124. I Promise 🤞

The day has finally come for Monica to move. The movers loaded up two trucks. TWO BIG TRUCKS! I was happy that Monica's stuff was out of my house. I was going to miss her paying me rent money, but all things have an end. I waved good-bye to the trucks as they left my property and drove to Zeke and Monica's new house. I haven't seen it in-person, but the photos of it were ridiculous. They were gonna live like royalty for sure, and I ain't mad at them. Just as long as they don't go broke and come looking for me. Thankfully, I'll be far away in East Grove.

A week from now, Monica and I will be back home at her wedding. Zeke and A.B. left this weekend for the ribbon cutting ceremony of their new building. It was the first building in East Grove with shopping stores on the first floor and apartments above it. Crazy enough, fans spotted Zeke out with A.B. and pictures have been all over social media about Zeke scouting for new talent to be on his show The Power House. This is what Monica told me anyway.

With a clear house that needed serious cleaning from all the dust that collected from Monica's boxes, I decided today I would clean my house from top to bottom. I don't think I knew what I was getting myself into. Seconds away from starting, I got a call.

"Hey Cha-Cha!" I exclaimed.

"Hi, Jamie! I heard you were leaving L.A. to go back to your hometown in a few days. I wanted to see if you were busy and wanted to hang out."

I sighed, "I am about to get started on cleaning my house, but... I could use the company. A.B. is in East Grove with Zeke. Monica and Mrs. Rivers are waiting for the movers to get to the new house, and Deonte is in the studio with Jiles and Trenton."

"Jamie, I'm coming over to you."

I said, "As long as you don't mind just sitting around while I clean."

"Not at all. I'll be over in about 30 to 40 minutes."

"Okay. Sounds good. See you soon."

"Okay. Bye." Cha-Cha hung up.

I hung up my phone. That was a surprise. Well, let the cleaning begin. I put my album "Sugarcoat" on play as I started upstairs in my bedroom. I danced as I removed my old bedsheets and replaced them with clean ones. I swept and mopped the bedroom and bathroom floors. I wiped down the counters and dusted in every nook and cranny. I felt like a maid, but I soon realized that it has been almost a year since I've cleaned up after myself. Not to say that I was messy, but living at the Rivers' Residence, I didn't have to clean my room. Bridgette or sometimes the extra cleaners did that. Even here, Monica kept everything cleaned. Wow, never thought I'd have other people cleaning up after me. What a blessing! It's definitely the little things. By the time I finished my bedroom and bathroom, I was downstairs taking a snack break.

As I raided the pantry, I heard the doorbell. I skipped over to the front door and looked through the peephole. I saw Cha-Cha and Chanel.

I quickly opened the front door. "Y'all made it! Come on in."

"Jae!" Chanel smiled at me.

They carried two round containers and a flat one.

"What's all this?" I asked them.

"I thought you might be hungry. So, I brought rice, beans, shredded chicken, and lettuce, because it's a lettuce wrap meal."

"Oh, my goodness! I'm so glad we are friends. Take it all to the kitchen. We can eat now."

They both laughed as I closed the front door.

Soon, we were sitting at my kitchen table, laughing and eating.

"What did your mama say when she found out about Cash's girlfriend?" I asked them.

Cha-Cha shook her head.

Chanel replied, "She said 'I didn't approve of that woman.'"

"Noooo," I chuckled. "Is she that bad?"

Cha-Cha answered, "Unlike Deonte, Cash dates the lesser known women, but... He goes for the looks over the morals."

"Deonte is like that, too," Chanel continued, "The celebrity women he date don't care about anybody except for how they look. If our brothers had more intelligence, they would be able to have Jae for a girlfriend."

Cha-Cha looked at her sister. "Chanel, what did I tell you?"

I glanced between the two sisters. "What's going on?"

Chanel rolled her eyes. "It's nothing."

"I thought I was like a sister to y'all. What is it?" I inquired.

Cha-Cha took a sip of her drink.

