Brian, Tony and Mark (he's Brian's guard) had decided to make breakfast for Maira and I. I woke up with the lingering smell of hot pizza and this made Maira wheeled me to the kitchen in the speed of lightning.
"I smell something good." I smiled as we approached them at the dining table.
"We're eating pizza for breakfast? I'm not even gonna ask what we're having for lunch." Maira joked.
"Lunch would be AJ's treat, so I'm guessing Mickey D's." Brian replied as he passed me a piece.
"This is their daily diet on tour, they haven't got the time to change their routine." Tony explained. "Don't think they would."
Okay, so they didn't make breakfast. They ordered them.
"I'm not complaining, this is much better than porridge."
Maira had not brought up the subject about last night and I intend to keep it that way. That was an emotional outburst, I feel so stupid now. Remind me not to do that again.
"Hey, just to let ya know, I'll be here 24/7 from today, detective's orders." Tony announced. That got me a 100% alert. Why would they wanna do that?
"Whatever for?" I asked.
"The Marlon guy said it's either their men hanging around the house or me. So I figured you'd want me." Tony replied. Okay, but I still don't get it.
"And hence, the reason why I'm still here, coz Brian's here." Mark replied. They want someone to guard Brian too? Why? Great, early in the morning and I am overloading information again. Can we break the cycle already?
"Next you're telling me the other guys went home with their bodyguard too." I joked. Please laugh. Please?
"Er...yeah?" Brian replied uncertainly, looking at me with that confusion on his face. Great, now I'm confused too. Why? I need a very, very cold shower.
"Wassup with that?" I asked, taking another bite at the pizza before they let me in on more gory details and take my appetite away.
"Nothing to worry about bro, just precautions." Tony replied.
"Okay guys, I feel left out here, I'll just go and take my shower now." Maira said and got up. I know she was joking coz I heard her giggling.
"Yeah, you better, you're taking away all the fresh air in here." Brian teased. Maira slaps him on his shoulder and mumbled something and left.
"Don't you start telling me I smell like crap or I'll fart right now." I warned him. He made a contorted face that got Tony and Mark laughing.
"No, don't fart, you're gonna turn this kitchen to a gas chamber and kill us all." Brian gasped. I rolled my eyes and continued with my food. The phone rang, once, twice, before Brian went to pick it up.
"It's for Maira." Brian whispered as he covered the mouthpiece with his hand. I motioned for him to give it to me.
"Hello?" I spoke into the receiver.
"Nick? Is that you?" It was Jason, Maira's fellow buddy. They had worked in various occasion before, putting up profiles of pictures on projects they were handling. I've met him three times before and he's a year older than I am.
"Yeah man, wassup?"
"Hey, I heard about what happen, how are you hanging?" News travel fast these days.
"Cool, everything's okay now. Listen, Maira's in the shower right now dude." I just gave a visual of my girlfriend in the shower to this single guy. Very smooth of me.
"That's okay, I just wanna know if she is still interested in that offer the company's offering her." What offer?
"I don't think I follow man, what's it about?"
"THE hugest company in France is offering her a solo spot to put up her work in their gallery and it's due in a month. I was wondering if she's gonna take up that offer and come down here."
"Oh my God, she really made it!" I cried.
"Yeah man, this is her moment." Jason replied.
"No problem man, I'm sure she's gonna take it. I'm not letting her let this go by, just keep the spot alright?"
"Listen, I'll be in France for two months so I can keep the spot for her, but you do realize she has to fly in by tomorrow to start the project right? Which I don't think she's prepared to do when you've just...ya know?" Yeah, I know.
"No problem bro, she's gonna be there. You will pick her up at the airport right?" I asked. He replied a quick 'yes'. I promised that she would call him again about her flight schedule and the conversation ended.
There's no turning back, she's going. I won't let this stupid incident stop her from getting where she should be. It's a huge thing to have her own gallery, people would be coming in and admiring her pictures, buy them even, that would really soar her career to a whole new level. It's the same like having your first album certified platinum ya know? The sudden realization of knowing that you're 'there' that you've 'arrived'. This is her calling.
I picked up the phone again and dialed the airlines and booked a flight to France that is scheduled for tonight at 9.00. I know this is her life, it should be her decision but I also know her decision would be base on me, and I don't want that.
