Chapter Two

The next day, it was Troy's day off and he decided to visit Jezmin. He rode his bike to Gabriella's old apartment and smiled as he sees Jezmin patiently waiting for him by the gate.

She sees him and waved "You're here!" she said happily.

"Jezmin, what are you doing out here. It's dangerous you know. Come on, let's go inside" Troy said holding Jezmin's hand as they walked inside the apartment.

When they went inside Maria just came out from the kitchen wearing an apron. "Oh, Troy! You're here! I have something to ask a favour from you"

"What is it?" Troy ask and Maria looked at Jezmin who was playing on the floor with her stuffed bunny. Maria then said "Jezmin can you go play in your room, so me and Troy can talk privately?" and the little girl just nodded and went into her room.

"Troy, sit down please" Maria said and Troy sat down on the couch.

"Troy, the reason I want to talk to you privately is because I want to go back to New York. My company's been having some difficulties recently and I can't take Jezmin since this is actually her hometown...so..."

"What are you trying to say Mrs Montez" Troy asked, confused.

"Troy, I know I can trust you, but can you take care of Jezmin, don't worry. I'll be back every weekend to see her"

"W-wait, what?" Troy confused as ever "So, you're telling me to take care of Jezmin?"

"Yes. Can you?" Maria asks hoping he'd agreed.

"But why do I have to take care of her?" he asked

"Because!" Maria said aloud "She's is your daughter after all. You are the only parent she has. She can't stay with me because I'm not always home. Look Troy! I know, it's tough on you right now to take care of her but trust me, you will cope. You will come through it easily" Maria said.

"So, what do you say?" she asks him and Troy, who was confused "I'll think about it" he replied.

He doesn't know that Jezmin heard every single word the adults were talking and she knew he's having a hard time making a decision.

Troy excused himself and rode his bike home, trying to figure out what to do. "Should I raise her? Or shouldn't I? She's my daughter. I should be responsible for her, after Gabriella died."

The questions were lingering in his mind, even before he goes to sleep. "What should I do?" he asks himself

The next morning, Troy was working on the Mac Book when the phone rang

"Hello, K-Photography, Troy speaking. How may I help you?" he said politely through the phone.

"Troy! Jezmin is missing! I just went in the kitchen just for a little while and the next thing I knew she's already gone!" and just like that Troy quickly excused himself from work and rode his bike as quickly as he might, looking everywhere around the neighbourhood.

Much to his dismay, he couldn't find the little girl anywhere. Then he it struck him "The tree!" he rode quickly towards the tree where he'd met her yesterday.

In his mind he was thinking about running towards the tree, as fast as he can to Gabriella who was waiting for him with a grin, plastered on her face. Even from afar, he knew she's the most beautiful girl he'd ever met.

He remembered they'd vowed to stay together at the apartment. Troy and Gabriella were holding hands while looking at the apartment.

"I wanna stay here with you. What do you say?" Gabriella said with a smile

"Huh, here? But it's so old" Troy said

"Oh, please Troy, can we?" Gabriella begged giving him a puppy-dog pout

But before he could say the next sentence, the landlord yelled at them

"HEY! YOU TWO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE! THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY!"

Troy and Gabriella started running, whilst holding hands as they ran as fast as they can away from the apartment. It was a vow he'd kept for the next six years. He stayed at the apartment after all, despite the landlord being a grouch. He knew there is no other place than the place where the one he'd loved wants to stay.

As he was nearing the tree, he saw Jezmin playing with a small pouch that hung around her neck, on top of the same tree bark.

"Jezmin" he called her name but she ignored him. "Jezmin!" and the little girl turned her head to face him.

"Troy, everyone says I have to forget her. But I can't forget her. I miss Mommy!" she said with tears running from her eyes, flowing down onto her pink ruffled dress.

"Troy, do you forget mommy?" the Jezmin ask him

Troy cleared his throat and said "I do miss her; she will always be in my heart, every moment, every second, every day I will never forget her."

Jezmin smiled a little but Troy knew he had to do something to calm her down. Then he got an idea. He sat down, facing her as he started to talk.

"In the middle of town, there's a place where Gabriella once loved to go. She said she wants to stay together with me at this old apartment." Then he sees Jezmin coming down from the tree, and sat down next to him on the grass.

"She wants to stay in an apartment that was run by an elderly couple, the landlord is scary, the rent is high, and it's too far from the station. But, I always want to move out, but I remembered why I wanted to stay in the apartment in the apartment" he explained slowly

"But, because I love her, far too much and I can't forget her, I decided not to. I'm starting to think there's a reason why I needed to stay after all" he said patting Jezmin's head.

"That's why I will never, ever forget the girl I love, not in a million years" he smiled and Jezmin knew that those words of encouragements are really calming her.

"I want to stay with the person Mommy loves the most" she said with tears in her eyes.

Troy saw the little girl cry and hugged her "Jezmin, I know it's going to be hard, but do you want to live with me, in the old apartment? What'd you say?" and the little girl smiled and nodded as they hugged again "Yes Troy! I'd loved that! Thank you Troy!"

The next day, Troy quickly arranges the apartment and make sure that it's child-safe. He arranges the chair Jezmin will be using at the window, hung small hangers to the multicoloured cabinet in his room. Since it's only a one-room apartment, he knew that it'd be cramped for the both of them.

As he was arranging a chair for Jezmin to use at the dining table, Troy heard the soft knock of the apartment door. "They're here already?" he said looking at the time as he walked to the door, nervously.

"Coming!" he called out and quickly opened the door to reveal the beaming Jezmin, packed with bags around her and Maria Montez holding two big, bulky bags in her hands as Jezmin went in to put her bag inside.

"Is it really okay for Jezmin to stay here Troy?" Maria asks him as she came in through the door and he nodded.

"Yes, it'd be alright" he answered. "But Troy, taking care of a child isn't that easy. I hope you are prepared for this" and Troy looked at the little girl who was looking at a picture frame smiling.

"I will try Mrs Montez, I hope raising her will be a good decision." he said, making it assured that he'd be a responsible adult to Jezmin. He had to be responsible towards his own daughter. He hoped he'd be a good father and role model to Jezmin.

But will he cope as he finds there are many difficulties of being a single father? And what would his parents' reaction be when they've found out about Jezmin?

AN: Well that's the second chapter! I hope you've like it. It took me the whole morning to get an idea. But I also got an idea while I was in the showers! Hahahaha...I know, weird place, but hey its okay now since the second chapter's over! Anywho, hope you'd review. Will update the next chapter soon! Bye for now!

Lots of Love,

Spring Jasmine Flower