Chanel folded her arms. "Deonte and his group are doing a song with AOI, and I heard it the other day. The song is about you."

"That's a stretch, Chanel," Cha-Cha told her little sister.

"It is, though!" Chanel sang, "'if it wasn't for him, I know you'd be with me... I call you my best friend, but this feels too deep... there's no one else I want, but I can't say this... I'll write it in a song, and dream of this... Oh baby, Jasmine... I could be the other man.'"

My brows met. "Who is Jasmine?"

Chanel stared at me. "Remove the letters S and N. It's spells Jamie."

"What?" I shook my head. "No. Deonte is my friend. Seriously." I looked at Cha-Cha. "Right?"

Cha-Cha sighed, "Has my brother ever tried to like ask you out on a date?"

"Yes, but I told him about A.B. Deonte said he would respect that if A.B. did his part. And A.B. is doing his part. He bought me this house for my birthday. We're planning to go on vacation together in a few weeks," I explained to them.

Chanel asked, "Do you like Deonte?"

I smiled, "Yes, of course. I've always liked Deonte, but not in a romantic way. I mean, I grew up fangirling over him and Zeke, all of them boys. My heart is with A.B."

Cha-Cha said, "To be honest, we don't even know for sure if that song is about you. They all wrote it together. It could be someone else's Jasmine."

Chanel mumbled, "Jiles is married with kids, Trenton has been with his girlfriend for years, and AOI are the new boy band sensation. That leaves your dumbo brother. The only one dumb enough to write a song about the woman he loves but can't be with."

My stomach was no longer in the mood to eat. I asked, "Where is he now?"

Chanel smiled, "At the studio which is not far from here."

Cha-Cha shook her head. "I do not agree with any of this. A.B. is your match, Jamie. My brother's future partner is still out there. I believe that."

Chanel spoke, "It's a private studio. Only a few people know about it. It's called Pluto-esque."

"Enough, Chanel," Cha-Cha warned her sister. "Besides, we are here to spend time with you, Jamie. As soon as we finish eating, Chanel is going to wash the dishes and clean your kitchen. I can clean up downstairs.

"Oh, no. I can't have y'all cleaning my house. This is my responsibility."

"This is also our goodbye present since you won't be living in L.A. in a few days."

I nodded my head. "Only if y'all agree to get in the pool and swim with me afterwards."

"Deal!" Chanel shouted.

Cha-Cha nodded her head, "Agreed."

We continued to talk as we quickly cleaned before I gave them some swimsuits to wear in the pool. Sadly, this was the first time I ever got in my pool. Thankfully, I wasn't alone. Cha-Cha and Chanel splashed and swam in the pool with me like we were kids. This will be a cherished memory forever.

A few hours later, they gathered their things and left. I told them I'd let them know when I was leaving so I could see them one more time.

After a shower, I changed into some clothes and put on my shades and a hat. Jae A.B. was back.

After driving past the hidden studio twice, I finally found the parking lot behind the small building. At this time, it was almost dark. I parked my car and called Deonte.

"What's up, Jamie?"

I heard loud music in the background. "Hey, uh, are you at Pluto-esque recording studio?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?" He asked me.

"I'm outside. I just parked."

"What?" Deonte said, "Stay there. I'm on my way."

As I waited, I thought about what to say. Then, I wondered why was I here? The song is only speculation, but I really wanted to know if it was about me or not. My thoughts were getting the best of me. God, I hope you can bring light to this situation.

There was a tap on my window. I rolled it down.

"You look like you're here to get in the booth?"

I smiled, "It's been a long time..."

Deonte asked, "What's on your mind? Are you thinking about staying in L.A.?"

I shook my head. "L.A. is not my home. Cha-Cha and Chanel came over today."

Deonte asked, "What did she cook?"

"Don't ask. I'm gonna get hungry all over again."

We both laughed.

I cut to the chase. "Chanel said The CRU and AOI are doing a song together."

