Living the Lie

"When did...did...you get a girlfriend?"grandad asked,with a comical expression.

"Yeah true,when did YOU get a girlfriend!"JoJo yelled.

"shhhh!You're in a hospital!"Nurse Fumi cautioned,and led the other nosey patients away.

"True, did you actually get yourself a girlfriend?"JoJo whispered to me,in front of grandad,making it less of a whisper.

"Yes"

I placed a lot of stress on the word yes.

"Who the hell let you date them?"JoJo asked bewildered.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Am just saying,no normal right thinking woman would ever think about dating you!"JoJo said.

"Is it true? Do...do you really have a girlfriend?"grandad asked.

"Yes,Yes I do,I have a girl,who I love and who loves me"I said,and I thought immediately about that girl and the new year countdown.

"It's there"grandad said.

"What?"I asked,he gently smiled,"your eyes"he said in a metaphoric tone.

"You gotta be shitting me..."JoJo said.

"We are talking about him,this guy,True! How did he get a girlfriend and I didn't know about it!"

"I don't care if this fool doesn't know,I just want to see you smiling,just like you were a moment ago"

JoJo gave up on us both,and stood quietly at a corner of the room.

"True,if you are saying the truth,then I'd love to have her over here"

"Of course"I said,too quickly,"a little nervous... don't let her see that,let her be in the dark about you"Grandad said.

He had been waiting his whole life to pass on his stored knowledge about relationships to me.

"Okay"

"True you just made my day"Grandad said,and let a tear fall out.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes,just happy that one of my last wishes will be fulfilled before I die..."

********

"Are you insane!"

"No,just desperate"I admitted,"why did you lie to him!"JoJo shrieked,while I took the wheel.

"Can you not make a mountain out of a molehill?"

"True,let's not talk about the lie you told him,let's talk about how you're gonna keep that lie"

"Have I ever had an issue with lying to my loved one?"I asked,and he kept quiet.

"Where on earth are you going to find a girl to play the part?"

"That is no problem,I can handle that"I said,"how?".

"Am going to be holding auditions"

JoJo stared at me,and gave me the look.

********

The next day.

Jan 2

"Next"I yelled, there were about fourteen girls on my porch,all wanting to be casted.

A woman walked in,wearing a lingerie and JoJo's eyes widened,the fool whistled out loud. Why did I even agree to having him here?

She sat on the table,and I went back a little bit, JoJo came in closer,and I hit my hand on head.

"Am candy hooker!"she said.

"Wow,that's such a nice name"JoJo said,and I swallowed hard.

She winked at me and licked her lower lip,"um...do you have any past acting experience?"I adked, nervously.

"I've had multiple partners and played different roles"she said in a seductive tone,and I doubted she meant what she said,or maybe it had another meaning.

"Do you have any special talents?"I asked,eyeing her,she had good physique,too good. Grandad would know that a shy guy like me would never be able to pick up a lady like that.

"Yes,I can give you a little presentation.."she said and pulled my chair closer and grabbed my collar, being so close to me.

"I'll just need a partner, and some good,good music..."she said, not giving me enough space to breath properly.

Sliding her arms,I grabbed it just in time.

"Next!"I yelled,startling her,she became downcast and left.

"what was wrong with that one!"JoJo asked waving his arms frantically.

"Rated family"I said,a girl with White contacts,white nails and a long white flowing garment came in.

"Next!"JoJo yelled and she left,almost crying.

"What was wrong with that one?"I asked,"we're playing an old man,we aren't joining a cult"

*An hour later*

Every girl was worst than the last,I was actually reconsidering candy. I could put her in a dress,no that would never work,she's too heavy. I could wrap her up in a blanket hmm...that may have it's downsides.

My phone rang,I picked it up,not caring to check the caller identity. JoJo went to go make some food,we had been working all day long with these girls,a lunch break was in order.

"I've texted you the address,get here in twenty minutes,ten thousand dollars,come with JoJo"

And the call got disconnected,I received a text, that text.

It made my stomach tie a knot,and I got nervous,I watched JoJo,he was busy,he was happy in the kitchen.

I looked at my phone,then at him,he didn't deserve this,no one did.

"Hey,I gotta go get some stuff from a store,finish up the auditions"I said while rushing out of the house in an attempt to elude any question he might throw at me.

"The hell..."but I had already left and shut the door,the girls all looked at me,and I didn't even care about being shy,I walked past them all.

I sat in my car,and quickly turned on the ignition,why now? Why ever? I sighed,then cast a stare on the steering wheel,still hoping if I could reconsider my decision.

I told myself I wouldn't take that call,but here I am.

*********

The sound of my tyres screeching drowned the sound of the water by the bridge.

It took me about thirty minutes to get here,whatever I do must be done well,I won't drive back here again.

An average heigthed woman of about thirty nine,or so,I stopped counting stood there in her purple shades.

"I was waiting"she pointed,out,once I got out of the car.

"And I thought I asked for JoJo"she added with a hint of disappointment.

"You'll have to make do with me"

She didn't like the sound of that in the slightest.

"What's keeping him?"she asked,"he's no longer interested in your deals Anon,and that's exactly why am here,no deal on my end either"I said stating my point.

Her laughter was slight and gentle,"You can't blackmail me,I made sure to cover all my tracks"I pointed out. If I know Anon,she'll resort to blackmail without thinking twice about it.

"Are you sure?"She asked,with a tone that struck fear into my mind.

"Am through with you and your deals,I won't say it again,you can get somebody else"I said and walked away.

I was thankful that this was running smoothly,I got in the car,and started the engine,and reversed the car,I turned on the AC unit,it was getting kinda hot.

My phone vibrated,I looked at Anon,she stood there,her hands folded,smiling.

I eyed her,from my car,I hated that bitch.

I stole a glance at my phone,a new message.

It was a photo,I turned on my internet,and the picture loaded,my mind was in a lot of places.

I looked down at my phone,and got out of the car immediately.

"Back so soon"she said, intoxicated by herself.

"Damn you! Damn you!"I cursed slowly in whispers,holding back my tears.

While speed walking to her.

"Damn you! To hell with you Anon!"I yelled,my voice getting louder than ever.

"I'll end you..."but she yanked out a from her jacket.

"Don't get any ideas"she said,pointing the handgun to my face.

I had a pistol under my seat I could make it all fast or throw her down the bridge.

But she had leverage.

"What the hell!"

"I needed to know where your loyalty lies!"she said,raising her pitch a bit higher,still pointing that gun,we both knew that gun was the only thing prohibiting me from strangling her to death.

"You promised not to get anyone I loved involved!"

"True....I know,and I know I promised you and JoJo a fresh clean slate,but things don't go as planned. Just do this,with JoJo and it will be the last"she assured me.

"You said we wouldn't do this anymore...you gave us your damn word"

"You of all people should know that words have no value in this business"Anon said.

She sent me photos of that hot nurse placing a knife on grandad's neck while he slept. 

That nurse was one of her pawns.

"Leave JoJo out of it,he deserves better,I won't let him go through that"

If there was someone who really needed a new beginning,then it was JoJo.

"You care, pathetic! But fine,it turns out that am expecting someone to accompany you on this deal. A foreigner"

It wasn't the first time,I've worked with African, British,Irish,Russian,and french. I've got a fair enough spread about the world,because of my work.

I wondered who I would be introduce to now.

"You have to swear that this will be the last"

"It will"

"If it isn't,I'll make sure to end you and your business"I said walking away.

"Permanently"I stopped to add.

I could hear her putting the gun back,"is that a threat?"she asked.

"No.Its a fact"