bronny🤌🏽.

it had been 3 weeks since bronny quit.. his family had no idea & he wasn't ready to tell em yet because he didn't want his dad to be disappointed in him.. but juju could tell it was taking a toll on him.. they could tell he was slowly falling into depression.

juju knew if she kept it a secret any longer bronny's mental health would only get worse. bronny had made juju promise she wouldn't tell his parents and which he had to do a lot of persuading .. eventually she agreed just to get him off her back..

juju knew bronny would not take it lightly but she hoped he would understand where she was coming from.. she cared about his health more than keeping her word to him.

juju🩷.

"so how you been feeling ?" juju asked as her and bronny where by the pool.

"okay .. i have had a lot of extra time on my hands so i been doing my work early" bronny said.

"bae, you need to tell them.. how long you think it will last before they catch on ?" juju said.

"ionk but im not ready to tell them yet.. i need more time" bronny said rubbing his forehead.

the level of stress he's been at since he quit was insane. he has never been that stressed before not even before big games.

he just couldn't disappoint his family.. especially his dad.

"i just don't wanna let them down" bronny said.

"baby, your not gonna let them down okay.. when you tell them why you quit they will understand but you can't keep hiding it .. it's only making your mental health worse and your stress levels higher" juju said.

"yeah ik, but imma tell soon" bronny said.

"babe" juju said sighing .

"look, soon ma but promise me you won't tell them" bronny said looking juju dead in her eyes".

"mane, im not promising you that bronny they need to know okay it's not safe" juju said.

bronny scooted closer to her & grabbed her shoulders.

"babe PROMISE. ME." he said slowly.

"i dont need this right now & telling them right now is to much".

"please ma" he said as him and juju stared into each others eyes.

she sighed .

"fine.. but you have to tell them soon" she said .

"i will i promise" he said kissing her.

—————————————

later that night -dinner time.

bronny🤌🏽.

we are currently at dinner & juju stayed. bryce was telling us about practice and zuri was telling us about school.. juju talked to but i was quiet i had nothing i really wanted to say.

"bronny , how's basketball going ?" savannah said noticing he hadn't said a word all night.

"good" he said.

"it's fine , the normal" he added.

juju🩷.

watching bronny lie to his parents is really hard. like the guilt that i feel right now knowing what's really going on.. but i promised him i wouldn't say anything .

but did it really matter what i promised ? or did bronny's health matter more.. and i had to make a choice. & bronny's health meant way more than some promise.

"you good son ? you seem off" lebron said.

"yeah im good" he said ..

he didn't have the heart to look up..

"and your lying .. tell me what's wrong bronny" lebron said.

"man im good" bronny said slamming his hand on the table.

making everyone jump .

"im sorry, i didnt mean to do it but im fine" bronny said.

"you think im dumb ? if we gone be anything be fr son.. your not fine" lebron said raising his voice..

they told zuri to go up to her room. she was sensitive so them arguing was definitely gonna make her cry.

"man dad"

"i know what's wrong" juju blurted out..

everyone's focus was on her..

"juju don't" bronny started but was interrupted.

"know what ? what happened ?" lebron said.

"yeah we should know" savannah said .

"bronny.. i love you okay & yk that but the situation you put me in isn't fair.. i care about you and your well being so" juju said.

"bronny quit basketball 3 weeks ago"

bronny stared a hole into juju's soul .

"man chill" he was cut off.

"no .. im not gonna let you destroy yourself over this".

"wait what happened ?" lebron said.

"bronny quit basketball 3 weeks ago.. his coach was basically tearing him down & wouldn't let him take breaks & was hurting him physically and mentally which explains why he was in the hospital."

"it's been three weeks & he's slowly falling into depression and his stress level is super high.. i couldn't hide it knowing he was hurting himself doing that he doesn't even realize that. he made me promise not to tell you guys but i couldnt.. his coach expected to much and way more out of him just because he's your son"

"he told him he doesn't even know how he's your son & has been tearing his confidence down for a long time now that he finally broke down and couldn't take it anymore" juju said.

she watched as lebron's face go from anger, to understanding, back to anger.. not because he quit or he didn't tell him.. but the treatment he was getting from someone he trusted to help build his son.

bronny stood their his facial expression gave anger .

"why didn't you tell us ?" savannah said.

"because i didn't want to disappoint you guys i didn't know what to do" bronny said angrily.

"well we finna go up there" bron said.

"it's fine dad, ion need him thinking i need my daddy okay" bronny said.

"dude he's basically bullying you. that's not okay" bryce said.

"what's wrong with you man ? you constantly taking disrespect but im not so lower your voice when you talking to me.. i do what i want this my house and im the adult .. MAN UP" lebron said.

"I AM A MAN aight i dont need you to fight for me man . IM GOOD im not no kid anymore" bronny yelled.

"yeah go to your room" savannah said.

"you need to cool down" savannah added.

bronny grabbed his shirt he stared down juju . you could tell she felt guilty..

"man thanks a lot" he said shoving her shoulder as he walked passed her.

"bronny i-" she followed him to his room.

"baby i did what i had to okay, you put me in the position and yk i didn't want to keep that from them.. your hurting yourself and you don't even realize it . I CARE ABOUT YOU BRONNY & your health ion care about no promise or secret that's ruining your mental & physical health" juju said.

"ion need you to care aight, i got this myself. i can handle myself" bronny said.

"im literally your girlfriend bronny what did you expect ? huh you wanted me to sit around and watch you go into depression ? you just got out of that dark space a year ago" juju said.

"and NOW WHAT JUDEA ? what's next for me ? huh ? sitting around on the couch cus i have nun else to do ? because im pretty sure thats gonna put me right back as fast as that secret was" bronny yelled.

savannah, bryce , and lebron could hear juju and bronny arguing . they hoped zuri had on her headphones because this was not a good environment for her to be in at her age.

"what else was i supposed to do bronny ? as your girlfriend i did what was best for your health not a secret that you wanted to hide from your parents."

"aight bro" bronny said.

"oh for real ? that's how you gone act ? you dead wrong bronny & yk it" she said .

"im wrong ? but i didnt go tell your parents something you ain't want them to know.. I TRUSTED YOU AND YOU BROKE THAT" he screamed walking out the door.

juju grabbed his arm he snatched it away. her and bronny never argued .. only disagreements and she hated fighting.

& for bronny to just walk out hurt her the most because what happened to talking it out like adults .. no screaming at each other , no walking out..

"baby" she said her voice cracking.

bronny walked downstairs where his parents where.. he ain't say nun he just walked out slamming the door.. he needed to go for a drive & clear his head.

CHAPTER 22! aww they first argument it was so intense💔. but juju's heart is definitely in the right place fs! i think it was more that bronny didn't want his parents to be disappointed more than her telling them. please vote and comment ! leave your opinions and send ideas if you have any!