Chapter 19

EMAIL ME!!! pseud0nym@edsamail.com.ph

Brian and I decided that we just wanted a quiet night together. It was loads of fun. It was like we were married or something coz we did everything together. I mean we cooked dinner and played around in the kitchen like those cute newly weds. That was a few minutes ago, the two of us were just cuddling by the TV watching a film he rented a while ago. 

Actually, my mind wasn't picking up anything from the film. I even don't know the title of the movie. It was just a comfortable feeling. There was no aches or any problems, I think. I just can't stop thinking about something. I mean we are cuddling together and I was thinking what Brian's parents thought when he confronted them. "Sweetie, penny for your thoughts?" Brian chimed snapping me out of my reverie.

"Just a penny?" I joked. Brian smiled and I sighed returning to my thought. "I just can't stop thinking about your family. I mean, it's your family. Even if I'm not with my family, I still love and miss them very much." I told him truthfully. Brian paused for a while. I was trying to read his face but it was no use. He's prolly good in poker or something like that.

"Mart, don't think about it anymore. I told you that I have talked to them already and set them straight. No pun intended." Brian said to me. I just get a feeling that it's just the tip of the iceberg or something.

"Bri, I know you're not telling me the complete truth and I only want you to be happy. Don't push them away coz of me." I told him as I stroked his cheek.

"I am happy with you. If they don't like me with you then they don't want me to be happy. I don't know why they can't see that I am happy with you." Brian sighed as a tinge of frustration traced his face. See, it's getting into him. I know the facade would fall some time.

"They just don't want you to get hurt. We are in a risky relationship, Bri. If this leaks out or something, you might lose your career. Your family, even I know how you love music." I tried to explain to him.

"Mart, my career is something that I can live without. I have already experienced success in life and all I need now is fulfillment. I can only find that when I am in love, and I am in love with you." Brian said as he kissed me. "I love you and I'm ready to give up everything just to be with you." He'll do that for me? That was so touching. I was speechless and couldn't think of anything to say to him so I just told him by action. I kissed him as a tear escaped my eye cascading down my cheeks. "Come on Mart. Let's rest, we have practice tomorrow." Brian said as he stood up from the couch. Yeah, another day.

I won't get in the gory details of OUR rehearsals. Yep, it became 'our' already. I guess Fatima wants me to suffer as well. Aside from working with the band with the little changes I made with the songs, I was still dancing my ass off with the guys and teaching them the new steps from the song. It's been like that for 3 days and tomorrow, they're gonna perform their first concert since the break. We won't be traveling anywhere because we're gonna start it again here in Florida.

Fatima thought that we deserved this day so we won't have practice for anything and she thinks that everything looks fine already. The six of us were gathered in Brian's house. It has become a some sort of a meeting place for all of us. "So, what are we gonna do for today?" AJ asked excitedly. 

"Shopping?" I chimed in. The others just glared at me, even Nick. "It was just a suggestion." I said defensively and then they all laughed. 

"How about a little barbeque?" Brian said. It was a good idea and the weather would be perfect for a barbeque. "We can invite the NSYNC guys." Brian added that made Nick smile at once.

"That's a great idea." Howie declared. I know that Nick agreed already hearing NSYNC would be invited. Kevin just nodded.

"I wanna go clubbin'!" AJ whined. Sometimes, he acts like a child. 

"Who would go clubbin' at this time. I could go with you later if you want." I said to him making him smile. It's been so long since I've gone to a club so I was a little excited to go clubbing as well.

"Now that's settled, let's put it into action. Nick, I know you're dying to call them so invite them here and give them the directions." Nick's eyes just glittered with joy and immediately rushed to the phone to call the NSYNC guys. "Brian, please set up the barbeque grill. I know that Marty would want to be with Brian so that leaves us 3 to go food shopping." Kevin ordered and we all split up. Control freak. 

The 3 left for the grocery while Brian set up the grill. "They'll be here in an hour!" Nick shouted from the lounge room. I could hear the TV, so he's prolly watching and I have nothing to do. I walked to where Nick was and slumped beside him. "Don't want to be with your Brian?" Nick toyed with me.

"Nah. I want to be the blonde god over here." I said to him with a grin. 

"I heard that!" Brian shouted from outside that made Nick and I crack up. Actually, we were watching some cartoons. Powerpuff Girls? I just rolled my eyes.

"Nick, wanna play PS2?" I challenged him. He just glared at me. "What? I'm bored. Come on." I said as I dragged him off the couch to have a little fun time. 

After a while, Kevin, Howie and AJ arrived with bags of stuff for the get together later. Nick lost again for the 8th consecutive time already. "This is boring me. You always win in these things." Nick said exasperated with his fate.

"What can I do? I am good in this stuff." I said with a cheesy grin to annoy Nick more. I think it worked because he left me alone there. I stopped playing as well because it would be very boring playing alone. After I tidied up the place, I joined the guys in the backyard. There was music blaring in the radio and the guys except Nick were doing something. I feel so left behind. "Anything I can do?" I asked to no one in particular.

"Sure, you can setup the grill." Brian said as he placed some of the drinks in the refrigerator. I nodded and tried to figure out the grill. It was rather simple and the next thing I know, there was a fire ablaze. Kevin was carrying a tray of different kinds of meat for grilling.

"They're here!" Nick squealed like a kid. The five of us looked at each other and laughed at Nick excited to see his guys. Nick rushed to the door to let the guys enter. I could here the exchange of pleasantries as I approached them to meet them as well. When they saw me, it was like Justin, JC and Lance ran over a person. They looked so guilty.

