Chapter 3 - The stranger outside the bar

my mom's voice filtered into my room as the door swung open.

"Liam, I thought you told me Shelly was staying over for dinner, so why did I see her leaving?" She asked, holding the door knob with her left hand while glancing suspiciously on my waistline as I buckled my belt before raising my head to give her a searching stare. I couldn't tell exactly what was running through my mom's mind, but I was sure she knew somehow that I and Shelly had sex during her absence.

"Well she changed her mind mom" I answered bluntly and moved towards the sofa to pick up the t-shirt I removed earlier.

"And why?" My mom asked, giving me an inquisitive look while I hurriedly wore my shirt.

"I dunno mom" I answered immediately with a shrug and turned to face my mom who was wearing a frown; even she could tell that I was trying to hide something from her.

"She didn't just want to stay and it's fine -- I don't care!" I exclaimed with my voice slightly raised before walking past my mom as I came out of my room.

"Is it something you said to her?.. because she stormed out of this house looking very upset Liam" my mom called out to me in a stern but concerned voice, quickly closing my room door and followed behind me as I walked towards the palour.

My mom's constant inquisition was slowly beginning to annoy me; I mean, what difference would it make if I told her?!

So I halted my steps halfway to the palour and turned to face my mom, narrowing my gaze at her and said "Mom, I sincerely appreciate your concern -- but I seriously don't feel comfortable with you prying to my personal issues, especially when it has to do with Shel..."

"Prying?" My mom cut in sharply, interrupting my response with a sarcastic scoff before leveling her stern gaze at me. "I'm your mother for goddam sake, so don't tell me what I should know and what not to know!" She yelled to my face, sounding really upset with both hands swaying in the air as she spoke. But I wasn't in the slightest of chance ready or willing to give her a response - no! Rather, I felt like going out to get some fresh air, just anywhere I could go to clear my head for a bit because I felt faint and drained of energy.

So without muttering a single word, I turned and left my mom - walking hastily towards our palour door.

"Where are you going to now Liam?" My mom's voice called out loudly behind me from where she stood, but this time with a concerned tone - almost as though she felt remorseful after yelling at me.

"I'll see you later when am back mom" I answered plainly the moment I opened the door before closing it gently behind me as I came out of the house - not waiting to hear what my mom's response was going to be.

Then I stood for a brief moment in front of our house entrance - staring blankly at the distance ahead while inhaling deep breaths to calm my tensed nerves.

'Andrew... I should give him a call' I thought to myself with a pondering nod of my head before removing my phone to dial Andrew's number.

Andrew has been my childhood best friend for years now, ever since we were in high school. We were like brothers from different mothers, doing almost everything together; although my mom started disapproving of my friendship with him as we grew older - blaming Andrew of misleading me into some bad habits she'd normally tag as 'wayward!'

"Yo bro... Urrm, where are you at?" I said quickly over the phone when Andrew answered my call.

"Man just chilling, am at this bar down Allen avenue street - waiting for my girl." Andrew chuckled over the phone in response. I could tell he was tipsy by the slur of his voice.

"Grim and Bob's bar?" I blurted rhetorically when I recalled passing a bar along Allen avenue few days ago with that name.

"Yea sure... That's the name, anything?" Andrew exclaimed over the phone and asked.

"Great!... Just what I need right now" I retorted with my voice sounding much relieved. "Errm... Listen bro, I'll be there in a bit" I concluded.

"You bet" Andrew laughed over the phone before hanging up the call. So I shook my head amusingly after our call and put the phone back into my pocket before walking hurriedly towards the main road - rubbing my palms vigorously as the evening air was gradually becoming chilly.

******

FEW HOURS after arriving at Grim and Bob's bar, I and Andrew had some glass of tequila drink as we sat on a high stool near the serving counter - chatting about various subjects like how our weekend went, to the ladies we've screwed this week -- which led to me revealing to him the argument I and Shelly had.

"Seriously man... It was just a fu*king word." Andrew laughed hard as he made jest of me not being able to tell Shelly I loved her. "If I were you, I would have just told her I loved her and get on with it... Now you've lost a fine ass girl, ooof!" He added with an amused shake of his head before taking a sip of his drink.

"Well, there seems to be plenty of other beautiful girls around... She's not the only one. And besides, I don't in any way love her -- not even the slightest bit" I chuckled sarcastically with a faint shrug of my shoulder - picking up my glass cup to take a sip of my drink.

Then Andrew quickly slammed his glass of drink on the serving table and patted me twice on my left shoulder as if trying to get my attention which he did because I instantly turned my head to look at him.

"Urrrr... I gotta go. My girl just arrived -- catch you later" He said hastily, clearing his throat halfway as he spoke before standing up to leave.

"Well, have fun!" I teased jokingly as I turned on my stool to face my friend Andrew who staggered lightly as he walked to meet a girl that was standing near the bar entrance, waiting for him to approach before they left with his left hand wrapped behind her waist.

'I bet he's going to have a blissful night' I chorused amusingly in my head as I turned back to face my drink. Then suddenly, I felt a strong wave of remorse when the thought of Shelly trickled into my mind.

"Did she really mean what she said that we were done?" I muttered cluelessly to myself as I pulled out my phone from my right pocket and dialled her line - placing the phone on my right ear as it began to ring.

Then I heaved a deep sigh when it stopped ringing and took me to her voicemail.

"Well, she wasn't joking" I exhaled sharply with my eyebrows raised before dropping my phone on top the table. Then I picked up my glass and gulped hard on the remaining drink in it before slamming it back on the table as I swallowed - squinting my eyes from the biting effect of the alcohol as it slid down my throat.

"Oooooff!... Here you go" I said, giving the bartender a courteous nod while dropping my money underneath the glass cup before standing up to leave the bar.

I stood outside in front of the bar entrance few minutes after coming out - rubbing my palms and blowing warm breaths from my mouth on them. It was about 8pm in the night with everywhere seemingly dark, except for some few street lights that shone to illuminate the environment. The night was seriously cold with the chilly air stinging my skin - making me regret wearing this light t-shirt which did little to keep me warm.

Then I raised my right hand and quickly lowered it down again, just as I was about halting a taxi when I heard a man who stood few metres beside me - speaking with someone over the phone. His conversation truly got my attention as I couldn't help myself but approach him the moment he ended his call...