"BRANDON STOP, WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THIS?" Toryn whined, clutching onto his arm as he tried to past by her without so much as speaking a word. The first couple of times she had ignored it, but now it was the second day in a row and she felt he was being a little extreme.

"Toryn I don't want to speak the right now, please stop." He said calmly, clearly annoyed.

"No Branny stop, your being mean to me." Toryn whined, on the verge of tears. Ever since he found out about her and Takashi seeing each other a few days ago, he's been pissed. Though the situation wasn't Toryn's fault, he was partially still mad at her.

He knew he couldn't blame Toryn for running into Takashi at the cemetery; which he wasn't. What had gotten him angry was the broken cellphone. And the reason that angered him was because obviously, now having to explain why her cellphone was destroyed he got a lot of backstory on the two supposed friends. Back stories he's been asking about with her and that guy from the time they met. And back stories Toryn swore up and down they didn't have. Just recently he found out differently, though.

After Toryn came home crying about what had happened, it wasn't just the broken cellphone that made Brandon suspicious. It was the fact that before that, even at Takashi and Toryn's birthday party, he felt like he was walking into tension. The shots Takashi was throwing at him when they first met—all his behavior after that explained it. Now Toryn was deciding to tell him after four months of them being together and after he got her pregnant that they use to "mess" around.

"No I'm not being mean, you being sneaky! I asked you several times, did you ever have something going on with this guy. And every single time you looked me in my face and said no. Now you wanna tell me after this fool lost his mind and broke your cellphone that ya'll use to fool around?"

"Oh my gosh Brandon I was fifteen." Toryn said, rubbing her hand on her stomach.

"I don't care how old you were. I asked you and you should've been truthful." He snapped, sliding into his dress shoes by the door. He had a meeting a few hours from now but he was ready to leave the house now.

Brandon was furious after Toryn told him everything. How her and Takashi began to argue at the cemetery and everything. Toryn didn't want to tell Brandon but because of her phone, she obviously had to have some type of explanation as to what happened. And she chose to tell the truth because if she lied, she would seem shady for any other reason being out in New Jersey with another man she claimed was just her best friend if Brandon turned around and ended up finding out.

Toryn ran up behind Brandon and wrapped her arms around him. She started to cry into his back. Her hormones were sending her over the edge. Brandon sighed, immediately simmering down as his round shaped brown eyes looked over his shoulder at Toryn.

He then turned around so he was facing her completely, giving her a look at his handsome face and plump lips. "Look Toryn. I don't need the drama on my team. I'm not looking for no female on some sneaky shit—"

"And I'm not."

"Which is why you should have just told me from the beginning. I asked you this several times and you told me no. This shit is unacceptable. Maybe you don't see it but I do. No argument is that serious between two friends were a grown man is gonna decide to break his friend's cellphone. There's clearly a whole other issue going on. I don't like him, and the fact you had me at that man's house, introducing us?"

Toryn sighed and looked away. He was acting like she could control people's emotions and reactions to things.

Brandon lifted her chin. "I don't want you seeing him anymore. Dead this best friend shit."

"Ok—"

"No I'm serious, for real Toryn. I don't want this man around you. He's not good for you, I don't care about the history and how long you two have known each other. You're pregnant with my child and he's unsafe for you to be around. I don't want you around him. You hear me?"

Toryn just stared for a moment then slowly nodded her head up and down. "Yes." She mumbled, tiptoeing to meet his lips.

"Good." Brandon said kissing her.

"Where are you going?"

"To deal with him. This the last time he's gonna disrespect you."

******

TAKASHI SIGHED AS HE PACED slowly back and forth in the downstairs of the empty house. He was at work and it was his last few hours of the day. A couple was upstairs, checking out the house for themselves. He had already shown them everything but they just wanted a private moment to fantasize about what it would be like living in the house together.

