my routine for the next couple of days. If I'm awake I cry, if sleep comes, I get the same nightmare over and over again. Nothing changes. The faceless man faces me then I wake up.

The first day I was at home Gio and Alec went to visit me. My mom wouldn't let them in but Gio and Alec sat outside our door the entire day waiting for her to let them in. My mom finally let up and let both of them in. They go immediately to my room. I don't acknowledge them, I just stare at the window.

"Jake." Gio said kneeling beside my bed.

Tears start to flow from his eyes. He takes my hand and holds it to his face. I continue to stare at the window, even though I hear Gio sobbing beside me and I feel his tears in my hands.

My eyes fail me and they start to water as well.

Alec stands a near me and looks to be in the verge of tears as well.

"I do not want to see both of you ever again." I shakily say.

Alec looks like he has something to say but Gio grabs his arm and looks at him. They both leave the room quietly and I'm left alone.

The tears started to flow freely now.

When Gio touched my hand I realized that I have fallen in love with him. If I were still to choose between them, my heart would choose him over Alec. But I know that what we had was just a ruse, an act, a part of his plan to win the game. If it were just a dream I would like to wake up now. But I know this is real. The pain in my heart that won't leave is proof that this is the real world. It has even come across my mind that whoever was driving the car that hit me didn't do a good job of killing me. I just wished that he killed me and that would end my misery.

I've been at home for about a couple of days now.

I still haven't had a good night's sleep. The nightmare comes frequently now. More than once at night.

Even though I have crutches to walk around I still choose to lay around in my bed. My doctor was getting worried that I am not eating enough because I lost weight in just a week. People kept urging me to eat so that the medicine would work a lot better and I would recover faster but all of my appetite was gone.

I have assignments piling up and lessons to study but I have lost my will to do anything.

Gio and Alec still comes to my house to visit, Gio mostly, but I still don't talk to them. They catch me up on what's happening at school, they talk to me about the classes we take. Gio talks to me like nothing's wrong, he is all smiles. When Alec comes over he brings me food, fruits mostly. This went on for a couple of days them talking to me and me ignoring them.

It is Friday afternoon and Gio comes rushing alone towards my room. He looks so happy.

"Hey Jake!" Gio said.

No response.

"So, the exams are almost here." Gio said.

"You have a lot to catch up on." Gio added getting his notes out of his bag.

"You can have these." He said putting them on a table.

Silence.

"Are you hungry?" Gio asked.

"I can make you a sandwich if you want." He said.

No response.

Silence.

Then his sunny personality cracks. His face suddenly full of pain.

"Jake." Gio said taking my hand again.

"I can't take it anymore." Gio said.

"Please, say something. Anything." He added in between sobs.

"I'm so sorry for everything. I hope you know that. I am willing to do anything for you. I would die for you. Just please talk to me. I miss hearing your voice. I miss sitting beside you in class and, and, and talking to you after school. I miss everything about you. I miss you, the old you." Gio said.

I start to tear up as well.

"I know what Alec and I did was wrong. I know it started as a game for the both of us, but I started to feel something different the first time we went out. At first I thought that it was nothing, but the longer I tried to hide those feelings the harder they come back. Every time I see you my heart beats fast, my palms start to sweat. I have never felt this way with anyone before." Gio said his face wet with tears.

"I promise you that I would do anything for you, anything. Just to forgive me." Gio added.

"Remember what I said to you the last time you were at my house? All of it was true. You're the only one I've told it to, because, because I was really feeling a connection with you. That's why even though I knew it was a game, I tried my very best to win you. Because-" Gio stuttered.

"Because, I love you Jake. I am hopelessly in love with you. And it kills me to see you in pain. It kills me that you are in this situation because of me. It might not mean anything to you but I wish I was the one who was hit by the car." Gio said.

"What?" I barely say.

"I love you, Jake Johnson." Gio said tightening his grip of my hand.

"I love you so much. I love you!" Gio said a little louder.

My face was drenched with tears as well.

"Jake?" Gio said.

"How do I know that you're not lying? How do I know that it's not part of a stupid game?" I asked.

"Because I made a vow. I will never lie to the man I love. I will always tell him the truth." Gio said, his face looks so sincere. His eyes directly looking into mine.

"I know it's hard for you to trust me at this point. I can't blame you for that. But I promise you, I will never hurt you again. I will always stay by your side. Even if you like it or not, I will stay here and take care of you." Gio said.

SILENCE.

"If it's okay with you. I would like to have that sandwich now." I said jokingly.

"Oh god, Jake. Anything for you." Gio said wiping his tears.

