text: Guillaume  Mwamba CROSSROAD  & THE CHOICES OF LOYALTY 
   
   
   CHAPTER ONE 
   
   RETURNING PAIN OF THE PAST 
   
   Everything I hoped for, I thought would be fine. I guess I was wrong. I promised never to untangle myself in love ever again nor ever even fall in love but I guess I was. I believe I can never run away from love. Neither was I believed to be someone who could bring fear in the shadow of the death world, kingdom. 
   To tell you. the truth, I am just a simple man that is weak and powerless. Dispatch that all this began on the most unthinkable and unbearable cold rainy day that late evening. 
   "Matondo?" She called. 
   I turned around where I met face to face with a girl who I invited for a little tour in rainy Sahuarita's park in Tucson, Arizona. 
   "All ears, Nicole. And what seems to be the problem in that case? Besides, did you enjoy our dinner at the most expensive restaurant?" I chuckled. 
   "Um, well, I did but let's break up our engagement promises, please? I don't love you anymore. Neither do I have any feelings for you but I loved your  best friend-!" Nicole paused. 
   "My best friend? Huh, you mean Thomas? And why didn't you tell me? Neither would I have fallen in love or have feelings for-!" I shouted. 
   "Ravenous isn't it, Matondo, my friend? And beg for your forgiveness but we truly are sorry. I mean I am sorry for-!" Thomas discontinued. 
   "Touch me not you traitor! And how could you Thomas? All this time you have been going behind my back! How could you?" I shouted. 
   "Liame, please. I am begging you to explain myself. I have mercy on me please!" Thomas begged. 
   "Enough, Thomas! And would you just leave me alone? I hope you are both happy." I cried. 
   "Liame, please, just try to understand. I truly loved-." Nicole stopped. 
   After I walked away because I did not want to hear Nicole’s last sentence, I disappeared out of their sight within the silhouette's shortcut route of the rainy evening. 
   I, Liame, twenty-six, cutest irresistible African from Congo man. I had curly noir hair, brown eyes, and was wearing a suit but I usually wear a long-sleeved white sweater, sweat pants though I don't sweat, and Nike shoes. 
   Nicole Smarts, twenty-second, mixed Native-American woman. Puffy dark long hair, and brunette eyes, she wears a long-sleeved white dress for our evening dinner, a dark blue sweater jacket, and lower snicker shoes. 
   Thomas was around twenty-four, with puffy noir hair, golden-brown eyes, the cutest man from Britain, wearing a dark golden khaki trenchcoat, Christmas red sweater, jeans, and boots. 
   Moments later,  I opened my eyes and was truly grasping very hard that morning. 
   I turn my head to look at the clock, it was nine a.m. in the morning. 
   "Man, I slept all these nine-hour! Seriously?" I scoffed aloud. 
   "Excellent, Liame. And I was the one who was supposed to say that! Besides, you have a guest that wants to see you, "Nurini exclaimed. 
   "Excuse me, a guest that wants to see me? And who is she?" I asked. 
   "Huh-um, I saw her before but she claimed to know you?" Nuruni nodded. 
   "I see. And would you please just tell her to wait for me, I am coming down." I responded. 
   "Right, right." Nuruni agreed. 
   Later I discovered myself in the restroom, putting on my warm clothes because it was colder in Paris, France. 
   I discovered myself downstairs unless I saw what brought unbearable shock to the core. 
   "Excuse me, Nicole? How are you doing here? Still, what  do you want this time with me?" I gasped. 
   "Liame. Please, I know that you are heart-!" Nicole paused. 
   "I thought I told you that I don't want to see you. Jesus, I can believe you would want to come here of all the places. Christ!" I roared. 
   I furiously left the humongous house, and rushed into the streets, out of Nuruni's and Nicole’s sight. 
   Somewhere around that hour, they lived with the wealthiest businesswoman in Paris. Her young girl exercised a lot by running through the woods, in town, cities, and in her neighborhood heading to her mansion which she reached in time. 
   Marching into the house, after opening the door, was discontinued for her mother. 
   "Exercise, I supposed, Navidad?" Mika asked.  
   "Surely, I am, mother. And what seems to be the problem? Are you against me going out to exercise now?" Navidad chuckled. 
   "Humph, well I was just worried sick that all, child. And what about if those humans do something terrible to you? Maybe, find out who you are? Man, there is nothing about them but merciless murderers!" Mika gasped. 
   "Mother. Oh, Christ, you worry too much. Besides I am too grown up for them to hurt-!" Navidad paused.  
   "Exactly. You are grown up. A luminously cutest gorgeous young woman, and came to be irresistible to a man's heart. Might make him fall in love with you for his first sight, Navidad." Mika panicked.  
   "Um-er, mother. And like I said, you worried that much. Neither will anything happen to me. I am going to bathe." Navidad signed.   
