Epilogue Part One

Ruby

Stepping out of the airport, my bag rolling with me as I walked towards the taxi I had flagged down, it hit me more that I was back in Manhattan on my way to see my parents and… him. And my mind became more confused.

Thankfully, it was the mid-semester period and we have a one-week break which I will extend to a three-week holiday because I seriously need the break.

Soon, the taxi moved and began the long journey that would lead me home.

And towards Adonis Klaus.

Two weeks after our unexpected reunion, I finally contacted Adonis, telling him I had an answer for him.

I sounded so determined that I already had an answer but as the moving car sped and allowed some cool breeze to come my way, as I rested in the seat some more, I realised that my heart was still confused.

Of course, I want to be with Adonis, I wish for nothing more. But thinking about the present only is such a short-sighted and risky thing.

There is a strong need to think about how any decision I take would affect my future.

Will I be able to handle what comes with choosing to be with him?

But then, will I have the strength to forfeit everything between us and move on with life as if Adonis Klaus never happened? That would be hard.

My shoulders slumped since I ad successfully confused myself even more.

So, as I tilted my head to the right, my eyes enjoying the sight of city buildings dashing right past us, I decided to pause the decision-making.

Even though I was going to give Adonis my response later in the day, it wouldn’t hurt to pause my thoughts for a while.

~

“Abby!” I ran towards my friend who I have not seen in person for about two years. Given the luggage in her grasp, she had just arrived at the house.

We hugged each other tightly, our bags neglected for a minute or two.

“Ruby, I have missed you so much,” she said as she rested her chin on my head in a motherly way. “And I have so much to tell you.”

I smiled, glad to hear sounding less sad. She had lost her father to cancer the previous year and for some reason, her mother ran away without a word.

Abby had been living with my parents while she attempted to gain admission into her choice school the proper way. That took her some courage because the issue with Mr. Grassi scarred her real good.

So, yes, now that she has gotten into college, now that she is smiling again, I am so happy for her.

“Ruby Celestina Powers,” I heard my mom call from the entrance and with a loud chuckle, I left Abby’s hold and rushed towards my beautiful mom who was carrying my baby sister, Nina in her arms. “You decided to come home after all.”

“Hey, Mom. Hey Nina.” After I shared an embrace with my mother, I carried Nina into my arms, her blue eyes staring delightfully at me as I cooed at her. Her small hands wrapped around mine eagerly as she muttered a mixture of clear and incoherent words. “You are just so cute, my beautiful baby. So cute,” I cooed further, my face smiling widely and happily.

“How was your flight? Mom asked as she took Nina from my hold.

“It wasn’t stressful. Is Zion back from school?” She shook her head and pushed Nina’s curly hair backwards. “Is Dad back from work?”

“No. He’ll be coming a bit late today but he got you a chocolate cake.”

I laughed heartily. “He sure knows how I do my things. Well, let him know that I am no longer angry at him for giving my number to someone I don’t know.”

Mom’s head tilted slightly, her lips wore a scrunch. “You know he was just trying to help.”

”That’s a weird way to help anyone. Besides, I don’t need help anymore.”

”Have you decided to get back with Adonis?” Abby joined the conversation, her legs hurrying towards me.

Yes, they all know about Adonis’s unexpected return. They were as surprised as I was.

I sighed. “No. It is complicated.”

”How so?” Abby asked further.

I looked towards my Mom, certain that what I was about to say would put her off. “He is back to being a gang leader. If I decide to be with him,” I swallowed hard, “you know, things could go wrong.”

“What?”

I noticed how Mom’s eyes narrowed significantly as she listened. “If I decide not to be with him, I am not sure how my heart can take it.”

“How sure are you that you feel the same way you did years ago?” Mom finally spoke and I could sense the approach of her disapproval. “You might not realise it, but, all those days, months, that you spent waiting for him with a certain yearning, something would have changed within you. Trust me, Ruby, with time always moving, nothing ever stays the same.”

”But, I waited all these years because of him. He is finally back and here’s my chance to win back all those years.”

”He is a gang leader Ruby,” she strongly tabled her main concern. “Have you forgotten what happened in the past? Because of this very gang issue, you nearly died. When you were brought to the hospital, your body was burning hot, your heart was a mess, and you nearly died. Have you forgotten how you nearly escaped a collapsing building?”

”But-”

”I know that issues of the heart seem exciting at times but you must always engage your mind and brain and whatever else you use to think. Don’t let your heart make this decision. Think in such a way that you get to put yourself and only yourself first. Okay?”

“So, I should say no,” I said, with an air of sadness around me.

“That’s not what I am saying. You should make a decision that’s best for you, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Oh, wow. Dad was right. Being in love is confusing.”

”Ruby…” Abby attempted to reduce the tension in the air as she gently placed her hands on my shoulders. “We can talk about heart matters later, first let’s eat some cake. What do you say?”

I really needed to get the weight off my mind. I was beginning to feel hot, I tore apart my ponytail, allowing my hair to fly free, my eyes studying Nina who I was jealous of at that moment.

“I need to see him.”

”Ruby,” my Mom called.

I managed a small smile.

“I need to get this shit off my mind. I’ll make my decision when I lay my eyes on him, delaying this thing could make me go insane.”

”Will you be fine?” Abby asked concernedly.

“Yeah, as long as you don’t eat a bite from my cake,” I joked as I took out my phone to text Adonis. “I’ll see you guys later.”

As I rushed towards the street, I prayed for my future self that whatever decision I make, she wouldn’t be affected and she wouldn’t regret it.

Amen.

~

The man who drove me to Adonis’s mansion which had been amazingly refurbished walked me to the room where I would be meeting Adonis and as we walked past guards that kept bowing slightly to greet us, I realised that he indeed was the gang leader.

After climbing the stairs, our steps stopped right in front of the door that was second to the left of the stairs.

“He is waiting for you,” the man’s deep voice said as he pushed the door open for me.

As I walked in, I didn’t see anything else. What kind of room it was didn’t concern me, all I could see was Adonis who got up from his cushioned seat, his eyes smiling at me as I moved closer and closer towards him.

God, how much do I miss that smile? And those eyes of his… Majestic from every viewing angle.

“Ruby. How have you been?”

”I came to give you my response,” I sharply said. I really need to get it off my chest.

So, this is how it will go. I’ll give myself a maximum of five minutes to do some more thinking, whatever I decide after then will be final.

“Oh,” Adonis said quietly. His hand gestured towards the seat opposite his and I sat down. I didn’t have the intention to think about the issue while standing anyway. “Can I get you-”

“Shh, I need to think.”

”Oh, okay,” I heard him say as I closed my eyes after setting a five minutes alarm on my phone.

Things ran through my mind, emotions flowed through my heart and when my phone cried out, signifying my time was up, I finally had an answer.