When he stood up he also wiped the tears from my eyes. I remembered the feeling the touch of his soft and gentle hands. I miss it so much. He went downstairs towards the kitchen and my mom suddenly burst in my room which looks teary as well.

"Jake, he's so sweet." My mom said while sniffing.

"Mom, I don't know what to do." I said.

"I don't want to rush into this or anything. I'm still a little bit apprehensive about all of this." I said.

"Just be careful, don't let your guard down that easily." My mom said.

But it's too late, the walls I built around me came crashing down the moment I heard Gio tell me that he loved me.

Gio comes back to my room a few minutes later holding a plate with a sandwich in one hand and juice in the other.

"Eat up." Gio said. His eyes still foggy with tears.

I try to sit up straight but I fail to do so. Gio holds my arms and guides me slowly.

I try to eat the sandwich he makes me but I only finished half of it. But the juice I finish.

He brings down the plate and the cup back to the kitchen.

*In the kitchen*

"I haven't seen Jake eat that much since last week." My mom said to Gio.

"I'm just glad his appetite is slowly returning." Gio replied as he was about to go up the stairs.

"Gio wait." My mom said.

"What is it Ms. Johnson?" Gio asked.

"You know that Jake means everything to me. He is my world." My mom started.

"And it hurt like hell when I learned that you were just playing with him. I don't know what type of person could do such a thing to my sweet little boy." My mom continued her eyes starting to water.

"I've never seen him so down, like he lost all his will to live. At night I would hear him cry until he falls asleep. Just so he could be woken up by nightmares and the crying starts again. I can't tell you how much pain I feel, knowing that all I could do is hold him. I know that is never enough to fix the damage you have done to him." My mom said with tears in her eyes.

"But then I heard what you said to him earlier. I saw his face light up a little. That was the first time since we came home. It made realize what effect you have on him. I just wish that what you said in there is true. I can't bear to see him like how he was before. I know I must be strong for him, but it tears me down seeing him like that." My mom added.

Gio held her hand and said, "I promise you that what I said in there, everything, is true. I have known that I am in love with him after the first time we kissed."

"I may not have felt what you felt but I was also torn on the inside when I saw Jake looking so depressed. I felt like my heart was being crushed whenever he would ignore me. But I kept on talking to him because I never want to lose him. I want him to stay in my life forever. I promise that I will do whatever it takes for him to forgive me. I will give my everything to him, because I love him." Gio said.

My mom hugged her tightly.

"I'll hold on to that promise then." My mom said as they separated.

Gio went back up to my room where I was sitting. Reading one of his notes. I noticed that his handwriting improved. I could easily read them now.

When Gio was in my room there was silence for a long time.

"Wow, did you practice writing?" I asked still looking at his notes.

"I wanted you to read them so I fixed my handwriting." Gio replied meekly.

"It looks like I'm going to ace the math exam. Everything looks so easy." I said.

Gio sat beside me in my bed. Although he was not very close to me. I think my body stiffened when he sat beside me.

"I'm sorry." Gio said standing back up.

"It's ok. I just need little time to get used to this again." I said.

He got a chair and placed it beside my bed.

I think I ate too much of the sandwich. It's trying to get out of my system. I started deep breathing.

"Jake, are you okay?" Gio asked looking worried.

"I think I ate too much. Would you get me a barf bag?" I said.

Gio ran quickly downstairs and got a barf bag from my mom.

"Here" Gio said handing me the bag.

"Do you need anything? Do you want water? Should I get you medicine?" Gio asked looking flustered.

"I'm fine, my body was just shocked. I just ate too much very quick." I said.

Luckily I was able to keep it down.

I spent the night reading Gio's notes on Trigonometry. Gio was just sitting there beside my bed looking at me. He would ask from time to time if need anything or if I wanted my pillows to be fluffed or if I needed more pillows.

Even though the room was silent, I didn't feel awkward at all. For the first time in forever, I didn't feel the need to cry. It's like all of the pain I was feeling inside of me slowly washed away. It felt like everything was right in the world again.

I was just contented in sitting there reading. I didn't realize that I fell asleep in my bed holding Gio's notebook in my arms.

I'm having the same dream again.

I was wearing a white suit, my mom is beside me, walking slowly with me. Once we were at the altar the man slowly turns towards me and I see his face. Only this time the man is not faceless, the man is Gio, standing in front of the altar.

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Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed chapter twelve. Please rate and comment.

Just a heads up, chapter thirteen might be the last one for this series. Although I'm not sure yet.

To everyone reading my stories, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I would not be able to make this story without all of you. I know my story is not the best but you still read them anyways. :)

Once again, thank you very much.

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