Elevation (Jacob Perez Story)

Chapter 36 | Paris's Little Date

They were sat at the table, looking through the menu, when Paris got a text. She looked at the message

Jacob: Hey wassup with you? Just wanted to check you okay?

She then shook her head back into the moment then turned to Idris who was already looking at her smiling

Idris: "You good?"

Paris: "Yea, yeaa. Just a little nervous that's all"

Idris: "Oh let me help you feel relaxed. Cause obviously I'm not doing my job right [As they both chuckled] Okayy let's start off with what you having?"

Paris: [She scanned through the menu] "I think I fancy the... The Corje? Is that what it is?"

Idris: [He nodded and smiled as he called over the waiter] "So... er what you do for a living?"

Paris: "Well... I'm studying at the moment. It's officially my last year of college and then I'm co-boss of this huge company but my partner let me off to finish my studies and hopefully when I'm done... I can focus on my dream job"

The waiter came over and took down both their orders then Idris turned back to Paris

Idris: "Sorry about that..."

Paris: "It's fine" [She smiled innocently]

Idris: [He flashed a great big smile and nodded] "But yeah you were saying... working towards your dream job. Yeah... I like that. You've got admiring aspirations, I really like that"

Paris: "Yeah?... [She smiled as he nodded. She leans over the table] And you are like, what... working in that cute little store I met you in the mall" [She giggled]

Idris: "Tahaa... [He chuckled] Yeah I've been working in that little store but my father also has his own little business and er he's trying to get me to work for him but stuff is just too complicating for me to work for him"

Paris: "Really? Why, what kind of business is it?"

Idris: "He's working in the music industry but let's just say my father ain't all innocent and he has an illegal record of all the criminal things you could think of"

Paris: "Wow, I'm sorry..."

Idris: "Nah it's fine. I'm a grown man and I'm grateful for what he's done and what he's sacrificed but when I remind myself it's bad he's done, just to make sure I have clothes on my back, you know, food on the table it's really makes me think... People really choose to do so wrong just to make it a right?... All I know he's done so many people wrong even his own friends. But instead of thinking about it I just try and be my own man. Not like my father, like who I want to be"

Paris: "That's really deep Idris... I respect you so much for opening up to me. I know a lot of men run around suppressing their feelings about deep issues they have and I have watched it destroy them so much they don't realise it. I feel like a lot of men are developing mental health issues especially us black people"

Idris: "You speaking nothing but facts, Paris. I've always felt my father has had a rough past yk. My mom used to tell me little stories about him getting into trouble with dangerous folks and growing up with a father who abused him... But my father, he don't talk about it. He suppresses that too but the most I can respect is the fact he took that trauma and made sure he loved me, and his family and made sure we were alright. I ain't got nothing but respect for that. That's all he's done so I don't know thinking that deep into it, I really do fault him for the bad he's done to other people. I mean of course I don't agree with it but maybe I'd rather a father who tries to raise me right sacrificing a lot than a father who abuses me that'll affect me in the long run"