Chandler's Bistro, the following day...

Gentle reader, the old maxim "expect the unexpected" applies to anything that involves an unexpected event or a surprise of any kind.

And after spending the entire day being lost in a sea of passions with Bradenton while still taking in his new athletic body (which seemed a bit more powerful than before as he had to change his entire wardrobe thanks to Lachlan), Ja'Marco was dealt with another surprise by how he saw the man formerly known as his godmother Dominique Nassau greet him and inviting him to lunch (with Melinda and the Quitman men's blessing). Of course, our young man knew that it was unwise to skip out a free meal, even after the confusing and demanding week he endured. So after an early-morning run with Ferguson and the aquatics team followed by a taxing study session with Beau and Wayne; Ja'Marco and Dominic were currently enjoying a healthy al-fresco lunch outside of Chandler's Bistro with the other patrons.

"Tell me what's on your mind, Ja'Marco,"

Said young man snapped out of his thoughts and soon caught the stare of the older man with no trace of the domineering godmother left. "It's been quite a week after everything," Ja'Marco began, sighing as he picked up his menu. "With you being...well, who you are as well as my unexpected transformations into being an athlete you can say that my mind's lost in a sea of questions."

"Questions?" Dominic asked, raising an eyebrow.

The young man nodded. "Other than the ones regarding Mom's true endgame and this mystery birthright that I'm supposed to claim, I'm wondering how and why I went from a wallflower yet to bloom to being this sex god on a stick." He gestured to his denim-and-wool-clad body. "I'm not sure if I can even recognize myself in the mirror anymore."

At the table behind Ja'Marco, two young women dressed in flowy sundresses were comparing each other's manicures while the table at Ja'Marco's left had an older woman looking at her phone with a bored disinterest.

"And not to sound unappreciative or anything, but I feel like I'm being pulled into many spiderwebs with me...being more intimate with some of the guys on the team than I ought to have. With me being brought up in the church, you can say that I was supposed to hold to a higher standard," Ja'Marco continued before a waiter came to take their meal and drink orders, the teen settling for a health-conscious grilled-shrimp salad while Dominic settled for the chicken. "I could be overthinking things, but I'm just tired of being given the runaround. At this point, I feel like I want to play 'I Spy' and find out about the truth."

Dominic nodded once. "Tell me, Ja'Marco. What is the one thing that you could wish for in the whole wide world if given the chance," he said. "What is the one desire that lurks in your heart more than anything?"

Ja'Marco thought for a moment. "Right now, I just want to know what is really out there for me and my true place in this world," he replied. "But what I truly want is to find my own identity other than what everyone's demanding for me to become."

"And that's not a bad thing. But don't you think that you need to start putting in the work while learning to trust in the people who can lead you to the right path? I mean, it's no question that you feel confused on what's really ahead of you and what your mother believes can be the right path for you, but there's no need for wondering what's meant to be discovered in due time." Dominic sat back in his chair, staring into the teen's eyes. "It's important to start wondering about life and the big picture, but you're still young and can afford to live a little. If you keep running around searching for the incomprehensible, you'll be lost and more frustrated."

"True," Ja'Marco agreed as the food arrived. "I just unsure about what to expect about what's to come when my birthday arrives."

"Just focus on the now," Dominic instructed, giving the teen a fatherly smile. "Everything else will fall into place."

The meal went on with pleasant conversations and cordial small talk. After thirty minutes, Dominic excused himself to use the restroom.

"Hello again, Ja'Marco Hedare," came the melodic voice of Melina as she soon strolled to the table dressed in her signature Eastern-European dress and headscarf. "And I see that you're starting to come into your...athletic form."

"That I am," Ja'Marco replied, shaking the woman's hand. "And it's good to see you again. You can say that things have been chaotic lately."

"So I can tell," Melina purred before her face grew serious. "I find it serendipitous to see you here, given that I felt like I needed to read your palm once more."

Ja'Marco extended his right hand. "By all means."

Taking his hand into hers, Melina studied the palm, letting out small gasps as her eyes were dilated with fear. A few onlookers looked confused and whispered to one another. After a few moments, Melina stared at Ja'Marco with a look of fear in his eyes. "Oh, dear," she said in a worried tone. "Ja'Marco Hedare, the time will come when you learn the truth about what's set in stone for you, but there will be one group who will put you down before that will happen while the other group will use the opportunity for their dark intentions. Be careful and steadfast, Ja'Marco Hedare. Remember the warnings that I told you before and who your true friends really are. Once you do learn the truth, you will have to decide which game to play: the games of safety and modesty...or the forbidden games of passions and youth."

"Melina," Ja'Marco breathed.

"Trust me, my child," Melina interrupted. "Once you do discover the secrets of Glenview Valley and what this will mean for your destiny, nothing will ever be the same." With that, Melina raced away.

Ja'Marco slumped in his seat briefly before Dominic returned. "Everything okay?" the older man asked as he sat down.

"Peachy," Ja'Marco replied.

"Well, I might as well tell you that your mother and the others will be arranging something special next weekend. And this is when you'll finally learn the truth about everything- and yes, Ja'Marco. You will learn the full details on why you were sent here."

Ja'Marco inhaled sharply, remembering Melina's warning as her face full of worry and fear flashed in his mind. Once you do discover the secrets of Glenview Valley and what this will mean for your destiny, nothing will ever be the same.

Making a mental note to visit the library, Ja'Marco was soon forming a plan in his mind to start his own sleuthing while wishing he had the journal from S.G. Hedare with him. But the time to play his own game was about to begin as he had a goal in mind: find out the truth while keeping his sanity. Because he had a strong feeling that once he did learn the entire story, Melina's predictions would come true and his life would be in danger or be turned upside down.

Let's move on, shall we?

And the spy and sensual games are officially on, boys and girls! But once fantasy and reality becomes blurred, will our boy be able to tell the difference or will he be too late? We'll find out soon enough, folks!

But coming up next, it's back to S.G. Hedare's journal and there's a shift in his tone and what's he now saying. Oh, boy! You're not going to believe what's about to go down!

Media: "Boom" by Anjulie.

Vote.
Comment.
Share.
Follow.
Add.
FAN!