Will Love Ever Come?

Chapter 88

Six Weeks Later

AFTER REASHA LEFT, ESCHEWAL slumped on his couch with his stomach feeling twisted from disappointment. The disappointment then changed into guilt, as he remembers Reasha saying, "Call me, yeah," and him replying, "Yeah, man, definitely." He had swallowed the lie while thinking, 'Shit, I drove another nail in the coffin that brands all men as bastards and dirty dogs. If only I had the courage to let her know the deal.' He shakes his head and slumps further down on his sofa.

During the last six weeks, he has dated three different girls with three various problems that stood in the way of a possible relationship. He nods and thinks, 'It won't work out with any other girl because Manna is meant for me. She's the one who'll make me become a creator of values. I've got to get her back.'

He jumps up and turns his house upside down to find Salacious' number. He eventually finds it, and as he dials the number, he feels his heart beating a million times a minute.

"Yeah, hello, who's this?" demands Salacious.

Eschewal gathers his thoughts. He stutters, "It's me."

"Who's me?" demands Salacious again.

"Me, man. Eros, don't you remember me?"

There is a moment of silence.

"Yeah, what do you want?" she replies condescendingly.

He swallows his rage as his old ghetto mentality hits him, 'Don't make anyone take liberties, star.'

He says, "Hold on, do you have to talk to me in that tone?"

"Um, well, no, but you haven't ever called me before, and now, just out of the blue, you're calling."

"Yeah, I know, but you must know why I haven't called before."

She sucks her teeth. "Yeah, I know all about that, so why are you calling me?"

He swallows hard and thinks, 'Should I pour my heart out and tell Salacious that I want her cousin so much that I searched for her for one year? That during that year, my only dream was to find Manna, marry her and love her forever?' He ponders some more, 'Will she even care or believe me? Will it make a difference?'

He blows air through his nose, then answers, "Listen, I need to get Manna back into my life. I need you to give me her new number."

There is another moment of silence.

"What, are you serious? Are you dizzy? Are you stupid? She doesn't want to know you. After what you told her. And how can you tell her something that was personal about me, huh?"

Eschewal does not bother answering. He hangs up the phone and sits there, feeling broken.