Before James and Emma's life came to what it is now, let's go back to the beginning.
James is an enthusiastic young man, aged 24, he has been through all kinds of lifestyles. Maybe not much about a romantic lifestyle? At least he thinks.
He lives in the capital city, Antananarivo, but in a very small town called Nemenistan. It's the twenty-first century in the parallel universe, on earth.
The country could be called Madagascar. It's an island on the Indian Ocean, near the African continent. Actually, it has been considered as part of Africa.
I can arguably say it's not, but part of Asia. Anyway, that is not the subject of this masterpiece.
James Gladden spent most of his childhood life as an orphan. His parents died when he was nine years old. From there on, he once lived in the streets of Madagascar, then adopted by Luwiza.
Unfortunately, Luwiza did not get to live that long. After she died, he was under the care of Luwiza's parents and stayed with them for a while until they couldn't anymore.
Henceforth, James has lived with many different kinds of people who pitted him; rich, poor, middle class and filthy rich, he could name it.
Among these species, others wanted to use him for their gain, he simply was a tool, a means to their end and others genuinely had pure intentions of helping him become a figure in society.
Finally, he found himself at an orphanage. The founder is a Catholic Priest. He helped James get an education from primary, secondary and up to tertiary.
He moved out of the orphanage when he was of age to pursue his desires into the vast city of Antananrivo. Until, at one point, fate brought him back. Of course, not at the orphanage, but the community where the orphanage was built.
He did support both the orphanage and the community with his different skills, starting with artwork, music, drama plays, acrobatics, and most important of all, his expertise in information technology.
Then one day, after the Priest had observed his dedication to dealing with different kinds of things, he offered him to manage the shop because the person who previously managed it had failed.
He was given a small capital, and asked to add his own money to its progression.
One day, James came from town. In about three minutes, the car had to turn to the left. On the right, before the car could, he saw a post with a few words handwritten. Newly Bar Open.
James noted, gave it some good consideration, he loved doing and trying new things.
After I drop my groceries at home, he meant the shop, I will come and check out that new open bar.
Curiosity struck him. On reaching the shop, after dropping all the shop's items, he decided to go and check out the new bar.
Ten minutes later, he was already at the gate. It was open and he walked right in. To his surprise, a well landscaped, beautiful garden. It had well trimmed grass, plants and flowers. Right at that moment, James knew that this was going to be his favorite place.
He walked to the bar and he entered. He found a bartender who was young, beautiful and chubby. Chubby girls were not his type. But he could not deny her beauty. The young lady looked welcoming at James with a strange gaze, yet in her eyes one could see total surprise.
'Hello, welcome!' James just looked at her in the eyes. He was studying her and, at the same time, the place.
He popped a question, 'Do you have a cold beer?'
She displayed a faint smile,'Yes.'
He still had his eyes connected to hers, 'How much is a Budweiser?'
She couldn't hold the eye connection with James', so she dropped hers.
'It's ten dollars.'
At this instant, she straight-faced him and her eyes met James'. He read her thoughts, she was considering whether he would buy or back off.
After a short serene silence, he broke it with the words, 'give me two?'
She nodded, went into the next room and came back with two beers.
She handed him the beer, James took one, opened it and drank it all at one go. She just watched how the beer slid through his gullet.
Upon finishing his first bottle, the beautiful chubby lady waited a few seconds and then asked, 'Are you staying inside here or outside?'
He looked at her with questioning eyes. Are you kidding me?
'Hell no, I will stay outside.'
Because it was very hot on that day, James walked outside the bar. He heard footsteps behind, he tilted his head for a glance, it was a bartender coming with a chair.
'Where will you sit sir?' She inquired politely.
'Follow me, he continued, walking, until he went and stood at where he wanted to sit.
She put the chair on the spot. James twisted the chair in the direction he wanted to face. He then sat down.
'If you need anything from me, please don't hesitate to call me.'
James glanced at her with a nod, 'OK.'
The bartender turned and walked back into the bar.
I really needed this place to relax. I love it here, this is my new drinking spot and I can't wait to share the news with Edward.
Edward was his close friend in this period. They were neighbors and also grew up together at the orphanage. It was like they were brothers from another mother. How did they become close friends?
It was late twenty-third August, James was dating a girl from France.
Chlòe was her name. Chlòe invited James to a movie.
James arrived early before the movie began. He found her with Louise.
He sat down and they started chatting. Louise had a thing for James, but his heart was already snatched by Chlòe. Although it was that way, he still paid attention to her. As they were chatting, Louise said something spectacular, 'I like Edward so much no offense.'
James was dumbstruck, he did not expect that revelation, he had to make a decision either to take offense or swallow his pride, for he had observed that she was leading him on.
He didn't know what to comment, completely speechless, he felt hurt because he was beginning to develop feelings for her. It was not that he wanted to cheat on Chlòe, but they had an open relationship. So he was free to date other females. James held his belly's feelings and hurried them.
The next day, James meets up with Edward, and he explains how Louise felt about him. He advised him to get active and snatch the girl. Edward asks how this truth was unveiled to him. James told him honestly that he heard it right from the mouth of Louise, herself.
From that day on, the two became good friends, including Louise and James.
They did most of the things together. When the girls went back to France they still remained close friends. They shared almost everything except the women they went out with.
I definitely need to bring Edward here.
He reflected on it, then continued fantasizing about his dreams, how much he wanted to accumulate in his life. The beer finished and he ordered another two.
The minute the beer was delivered, he saw an old person come toward him. From sizing her up, he figured she must be the owner of the garden and the bar.
She reached close and greeted him, 'how are you sir?'
'I am fine and how are you?' James threw back.
'I am fine.'
She went on publishing the bar, the garden and the plans she had in mind. He listened to her attentively and at last said, 'I hear you, I will bring friends here. Besides, I will be your number one customer because of the garden. I am in love with it.'
'Oh, is that so?'
'Yes.'
After the chat was finished, she walked away and James resumed having his leisure time. When he saw a very attractive beautiful young woman entering the gate, the same gate he had used earlier on. That picked up his interest. He watched her every step as she was headed to the bar.
Wow! She is the piece of work he loves.
She wore a black leather coat, a black leather skirt, a white t-shirt, a pink scarf around her neck, black sneakers and white socks.
The bartender from the bar came out running after the spontaneous woman that was going her direction. The two hugged and went into the bar. She had a black drinking bottle in her hand. James changed his position and faced the bar just to have a glimpse of the new girl that had just walked into the bar. He was hoping to trap her with his charm.
James continued his daydreaming while sipping his beer.
This is the place I needed to release my stress. Because I have had a rough day.
After finishing his beers, he laid a hook to trap the bartender so that he could signal her to come over, so that he could make another order. But she did not show up, so, James forced himself to walk to the bar, made an order for two beers.
His eyes constantly rested on an attractive young beautiful woman who had just come a few minutes ago.