"What's that all about?" Brian asked after I ended the call.
"Maira finally got that solo spot to show off her work. I'm just booking her a flight for tonight." I replied.
"You think she wanna go?" Tony asked, questioning my decision.
"It's not about if she wanna go, she have to go." I replied. Suddenly, my appetite vanished again. I know she's gonna be screaming at me but this is for the best. I want to settle this without worrying about her at the back of my mind. I know we've promised to go through thick and thin together but this isn't about me anymore, this is about her and her career.
"I hope you're right Nick." Brian said as he proceeded to throw away the now empty box into the bin. I shrugged and let the subject rest.
*****
She didn't take it too well. Was I surprised? Nope. I know she's gonna be mad at me and I understand. I told her right after she had taken her shower and her smile left her face soon after. Screaming stuffs like 'I can't believe you!' and 'What about what I want? It's my life, my decision!' A very independent woman definitely intimidates me.
She was on the verge of calling the airline back and cancel the booking but I convinced her not to. I told her my situation is temporary but this chance might only come once in her life and she should grab it. Just the way I grab my chance to build this career with the guys. I never hold back, not even after I dated her, I never let our relationship hold me back. Yes, our relationship kinda stood on a still but the love never stop growing ya know? So I convince her that she has to go and so now, she's crying her eyeballs out and packing her stuffs at the same time. She was still angry with me so I left our room and gave her some time alone. I'm sure she'll understand and appreciate what I've done for her later on.
Wheeling myself out of the room is another story though. I feel like fainting just doing it. Of course Maira saw this but she let me struggle on my own, kinda like a punishment for what I did. I don't understand, I just did it out of love. I think I need to express what I truly feel inside more openly ya know? I think she's frustrated coz I'm not telling her everything.
Brian saw me struggling half way through the living room and rushed to my aid. What would I do without him? If Leighanne hadn't had to fly for a business trip, he wouldn't be so free as to hang around and help me. So, although I kinda feel sorry that he have to stay away from his wife when he's suppose to have a vacation, part of me is thankful that he's here.
"I take it things didn't go too well with her." Tony smirked. I rolled my eyes and said 'You think?'. Again, I was forced to stick in this wheelchair while Brian resumed his position on the sofa.
"She'll come through, don't worry. It's very unselfish of you to do this." Brian said. See why I love this guy?
"Talk about having guards around, the damn door's not even lock!" We spun around and saw AJ with Ken. Talk about spectacular entrance.
"Who, in their right frame of mind, would wanna come barging in at ten in the morning?" Mark pointed out.
"And while we're on that subject, how come you're out of bed when it's not even twelve?" Brian retorted.
"He woke me dude, said he can't sleep, need to go to Nick's house to see if he's fine." Ken explained. I saw AJ blushed. He surprised me twice already.
"Aww...come on here bone, lemme give you a hug!" I cried, holding out my arms for him.
"Get your hands away from me!" AJ warned as he literally skipped passed me and sat himself comfortably on the sofa, next to Brian.
"Of course he's fine! You think I'm not good enough a bodyguard?" Tony challenged. Oh well, same old thing. You know AJ being AJ, he's gonna shoot out something clever and everything will go on and on and on until someone finally shuts up.
If I try very hard to forget that I was ever kidnapped, if I ignore the pulsing pain that has somewhat blended and become a part of me and then really focus on us in my living room right now, everything would be perfect. Like nothing ever happen. And this got even greater when Kevin and Howie arrived soon after, with their bodyguards along of course.
And so far, none of them had brought up that dreadful subject I've been trying so hard to avoid. Which is good.
"So wassup with that Marlon guy?" Howie asked. You know, I've made a new resolution. DO NOT think about the things I don't want to see happening coz every time I said or think about it, it WILL happen. Like I'm attracting the opposite of what I want.
"It better be good coz I don't wanna hear about stuffs we already know. We don't need this. Nick doesn't need this." Kevin replied.
Here's the thing, they're talking like as if I wasn't there. I don't even have a clue what they're talking about. Everyone seemed to forget to inform Nick.
