Tolerating The Player

I realised the only way I could have Isabella back and win her trust is by telling her nothing but the truth about my past and about why I had acted that way towards her. I’ll be ready to face whatever happens before then even if she decides to leave me but then I would know I wasn’t being a coward anymore.

I started to have doubts if I truly wanted her to know and if truly I am ready to accept whatever happens next. I know it’s normal to have doubts but I just hope my doubts don’t overpower me from telling her the truth.

I drove back home from the airport and walked straight into my room, staring at the mirror I realized I had changed a lot from the Zach back then, the old Zach was brutal and cared less for anyone’s emotions but the new Zach is a changed person who wouldn’t want to hurt anyone in order to make his love happy. I hope she would see me for the new me and not criticize me for my wrong doings just like everyone had done in the past.

I couldn’t take the guilt any longer, so I brought out my phone to check when the next flight would be. I needed to see Isabella immediately. I bought the tickets without wasting time and only packed about a few clothes in my backpack.

I was about to leave the house when my mentor’s number suddenly popped up on my phone. He never called unless it was really important so I answered his call.

“Zach! You have to come to school immediately, your teammates have a match to play. I understand you haven’t been attending practices but I’ll let that slide if you play well today” he said over the phone with a serious tone. I could tell he was really upset about me skipping school.

“I’m sorry but I really need to be somewhere else right now, can’t I play next week?” I begged

“No you can’t, I’ve covered up for you for quite enough times, I was only doing that because you were a skillful player and your father is my close friend nothing more. Don’t make me regret helping you so far” he scolded over the phone.

“I know you have been helping but then I won’t be available today, sorry” I said and hung up on him. I knew he was going to be adamant about me playing and won’t give me the permission to go to Tennessee so I had to stop pleading and play rude by hanging up.

I am literally the best player in that school, my father donated huge sums of money to the school so there’s no way they would afford to lose me.

I carried my backpack and stopped a taxi that carried me to the airport, I would literally do anything for Bella.

It didn’t take that much time before my flight was ready and I entered it. It was a tough one as my head couldn’t concentrate all through the flight. I kept on thinking about whether she would accept the beast in my past and move on with me.

After some hours I arrived in Tennessee but didn’t know where she could be so I started off by searching for her in her father’s house. I didn’t think she would be in Grace’s house after everything that happened.

I knocked on the wooden door but got no response in return. I kept on knocking for a while but still got no response then I suddenly clicked the door and it opened. It was dark inside so I turned the lights on but the image before me was shocking.

“Shit!” I cussed as I ran towards the body that was laying flat on the floor with some pills besides it. He must have overdosed and passed out or so I thought. I checked for his pulse but felt nothing. Neither could I hear his heart beating.

I immediately dialed Isabella’s number but it led me straight to a voicemail. I tried it several times but it didn’t work. I checked for his heart beat again but this time I could hear it but it was weak. I immediately called the ambulance and rushed him to the hospital.

They attended to him immediately and we got to the hospital while I waited in the ward trying out Bella’s number over again.

An idea struck and I dialed Maya’s number. It seemed like she was sleeping so I snapped her out and told her what happened to Bella’s father and that Bella’s number wasn’t reachable. She promised to call and give me feedback after the call.

I waited restlessly in the hospital like a man whose wife was in labour. Bella’s dad can’t afford to die now, she has passed through a lot already and doesn’t need to go through this again.

Maya’s call suddenly rang on my phone and I answered immediately.

“How’d it go?” I panicked.

“Her phone went through and she’s on her way to the hospital” Maya responded and I heaved a sigh of relief.

“Just take care of her okay?” She pleaded and I nodded my head even though I knew she couldn’t see me nodding.

“Sure” I later replied before ending the call.

I waited for Bella’s arrival and in a few minutes I spotted her beautiful figure approaching me. She passed me without uttering any word or even giving me a glance as she entered her father’s room.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I knew I didn’t deserve to hear her voice after all what I did to her but I was truly here to apologise to her. I rushed inside her father’s room and met her standing beside the poor man that was lying unconsciously on the bed.

His eyes flickered and I knew he must be awake, “Father?” Isabella’s voice came out hoarse as I watched her being emotional.

She might have disliked the man but one thing she couldn’t hide from herself was the truth about her father being the one who gave birth to her. Her once loving and caring father.

“Ella” he called her in short as he held her hands. His voice was really weak and it was obvious he was struggling to pronounce words.

“I tried my best to make you and Joe happy but the realization of me knowing I can never be the best dad for you two lead to this” he coughed. He was truly weak to talk and I could notice it in the way his words broke.

Isabella’s hands were never leaving his but her lips spoke no words while he talked to her.

“I love you my little Ella, tell Joe I’m sorry and I wished I could have been a better father but-” he stopped to catch his breath again, I stared at his plane face in pity. I wasn’t sure if he would make it.

“But it’s too late now” he said with a smile before his eyes shut closed and I could tell those eyes would never open anymore. The doctor had told me he wasn’t going to survive it earlier on.

His pale hands suddenly slipped away from Isabella’s hands as her face held no emotions but I could tell she was broken with the silent tears that fell from her eyes. I had no idea of what to do rather than watching my lover crying in pain. I don’t know if she would want me around her but I couldn’t bear her silent tears anymore. The more the tears dropped the more my heart got broken.

I walked up to her and wrapped my arms around her little figure but she didn’t flinch neither did she try to free herself from me but only cried her eyes out on my chest.

The door suddenly flung open and Joe rushed in with Grace as they stared at the dead body laying on the bed. I didn’t think it was the best option to bring Joe here as he suddenly burst out into tears while staring at the man’s lifeless body on the bed.

“Daddy!” Was the only words that came out of his little mouth as he cried his eyes out. Grace had a feeling of sadness in her that showed on her face but she was trying to cover it up. Perhaps she never truly got over her long lost lover.

Joe’s face fell on Isabella who was now silent like a numb person in my arms. He looked at her hoping she would come for him and comfort him but she never did. Not only did it hurt Joe but it also hurt me as Grace dragged his hands out of the room.

The little boy’s eyes never left Isabella as tears flowed down his cheeks while he was being dragged out of the room. I guess today didn’t turn out well but I hated it to be this way. Why did he have to die in a situation like this where his children needed him the most.

Some nurses suddenly came in to clear up the body and I needed to settle some bills with them. I sat Isabella on the cold iron chair outside the room before leaving to pay the bills.

It took quite a long time because there were other people before me and they insisted on responding to each and everyone according to who was with them first.

After some rounds it was finally my turn and I paid for the bills along with some mortuary fees because I doubted that they would be okay enough to bury him today.

Returning back to where I left Isabella, it was empty and I couldn’t find her there anymore. My heart throbbed as I searched through the hospital but she was nowhere to be found, her phone was also leading directly to a voicemail.

“Where the hell could she be?” I panicked.