That Forbidden Love

“Hello, brother”

“Hey, what’s good bro” voice of Justin, his half-brother, over the speaker. “I just got off the phone with Mother.”

“Really! Anything new? Any news?” Zack asked nonchalantly.

“No, nothing really. Same old, same old,” Justin replied

“Alright then,” Zack said with a sigh of relief. “I do have news for you though” he added

“Tell it, let me hear.”

“I asked Jazmyn out on a second date and she said yes.”

“Whoa, really?”

“Yeah bro, and that’s not even the main issue.”

“Sounds like the main issue to me,” Justin chuckles.

“I have this whole idea of making the date special and I want to invite her with me to go see her favorite band, but the thing now is, I don’t know her favorite band and I don’t even have a clue on how to get that information.”

“Well, have you tried reaching her band members?”

“And how do you expect me to reach them, dumbass.”

“Wait a minute, I think I should still be able to reach them, remember they played during your birthday party?”

“Yes, how can I forget.”

“Alright then. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, brother,” he said as he dropped the call with a grin on his face, with the thought that his plan might be achievable after all.

*****

“Your brother is here,” Maggie said, interrupting Zack, who was trying to have a look at the brown file which his assistant had dropped off earlier.

“Hello big brother,” he said as he entered Zack’s office without allowing Maggie to return from Zack’s office.

Justin was nothing like his brother when it came to dressing, he wore what he felt like, and most of the time, it was casual. This time around, he was wearing a grey polo shirt paired with khaki-colored trousers.

Justin had this habit of dropping by unannounced, not to surprise, because he felt there was no need to call, especially when it’s his brother. They are family, he would say.

“Hey, nice to see your annoying ass again,” Zack replied, taking his eyes off the brown file which was placed in front of him. “You really don’t think it’s necessary to call or ask before dropping by, do you?” He added, looking at Justin’s face.

“Is it compulsory?” Justin replied as he made his way to sit down on one of the chairs in Zack’s office, not expecting him to answer his question. Justin was always the one with a carefree attitude; he just thought life shouldn’t be as hard as most people thought it was.

“Well, what do you have for me? Do you have the contact?” Zack asked like he was running out of patience. He knew that’s probably the reason why Justin is at his office right now.

“I do not have it,” Justin teased.

“What do you mean? That you don’t, have it?” Feeling disappointed, Zack asked.

“I’m just kidding bro, you need to relax, I got the contact from Madeline, their agent, she suggested that we meet up at Willie’s Chicken Shack by 4. The rest of the band too will be there”.

“Oh, that’s great, 4 is nice, I’ll be there.”

“Great, see you then,” Justin said as he stepped foot out of the office.

*****

4:15

Zack and Madeline were the first to get to Willie’s Chicken Shack, one of the restaurants in New Orleans that was popular for their fried chicken. Jean-Pierre and Isaac joined them later.

Though they were all present, they had no reason as to why they were there. Justin called in that something came up and that he could not make it. So, Zack was going to have to do it on his own.

“I know we have not gotten to know each other well but, ….” Zack made a brief pause, looking at each one of them in the face to be sure he has their attention before he continued. “…I remember you guys from the bungee jumping party and also when you came to my birthday party to play.”

“I’ll cut to the chase here, the reason why I really wanted to see you all is that, I’m planning a little surprise for Jazmyn, this weekend, and I just need some gaps to fill in and I’m hoping you guys can help me with that.”

“That’s why you invited us here, the three of us, to ask questions about Jazmyn? Jean-Pierre said very snottily.

“Jean, don’t be like that,” Isaac replied.

“No, that’s okay. I know he’s trying to be protective of her, which is nice. I respect that. But guys, I need your help here”.

Madeline, who has been watching them talk since, decided to cut into their conversation, ” what questions do you have for us? Don’t mind Jean. He’s like that with his friends, always protective.

Zack asked them series of questions about Jazmyn, including her favorite band and the type of things that interested her, which he hadn’t discovered yet. They all gave their answers, and Zack was happy because he got almost all the information he needed.

“Do you guys happen to know her favorite band?”

The trio looked at him and chorused, “The Revivalists.”

“In fact, they are on tour presently and they will be coming to New Orleans on Friday,” Madeline added.

“That is really helpful, thanks guys, this means a lot to me and also can you guys please make sure Jazmyn doesn’t hear about this our little meeting.”

The group nodded approvingly, with Jean-Pierre looking as if he wouldn’t keep his promise.

Only Zack knew the type of cheerfulness he felt as he drove back to his house that evening. He took up his phone and thought he should call Jazmyn and ask her about her day, but then again, he thought maybe he should chill till Friday before calling her.

He could not stop to imagine the look that would be on Jazmyn’s face when he told her about his plan.

Getting home, Zack went straight for the bed but couldn’t get some sleep, he thought maybe he needed to freshen up, but after getting out of the shower, Zack knew what he had to do. Calling Jazmyn had been on his mind since they left Willie’s Chicken Shack.

“Hello angel,” Zack said as he brought the phone close to his ears

“Hi,” Jazmyn replied, trying to present her voice as if she was asleep

“Don’t tell me you are already sleeping by this time.”

“Is it too early to sleep?”

“No, you are a princess and you get your sleep as you wish.”

“Princess indeed!”

“I couldn’t take my mind off you and even though I don’t want to admit it, I think I miss you.”

“You think?”

“I do, I really do miss you, you are the reason I’m awake actually.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet.”

“You wouldn’t believe what I have planned for our next date on Friday,” Zack tried to tease her.

“Hmm… Do you want me to guess?”

“Maybe, it’s not like you are going to get it anyway, so why not save yourself the stress and just wait for the day.”

“Thanks for saving me the stress, Mister,” she said theatrically.

Their conversation went on and on like that for hours until Jazmyn fell asleep while on the call.

“Hello, are you still there?” Zack asked, already getting the clue that maybe she’s gone to sleep. He dropped the call and prepared to sleep.