As Juni drove out of the parking lot, he thought back to where it all started, he smiled as he turned in a different direction away from his house direction and drove to the place he believed his relationship with Angela Mandela crossed a line.
Palm rangers was not far away and it came into view ten mins after Juni had made a U turn and drove to the bar.
That fateful night when he had received the call from Angela, had she been planning this for a long time or did it just happen? How did she happen to have called him that day and not her manager? What was really her motive all along? Did she really mean to do this or along or did it just happen somehow?
Juni chuckled to himself
He was overthinking again ,he thought as he sat there in his car,parked in the lot .
He took a deep breath and with a charming smile set, he alighted from his sleek car and proceeded to lited popular bar
"It's a special night tonight and you are lucky to be here"a girl of about 19years came closer to him just as he was about to go in
"Special night?" Juni inquired sounding intrigued
" Yes,it's freaky Friday night. here's a coupon card, it gives a discount if you request for strippers" the girl explained sending him a wink
Juni who however was not interested in anything at all that night declined the offer
"No thanks but I'm not interested "
"Ohh.." the girl trailed off sounding amused " I see you are one of those shy types, darling i.. -"
" No, I don't mean that.. -"Juni was saying trying to interrupt but the girl was having none of it as she winked at and slipped the card gently in his shirt's pocket.
"Have a great time in there, Darling",she added as she made her way to other people
Juni sighed" what a character" he thought to himself as he made his way into the bar and sat at one of barstools.it was almost empty as either everyone was on the dance floor on in a private room.
"Your order?" The bartender asked coming closer to him almost immediately
"A vodka on rocks please" juni replied and soon enough, a low music began playfully in the background as the bartender prepared the drink.
The memory was so as clear as day
Junu could almost swore he saw himself walk in through the door.he had drove as fast as he could that night just so he wouldn't disapoint her or not let dow.
Was that where it all started ?did she feel the need to try and seduce him right there at the place they had first met?Juni sighed asking himself aloud as the bartender brought over his drink .
"Thanks,man" Juni muttered just as he took a sip of the drink and then got sucked into a memory.
He had come into the bar rushing but kept his calm and cool as his eyes scanned the dark lited bar and uncrowded area his eyes had full control
It didn't take him long however to sight the mess of a woman ,drunk straight up with her head on the table
"Juni.." the voice came to it sounding just like it had did that night
She had called him by his first name but he didn't notice but the brain stores a lot of things and keep them for later.
Juni took a deep sigh as he swirled his glass and drank the last of its contents,he was just about to order for another one when one was brought before him
Juni looked up suprised,the bartender smiled slightly and said to him before running to work
"You look like you needed it"
The man had explained.
Juni gave him an appreciative smile as the man went back to work.atleast,there are still stood people in the world,he thought to himself.
Juni bent over the stool to pick something up when something else fell from his shirt breast pocket,it was the coupon card for strippers,he wanted to leave it there but figured it would be better to throw it in the dustbin on his way out,he reached for it but he was not fast enough,someone else had picked it up for him,he brought his head back up to get it back or ask if they need it but he was struck by the by the aura of the beautiful woman who was standing in front of him with a slight frown
"Is this yours?" She asked raising it up
Juni shrugged" I guess so,would you give it back?" He asked
"I would but it's really disgusting that a married man like you would need that"she said noticing his marriage ring
" Just so you know,I wanted to throw it away earlier,I don't do those kind of stuff,I'm very loyal to my wife " Juni said firmly and collected the coupon card, scrunching it up together,he tossed it away.
" Loyal ,you say? Well,Hi ,I'm Edna,I'm a reporter and you?"the woman introduces herself with a slight chuckle at Juni's previous actions
" I'm Juni,an editor .but what's a reporter like you doing in a place like this"Juni replied asking after taking a huge sip of his vodka.
"Juni Cartel of Clements? Well,I'm.just here to have fun" She said as she took the barstool beside him and ordered a malt
"Well,you are a reporter" Juni commented
"Why do you say so?" Edna asked him with a fake charming smile that Juni could see through.
"Well,lots like A,you are in a bar at this time late at night,B,you are drinking a malt which means you need to be fully sober tonight,C,you know my full name"Juni explained with a smirk
While Edna just chuckled
" I'm a human and a woman before I'm a reporter,which means I'm here because I want to be here,B,I always take Malt first,I don't like to be ahead with my friends,C,you are a smart one and you are pretty popular so that wouldn't make it weird me to know your whole name. " Edna replied
" Well,I guess I can't agrue with your logic since I don't know you that much"Juni said with a chuckle
" Well,you can get to Know me better" she offered with a smile
" I'm married "Juni replied with a slight smile.
Edna's laughter rang through the bar as Juni ended his statement
"Juni Cartel,you really think I am flirting with you here, don't be ridiculous, I have a fun boyfriend already, but then you might need a bf sometimes who doesn't have to be your boyfriend but your best friend" she said
" So you need a best friend? "Juni asked with a slight smile
" Nope" she paused to add emphasis "I need a friend"
"I would be glad to be that friend, Edna" Juni said holding his hands out for a handshake which she took.
" Same here" she replied
Thirty minutes later still at the bar
"Bartender?" Juni called out
"Yeah.." the man answered
"Get us a vodka on rocks and a malt drink" Juni instructed a bit drunk at heart
" Make those two vodka's on rock" Edna called out
Juni turned to her with a arched eyebrow and a smirk.
She shrugged "well, I don't like to get ahead of friends"
"Who said you could ever out run me? "Juni asked
" I said so "Edna replied cockily
They both burst into a bit of laughter and start talking about other things
Edna tells him about stressful her work has been lately and how her fun boyfriend was displaying attitude that he needed attention and she loved him too much than to push him away like that.
Juni tells her to try and fix her schedule because life was cut short and that just like that in a snap of a minute, things could crumble just like his did tho he didn't talk to her about it.
******
Meanwhile Carmen who had been trying to get through to Juni all-day but failed tried another alternative.
"Good evening,Mrs Cartel" Mark word boomed out though the Carmen's phone speaker
"Evening,Mark"
She greeted him right back
Isn't he home yet?" Mark asked
" No,I heard Angela got a contract signed from the company" Carmem asked trailing off
" Did he take it welll?"she added
" Not at all"Mark replied.
" Oh Juni"…
Carmen called out
***
After a few more drinks with,Edna while he had had more drinks than her,she still appeared to be quite drunk than he was
"We would be closing soon,boss" the bartender notified him
"Edna?" Juni called out with a chuckle
"What…? what's it?" Edna replied
"I'm a better drinker than you,that should be known by now"Juni pointed out then added
" Where do you …you live?"
"You want to get in my apartment?" Edna asked with a smirk while Juni just chuckled and replied
" Let me call the boyfriend then, unlock your phone and pass it to me"
He instructed , somehow she managed to do that and was soon swepped off her feet by her boyfriend moments later who thanked Juni before riding off with her.
Juni still in his drunken mode made to leave and somehow left his car keys in the bar.
He unbuttoned the first few shirt buttons ,took off his coat ,with no car,he walked into the dark ,silent coldnight.