Conflict Reloaded

Chapter 16: Shockingly...

(Jamarcus)

"You know we shouldn't be doing this. She'll find out like she almost did. Because of you."

"So what? How was I suppose to know she was gonna get out that day?"

I shrugged. Lisa undid my pants and pulled them down.

I have to be the worst husband in the universe. I looked my wife in her eyes and told her I would never hurt her. She walked in on me breaking that promise I made to her.

How could I kiss Janelle then come and kiss Lisa?

My heart is in two different places. My love has two different faces.

I used to think that a person couldn't be in love with two people at once, but here I go quoting Usher.

Lisa was there for me when Janelle was locked up. I felt so alone, so empty. Lisa filled that empty space. At first I had no idea what happened to her. I was thinking she just up and left us.

US! Damn, I didn't think about Jahlil either. He trusted me with his mother's heart. He would cry to me and beg me to never hurt his mom the way his dad did.

Turns out I'm hurting her the EXACT way Brandon did. With one of her best friends.

They say what you don't know won't hurt you, but when or if the shit hit the fans....It'd be disastrous.

(Kalecia)

"Thank you for hanging out with me. I haven't had the best of luck gaining friends here."

Jahlil sipped some of his drink before grabbing a chicken tender from my tray.

"Yeah that's because it's a bunch of conceited folks around here. Only problem is, they shouldn't be."

I just stared at him for a moment. "I like you alot Jahlil. You keep it so real."

He shrugged. "It's best to. Ain't no point in telling a lie. Once you tell one lie you have to tell a bunch of others to cover the first lie."

I nodded at him then continued eating. He caught me looking at him again.

"What? Do I got somethin' on my face?"

"Yeah...the corner of your mouth. But that's not why I'm looking at you like that. Besides your skin tone, you look a lot like... Ummm, where are you from?"

"Riverdale. Why? Who I look like?"

"I'm probably wrong. You look a lot like... My dad. When I was thirteen my mom let me meet him for the first time. I'm seventeen now."

"What's his name?"

"Brandon McCl-"

"So this you now Jahlil?"

(Malia)

"Answer my fucking question. Who is this hoodrat?!"

Ugh, I wished hadn't asked Olivia to stop here. I walked in KFC to see Jahlil on a date.

"Bitch who the fu-"

"Kalecia, don't. I'm sorry."

Jahlil stood up and grabbed me by my arm leading me out the restaurant.

"Who the FUCK do you think you are? You better be glad she ain't a hoodrat. Or else she woulda jumped on yo ass. Pregnant or not. Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?!"

I looked down at my baby bump. "Because I didn't want you to deny me. I'm only four months. Four months ago we were in a relationship."

"I'm fully aware of that Malia. I wouldn't deny my child."

"Children. Twins."

His face began to lose some of that tension. I swear he looked like he was gonna swing on me at first. But Jahlil would never do that to me. He still loves me. He has to. And I still love him.

"I was hoping that maybe we could get back together and raise our children together."

He shook his head. "There are a lot of parents out there who raise their children without them being together. We'll be a set of parents like that. Malia I can't let you wreak me again. I don't know if I could be with anyone else because I don't want to be hurt again. I can't go down that road again."

He put a tender soft kiss against my forehead before his arms wrapped around me. "I will check up on you often, but all we can try to be friends."