Chapter 4 - Her name is Kimberly.

It was another long, exhausting, hard-working day, yet he still managed to visit the bar where he met her. Unfortunately, he was unlucky since she did not come up in the evening. He returned to the bar every night, hoping to see her again until he chose another woman from whom he planned to obtain information. But unlike the lady he was looking for, the woman, whose age was the same as him, was very aggressive, seductive, and well-experienced.

"You appear to be quite hot!" He smirked, but in the back of his mind, he knew it would be an ordinary night with another cheap woman, a small piece of contentment but not satisfaction.

"How long have you been a bar?" He inquired after their first round.

"Why?" The woman scoffed.

"Do you know all the waitresses?" He persisted.

"Like all of them? Of course I do. I'm a pioneer. I must know who comes in and out! That's business!"

"So, maybe you know someone. She had this long, curly brown hair, a little fair, and she was, I think, about twenty. I believe she's new______."

"Oh, I know her!" She hastily interjected. "It's Kimberly, the crying baby. "As far as I recall, it was her first night at the pub, and she was like carrying all the time, a piece of bitch. Then she was ____."

"Where is she?" He cut her this time.

"As far as I know, she quit. One of the friends who introduced us to her said she wouldn't be back because she was traumatized." She roared. "Well, what do you expect?" She added, laughing more. But he stayed silent. "Kimberly." He spoke her name quietly.

"She's Kimberly, now I know. I'll keep it in mind." He pondered.

"So, do you want another round?" The woman asked seductively and resumed flirting with him.

"I'm a little tired. Here, take this." He declined and handed over the money to her. He hurriedly changed into his clothes and departed. The woman was a little disappointed but happy with the money she received. Right then, his mind engraved the name Kimberly.

It was already late at night when his phone rang.

"Yes, who's this?" His tone was a bit irritated.

"It's Archie, men! Good to hear you." Archie had been a longtime buddy and classmate since elementary school who was on the other end of the line.

They annoyed and bullied some classmates and collected girlfriends from high school to college. Still, Archie opted to stay in his grandfather's hometown and handle their hectares of property and any other business after graduating college.

"Archie! What surprise? It's been a while." His tone shifted to one of enthusiasm.

"Yeah. I'm in Johnny's bar; could you accompany us now?"

"Sure! I'm going to be there in 30 minutes." He responded.

"Great."

He changed his clothing and drove away swiftly after the conversation. He arrived fifteen minutes early.

"Hey, as usual, you came quickly; you haven't changed since then." Archie greeted and escorted him to their table.

He was surprised to see so many of his former friends and colleagues.

"Wow! This gathering appears to be a reunion." The other person stated.

"Well, we're almost complete; why don't we celebrate?"

"Yeah, cheers!"

"So, what's keeping you so busy right now?" Archie looked at him.

"Not much, just helping my father in business."

"You're unhappy with it, ha?"

"Well, you know me, but I had no choice."

"Yeah, right, we had no choice. We must inherit everything as family members, even if we don't like it. We must follow their orders." They both sighed, tossed their glasses of whiskey together, and drank.

"How about your girl Anne?" Archie changed the topic.

"Let's not talk about her." He declined the subject and poured another shot.

"Oh, your relationship on the rocks once more?" However, Archie insisted.

"Well, we split up. It's been nearly half a year."

"What! I thought you were going to marry her?"

"I would have liked to, but she has another plan."

"How come?"

"She got married to another guy."

"I'd never heard of it."

"I never want to hear it either, but it's true."

"Come on, get up. I'm sure you still have a lot of girls. Am I correct?"

"Of course, I moved on."

"That's a good man! Remember, no woman can ever make us suffer because we've fallen out of love."

"Yah!" He nodded, grinned, and poured himself another glass. Archie was familiar with him and recognized the meaning of his smile.

"Hey, tell me more about it." He teased.

"About what?"

"New prospect?"

"No." He shook his head.

"Tell me, you're dating?"

"It's not what you think."

"But I can tell you like her. Ha-ha," Archie sipped on his whisky.

"It's nothing. We only met once, and it never happened again."

"And are you looking for her?"

"Yes, but she's a little difficult to find. I've been seeking her, but maybe it's not our fate to meet again."

"Come on, do everything you can to find her. Keep in mind our goal. Girls should yearn for us, not the other way around." They both burst out laughing.

"How about you? Do you have any plans?" He looked at Archie.

"Well, I'm getting married next year."

"That was lightning fast."

"Yes, my parents arranged everything."

"Is that the same girl who spent every summer at your house?"

"Yes. My longtime childhood friend."

"Congrats!"

"Condolence!" They laughed again as Archie commented.

The entire night was enjoyable, with many stories shared following college graduation and reminiscing.

"So, then, see you again." He stated.

"Of course, it'll be at my wedding." Archie grinned.

"Yeah, right."

"Hey, I want to meet the girl; bring her with you."

He smiled in answer, and then they headed home.