"It's okay." I said to them with a smile and they returned as well. I gave them each a hug and when I hugged Justin, I just have to ask him. "Do they know?" I asked him softly. He didn't answer me but I could sense that they don't know it yet. "Tell them. You won't see Nick again for a long time and I know it's hard to feel restricted." I advised him and he just nodded. I just hope he listens.

"Lance, Joey, Chris, can I talk to you for a bit?" Justin said hesitantly. I guess he's gonna tell it. I left them there to talk it out and returned to the kitchen. Brian was bringing chairs outside. Sweat was already dripping from his head. Sexy.

I took a few chairs and dragged them outside as well to lessen the burden of Brian. When he saw me, he smiled warmly and gave me a kiss. "Have I told you today that I love you?" Brian asked me.

"Yup. But I'm not gonna be tired of hearing it from you." I said as I kissed him and dropped to the grassy ground. Our make out session was really intensifying, fast.

"He is your boyfriend?" I heard JC said from behind. Oops. I forgot to tell them that my boyfriend is Brian. Brian and I separated from each other and tried to compose ourselves, and then we noticed that the guys were already there behind us just gawking at us.

"Sorry, I forgot to tell you. You know, confidentiality agreements and everything. Well, he's Brian, my boyfriend." I said to the four NSYNC guys who don't know the complete truth. The four just nodded in affirmation. "Enough with the show here, let's eat. I'm starved." I declared.

We were lounging in Brian's yard talking about lots of stuff. It was a relaxing moment. Brian and I were cuddled together on the ground and JC, Justin and Nick were talking privately among themselves. The others were talking about different things that I didn't pay any attention. "Marty had a song written for you guys but we convinced him that we want it as well so he gave it to us. The song is so cool and different." I heard from AJ. 

"Really? Can we hear it?" Joey said to AJ interested with the song I made. AJ stood up and entered the house to get the tape I made for them to listen.

"Bri, you haven't recorded yet. If you're gonna use it, you have to hit the studio and record it already." I said to him. 

"We are scheduled some time next week. Kevin knows when so don't worry and we want you to produce it for us." Brian told me. Produce for them? I just wrote it but I never imagined that I'm gonna produce it as well for them. 

"Thanks." I said to him with a kiss.

"We should be the one thanking you." Brian told me. I could hear My Type of Music blaring from the radio. I can recognize that anywhere because of the sporadic beats I used. When I looked at the NSYNC guys, they were bopping with the music. Even JC and Justin stopped talking with each other and just listened to it.

"Who wrote that? That's so crunk." Justin voiced out excitedly. The guys just pointed at me. I blushed a deep shade of red. I never liked to be the center of attention.

"That's for our next album." Nick chimed in.

"Well, that was supposedly for you guys but the Backstreet guys just pleaded with me to give it to them and who can resist these cute guys." I said to them. A pout was forming on Justin's lips. "Stop pouting. We'll work on something when we're both free." I said to him and he smiled. Just like a child.

Day turned into night but we didn't really notice it because we were really having so much fun, and drunk. Yep, most of the guys were already drunk. Well, maybe except Kevin and me who decided to play nanny for the night but we still have loads of fun. "Hi sweetie." Brian slurred as he walked (?) towards me. I was in cooking duty. I relieved Kevin earlier from it coz I needed time for myself before all the drama in the tour comes back.

I smiled at Brian thoughtfully and pulled him for a kiss. "Having fun?" I asked him. Brian leaned closer to me. I can smell the stench of alcohol near his mouth. Oh well. 

"I'm having a blast." Brian said to me. I can still hear the laughter from the small circle that the guys formed. "Come on, join us. I think all the cooking is enough. We're gonna play truth or dare." Brian said as he gave me the puppy eyes. I was gonna protest but he was already dragging me. Well, I guess I have no choice but to play the silly game. I sat beside Brian and the circle was formed.

"Who's gonna go first?" Nick asked. Their glances shifted to me and a realization swept me. "Truth or dare?" Nick asked me with a grin pasted on his face.

"Well, I'm not yet too drunk to go with dare so truth." I said to them.

"Okay, um, aside from Brian, who are you attracted with here?" Nick asked me. Should I answer it or not?

"Can I say pass?" I attempted. But I failed, as the guys shook their head 'no'. "Well, I have to say JC." I said sheepishly. The guys were cooing JC and they were chanting a silly song. Marty and JC sitting on a tree... whatever.

"Let's continue." JC said snapping the guys out of their singing. I smiled at him thoughtfully and I glanced at Brian stealthily. He was still smiling. Always a good sign.

"Coz I got asked, I choose the next." I said to them with a smirk. And the night went on with a few more dares and questions but nothing major. By 9:00 pm, we decided to end our little soiree and rest for the concert tomorrow. NSYNC was still on break so they decided to go on clubbin coz it was too early according to them. AJ and Nick joined them.

Once everyone was gone and everything was cleared out, Brian and I went to our room to finally get some needed rest (?). "I really have fun today." Brian said to me cheerfully a little bit sober than earlier. I walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth and to wash away the aftertaste of alcohol in my mouth. Once done, I walked to the bedroom and stripped off my clothes.

"Come on, let's sleep. Tomorrow, the tour begins." I told him while he was undressing himself. He lay beside me and nuzzled closer to me. "I love you." I said to him as I drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow, I don't wanna know.

EMAIL ME!!! pseud0nym@edsamail.com.ph