Chapter Eight

 “ Come with me ma'am.” The girl says, I was hesitant while I got up.

“ Hey! Go on we don’t have time to waste. Excuse me! He turns to another lady working there. Please I will be needing both manicure and pedicure. 

I went with in with her intro a room where I was given an apparel to change into while I laid face down on the table. While she proceeded with the treatment, then waxing and finally a thorough body massage, I could feel the softness of my skin. If my skin can speak trust me she would be singing Greg’s praises by now. 

After the whole procedure I came out feeling amazing as I went to meet Greg who had finished with his nail treatment and was waiting for me.

“ Oooh! Girl your skin is glowing. He stood and walks up to me. Now you look a lot better, you shouldn’t punish your self because of the matters of the heart. He touched my cheeks. Shall we?”

“ But what about the payment?”

“ don’t worry I took care of It, so let’s go I’m famished.”

“ oh so sorry, let’s go.” 

We left the spar and he drove us to a restaurant just near by. I just tagged along with him without a word. We pulled in and continued into the restaurant were we sat at a corner and then we placed an order. While we waited for our order he broke the silence with an obscure question.

“ Why do we choose to always neglect the heart even when could feel it aching.?”

I froze for a minute, I didn’t have an answer to his question. I looked away immediately, I could feel my blood gushing down my legs. All these while his eyes were fixed on me.

“ Are you alright?”

“ Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine.” My voice falters.

“ Hailey, If You Don’t Mind May I Say Something To You?”

“ Yeah. Go ahead.”

“ the both of you don’t know how lucky you are to have one another, he paused and sigh. I for once was contented watching how your love blossomed in these few months. I see my friend yearning for love after so many years, I believed in the love you to share Hailey but you are letting your ego get the best of you. When he told me what he did, I was wretched and irate. I refused to help him when he asked me to talk to you but with time the friend I know started changing and going back to his old self, smoking and drinking him self to sleep and then I come to see you and you are wearing a fake smile just so you can mask your sadness and pain from the world and from me. Just then the waitress served our lunch on the table. Let’s have a lunch and continue later Please.”

I barely touched the food as Greg’s words ran through my mind over and over again. “ Am I letting my Ego cloud my feelings and my neglect my heart? I love him, I do but he raised his hand on me without a reason.” 

“ Hailey! You must eat that aren't going to eat itself.” Classic Greg, he never stopped joking even in a sad moment, I’ve always admired his bravery and free spirit.

 I smiled at him and continued to force the delicious meal into my mouth,” now that’s more like it.” He says watching as I stuffed my face half heartedly.

In a little while we were done with our meals and Greg calls the waitress to clear the table while we continued our conversation.

“ Hailey, why didn’t you come to me when all these was going on, I thought we were pals?”

“ I'm sorry but it all happened so fast, my anger was all over the place that I couldn't think of anything else but locking myself up in my room and running away from Andre. I guess I was as mad as I was shocked that he would do that to me.”

“ Do you still love Him?” As simple as the question may sound I found it more difficult to answer coming from Greg.

“ I don’t know.” I shift my gaze from him down to the table.

“ I expected that, why don’t we do this. He took my right hand. Can you take a minute to think about all the good moments with him and then think about the bad moments when you are done I want you to tell me which one exceeds each other and then give me the right answer to my question. Love is easy when you know and understand each other’s short comings Hailey, I have known Andre since middle school and trust me we've fought a thousand times but we never let that define our friend ship Because I remember how has being there and supported me especially when our class mate learnt about who I really am, nobody wants to be friends with a homosexual like me but he still stood by me and pledged his loyalty to our friend ship. Today I am proud of who I am and I have also being in love too.” He flashed a bright smile on his face.

While he talked to me , I was busy reminiscing the beautiful moments with Andre one after the other and then that one sad moment that is about to ruin us. There I knew I had to forgive and let go of my anger.

“ I love him Greg!” I heard myself say to him.

“ I know you do but Hailey one more thing. I want you to take want happened as a mistake and try to help him learn to control himself , keep him away from booze and always stand by him. Andre needs you, he needs your love and trust me I will support the both if you every step of the way.”

His words sooth my heart.” Thank you so much Greg, you are a gem of a person .”

“ If you done with the buttering me up shall we?”

“ Yea sure. I stood up and we continued out. You are taking me home right?” 

“ Not yet. I have one more place I want us to go.”

We jumped into his car and drove a bit further than we did earlier. I was starting to get worried as we got to a bitch house down town.

“ Hey where are you taking me?” 

“ It’s a surprise.” 

He parked his car just few meters away from the house. “ shall we?” he unhooked his sit belt and took the keys off the ignition before we stepped out of the car.