Say Hello to the Broken-Hearted (8 page)

j
ust as soon as he says hello... hello...
          you never see it coming then

t
he next thing you know

u
nconditional love

u
nconditional love

s
he aint looking for no diamonds

a
nd digging for no gold

j
ust somebody to love

u
nconditional love

w
hoa you never see it coming

a
nd the next thing you know

u
nconditional love

u
nconditional love

s
he aint looking for no diamond

a
nd digging for no gold

j
ust somebody to love

u
nconditional love

w
oah
        the fourteenth of February

g
ot a cold shoulder from someone so unexpected

y
ou left your heart unprotected

y
eah then you built a china wall

g
uard it like a soldier

p
eople would call your phone

y
ou act like nobody’s home
 

a
nd I went to the corner store

a
nd I forgot what I went for

j
ust as soon as you said hello

helllooo
        I never saw it coming

a
nd the next thing I know

unconditional
love

u
nconditional love
        I aint looking for no diamonds

a
nd digging for no gold

j
ust somebody to love

u
nconditional love.

“That’s my new favorite
song.” The voice from above said. He looked up from the phone screen and saw Karla Steelburg standing there in blue skin tight jeans and a thin cut white T-shirt showing her navel ring.

“
Jah Cure is his name. I can relate to the words.” John added.

“Every time I he
ar it, I stop and sing along with the artist. He is talking about us. You know, just like when you came to our corner store and spoke to me. I am sure none of us was looking for love. None of us expected this and now look at us. We are in love John.”

“Where were you Karla?” John asked, “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“I am sorry John. I went for a walk with my friend…”

“What friend
!”

“He lives down the street…”

“Who is he?” John was edging on furious.

“
His name is Kemar Benson. You don’t know him. Actually he likes me, and a couple weeks ago I thought he was cool. We flirted a little but then I met you. He kept texting and calling me regardless of me not answering. So I went to tell him respectfully, it’s never going to happen.”

“Wow! So you ha
d to take a walk to get some closure?”

“
It’s no big deal John. I could have done it here.”

“So why didn’t you?” John reiterated.

“John what is this?” Karla asked in a contempt tone. Risen eyebrows expressed her curiosity and disbelief at John’s ludicrousness, “Don’t you trust me John?”

John looked at her long and hard.

“I do trust you Karla.”

He did
trust her but not completely. He would be a fool to.

“
Waiting for you to leave the old snub.” He should have said.

“Good, so where is this coming from?”

“A little insecure I guess…I don’t know, maybe it’s the thought of you being with someone else, it doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Aww John. You don’t have to be jealous.”

“I guess I am.”

“Stop!”
She shook her head, “I am not going to leave you John.”

“I believe you Karla…I am sorry.”

“Apology accepted, now let’s party!”

“
Nahh, I am not in the mood babe. You go ahead, have fun.”

“Ok
if you insist. See you in a bit.”

He nodded a
nd she turned around and gyrated into the dancing crowd.

He saw her dance the first night they had a party there and how seductive it was to watch her move her thighs to the rhythm of the beat. Tonight she will do it again.

The crowd made a circle, as they cheered for the person at the center.

“I bet
it’s her.” John thought. If it was a party filled with rich folks they would throw money at her.

He walked closer to the ring to get a better watch of the performance.

“This is better than paying to get into a strip club.” The random guy beside him called his cousin…I mean his lover, a stripper.

John gave him a furious stare from the corner
of his eyes. He would have choked the life out of him, but why start a fight over his cousin? He would win the fight but it would be a pyrrhic victory.

He returned his attent
ion to the lady in tight skinny-jeans. She swung her thighs from left to right and gyrated to the ground while tipping her pointer finger on her tongue. She then crawled on her knees to the guy in front of her staring at her with mouthwatering lust. She grabbed onto his jeans and rubbed her hands up his legs, stood to her feet, turned and braced her firm apple shaped ass against his crotch.

He braced her against his body with his hands to her shoulders
as they gyrated to the center of the ring.

He went down on the ground and called her to ta
ke the challenge. She never ran from one. She went over him and fucked him. At least that’s how John saw it. She returned to her feet and stood steadily. She stopped dancing but the music didn’t stop. Something else happened. She shrugged the idiot off of her. He didn’t seem to get the picture that his one night stand was over.

She stared with unpleasant surprise at the man in
front of her in stripe shorts and a plaid T-shirt and white Nike sneakers. He was tall, dark and looked about twenty five.

It appeared as if he was having a coronary thrombosis right where he stood. He took deep quick breaths to maintain his equilibrium. Aching with contempt and steaming with anger, he watched her like a lion about to pounce on his prey.