"Yeah, but everybody knows that. We're actually working on two songs. Part I and Part II. We're not finished, but if you want, you can come  and hear it."

"I'd like that." I rolled up my window as Deonte opened my car door.

We walked inside the studio together. After putting a code in the second door, we walked past a small lobby and front desk before walking to another door. Deonte put the code in and allowed me to go inside first.

After that door was another door. "What's up with all these doors?" I asked.

"This studio is all about privacy. No one can hear anything unless they are in the studio room where the music is being made," Deonte told me before opening the door.

"I like that, but I think we should harmonize more in the beginning," a guy stood in the center of the room talking.

Deonte interrupted, "Everybody, I want y'all to meet one of my favorite people. This is Jae A.B."

Immediately, the men gathered around me.

I waved, "Hi!"

AOI were a group of four young Asian men. They were much taller in-person and so cute.

"Love you, Jae A.B.," they kept saying to me.

I hugged each one. One of them spoke perfect English like a native speaker. The others had  accents.

"Okay. Tell me your names," I requested. "I want to put them with your faces."

"My name Jack Woo."

"Jack Woo has curly hair," I said aloud.

They all laughed.

"I am Young Z." He was so pale, but he had the cutest smile. He shook my hand. "Nice to meet you, Jae A.B."

"It's nice to meet you, too. Young Z has a dimple. Wait, you have two dimples. Okay. Jack Woo is curly hair. Young Z is dimples."

They laughed at me.

I smiled, "I'm sorry. I'm trying to remember your names."

"Hi, Jae A.B. It's an honor to meet you. We're big fans of yours. I'm Oh-Jon. You are even more beautiful face-to-face."

"Thank you! Oh-Jon is Mr. Flirt," I chuckled.

Oh-Jon bowed, "I apologize."

"No, no, no. You're okay. I'm trying to remember your names. So, its. Oh-Jon?"

"Yes."

I nodded my head. "And what's your name?" I asked the last member who had blue eyes and blond hair.

"Jae A.B. so cute, uhh... My name Prince Lee."

"Oh, that's easy. Okay, Prince Lee has blond hair and blue eyes, Oh-Jon is the tallest, Young Z has dimples, and Jack Woo has curly hair," I continued, "It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Deonte added, "They have crazy talent, too. Where did Jiles and Trenton go?" He asked AOI.

Oh-Jon replied, "Jiles is taking a call, and Trenton went to get food."

"Cool. Jae wanted to hear some of the music. Can we play a snippet for her?"

"Sure!" Oh-Jon sat in front of the control board. He pressed a few buttons on the laptop before I heard the gradual build up of instruments.

"O-o-O-o-OH! Girl! You trapped my heart with your beautiful eyes, your lips are on my mind, and I want to dance all night long with you. O-OH! Girl! You are the only one to bring me to my knees, and I'll take a chance to miss sleep to see you... again. (Jaasssmiiine!)"

"Oohh! I heard the falsetto!" I looked at Deonte.

Oh-Jon stopped the song. "That's Part one, right?"

Deonte replied, "Yeah. It's still in the works. Young Z was thinking we should start out with a rap verse instead."

"Young Z, you can rap?" I asked him.

He confidently nodded his head.

I could definitely spend hours here with them, but I remembered the main reason why I came here. I turned to Deonte. "Can I pull you aside for a private conversation?"

"Yeah. Follow me," Deonte led the way. "I'll be right back," he told AOI.

I told the guys bye, but Young Z asked for a picture with me. The next five minutes were spent with AOI and me taking a mini photoshoot while Deonte was the photographer.

"Can we hold you?" Oh-Jon asked me.

I was quick to say no, but when I learned that they were stronger than they looked. I took the trust test and allowed them all to hold me as I lied long ways in their hands. It was a lot of fun.

Jiles and Trenton returned with food. I was glad to meet them, too. Jack Woo set his camera up. We took a group photo.

After grabbing a slice of pizza, Deonte and I left the studio.

