Chereads / AFTER THE SHADOWS: A Thin Escape / Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

Without wasting much time, James hurried back to lock his office and join Maxine for the drink. After he locked his office, away they went together. That day was special for James; that soda that Maxine had agreed to had to be special.

Since he wanted them to have a special time together, he could not go to his house. He called his friend Joseph and notified him of this and away they went together. James took her to one of the best restaurants around town.

They spent the whole time they were together talking about what had happened to their relationship and about each other's endeavors. James gave her his experience of how his aunt ruined his life.

She felt sorry for him and tried to talk him into having a talk with his parents but James was not for it. Apart from the talk about his experiences, James was so much interested in them rekindling their previous relationship but Maxine told him that no matter how hard they tried, they could never be together again.

Despite the fact that Maxine had still the feeling for James, she could not bear to risk the shame from his mother again. After they had their dinner, it was already late for them to go home. Despite this fact, they too seemed to need more time together especially, since it was their last.

They booked into a hotel room and spent the night there. Early the following morning, they parted ways and James went back to work. Maxine proceeded home.

James could not help but think about what Maxine had said about there being no chance for them to be together again. This meant that the hopes he had for things getting better for them again were just another child's dream.

His day at work was not easy for him. It was not easy for him to get his head off the thought of there being no chance for them with Maxine. Finally, the day was over and it was time for him to go and have some load off.

It was time for him to visit his famous bar and this time around not only to see Japheth. He also needed to have a few drinks to write off Maxine's memory in his head. On his way to the bar, he got a call from his friend Joseph asking him to pass by the house before he could proceed to Matiku Bar.

Since they did not meet the previous day with him, he knew that maybe Joseph wanted to know how things had gone between him and Maxine. On reaching the house, he met Joseph ready with the questions about how it went with Maxine.

After this talk, he then told James that the real reason for calling him into the house was to warn him against seeing his new friend Mr. Japheth. James could not understand why his friend would warn against seeing Mr. Japheth.

Since it was already in the afternoon and James was ended to Matiku bar, he could not avoid Mr. Japheth. He told Joseph that he could try his best to honor the request but he could not promise him that he could avoid Mr. Japheth. After this talk, he proceeded to Matiku bar to have a drink as he was waiting for Japheth. Though Joseph had warned him against seeing this man, he could not do it. Above it all, he needed this man's company. He had too many things in his mind and needed a friend to share with the troubles.

Unlike Joseph, Japheth was a more listening friend and therefore was the right partner to talk to about the issues in his mind. Not long after, Japheth arrived at the bar. The first question that Japheth asked him was where he was the previous day such that they did not meet.

James explained to him that he had taken his former girlfriend out for dinner as they reflected on their past. Japheth was not contented with that and, besides wanting James to complete his story, he needed to know what had happened between him and Maxine such that they had to part ways.

"My men, tell me, what happened between you and Maxine man? Why did you have to part ways?" asked Japheth.

"My friend, as I have been telling you ever since, there are rats that do not want any good for me in my life. The same people that are behind my being out of school are the same that are responsible for our break up," said James.

"Who are these rats that are after you this much my friend? Just let it out, men. That is what I am here for. I might help you go through your sorrow," asked Japheth.

"Well my friend, today, I am getting drunk as much as I can because I cannot be with Maxine the love of my life. This is not because she does not love me but because somebody decided that we should not be together at all. How could a parent be so heartless men? What is this good they say they want for me that I have not seen till date?" asked James.

"Do not be so quick to judge them, my friend. No matter how bad you think they are, as I have always told you, no parents want nothing short of good for their children." Japheth said.

"My men, I hear what you have been telling me but if you must know after they were lied to by my aunt about me being not in school and having the disease, they pushed every button to see me out of school. This, I cannot forgive neither can I forget" said James.

"Well my friend, I will not force you to do what is not within your heart to but take thought about it. They may have listened to your aunt but you never proved them wrong. Admit it, you too had a role to play in all this," said Japheth.

"Well, I have heard all that you have told me and I promise to take thought. By the way, did you know that Joseph does not like me seeing you again? He tells me that you might have an agenda. What do you say about this?" asked James.

"Well, I knew that he might tell you that but I hope you are a grown-up man and can decide for yourself about this. About me having an agenda, he is right. My agenda is to see that you have come back to your senses; nothing more." said Japheth.