   Navidad walked out of her mother's sight and into her room,  walked into the restroom, in the shower closure, and turned on the water.  
   Around that same hour, I find myself marching in an empty neighborhood. I was lost in thought but alerted at the same time till I discovered myself resting on my favorite spot, which was an abandoned Pentecost African Church, and was just breathing in the fresh air.  
   Dispatch that this abandoned church is cursed because law enforcement used to find corpses reaped from limb to limb in a terrible manner.  
   Going further, that's why this place is closed down or banned for anyone crossing its street.  
   Back at the house, Nicole was resting on Nuruni's mansion's couch. 
   Will, he never forgive me I suppose? And I know that I hurt him,  but there is nothing about him filling his heart with bitterness to the point he cannot forgive me. Even my husband Thomas was being very depressed Moody and even regretting betraying-!" Nicole discontinued.  
   "There you are. Besides, where is the man you betrayed a long time ago?" Interfered the voice.  
   "Noel! And there's no such a thing? Still, you are nineteen, and that was nineteen decades ago, little girl!" Nicole chuckled. 
   "Sure, sure. Still, this is no time to complain about it!" Noel signed. 
   "Nicole, where is Liame? Don't tell me he ran away, the moment he set eyes on you?" Thomas asked.  
   "Exactly. He ran away the moment he set us on me. Man, what am I going to do for him to forgive us? I knew what I did was unthinkable and unbearable. Liame has been holding onto all of the pain against us for these nineteen years. I have no idea if he loved that much.`` Nicole signed. 
   "Excellent. I believe you're the young woman he used to talk about. And Liame promises me that he is going to introduce you to me, that's the day you betrayed him. Neither did he believe his own best friend, whom he trusted the most, could do that unimaginable to him." She added. 
   "So, that's why Liam has been furious, once he set eyes on you. And you must trust his trusted friend Thomas, right? Please,  give him some time. I will come around." Nuruni nodded.  
   "Come around Nuruni? I am not coming around anywhere, " I roared.   
   "Right, right. And just calm down, son," Nuruni signed. 
   "Great. Well, well, well, if it isn't my old friend. Coming to mingle with the broken-hearted?" I scoffed.  
   Unless I meet face with a particular young girl. 
   I saw Thomas looking down in shame and disappointment, and pleading eyes. I saw that he was truly apologizing. I was overwhelmed with rage at that time but decided to calm down. "Morning, Liame. Please don't shout at us. We only came here to introduce our daughter to our daughter. Um, she wanted to meet you. And perhaps apologized on our behalf, "Thomas chuckled nervously. "I see.  Sure, morning Thomas' and Nicole’s daughter nice to meet you. Happy, now? Besides, I am a serious guy, just leave me alone. Have enough damage to me, and I want nothing from you. I only want you guys to just get out! Go away and leave me alone, please. "I signed. "We won't leave. Not until you forgive us. Come on, man this is ridiculous! All I want for you is to move on with your life. I know that I betrayed but we were in love man," Thomas replied.   
   "Excellent. And then you should tell me. If you did tell me that both of you are in love like you suggested, I could not propose to Nicole. All you two gave was the greatest shock after I was engaged to her. Seems like having a friend is nothing but a treacherous disappointment. And do you even know the meaning of a friend, Thomas?" I asked.  
   "Sure. A friend is someone who shares his or her secret with you. I don't tell you but I was stabbed in the back and I have been living with that guilt ever since, Liame. And sorry I am pleading for forgiveness, please!" Thomas apologized. 
   "Besides, I have a cousin. And she is irresistibly luminous gorgeous. Would you mind if I introduced her to you  but if you are not interested-!" Thomas paused. 
   "Maybe I should amend my parents' betrayal by becoming your wife. Would that make you forgive them?" Noel interfered.  
   Nuruni and I exchanged glances till I burst out laughing hard. 
   "Classic. Not exactly. And besides, I have forgiven them a long time ago, Noel. I was just furious with them for not telling me that they loved each other,  but betrayed me that's made me rageful, "I signed.  
   "Man, forgive us, Liame. And we should tell you. Maybe that would make you not propose to Nicole and creates this misunderstanding and betrayal nonsense," Thomas laughed.  
   "Marvelous. Still, did you only come to beg for forgiveness or there is much more?" I asked.  
   "Not at all. We are here to invite you to the royal birthday party. It was my cousin’s birthday celebration. And she is single. Perhaps I should mingle the two of you, "Thomas added.  
