Don't Play With My Soul

Ethan Junior's POV

"Son, are you sure about this?" My father asked for the hundredth time on Thursday evening.

"Yes Dad," I growled.

"There really isn't a rush. Your mom and I love having you around the house. You're still our little boy."

"I know that, but I really need my own space and my own rules now Daddy. I'm growing up, and I really want a solid life and a serious relationship."

"Okay. I understand that. But, as you know, you wouldn't be given the mansion until you're twenty one."

"I know that too Dad, but can we please go see the luxury villa now? Zenia is coming home from the hospital tomorrow and I want to surprise her with our own house."

My father and I had been house hunting since Tuesday. I wanted a house-- not too big, not too small-- with a luxury feeling and look to it; and one that was within the distance of my family. Cindy Peters, my father's real estate agent, had met up with us at the last property I was desperately hoping to settle for.

Dad had dismissed all the others:

"That's too big."

"That's too small."

"There's no swimming pool."

"Why is everything in glass?"

"That house looks like thieves could easily break into it regardless of the security systems."

Sometimes, Dad could be so overly protective. Both Cindy and I were getting frustrated.

"This one is the last on my list," Cindy said as we pulled up to a very beautiful villa with a swimming pool to the front. "This looks like a cheap ass vacation home," Dad said as he got out of the van and looked at the house with dreadful eyes. "Dad!" I scolded

"Dad!" I scolded.

He was only hating on the houses because he didn't want me to leave home and start my own.

"It's really not that bad, and it's only half an hour away from home. This is ideal for Zenia and me. I like it, and I think she'll like it too."

"If she likes this, then she doesn't have taste in houses."

"It's only for a while Dad. I'm turning twenty one soon."

"Exactly. So why don't you just wait until you're twenty one to have your mansion like what Evan did?"

"Dad, my girlfriend is in a very unpredictable state of mind. I want to be there for her."

He settled down, turned down his tone of voice and mild temper, and flashed a smile. He pulled me into a hug and we walked side-by-side as Cindy began describing what the villa possessed.

"I do think she'll like it. It's nice and suitable for the both of you. We'll take it Cindy. Get started on the paperwork immediately because they'll be occupying it tomorrow."

"Of course, Mr. Hollen," she said and began making phone calls.

Zenia's POV

I was so anxious to be going home today. EJ had offered to take me home and, I must say, I was seeing a complete different side of him since the-- well, you know. He had taken a leave of absence from the office to see me everyday at the hospital.

"Good morning Zenia, how are you feeling?" Dr. Summers asked as he walked into the room and saw me gathering my things.

"I'm ready to go home," I said with a smile.

"Sure. I just need one final inspection to be certain that everything is the way we expect it to be."

I understood what he meant. I came very close to death. My heart had stopped functioning altogether and, at that moment, they felt like they had lost me. "Perfect. You're ready to go home."

"Thank you," I replied.

"Please remember your therapy sessions."

"I'll go to every one. I promise."

"Excellent, now who's coming to get you?"

"My boyfriend," I said as I looked down at the promise ring on my index finger.

"I, EJ Hollen, promise to always be there for you. To love you, cherish and adore you in every way possible. I don't ever want to lose you again."

As if on cue, EJ appeared in the room.

"You're here," I squealed and ran into his arms. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead.

"Ready to go home?" he asked.

"Yes." Tears of joy were already building in my eyes. I missed home.

"She is discharged, Mr. Hollen. You can take her home now," Dr. Summers said.

"Thank you for everything Doctor. And on behalf of myself and my family, we've made a donation for equipment and supplies to the hospital."

"Really? That's very generous of you and your family. The staff and patients thank you."

EJ smiled, and I smiled too. I had the best boyfriend ever.

"Where are we going? This isn't the way to the penthouse EJ," I said as I looked out the window.

"I know, baby. This is part of the surprise I've been telling you about," he answered.

He held onto the steering wheel with one hand and took my hand into his. He quickly brought it to his lips for a kiss, keeping his eyes alert on the road.

I sat quietly, observing the new surroundings. It was such a beautiful day outside, and I was dying to get into a pool to cool off.

After two hours, he stopped the car.

"Where are we?" I asked.

He pointed to an extremely beautiful villa with a glorious swimming pool. He must have been reading my mind, but we couldn't randomly stop and get into someone's swimming pool. "That's a beautiful place," I said calmly.

"It's yours baby. That's the surprise."

I braced myself in the car seat. I heard his voice from a far distance in my ear. Bewilderment was surfacing, making it hard to believe what he just said to me.

Mine?

But how was it mine?

"You bought us a house?" I asked, turning to him.

"Yep. Zenia, look, I know this is sudden and might be a really big step, but I want you to see that I'm sorry for hurting you. I really don't want to lose you. I want to be there for you. I want to come home to your beautiful face everyday after work. I want to wake up and see your messy hair."

I laughed lightly.

"I don't care if we have to adopt a hundred kids to become a family. Baby, I just want to be there for you. I love you, Zenia."

I teared up.

"Baby, don't cry. Come here." He pulled me into his arms.

Laying my head on his chest I felt safe. I felt happiness, and I already felt at home with him.

"I accept," I said, wiping the tears away with the back of my hand.

"You really don't have to accept right away. I can take you back to the penthouse and you could sleep on it. I don't want to rush you into it. I just wanted you to see how serious I am about you."

"I know you'll never pressure me into anything, but I really do want to live with you. I love you, too."

Our lips clashed together. He kissed me hungrily but slowed it down and became passionate. I knew he missed me.

"I missed you so much," he whispered against my lips.

"I missed you too."

We kissed again.

He showed me around our new home and I loved every inch and corner of it. It was lovely, inside and out.

"Are you ready to leave now?" he called from a lounge chair.

I was swimming around in the pool and he was looking on from the poolside.

"No! I don't want to leave. I want to stay."

I heard him chuckle.

"Get in the pool EJ!"

"No thank you!"

I got out of the water and ran up to him, throwing my wet body onto his. I was in my underwear, but I didn't care. With EJ I felt like a different person, one who wasn't afraid of doing different things. "Zen, you got me wet."

"That was the idea. Now get in the pool with me."

He picked me up as if I was made of paper. He carried me, bridal style, into the pool. We swam around, had a heated make out session, and played like two little kids. I was loving the new and improved EJ more and more.

"Mom, I'm home!" I called as I walked into the penthouse suite.

I heard arguing between her and someone else. I peered into the kitchen and saw her with my father. Their backs were turned to me.

"You're not going to tell them anything until I tell them! They're my daughters. Not yours!"

"There's really no lying in you anymore, Susan!"

"You left them."

"How the hell was I supposed to stay when you slept with my own brother and threw it in my face that Zenia wasn't my daughter? You broke me Susan. You hurt me. I couldn't stand looking at you anymore, and I feared Jasmine wasn't my daughter too, but that didn't stop me from sending you three thousand dollars every month for eighteen years!"

Mom got silent.

"Of course Jasmine is your daughter," she said after awhile.

"And Zenia?"

Mom got silent again. She shook her head no and I felt something in me light up with anger.

Jasmine and I are half sisters? Impossible! We had the same blood type.. how could this be such a mess?