A Lesson Learned

Chapter 22 : Relinquishing Love

Nearly an half later, Ahmad arrived in Harlem feeling every bit of himself as he confidently walked up the stairs in the subway. He glanced down at his custom imprinted Jeans, his Jordan's and his Nike hoodie. It seemed like you couldn't tell him anything, with his head held up high and his strut like he was on some runway. He arrived at Navarre's apartment and convinced his friend to get out apartment and take a walk with him, it had been a long time since they just walked and talked.

"Bitch what is up with our fascination with men with 'M' names?" Navarre asked his best friend with a puzzled look.

Ahmad thought for a moment and then responded, "I dunno maybe men whose names start with 'M' appeal more masculine. I mean look at it both of these men seemed to be as straight as they come until,"

"They laid they're big booty loving eyes on us!" Navarre interjected.

"You are crazy as hell," Ahmad rubbed his forehead. "So what's up with this random hookup with Mekhi? Trying rekindle an old flame?"

"No, never trying to rekindle shit! I just missed the dick, just a little bit. I'm so over it, cuz the mind that is it's attached to is a fucking bitch. Ugh!" Navarre feigned disgust.

"You can't fault the man for loving you," Ahmad said to him.

"Say what?" Navarre sucked his teeth. "Man ain't nobody trying to hear that love shit. Here you go."

"Yes here-I-go. Whether you wanna run from it or not, you know good and well that Mekhi loves you. What's really bothering you about it is that somewhere deep down in that guarded darkened heart of yours, you love him too."

"Not everyone is like you Ahmad, it's not always about love. Do I care about him, yes, but who wouldn't care about someone they were with for two years. But I do not, I repeat, do not love Mekhi. I don't fall in love." Navarre rebutted.

"If you say so, I won't argue with you. On another note, how is it going between you and Winston?" Ahmad inquired.

Navarre grinned widely, "Me and Winston are doing just fine."

"I bet, I see by the look on your face that you guys have been enjoying a lot of each other." Ahmad presumed.

"Yeah," Navarre smile seem to fade. He contemplated confiding his fears about Winston to his friend. "Ahmad I just don't know, I'm trying to enjoy as it lasts, but I know he'll get bored with me sooner or later."

Ahmad eyed his friend trying to figure him out, "You know you seem to amaze me at every turn. How is it that you say you don't want to be intimate with anyone yet want the convenience of having them around till you grow bored with them? So what if he'll be gone one morning, according to you, there are no strings attached."

Navarre huffed and puffed, frustrated in defeat. He had no comeback for the truth; he always lived by the rule of no monogamy or strings attached among gay men. So why was he so sprung of Winston?

Ahmad saw the pained look on Navarre's face, and realized his visit wasn't helping. "Look, let's go to Central Park and walk around. Maybe we can even go that pizza place you like after."

"Don't try to seduce me with pizza!" Navarre sulked. "But I do want those zeppollis."

"Fat ass, come on then, it's a nice ass day today anyway," Ahmad stated getting up and leading them to the subway. The two walked down the stairs and into the station, boarding the A train to 96th Street and walking towards the famed park.

Just as they entered the park, the noticed a familiar face.

"Navarre isn't that," Ahmad started to say but we interrupted by the jogger who seemed ecstatic to see them.