"What are you guys talking about?" Brian asked. What? Brian didn't know? Yes! I'm not the only one. There's still hope for me. I wonder what Maira is doing now? Probably rehearsing her pissed off look on the mirror to show it off to me later on.
"Yeah man, what did that Moron wants?" Tony asked. Oh man, two of them didn't know? And Tony just called him Moron, things are looking up.
"Marlon!" Mark corrected him. Brian and his guard are like two peas in a pod. Too nice.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Tony replied. That's why he's my personal guard.
"Is someone's gonna answer Bri's question?" I blurted out. The room fell silent. Did I just shout that out? Is this sudden rush of warmth on my face a sign of anger? Did I just sound angry? Am I frowning? Is that why it felt like my eyebrows were joint in the middle? I can't believe I just did that!
"I'm sorry, did I just shout?" I asked meekly. I must look like a total wreck right now.
"Is that what that is? You sound like my kid sister!" AJ and his attempt at making weird situation looked normal.
"AJ, since when did you have a sister?" Howie sighed. That got us laughing.
"Since 5 seconds ago D, do I need to make it any obvious?" AJ retorted. You can never outwit AJ, (well, I like to think I can) so the best way to stop it all is to just shut up.
"Maybe I need to shout a little louder so that you guys can enlighten me with your answer." I said sarcastically. I saw Kevin shook his head and gave AJ a warning look for him not to say out another witty remark. AJ looked at him as if to say, 'what?'
"Detective Marlon called us last night, he said he needs to see us all today. Said there's something he wanted to bring our attention to."
"Now, is that so hard?" I joked. Kevin shook his head again.
So the detectives are coming around again today, that wasn't in my agenda. I was hoping that they could leave me alone for just one day. Let me recuperate for a while. All the answers I need can wait for now. I don't think my heart can handle any more surprises.
By eleven, AJ announced that he was hungry and had made his way to the phone and ordered for a delivery from Mickey D's. I'd rather starve. For anyone who didn't know what was really going on, this looks like a normal day in the life of the Backstreet Boys chilling out. If only they knew what lays hidden behind closed doors.
It was soon to change when the two detectives came strolling in at around lunchtime. And Maira has mysteriously buried herself in our room.
*****
"Whatever we're going to tell you today is strictly confidential. That means, no one else outside this house should know about it. Especially the media." Mr. Marlon said once we're settled in. No, make that once THEY settled in. My wheelchair and I are like attached on the butt, nothing settling about that.
"Even our management?" Brian asked. He looked like a curious schoolboy, if he had put up his hand to ask that question, the picture would be complete. Why am I thinking this?
"No, your management had been told about this yesterday." Mr. Marlon replied. We nodded.
Mr. Marlon looked at me, gave out a sigh, ran his fingers through his thinning hair, and then said, " Nick, what happen to you a week ago, it's not the first. I'm sure you know that Mr. Timberlake had suffered the same thing too right?" Yeah, I know, I know, curly boy with the so funny last name got cut open. Shit happens, know what I mean? Wait, did I just mean that?
"For over the period of just six months, we've handled 4 other such cases, you being the fifth. Everyone of them experienced the same thing, that is, your kidney was replaced with another. And from the way that we see it, there seemed to be a pattern linking all the cases together." Like what?
"Like what?" AJ asked. Damn! He beat me to it!
"Our first 4 victims are superstars like yourselves. Two being Hollywood stars and 2 being in the entertainment industry, like yourself. And these two are from boy bands-" Hold up! If I'm third of the boy band, and curly boy made second, who the hell is the first???
"...And they're blond and blue eyed." I heard Mr. Marlon finished off.
"Thank God!" I heard AJ blurted out.
"AJ!" Howie and Kevin shouted in unison. Brian was silent. Darn, Brian fits the bill perfectly! Shit!!!
"But let us remind you that we might not be correct." Mr. Cameron warned. That left AJ quiet again.
"So what are you trying to say? That this asshole just replace our kidneys for fun on blonde blue eyed celebrities?" I asked. Seriously now, maybe it's just me carrying out the duty of being the dumb blonde, but I'm still not getting it. What is the asshole's motive??
"I'm sure you've heard about people being kidnap and their kidney stolen from them and then sold illegally to very rich sick people who need a kidney transplant immediately right? This is something like that but with a twist to it." It's already sickening enough, how much twisted can it get?
