Chapter 4 - Her name is Kimberly.
1315 Words
He made the decision to go to the bar every night in the hopes of running into her there. Up until the point where he chose another woman from whom he hoped to obtain some information. On the other hand, in contrast to the lady he was searching for. The woman, who is the same age as him, was very forceful, alluring, and well-experienced in her field.
"It seems to me that you're hot!" He smirked, but in the back of his mind, he knew that it would be an ordinary night with another cheap woman, a small piece of contentment but not satisfaction.
"How long have you been working at the bar?" He asked her while they sat down to drink some beer after their first round.
"Why?" The woman scoffed.
"Do you know all of the waitresses?" He pressed further.
"Like all of them? Of course, I do. I'm one of the pioneers, so I must be aware of whoever comes in or out! That's business!"
"So, maybe you know someone, she has this long curly brown hair, a bit fair, and she was, I think, about twenty-two. I think she's new____."
"Oh, I know her!" She quickly interjects after hearing his description. "It's Kimberly, the crying baby. As far as I remember, it was her first night at the bar, and she was like crying all the time, a piece of b***h. Then she was ____."
"Where is she? He cut her off.
"Well, as far as I know, she quit. One of the friends who introduced her to us said she won't return because she was really traumatized." She continued to laugh. "What did you expect?" She added, but he remained quiet.
"Kimberly." He spoke her name very quietly. "She's Kimberly, now I know; I'll keep that in mind." He said to himself.
"So, do you want another round?" The woman asked him alluringly and then resumed her flirtatious behavior with him.
"I'm kinda' tired. Here, take this." He refused and instead gave her the money. Then quickly putting on his shirt and exited the building. The woman was a little letdown but ultimately content with the money that she had received.
At this point in time, the name Kimberly is deeply embedded in his consciousness. He couldn't stop thinking about her in every waking moment. It was well into the middle of the night when the phone started to ring, but he answered it anyhow.
"Yes, who is this?" His voice was slightly agitated as he asked.
"Good, you're there, bro." Archie answered. He was a long-time friend; together, they annoyed and bullied some of their fellow students while also collecting girls from the time they were in high school until they were in college. However, Archie decided to leave college and move back to the town where his grandfather had grown up so that he could manage the hectares of land they owned as well as any other business opportunities that presented themselves.
"Archie! What a surprise. It's been a long time." His tone changed into excitement.
"Yeah, I am currently at Johnny's bar; would you be able to join us at this time?"
"Sure! I'll be there in thirty minutes." He responded.
"Great."
Immediately following the discussion, he ditched his old clothes and sped off in his car. He arrived ten minutes earlier.
"Hey, you arrive quickly as always. Haven't changed since then, ha." Archie greeted him and led him to the table they were sitting at. It shocked him by surprise to see such a large number of his former colleagues and close pals.
"Wow! This almost feels like a reunion." One of his other close pals made a remark.
"Well, we are almost a complete troupe; why don't we celebrate this?"
"Yes, cheers!"
"So, what exactly is keeping you busy right now?" Archie turned to him and asked.
"Not much. I've just been assisting my father in his business."
"You must be dissatisfied with it." Archie chuckled.
"Well, you know me, but I didn't have a choice." He shrugged.
"Yeah, right. We had no choice in the matter; as members of a wealthy family, we are obligated to inherit everything, regardless of whether or not we enjoy it, and we are required to obey them." Archie agreed. They both heaved a sigh, clinked their whiskey glasses, and then drank together.
"So, about your girl Anne, right?" Archie quickly shifted the subject.
"Let's not bring up about her." He refuses to engage in conversation about the matter and instead downs another dram of whiskey.
"It appears that your relationship is once again in jeopardy." Archie insisted.
"Well, it has been nearly a year since we ended our relationship." He finally responded.
"Seriously? I thought you were planning on getting married to her?"
"I would have been interested in doing that; however, she is not."
"How can that be?"
"She entered into a committed relationship with another person."
"No, I wasn't aware of that."
"I never want to hear it either, but unfortunately, it's the truth."
"Get a grip on yourself and pick up your spirits! Undoubtedly, you still have a respectable number of women. Do you agree with me here?" Archie had a sly grin on his face.
"Of course, I've forgotten all about that!"
"That's a fine young man you've got there! Just keep in mind that a woman can't subject us to the agony of falling out of love with each other."
"Yeah!" He flashed a grin, gave a slight nod of the head, and took another gulp from the whiskey he was holding. Because Archie is acquainted with him, he quickly understands the meaning hidden in the smile he is wearing.
"Hey, tell me about it."
"Regarding what?"
"A new prospect?!"
"No." He replies while shaking his head.
"Come on, tell me, you're dating?"
"It's not what you think." He retorted.
"But you do like her. I can see it." Archie laughs as he speaks while sipping his whiskey.
"It doesn't matter. We crossed paths once, and it never happened again after that." His face was a bit disappointed.
"You're looking for her at this very moment, are you?"
"Yes, but she can be a bit challenging to track down. I've been trying to find her, but I don't see a chance we'll ever cross paths again in our foreseeable destinies."
"Hey, do everything to find her. Keep in mind the target we set! We shouldn't yearn for girls; they should be yearning for us!" Archie urged and immediately burst out laughing.
"How about you? Do you have any plans?" He diverted the topic and inquired of Archie instead.
"Well, I'm getting married the year after next!" Archie gave a shoulder shrug in response.
"That went by very quickly." It took him by surprise.
"Yes, it was all taken care of by my parents."
"Is that the same girl who stayed at your house throughout the entire summer?"
"Yes! My close friend from childhood through all of these years!"
"Congrats!"
"Condolences!" As Archie made the correction, they shared another laugh.
The entirety of the evening was filled with a great deal of fun. After completing their degrees, they got together once again and talked about their pasts, exchanging an abundance of anecdotes and reminisced about the good old days.
"Alright, I'll see you next time." The wonderful evening has come to an end, and it is finally time for them to part ways with one another.
"Of course, at my wedding." Archie agreed, accompanied by a beaming smile.
"Sure, I won't forget about that." He nods his head in assent and even cracks a smile.
"Hey, I want to meet the girl; bring her with you." Archie was adamant about meeting his new girlfriend.
"Fine." After he had finished responding, they exchanged pleasant smiles with one another and then went on their separate ways.
- Writer