So instead, Takashi stayed downstairs, watching a video Braelyn sent him of Brielle signing a song she made up called 'I love my daddy.' Brielle's face was smeared with cake icing and her big head was all up in the camera, breathing hard as she sang in her little frail voice. Takashi had a small smirk on his face as he watched the video. He missed her even though he saw her every other day. He had her tomorrow at his house for the night too.

Suddenly hearing footsteps coming down, Takashi exited out the video and shoved his phone in his pocket to appear professional. He cleared his throat and straightened up, extending his smirk to a full smile to greet the two Asian ladies who were now in his presence again.

Takashi assumed they were lesbians. One was more masculine with some Chinese tattoos on her arms. She shaved both sides of her head, only having hair on the top which she slicked back into a small ponytail. The other was more slim, wearing a summer dress with a purse on her shoulder. They both seemed sort of young to own a house though. Then again they both had corporate jobs and worked in the city, they made good money and had excellent credit.

"What do you ladies think?" Takashi asked.

"I like it," The feminine one mumbled, turning to her girlfriend, "what about you?"

There was a loud knock on the front door as the trio then heard someone come walking inside. Takashi was patting himself down for some business cards as he yelled out. "I have clients in here! You must be for the next appointment, you're too early! Give me three minutes!" He yelled out. He noticed out the corner of his peripheral vision however, that instead of walking out the door, the person began to walk further in toward them.

Takashi and both women looked up. It was Brandon, dressed down in a gray suit, but the dead expression on his face said he wasn't here for a friendly visit. It was easy for him to find Takashi. He was a real estate agent with a website, he knew where his worksite was at. And Brandon had no problem pulling up—even when he was on the clock.

He didn't respect Toryn then he was getting any respect.

Brandon approached, both hands in his slacks as he stopped a foot in front of Takashi. He stared at him not even so much as glancing at the women beside him.

The slimmer Asian girl's mouth fell open as she recognized who Brandon was. He owned Melt. But as if she and her girlfriend sensed the tension, they gave each other a look and were ready to go. Takashi pulled out two business cards and handed one to each.

"Just in case one of you lose it." He smiled at them both and watched them scurry off. As soon as Brandon heard the front door close, he looked at Takashi.

"You broke Toryn's cellphone...why?"

Takashi's smile annoyed Brandon. He wasn't sure but he remembered him smiling the first time they met. This nigga always thought something was funny.

Takashi chuckled and immediately slid into his pocket to retrieve his wallet. That was the only thing he felt bad for, he didn't mean to do all that and it was the only thing he was willing to apologize for. "My bad, we just exchanged some words and I lost my temper. How much does it cost?" Takashi pulled out a couple twenties, trying to count through them but Brandon smacked his hand, making the money slowly fall to the ground.

Instantly the sarcastic smile was wiped off Takashi's face as his eyes met Brandon's who looked like he was ready for the drama if Takashi wanted to buck. But Takashi's eyes went back down to the floor again, staring at his money sprawled about on the hardwood floor.

"Your bad? You lost your temper?" Brandon went into his pocket and pulled out his phone, holding it between his fingertips. "Lose your temper on me then, nigga. Break my phone, I dare you."

Takashi's eyes never left the ground as he watched the Jackson's spread out all over. He thought about Maggie from anger management and how well he had been doing—he couldn't mess this up. But as much as he tried to think about what Maggie would do in this situation, it just wasn't working for him.

"Go ahead! Slap it out my hand pussy!" Brandon said stepping closer. This was the thing Brandon didn't like about men like Takashi. Men who were always so quick to get loud and physical with a woman but weren't as willing to get it shaking with someone of their own gender and size.

"All this shit you yelling, that's all well and good but you smacked my money out my hand." Takashi said in an eerily calm voice.

"Nigga fuck your money! I'm waiting for you do do something. You always so quick to act stupid with Toryn. So here's your chance, get stupid." Brandon said, he wanted to swing first but it would make him feel better if Takashi did. That way it would give him an even stronger reason to beat his ass.