"Can we talk here?" He asked me as we stepped in the hall.

"Yeah, so..." I leaned against the wall. "I don't have any plans to stay in L.A. for more than..." I just need to say it. "Deonte, I'm so happy that you and The CRU are back together. You look happy, and it makes me feel good to know that I can leave and not have to worry about you."

"Jamie, why would you worry about me?"

I replied, "A.B. and I are going to be together soon."

"Congratulations," Deonte  smiled at me. "I know he's a good dude, but if he does anything stupid, don't hesitate to call me. Okay?"

I nodded my head. "I will."

"I was gonna wait until the song was out or keep it to myself, but you are the song's inspiration."

My eyes bucked, "Huh?"

"Oh-Jon and I were talking about the women we met too late in life. Back in his country, there was a girl named Jane that he became close with, but she got married last year. So, he couldn't express how he felt about her. I told him about a woman who helped me get past my pain, but I could only express my love for her through music. I told him her name is Jamie."

My heart dropped.

Deonte said, "We haven't talked in weeks, but whenever we do it's like we just saw each other the day before." He continued, "I'm glad you came here, because I probably would have never told you any of this. Seeing you right now and knowing that you won't be living in L.A. is giving me the courage to tell you this."

I listened.

"When we first met, I was attracted to you. We kept running into each other last year, and we just never got the chance to really hangout even when it was supposed to be you singing on my song instead of Aja. I'm glad you did the extended version for your album."

I took a deep breath.

"I might sound crazy, but I know how I feel when I'm around you. I know how I feel when we're apart. I'm not looking for you to respond, because I know that your heart is with someone else. These past few months, I've been able to make music with my group, and it has helped me to deal with everything. So, don't worry about me. I've been heartbroken before. Just this time, I can smile about it."

I looked at him, and I felt so sad.

"Where's that pretty smile?" He asked me.

I smiled, "You talk too much."

Deonte lightly laughed, "I know, but I had to be honest with my best friend."

"Even if your best friend can't love you more than that?"

"Yeah." Deonte dusted his hands on his jeans before spreading his arms apart. "Jamie, I love you. Can I get a hug before you leave?"

I nodded my head as I stood in front of Deonte. Then, I removed my hat and sunglasses.

Deonte's eyes were so different. He genuinely looked happy. "Come here, beautiful."

We embraced.

"I love you, too." I tightly closed my eyes as I rested my head on his shoulder. The pieces of the puzzle were coming to together. What I thought I understood before wasn't even half the picture. Now, I know what A.B. knew - Deonte had romantic feelings for me.

Honestly, I know it was meant for me to meet Deonte. Who else would've filled in for Zeke, knowing the ins and outs of the industry? Who else would've been there like a knight in shining armor to catch me from getting hurt? A.B. didn't know this world, but Deonte does. If I've learned anything, I've learned the importance of genuine relationships in places near and far.

Through Deonte, I gained two sisters - one that can cook and preach, and another that can keep me up-to-date with society. Monica would soon be too busy being a wife and mother. Yes, she has a potential replacement.

Through Zeke, I gained music business knowledge, a supportive music family, and endless connections. If it weren't for Zeke, I wouldn't have met Deonte. Most importantly, I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to spend so much time with my cousin who was my home away from home. I was beyond grateful, because through it all I know who made sure I was without a doubt loved and protected - my amazing God.

Deonte whispered, "Don't forget about us. We'll never forget about you." He certainly knew that I was leaving for good.

"I won't ever forget about y'all. I promise."

He said, "And I'm sorry the industry didn't do better by you."

I shrugged, "It just wasn't for me like I thought it was. I don't regret it, though." I looked at Deonte. "We had a lot of fun."

"We did. Are you sure you don't have anymore cousins or sisters? Step-sisters?" He joked.

I giggled, "Hush, sir."

Deonte said, "Let me walk you to your car."

We left the studio with our arms linked together. I'm gonna miss this guy.