   "Hah, nice try Mr. Matchmaker, but not interested at all, "I scoffed.  
   "Not interesting at all? And what are talking about, child? Besides, you are not getting any younger, Liame." Nuruni replied.  
   "Forgive but I will never fall in love ever again!" I refused.  
   Later that night, I discovered myself at Thomas' cousin's birthday party. I was sitting on the comfortable couch, watching everyone dancing, and drinking soda.  
   Moments later, Thomas came to pull me by my hand up to where we found ourselves before his cousin.  
   "Thomas? Is this the man you wanted to introduce Navidad to?" She asked.  
   "Exactly, Rebecca. And where is Navidad by the way?" He asked.  
   "Forgive me, she did not attend. Though it is her birthday because she did not want the attention of lustful men," Rebecca chuckled.  
   "Wait, what? But I told her that I will introduce her to my old friend here. I am so sorry, old friend. Uh, Rebecca, this is Liame. And Liame this Rebecca but the woman I wanted to introduce you to she is not here," Thomas signed.  
   "Huh-er, nice meeting you," I  responded.   
   "Of course, me, too. And would you care to dance since Navidad who you came to see is not here?" Rebecca asked.  
   I gasped in shock, Rebecca grabbed me by my hand, and we find ourselves on the dancing floor.  
   I was joyously dancing with her without any worries. 
   Moments later, we spent all night chatting together during the full moon. Neither Rebecca you want me to do you want to let me go. I spent all night having an endless composition possession.  
   I can see that Rebecca seems to have fun, her eyes were lightening up, and she did seem uncomfortable with me. Both of us were walking side to side. I can see through her eyes that she was having fun with me for the first time.  
   "Liame?" Rebecca called.  
   "I am listening, Rebecca. And what seems to be the problem?" I asked.  
   "I am so happy that I have met you. Perhaps my cousin introduced you to me. Or maybe my cousin Navidad, the birthday girl, will be finally very lucky to have you as a friend to mingle with." Rebecca chuckled.  
   "Right. I am glad to have a conversation with you and meet you, " I replied. We find ourselves sitting on the bench, we talk some more, unless we are discovered by a furious man.  
   "Excellent, excellent. And what do we have here, if it isn't Rebecca mingling with a human?" Snarled the man.  
   "My my my if it isn't my oldest cousin, Diamond. And what brings you here?" Rebecca asked.  
   "Um-er, that's what I want to know sister? And besides, I thought you were to be at your oldest cousin's birthday party instead you are mingling with-!" Another voice was discontinued.  
   "Leave those two alone, Damascus. Always trying to ruin everything. Don't you think that both Rebecca and her new friend are having fun? I mean letting a moment of privacy I suppose." Thomas pleaded.  
   "We were just passing by, but I am not sure you know what will be happy about someone mingling with his mate? It's going to be an interesting marvelous and crossroad love triangle,  haha." Diamond snickered.  
   "Right. Just run away as you can before I crash both of your heads!" Thomas scolded.   
   Diamond and Damascus the twin brothers yelped after vanishing within the silhouettes.  
   "Huh-um, forgive me about that. I believe you two must continue. And I wondered why Navidad did not attend her birthday celebration. I will be keeping a closer eye on the two of you, "Thomas answered. 
   "Um-er, how kind of you, cousin. And are you trying to mingle your friend with Navidad because you are trying to make amends for your guilt? I mean, well, of betraying your best friend by taking his fiancé away?" Rebecca asked.  
   "I suppose. I was a jerk back then. And I have been living with that guilt ever since but I am free that my friend has forgiven us." Thomas squealed.  
   "Awesome. I am getting sleepy, I need to go to bed. Perhaps we will talk some more-." I yawned.  
   "Man, Liame. Surely, we will take you to  our huge mansion and you shall rest." Nicole whispered.  
   Later on, I sounded asleep in the huge guest room of my old friend till I felt a chill feeling smack my spine.  
   I woke up when the window was opened. I saw a man in white clean silhouettes, his eyes were in the color tongue of consuming fire. 
   He covered himself in the clean hooded cloak, only his burning flames eyes glowing within the darkness of his hood. 
   I rubbed the sleepiness out of my eyes to make sure what I saw was real and not my imagination because I have no idea if what I saw was real. 
   
   
   
   CHAPTER TWO 
     
   
     
   RUINED MY REPUTATION GIRL 
   
   I ruined my eyes to make sure if what I was seeing was not my imagination, but reality still the moment I glanced at the window he was already gone.  
     
   
   
   Publication Date: June 6th 2022 https://www.bookrix.com/-lw9613e57cb1aa5