The Heart of Politics

Exchange of words

It's been a very very long time and a very hectic one at that. I apologize for the wait. I'm taking a Summer course and shit got hectic. If you need to read the last chapter pls do. Again I am very sorry. 😔

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday passed, and even though Jesse had gotten to see Rob's smile last Friday, and every day since. He still wouldn't talk about the elephant in the room, nor would he attend any of the debates. To the point it was beginning to get attention from other politicians. Some of them would come and ask Jesse:

"Where's Rob?"

"Do you know what Mr. Jetten could be doing?"

"You should convince him to come to at least a couple of the debates."

"Does he seriously think that he can just avoid his debate times."

And despite Jesse being unable to answer every time, it was better than having them posting about it, or commenting on it on television, some even brought it up against Adrie. Who would do her best to turn the discussion back onto the bill, but it became more difficult every time.

But more than anything, Jesse felt himself standing at a dead end. That hopelessness, that confusion starts to burn into frustration, it festers into anger. Slowly you start to hate the dead end you face, and you want to bash it; Really, Hard. But at the same time you want to cry. You taste the bitterness of a lump in your throat. You feel like maybe if you curled up into fetal position and sobbed you'd feel better. This feeling grew in Jesse with each passing day.

And Rob acts like nothing is happening. He acts like everything is okay. Jesse rubbed his forehead.

"Are you alright?" Barend asked in greeting.

"I'm...yeah I'm fine."

"Okay, maybe I'll believe it if you don't look so troubled next time."

Jesse snorted.

"Thank god, I don't have to get up there today. But poor Adrie is really going to face it today."

"Well it's almost been two weeks and Rob has not attended a single debate."

Jesse clenched his jaw, what do I even say? "Oh he's out getting coffee"? "You know other work things"? He's clearly avoiding these debates.

"Have you told his mother about it?"

"Yes, I've mentioned it."

"And she..."

"Did what any mother would do, started panicking."

"And you..."

"I believe Rob will figure out his shit, and therefore I calmed his mother down, because Rob is a grown man capable of making 'grown man' decisions."

Jesse scoffed "Is he really?"

Barend eyes Jesse.

"Sorry, that...came out wrong."

"No you're right in a sense, he is currently doing a shit job. But he is also your boyfriend—"

"That's why its frustrating he won't talk to me."

"So?" Both men spun around to face the newcomer.

Khadija stood there with her hands on her hips.

"What?"

"I'll repeat myself for you Jesse; 'so?'"

"Again, what?" Jesse shook his head.

"Let me explain. Think of a time you were so scared to tell someone something, because you either feared their reaction or the consequences of what you said."