"Black jack," she said victoriously, spreading the Queen of spade and an Ace. Brian's cards fell down one by one to the table from his hands. 2, 4, 3, and a Queen of heart.
"Darn..."
"Take it off, Bri."
Brian groaned and got up, pulling down the zipper on his jeans and let it fall to his ankle. He was now only wearing a white t-shirt and a Calvin Klein striped boxershorts. His hat, belt, sweater, wristwatch, shoes and socks were scattering on the floor around him.
"I don't get it!" Brian started to whine. "I had on more things than you, and I still end up half-naked. What the hell is wrong with these cards?"
Paige smiled. "It's the secret with the world." She still had everything on. Her baggy turtleneck and jeans, socks, and a silver ring on her right index finger. That was all.
"Paige, honey, it's freezing...."
"Yes sweetheart, we'll finish this game in no time. Don't worry."
"Easy to say cause you're not losing! By the way, if I were you I wouldn't be too sure about winning!"
"Split the cards."
"Oh man!"
"Mmmm....."
"What the... I'll be damned!"
"I told you I'd win again," Paige said as she watched Brian taking off his t-shirt, revealing a white thin singlet underneath.
"Cold!" Brian yelped. "Cold cold cold! I need something warm!"
He ran toward Paige to cuddle her, but she ducked and started running the other direction. He chased her around the room and not a minute later Brian managed to tackle Paige and they fell onto the bed laughing.
"Not that I didn't warn you," Brian said as he started kissing her face playfully. "Ew! Might as well lick me!" Paige screamed disgustedly, trying to escape from under Brian's body.
There was a soft knock on the door, but they were too busy in their little world. Until a voice came up behind the door, "Paige, can I come in? The door's not locked..."
"Jacob?!" Paige pronounced in shock. She immediately pushed Brian out of the bed.
Too late. Jacob, Paige's step-father, had swung the door open.
His face changed to a frown when he caught sight of what had laid in front of him. Brian's wardrobe all over the floor; Paige on the bed with rustled hair; and a guy on the floor beside the bed, wearing only boxers and singlet.
"What is this?" Jacob's voice rose and Brian's heart raced fast. He could easily imagine his name being carved on a tombstone.
"Well, um, I, um...." Brian stammered. Jacob, who stood 7'1'' tall, lunged at him angrily and grabbed Brian's collar. Brian didn't attempt an escape. Jacob's fists were balled.
"Oh God! Jacob, no!" Paige screamed. "Let him go!"
"Get the hell outta here before I smash your face to pieces you shit!"
"Yes, sir," Brian replied. He loosened himself and gazed at Paige briefly. He was unsure to leave, but Jacob had daggers in his eyes. Brian involuntaryly disappeared behind the door.
"Do you want to explain or does what I just saw explain everything?" Jacob said, hands folded upon his chest.
"It's not what you think. We didn't do anything."
"Do you want to say anything else before I ground you, little miss?"
"What right do you have to do that?" snapped Paige. She looked at him with fiery eyes.
"I am supposed to be your father now," Jacob looked slightly hurt. "I know you don't like me, Paige, but please understand that I love your mother, and with that, I can't help not to love you too. So now I'm going to act like a father. I'm gonna be a real jerk like all fathers do!"
"That's right, a jerk you are!" Paige snarled, tears dribbling from her eyes. "Stealing all I had left in my life, and still want to make me believe that I'm wrong! Crap!"
"It isn't easy for you, I know, but me and Lorraine love each other and-"
"Stop it! I don't want anything else from you, and I don't want you to be my dad! Get out of my life! And I can do anything with anyone I want!"
Smack!
Paige gasped and touched her cheek. Jacob had slapped her! She looked at him, still there was flame in her eyes. On the contrary, Jacob was looking at her through wet eyes.
"Don't you know you will hurt your mom by saying that? My God, Paige, you're only seventeen!" He scrubbed his balding forehead, his eyes closed in bewilderment. "If I'm the problem, let's not ruin your life because of me. I'll go if you wanted me to. Just, don't ruin everything you and your mother have built. You're not just beautiful, you're smart, Paige. I know you are. You have a bright future in your hands. I could be the one to wreck it."
The room fell silent for centuries.
Jacob started to the door. "Good bye."
As he was turning open the knob, there was a faint sob. He turned to Paige. Her hands were covering her redenned face.
"No," she said weakly. "Don't go! Don't leave!"
"You mean that?" Jacob asked, his face seemed glowing in hope. Paige stood up and ran toward him.
"I'm so selfish! Forgive me, Jacob! I wanted to have mum for myself, and I didn't even try to understand your feelings," she admitted in between her sobs.
"I understand, Paige. It's not your fault." He hugged her tight. She felt protected, although it could never be the same with the hug her real father used to give her. But it was okay.
"From now on, can you call me 'dad'?"
"Sure.... As long as you won't punish me for... Hey! I did nothing, anyway."
"I can't do that. You still have to obey some rules and morals But tell you what, I won't tell your mother that you had a half-naked guy in your room!"
She smiled. "Uh..... okay, Jacob."
"Can you say 'dad' instead?"
"Whoa! Once at a time, okay?" she joked.
"Alright," he answered understandingly.
Meanwhile, outside - on the other side of the door, Brian was brushing off some water from his face. His eyes were red but they showed joy.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

