Part 28: Toxic

A/N: this is a short, shitty chapter but next one should be published soon, and it may be much better :)

Michael's point of view

I stood still for a few seconds, trying to accept the words June threw in my face. When I realized she really did think that I was breaking up with earlier, I wanted to punch myself in the face.

"June, come on," I called, knocking on the bathroom's door. "I didn't choose Jessica over you. I'm not stupid like you claim I am."

I didn't miss that part where she said I was stupid. It wasn't pleasant to hear, but I guess she had the right to be quite angry at me. I know I am naïve, but this is who I am, and if June couldn't accept it, then I don't know why she was wasting her time with me.

"Go away," she called back through the door, her voice weak.

Is she crying?

"I'm not going anywhere until you talk to me," I spoke in a soft voice. "Baby, please. Open that door. I didn't see you in three whole days."

"I'm late, Michael. I have to get prepared. Go back to Neverland."

I didn't answer, and leaned with my back on the wall next to the bathroom's door, hoping she would open the door if I didn't speak another word. It wasn't even an option for me to leave without having at least the chance to explain myself, and tell her what was my plan.

After a long, opressive silence, June finally unlocked the door, and called my name in a barely audible whisper.

"I'm here," I called in the same tone.

"Why are you still here?" she asked, now in front of me. "I thought I told you to leave."

When I laid eyes on her, her hair was now down and curly, exactly the way I love it to be, and her light make up was adjusted. She was beyond beautiful, as always.

"And I didn't listen," I sighed, and took her hand in mine. To my biggest surprise, she didn't dodge me. "Please, give me two minutes. This is all I'm asking for."

She didn't say anything, so I dragged her towards her bed, and sat down on it. She soon followed my actions, and we were sitting side by side, looking down at our respective lap. After a few seconds, I looked at her, and took a deep breath.

"Would you look at me?" I shyly yet gently asked her. "Please?"

"I would, but I can't," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"What do you mean you can't?" I asked, and took her chin inbetween my index finger and thumb and turned her head towards me. "Baby, please. Talk to me, look at me."

"Did you have a peaceful life when we broke up?" she asked out of the blue, still avoiding my gaze. "During your mariage with Jessica, did you have a peaceful life? Without drama?"

"What is this question? What's the matter?" I asked, concerned.

I didn't get her mood swing. I thought she was angry at me because of the phonecall I gave her earlier, but the more I looked down at her, the more I could see sadness and despair on her face.

"Please, just answer," she pleaded, looking at me with tear-filled eyes. "Did you?"

"My life wasn't peaceful. You know it never is, with work and everything. What's going on?"

"I mean, was your life easier without me?" she asked in a low, weak voice, not acknoledging my question.

"Uh, no! Of course not! I had my drama too. Should I remind you what Jessica did?"

"Shoud I remind you she did that when I was back into your life? She did what she did because of me."

"She didn't fall in love with me because of you, don't be silly. June, stop blaming yourself, please," I gently said, rubbing the top of her hand.

"If I hadn't let you go, you wouldn't have married her ass, and she wouldn't have fallen in love with you. Don't ignore the truth," she harshly yet weakly said, removing her hands from my grasp.

"Why are you talking about this again? This belongs to the past. Let's live in the moment, once for all! You're not responsible for anything that's happening, okay?" I said gently pulling her in a reassuring hug. "I love you," I smiled a bit, my chin rested on top of her head.

"Michael," she sobbed quielty, looking down at her lap again, "Alex sent the photos."

When she said that, my smile disappeared immediately, and my face instantly warmed up with anger as I clenched my jaw. Hearing his name always had this effect on me, and knowing that he was the one behind all of this pissed me off even more.

I pulled away from June, and looked at her in the eyes, once again moving her face so that she was looking at me.

"How do you know that?"

"He called me, but it's not the point."

"It is! Why did he do that?"

"He did that because of me, again. Because of how I treated him. He wants to make me suffer for dumping him like a dirty sock, he wants to hurt me because I'm in love with you, not him. This is all because of me. Since we found our way back to each other, nothing good happened in your life, just like when we were together the first time. Michael, seriously. Go home, and stay away from me. I'm toxic. When I come near you, then drama comes into your life, and I make it a stressful hell."

"I'm not going anywhere, unless it's for kicking Alex's ass. What did that bastard tell you? Why did he do that, and what is he gonna do?"

"He said I was a good girl for staying away from you," she sighed, and wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "That I should leave you alone and let you live your life happily beside your wife."

"And what did you answer?" I pressed, becoming nervous.

"I told him that he shouldn't be worried anymore because you broke up with me," she said, looking down at the floor. "He said that I'll thank him later for that, because we don't belong together. I belong with him because we're alike. He said I was a proud, selfish, heartless bitch, and I think he's right. I'm such a failure, Michael. I don't deserve you. You deserve much better. I brought so much drama into your life while it is so complicated already. I can't do this anymore. He's right. I'm selfish when it comes to you, and I don't want to be this way."

"What? Don't listen to him, baby. Stop," I said, taking her hands in mine. "I never broke up with you. Everything I told you, I mean it. I love you more than words could even tell, so why would I even break up with you? I never thought about this, and I don't want to think about it. Ever," I declared in a soothing voice. "You said I am stupid for believing Jessica, and maybe you're right, after all. Everybody around me keeps asking me why I'm willing to forgive her, and everything I have to answer them is 'because this is who I am'. Is this even a good excuse? I don't don't know. Does this make me a stupid person? Certainly."

"Michael, stop, I didn't mean th-"

"It's okay. I think you're right, anyways."