Takashi's dark brown eyes bore a hole into Brandon as he stared at him for a moment. Takashi's index and thumb finger then went up to the left side of his ear as he began viscously ringing his earlobe like something was in his ear. He then sniffled really hard, rubbing his index finger under his nose before he dropped his hand, making it smack against the side of his leg.

"Brandon, pick my money up."

"That's what I thought pussy! You can rough my girl up but you really a bitch! I'm in ya face! Do something!"

"Pick it up." Takashi said, his tone low.

"I don't ever want you around my girlfriend again." Brandon said, pointing his index finger in his face, "I catch you around Toryn imma beat ya ass. You punk ass—"

Takashi's right fist caught Brandon smoothly at the center of his cheek. He was put to sleep before he even hit the floor. Brandon's knees bent and he fell on his back with his legs folded under him, his mouth leaking as he laid in an awkward position.

Takashi shook his hand off then placed his own hands inside his pockets as he just stared. He then huffed and bent down, watching Brandon's unconscious body. He looked like he would make a good actor for a Tempur-Pedic commercial because he was in a deep sleep right now.

"Brandon." Takashi whispered, his eyes looking around the house as if he expected someone to pop out of some room in the house. Getting no answer, Takashi looked down at him, poking his shoulder this time as he still whispered. "Brandon, wake up. You can't sleep in here, this is a place for business."

Takashi's cellphone started ringing and he took the call, but it was only his last client of the day calling to cancel, due to some more important errands he had to run. Since he could leave early, Takashi dragged Brandon by the collar of his shirt, pulling him outside and onto the sidewalk. There were not a lot of people outside which he was grateful for, so Takashi left him by a tree two doors down looking like he passed out or was high on something.

Takashi then went back inside the house just to turn off lights and lock up. When he came back outside, he walked over to Brandon who was snoring loudly. Takashi pulled out two packets of extra strength Tylenol from his briefcase, tossing them next to him. He even collected the money he originally gave Brandon to pay for Toryn's cellphone and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Alright so don't take these on an empty stomach. You only need one pack anyway because one pill is five hundred milligrams; but I had two on me so why not. Eat something first and then take the pills behind it. And only eat soft foods for two days because your dick suckers ain't gon' be functioning right."

There was silence as the birds chirped in the trees and some wind blew.

"I don't think I broke your jaw or anything but if I did, just ask Toryn for my number and I'll be glad to pay that hospital bill for you because I really didn't mean to hit you like that. That was uncalled for, but you smacked my hand. That's disrespectful pussy, you can't be doing that. But hey," Takashi said looking at the time on his phone. "I have therapy right now. I gotta go."

He waved and got into his Lexus just as Toryn began to call Brandon's phone, hoping everything was alright.

********

"YOU KNOCKED HER BOYFRIEND OUT?" Doctor Maine asked, incredulously.

"He was in my face and I had to defend myself. He put his hands on me." Takashi said calmly.

Doctor Maine sighed, running a hand down his face. "Takashi did you at least even try to practice any of the self control methods you learned in anger management class with counselor Maggie?"

Takashi didn't understand what the hell he was getting at. The facts were Brandon showed up to his place of business while he was on the clock and started with him, things just didn't end the way Brandon had expected it too. Maybe next time he would have better luck.

"Fuck Maggie and those self control methods. When you put your hands on me none of that shit matter."

Doctor Maine shook his head but dropped it because he had more important from matters to discuss with Takashi anyway.

After running multiple tests and analysis on the young man, they had all come back negative. He had past with flying colors and not one trace of a mental disease or disorder could be connected to him. It puzzled Doctor Maine because Takashi surely displayed the signs of a troubled person, yet couldn't be diagnosed.

"So it appears that after we've run multiple examinations and diagnostics on you, you've turned up with no mental health diseases or disorders."