In the morning.
Nick woke up from his bed and noticed the bed beside him was hibited.
"Brian?"
Brian moaned.
"It's 8:30, man. Breakfast's at 8:45."
"Okay okay," Brian said, getting out of bed sleepily. He went into the bathroom.
"I thought you were at Paige's."
"Yeah well, something came up."
"You two aren't fighting, are you?"
"'Course not!" Brian got out, buttoning his shirt. "I'll meet you and the rest downstairs okay?"
"Yeah. But you owe me an explanation!"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

"Paige!" Brian called out after spotting her sitting with Jules or Jimmy or John.....
"Hey, man," Brian said to the bodyguard after pulling a seat close to Paige. "Nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you, too." The bodyguard said warmly.
"What do you say we speak alone?" Brian whispered Paige.
"I want to, but no..... Jacob grounded me. He said I'd have to stick to Julian for a whole month and I can't send him home whenever I want!"
"You lucky guy, you!" Brian said to Julian while Paige laughed.
"Your laugh sounds different now, Paige. More fresh, opened, happy. I know why and I'm happy for you," Brian said as he kissed her cheek.
"How'd you know?"
"As a matter of fact, I stayed outside your room last night after your dad kicked me out. Damn, at the time you guys're done, I was a curly-head icycle."
"Brian..... You really did that for me? Or was it just your curiosity of what he was gonna do to me?"
"Actually, both."
Paige slapped Brian playfully. "Well don't worry about that! I asked him not to sue you!"
"Phew! What a relieve!"
"Brian! Omigod, in all means, you were standing there in the hall almost naked?"
"I told you it was damn cold."
 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

On the bus toward the airport, Nick, AJ, Howie and Kevin stared at Brian with different expressions. Paige had left to take a flight back to Orlando.
"He didn't punch you or something? That's odd!" AJ exclaimed.
"And you were only wearing...?" Nick asked, real interested. He enjoyed picturing the scene in his comical head.
"Boxers and a thin, thin shirt. Just the way you saw me getting out of bed this morning. But that's not the point-"
"Did he recognize you?" Kevin asked, a note of fear in his voice. The others suddenly got that feeling as well. "Did he, Brian?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't think so..."
 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

TransCon people's barbecue, later that evening.
A few of music producers and production managers were gathering near the pool.
The secretary was reading the marketing files. "And about the proposal for the marketing of Backstreet Boys hats and accessories....." She gave out a couple of picture samples and posters to the executives.
Jacob Holden stared suspiciously at the picture on one of the sample posters.
"Who's he?" Jacob pointed at one of the five figures of Backstreet Boys.
"Oh, he's Brian Littrell. Have you heard him singing? He could get a record deal on his own! ...Is there something wrong, Mr. Holden?"
"No." Jacob swallowed hard.
 
 
 

The enD
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 
For all my friends in Jakarta,
One year! I will be missing you....................
June 1999