Karla Steelburg walked up to the man and hugged him. He didn’t budge. He was merely as excited to see her or maybe it was the uncompromising position he caught her in. Which man in their sane state of mind would be contended to watch another man practically have sex with his woman in clothes and in public sight at that? How embarrassing and betrayed he felt…

“Hey J
oe! I didn’t know you were coming. You should have called. I am sorry you saw that.” Karla tried to calm him down, while ushering him to walk back to the car parked by the road, in an attempt to reduce the likeliness of a dramatic confrontation with John.

“I didn’t know I had to make
an appointment to see my woman.” He had quite a humble character. He wasn’t the type to prolong an argument or be hotheaded for too long. Besides, he was enchanted by her charm. Being very much in love with her too, he was a submissive puppy.

“Of course you don’t. I just wasn’t expecting you babe.”

“I can see that.”

“I miss you Joseph.” That’s all it took to soften him out.

“I miss you too Karla. It has been what, more than a month since we saw each other?”

“Has it been that long? I am not sure.” She wouldn’t know. She was busy spending the days with John and whenever he called she would make the conversation brief.

“Yeah it has been that long. We haven’t had sex in a while.”

“I have had sex with you. John made love to me.” She thought.

“Ahh…Joe, I am not ready to go back home with you as yet.”

“I don’t understand. Why
won’t you come with me? It’s not easy sleeping beside pillows when I am used to having you there.”

“Joe I know how you feel. Trust me, I do, but I have stuff doing here and besides I have to remain in the store as Andre
w has been really busy lately.”

“Karla! Where is this coming from? Before, you would be excited to come home with me. We hardly ever talk on the phone anymore! What is happening
here?”

“Joe
look…”

“I need you to come home with me! End of conversation!” He demanded in a frank, stern tone. She was very familiar with that com
pulsive reaction. He seldom got aggravated by her but whenever he did she knows well to do as he says.

“Ok…I am going to pack.” She replied and went towards the house. She found John sitting on the
doorsteps again, browsing his cell phone. It looked as if someone had torn his whole life to pieces.

“That’s him,
isn’t he?” John asked.

“Yes….
That’s Joe.”

She looked down at him and saw the insecurity, the jealousy and a staunch sense of betrayal on his face. She knew he was hurting but what could she possibly do? She made it clear to him what the situation was like from the get-go a
nd he insisted. He still loved her nonetheless. Of course it wasn’t intentional but it was more than likely to happen.

“John I don’t mean to but I have to go.” Karla found herself saying. She didn’t want to see him hurt further
, but it would be wrong to leave without telling him that she is leaving.

“I don’t want you to.” John forced out with a low pitched tone. You could hear the agony in his voice.

“I have no choice John.” She reiterated, “He is forcing me to go back home with him.”

“You promised me that you will never leave.”

“John! I thought we have already talked about this!”

“Talk about what Karla? John protruded in an angered and confused voice, “That you are going away to FUCK your boyfriend!”

“John please…”

“I didn’t sign up for this woman!” John cursed.

“Oh so now I am a woman!” She fired back.

He didn’t want t
o start a fight. That would push her away. Especially when it seems he is playing second fiddle.

“I could have sworn you love me.”

“I do love you John, with all my heart. You are the only one I want. If you only understand….”

“Understand what Karla?” John exclaimed and walked down to her, “Listen,
and listen to me carefully. I’m going home and when I come here in the morning I want you to be here and if you’re not, then it’s over.”

That’s all he said and walked away.

Chapter 10

       Joseph
drove into the driveway of the elegant two stories beach view property that had on the ground floor a furniture manufacturing shop and the hall room. The dining and bedroom quarters were on the second.

He owned the
company. Furniture production was a lucrative business in a city such as Montego Bay. One didn’t have to ask how he afforded a girl like Karla Steelburg, but how did John afforded her?

“We are home. I am glad you decided to come.” Joe opened after a long silent drive from the country hills.

“Me too…” She lied as she gazed at her reflection from the mirror on the wall of the living room.

“You never realize how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have- R
.I.P Dad”

He approached her from behind, caressed her side down to her thighs and spoke to the mirror on the wall.

“You are beautiful girl. I am glad you are mine, mine alone to keep. Tonight I am going to rock your world.”

“You are not John.” She thought.

“I have to take a shower Joseph. I feel dirty.” The smile faded from her face.

“How longer do
I have to carrying on this façade?” She thought as she climbed the stairs to the shower.

“
I’ll be out in fifteen minutes.’ She turned and said, “Let’s get it over with.”

Fifteen minutes
in the shower turned into forty-five minutes. She took solace within the isolation of the four walls and the glass door, watching it fogged as the heat made its indelible impression and hid her from the man lying in red petals. She didn’t want to face the deception and the dishonesty. All she thought about was how badly it would hurt John to know after the bond, and the love they created, the promises of sticking together until judgment day and beyond were meaningful as sand in an hour glass.