"No, you're not stupid. It's just... You're so naïve. People know how to manipulate you, because they know you want peace, not war. They know you're a forgiving person, they know you're too kind with people, and they play with that. It's horrible, but this is what they do. I wish I could help you to be more careful with people surrounding you, but I'm not good enough."

I loosened my grasp on her hands, and looked at her with a frown.

"Please, stop victimizing yourself," I pleaded, getting slightly irritated. "I don't think I'll ever be able to change who I am. This is how I was raised, and I've been like this for thrity-two years. It's too late. You just have to accept me this way."

"I am a freakin' victim, damnit! People I considered like friends keep ruining my life!" She yelled. "And I do accept who you are, it's not that, but -"

"What? What is it, June?" I asked, cutting her off. "What do you want from me then?"

"I want you to stop making bad choices!" she shouted, removing her hands from mine.

"Why? This is how I'll learn my lesson! We all learn from our mistakes, don't we?" I asked her, raising my voice a little. "I'm a grown-ass man! I don't need another mother! I need a girlfriend who'll let me live my life the way I want to! Why don't you let me do my own mistakes?"

"Because I'm selfish! Because I love you! Because I want to marry you! I want all of this to be over so that I can have all of you for myself!" she shouted, standing up from the bed. She turned around so she could face me. "I want you to stop being naïve with people! I want you to open your damn eyes and see how people manipulate you! I want this because I love you, and I can't stay here and watch you do all those mistakes without doing anything!" she yelled at me, throwing her arms in the air, while watching my with intensity. "Can't you understand that I want to protect you from those people? Can't you understand that?"

"I don't need protection. Like I said, I'm a grown-ass man," I denied, shaking my head.

"Maybe, but you need someone to be there to help you be less naïve than you are."

"I don't need someone, I need you," I told her, standing up from the bed as well to join her. "I want my life to be with you, and if this means I have to go through drama all the time, then I want to take the risk. Just... Don't try to change me. Take me as I am."

"I'm sure you need someone better than me," she whispered, drying her eyes. After a few seconds, she looked up at me, "Prove me I am good enough. Prove me I am worth it, or just leave me. I can't stand here and feel guilty for making your life a mess," June practically begged in a faint voice, taking a step towards me. "I said I won't walk away from you, but I'm begging you to walk away from me if you don't want this kind of life with me. Because this drama-filled life is my life, and I can't escape it."

I watched her demeanor closely, and sincerity and pain were written all over her face.

I knew she was right, but I couldn't admit it. I couldn't tell myself that she was toxic to me, but she was.

Now the question was: was I ready to keep going like this?

I wasn't.

But if this was the only way I could have June for myself, then I think I would be able to take the risk.

Was I?

"I love you," I simply said, looking down at June. "And you're right, you're toxic. It's always been killing me to love you, but I can't help it."

"If you have to say goodbye to me, then do it fast. Please," she begged again, tears falling from her eyes.

"You're the love of my life, and God knows loving can hurt sometimes. I was and still am hurting to love you, but once I'll tell the world about my fake marriage with Jessica, I want to make sure things will be easier for the both of us. I'll make sure to prevent our relationship from any drama. I want to work things out for us, because I know you're the one."

"What?" she murmured. "Why did you change your mind about the public statement?

"Because I was too naïve and I believed Jessica. You were right about that."

"You know what hurt me the most?" She asked, wiping her tears away from her cheeks.

I shook my head, "what is it?"

"You said you couldn't trust me anymore. You said you didn't believe me when I said I wouldn't walk away anymore. You even said you didn't trust me anymore, but you trusted Jessica. You believed her, you put your trust in her, while you wouldn't believe or trust me."

I looked down at her, and again, the look on her face was hurting me.

"I acted stupid. I'm so sorry," I apologized, taking her in my arms.

She tightly wrapped her arms around my waist, while mine were around her shoulders. She silently cried on my chest, and I kept rubbing her hair to calm her down. My own tears were about to fall from my eyes, but I fought the urge to cry.

We stayed there for what seemed like forever, just enjoying the feeling of having each other close. Not a word was spoken, silence was filling the room. I didn't want to let go of her. I just wanted to close the door and let the whole world wait.

Unfortunately, we were interrupted by June's home phone ringing. It took her a few seconds to let go of me and answer the phone. Apparently, she didn't want to let go of me either.

"Hello?" She answered the phone in a weak voice. "Dave, I'm sorry I am late. You know things have been crazy today and-- no I'm good. I-I-- come on! I told you I'm fine," she said, drying her eyes again. "I'll be there in a few. I promise," she told her friend, and looked at me. "Oh and Dave? Do you mind adding another plate on the table? I'm bringing my man with me," she said, flashing me one of her cute smiles. "I'll explain. Yes, we'll be there in twenty minutes. See you."

June hung up and placed the phone back on his hook before looking shyly at me, "would you come with me?"

"I think it's too late to say no, anyways, so sure," I teased to lighten up the mood, "I'd love to come with you."

She made her way slowly towards me, and wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her body against mine. As an habit, I put my hands on her waist, and slided them on the small of her back, pulling her even closer to me.

"I love you, Michael Jackson. Always have, always will," she sincerely said, looking deep into my eyes while playing with my low ponytail.

"I love you more. Well get through this. This is what we do," I reassured her, and finally I had the chance to give her the kiss I was waiting for during three whole days.

Her hands slid from the back of my neck to the sides of my face while she gave me one of her sweet kisses, and the argument we just had seemed far away already.
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Hey guys!

I'm thinking about starting a book of imagines, and I was wondering if you would read it if I started one? It'd be slow updates, because my main focus is on this book, but still.

What do you think? Yay or nay?

And by the way, if you didn't see it yet, you can find the trailer of my first book, What Happened That Day, in my description or on my profile! Hope you'll like it :)

Love

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