Will Love Ever Come?

Chapter 3

ESCHEWAL'S MIND SPINS. HE feels like calling Keneisha back and begging her to meet him when his pet name is again hollered. This time from the top of a bedroom window. He looks up and spots another thug he grew up with on the mean streets. Deuce is a natural fighter with huge muscles, medium in height with a face that is a bit too pretty for a man.

Eschewal's heart pounds inside his chest. He cannot remember the reason why he and Deuce stopped hanging out; it might have been over an argument that could now lead to a fight. He licks his lips and controls his voice, trying not to show his fear. "Yeah, what's going on, bro?"

"Boy, nothing, cuz. Oi, wait there. I'm gonna come down and rap to you."

At that moment, Eschewal's legs shake. He feels as if 20 kilos of weight has been attached to his wrist. His mind tells his legs to run, but his legs do not respond. His male pride kicks in. He tells himself, "Come on, bruv, don't be a punk." He shakes his head and wonders, 'What happened to that killer instinct? Has that black book turned me into a pussy?'

He thinks hard about those thoughts and then realizes that the black book has not only made him value his own life; it has made him value the lives of others also. His thoughts break as the front door opens.

Deuce comes charging out.

Eschewal holds his breath, waiting to block the impact from a punch.

Deuce's arms extend towards Eschewal and embrace him with a handshake and a hug. "What's up, blood? I ain't seen you for long, cuz. What's going on, man? What's popping? What's good?"

Eschewal pulls back and looks square into Deuce's eyes, wanting to see if he is for real. He cannot tell, so he plays along. "Just chilling, bruv, man's working now, you get me?"

Deuce releases his grip on Eschewal and replies, "Yeah? Man's working too, fam. You feel me? I left the grime. Road is too sticky. It's a long ting."

Eschewal smiles as he relaxes. "Course, course, cuz, the streets are long, blood, you done know. So, where are you working now anyway?"

Deuce sucks his teeth and then answers, "I sell phones, blood. Trust me, it's all right, blood. You know how much chicks man's slapped from the time I've been selling phones."

"Yeah, true stories?" says Eschewal, as he grows a broad smile, remembering that Deuce had always been known as a player and would have many girlfriends at the same time.

"Yeah, bruv, one's coming down right now, bruv. I sold her a heavy phone and gave her a good deal. You feel me, player? Course." Deuce rubs his chin. He points at Eschewal. "Oi, you know what, though, bruv? This ting is a little freak, cuz. Man can battery it, standard."

Eschewal's eyes widen as he remembers taking turns to have sex with girls back in the day. He hated doing it because he never liked having unemotional sex. It always made him feel dirty afterward, and not only that, there was always a chance that the girl would call rape.

He looks Deuce in his eyes and wants to say no, but the whole week of anticipating some good sex has woken The Dog in him. He feels as if blood from his brain is flowing down to his penis, making him light-headed. "Yeah, true stories, yeah, she's up for battery?" He asks as he leans his elbow on the front gate.

"Course, bruv, I'm not gonna lie to you." Deuce opens his front door and invites Eschewal inside.

Eschewal steps into the house saying, "Yeah, man, I'm down," with words from the black book racing through his mind: Promiscuous sex lowers one's self-esteem through short-term happiness, ultimately leading to long-term problems.