The arrogant smirk on Takashi's lips could do nothing but warrant a stare from Doctor Maine.

"I think I want to send you to redo these tests." He said. He was truly puzzled at the fact other specialist couldn't find anything wrong with him. And Doctor Maine wanted to make sure the right procedures were given in order to diagnose him. He wasn't willing to send a man into society telling him he was fine when he really wasn't. He was not trying to put his job in jeopardy.

Takashi sucked his teeth, his face falling but that little smirk still dancing on the corner of his lips. "For what? Imma just past them all again anyway. I told you nothing's wrong with me. Your little Erotomania and personality disorder assumptions was dead wrong, and stupid for that matter."

Doctor Maine knew he was right about one thing in his observations—he was dealing with someone that was very intelligent. Very few people who were truly mentally disturbed had the ability to slide by specialized tests with flying colors. Those were usually sociopaths or serial killers; and although Doctor Maine didn't think for a second Takashi fit those categories, it didn't stop him from seeing how dangerous of a person he was.

"So what's next?" Takashi asked, he was wondering what the man would blame him for now that it was revealed he didn't have any mental problems. Now it would probably be more clear that the things he had been going through in his life were not just his fault.

Doctor Maine sat back in the chair, studying Takashi. Everything the patient did when he stepped into the room was calculating. From the start Takashi showed he wouldn't be easy to figure out like his other patients. For example, even where he chose to sit in the room told a lot about his personality.

There was a love seat couch, a sectional-bed and a recliner. Takashi always sat in the love seat couch. His patients that sat in the recliner were usually more closed off and unwilling to open up. The ones who laid out on the sectional-bed were usually more talkative and had no problem getting down to business of what their issues were. And the ones that sat in the love seat were usually in between. Not willing to be completely closed off but not willing to be an open book either. And he even sat at the very edge all the time, showing he wasn't getting too comfortable.

"You may laugh Takashi but this is serious, you may really need help."

"What that gotta do wit' me? It's not my fault nothing is wrong with me." He said, it was almost like the man was trying to throw some sickness on him, just to get a few more lump sums of cash.

So far, the only thing that was apparent in Takashi's behavior was anger issues. Doctor Maine sighed, coming off the subject for now. He opened up his notebook and began taking notes again. The room was silent as Takashi was on his cellphone, but when he heard Doctor Maine speak he looked up and turned his phone off.

"So, how've you been since the last time we've met?"

"I saw Toryn and Braelyn."

The psychiatrist sighed, running a hand down his face. They've been doing so good with him being alone and taking the time to go to anger management to work on himself. Four months down the drain, but most people would relapse after a while, it was human nature.

"Takashi you were not suppose to bother those women. You were suppose to be working on yourself."

He sat forward in his chair, placing his elbows on his knees. "Seeing Toryn was a coincidence, but I missed Braelyn. I wanted to see her. I hit her, what do you expect?"

Doctor Maine shrugged, "So why don't you tell me how the meeting with these ladies went, who do you want to start with?"

Takashi shrugged. "Why do you care?"

"It's part of your sessions. It's important for me to see how you've behaved in these settings after seeing the women you've hurt."

Takashi almost that instantly had a few curse words sitting on his tongue. It showed in the twitch of his lips, something that Doctor Maine didn't miss. He instead inhaled and exhaled through his nose, making his shoulders relax. The anger management classes were coming in handy.

"Well first I went to visit my mom at her burial site out in New Jersey and Toryn happened to be there too. She didn't see me so she started yapping about her and her boyfriend and shit like that."

"Saying what?"

"Saying things like how much she likes him and allat bullshit."

"And this is Brandon she's talking about? This happened before the incident you were just telling me about."

"Yes."

Doctor Maine grabbed his pen, ready to scribble things down. It almost annoyed Takashi. The man narrowed his eyes, "And how did that make you feel?"

"About what? Toryn saying how much she loved her boyfriend?"

"Yes."