"In this case, from the underground investigations we've made, there're talks going around that people, mostly rich and obsessed with their idol, would readily pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to have their kidney traded with their idol. And these people are not even sick to begin with. And we're afraid if we don't get to the bottom of this soon, we might just get another victim."
I think my heart just stop. I should be dead by now. This is too much. It's a good thing that I'm sitting down too or I would be slamming on the floor right now.
"And the worst is, we don't know when, where and most importantly who, they're gonna attack next."
"What they? You keep referring to him as they, why is that?" I asked, raising my voice. I am getting annoyed with these detectives, it's only the bastard alone who got me, I saw him, there're no other in that damn motel!
"The man you described to us, that's the kidnapper, but we doubt that he's the one who conduct the surgery. The person who did it must be a qualified doctor, or else, you won't be breathing right now. And considering that it's a major surgery, the doctor needs assistance. And they would have to have access to medical supplies. We're investigating hospitals and questioning doctors at this stage." Mr. Marlon explained.
How could a doctor stoop so low?
"But...how come I don't remember them?" I asked. I don't forget things easily you know. Especially the faces of people who were about to cut me open.
"Maybe you were out the whole time. Just had seen them before they injected him with anesthetic. But they were wearing doctor's masks and he couldn't describe them to us. He said there's four of them altogether." Mr. Cameron explained.
"What about the sketch? Did it help?" Kevin asked. Good question Kev!
"It's circulating. Once we get our hands on him, we will get that breakthrough we need for this case." Mr. Cameron replied. So, in other words, he's still free and probably pissed off at me for more reasons than one. Not only did I escape, I saw his damn face.
"Nick, the reason why we want to put you under police protection is because we think that he might come back for you." Marlon said. That's comforting to know. Someone is actually planning on having my head for dinner.
"But I hear nothing of Justin being put under protection." Howie argued. Really? How come?
"Justin is not a witness. Like all the other victims, we found him unconscious in the bathtub and the culprits had long gone. Nick on the other hand, woke up before he made his escape and he knew that you saw him. You're going to tell the police if he didn't kill you. And you nearly did. If the paramedics hadn't come any sooner, you might just not make it. They bury you in ice so that the scars won't get infected but you got out."
Is this Nick Torture Day? Why hasn't any single news a good one? Are all these suppose to help me?
*****
Maira just left in a cab, which she had conveniently called instead of having Tony drive her to the airport like I had suggested. She is still angry with me, I know that. But it hurts to see her go without having a chance to make things right between us.
I saw her to the doorstep, wheelchair and all and she said nothing. Carry her own luggage, wouldn't let any of the guys help her. All the guys had decided to sleep over tonight so that they could see her off, but at that instant, all of them had mysteriously vanished from sight.
I wanted to shout out, call her for the last time, tell her that I'm doing this for her own good, but of course, I'm Nick, the guy who keeps his emotion inside. Whatever you read on my face doesn't necessarily tally what it is that is inside, ya know?
She opened the cab's door and paused, turned around to look at me and said 'Just say it, tell me that you want me to stay and I won't go, this is your last chance, you know you need me.'
I stood at the doorstep (okay, sit, since I'm on the wheeler), look at her and said nothing. She said, 'Suits yourself, I'm leaving and no thanks to you.'
She loves me.
Yes, I'm strange.
But she loves me.
I know.
*****
A week passed by and she never did call home to tell me if she's alright. I couldn't call her coz I don't know where she was staying and she had decided to switch off her cell. But Jason had called to tell me that she's doing fine, still mad but doing well in her job. That's all I need to know.
And it's been a week and nothing had changed. Except that they had caught my kidnapper! Yes! Security around the house had loosened a bit and the pain, although still there, are quite bearable from time to time. And I have started to walk independently, which is a good thing considering how my ass had started to look flat from all the sitting down.
I had only one nightmare through all these and it was triggered after I was called to the police headquarters to identify the asshole from a line up. I passed with flying colors. I recognized him the instant I saw his face. Ironically? He was line up number 5.
And last night, the guys and I received news that another blonde, blue-eyed boy band member became victim number six.
