Two weeks and three days after we came back from Paris, we had Agathe's birthday. Her father invited people from his business including my father. Regina and Raleigh, Katharina and Mathis, Maia, and Thaddeus were there too, and of course, their parents.
The party was a blast. Then the birthday girl, my girl, walked out the door. She was wearing a slitted black dress, and her hair curly hair just fell down perfectly. I was with our friends when she strutted to me. I have never seen her like that. To me, she always looks so, childish. But that night, what do teenagers call it nowadays? Ah, bad bitch.
"Happy twenty-fourth birthday, Aggie."
"Thanks, Kath."
And then, Agathe's cake came in. I told you, Agathe is like a little child. She loves cake and chocolate. And she also gets excited over tiny, tiny, things. She pulled me into the center with her parents to blow out her cake.
🎶Happy birthday, Aggie🎶
Everybody who was invited sang "Happy Birthday" to Agathe. She was smiling ear to ear when we did that. Then she hugged her father and mother. Then she gave me a kiss on the cheek. The music then start playing and everybody came to the dance floor. Did I mention that Agathe is a great dancer? Of course, no. That's why I told you.
And tell you what, I think the basis of every great couple is one of them being a great dancer and one of them having both left feet. Almost every couple that I know is like that. Maia and Thaddeus are a perfect couple and Maia can't dance.
Anyway, Aggie pulled me to the dance floor and I didn't know what to do. I didn't find it embarrassing, my woman is thriving and dancing like she is water in the ocean, just flowing to the sound of music naturally. As we danced the night away, Mr Evans called me, and so, I excused myself.
Her father gently pushed me into the dark room to talk. There was something eerie about it.
"I want you to stay out of my daughter's life from now on," Mr Evans said.
I was shocked. He was dead serious when he said it. When I first step into this house, I felt that I was welcome but not too welcome. I asked him why, and the answer was sadly shallow.
"You can't be with her because your father has a debt to the Martins', and I can't give my daughter to some broke guy who can't support her daily needs."
I was a raging bull when I got this news. How? How did I not know, that the company that I'm working for, that's my father's, was falling apart, and was the last one to know?
"Mr. Evans... Sir, I can assure you, that no matter how hard it is to support your daughter's daily needs, I will do the best that I can to be with her."
"'Doing the best you can' isn't enough for me and for my daughter. She is my only princess and I can't have her walking around with some poor boy and have children with him."
He warned me not to tell anyone about the talk we just had that night. Then, he stormed out. I was left there alone with a broken heart. And yes, I want to be with Agathe, forever. But, without her father's blessing, I don't think I can be with her, for a father is the most important man I'm a girl's life, I also don't want to make her choose between me and her family.
I walked out, wiping my tears off and smiling. It's Agathe's birthday. I decided that I would break up with her after the party.
We danced and danced. Until it was finished. I don't have the courage to tell her but there I was, standing alone with her in the middle of the garden that's supposed to be special under the moonlit sky.
She walked and hugged me and asked if I was okay.
"No. I'm not."
"Is there a problem?" She asked.
"It's over, Agathe."
"What do you mean 'it's over'?"
"We're done."
"No, w-why? Did I do something wrong?"
It was hard to see her face with tears. Especially because it was my fault. I didn't look at her, not even once when I broke up with her. While restraining my tears, she was trying to hug me. And, I was nudging her away from me.
"Please, Brahms, let's talk. Please..."
I can't take it anymore, so I left without saying goodbye as I heard her wailing like a banshee. I didn't turn to look at her, not even once.
I drove my car, far from everything, and went to Katharina's treehouse. Sobbing, I prayed and hoped that someday, she and I would be together, and no one will stop us. Katharina heard the news. She called.
"Brahms, what happened?"
"I can't tell you. But-"
"What's it?"
"Promise me, to tell her this one day, Kath. I love her, very, very much, to the moon and back, please..."
I didn't hear Katharina and then the phone just dropped. I screamed at the top of my lungs, my eyes burning, and my heart aching. I had the idea of jumping from a feet high tree and I know, I had lost my mind at that time.
And then I remember, that if I died that night, my Agathe won't see me no more. I knew she would live in agony and melancholy. My father also called me that night. He wants me home. So, I drove it n my way home.
When I got there his face was darkened with anger and at the same time, sadness. He let me take a seat beside him. He wanted to give me alcohol, but I said "no", because if I did, I might not be telling this story by now.
"He told you?"
"Yes. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm-I'm going to tell you, but tonight isn't the right time."
"He wants me away from Agathe."
He didn't talk and it made me cry more. He just sat beside me, patting my back as I wail. Of course, Maia and Thaddeus knew, they also came that night without knowing the reason why I broke up with Agathe. They didn't ask any questions, they're just, there.
