Until Love Comes

Jazzy walked out of the decorating company building where she worked to find something for lunch from one of the restaurants along the two blocks in walking distance. She decided to go to the Cantina across the street. Moving briskly along in the crosswalk with the crowd who look like they were doing the same thing, she was only thinking of her stomach. As she reached the other side and was about to stepped up on the curve, she was halted by an attractive gentleman standing in front of her, smiling. She attempted to sidestep him, but he stepped in front of her to stopped her again and spoke to get her attention, “Excusez-moi belle, Mais je ne vous connais pas?” she looked at him confused, not understanding what he had said.” The gentleman realized he had spoken to her in French he corrected himself. My apologies, “but don’t I know you?” Jazzy smiled and shook her head back and forth in a no motion and looked back down at the sidewalk in an attempt to ignore him. She thought about the weak line he just used on her and wasn’t sure if she should be impressed or offended. As she looked up again, she met his intense stare.

For a brief second, she felt a little self-conscious. She needed to look away from the eyes that drew her into his trance. He spoke again, repeating what he had just said and adding, if we have not, I would like to get to know you better!

This was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. His mocha-colored face held light-brown eyes that shimmered in the sunlight. The iris of his eyes had tiny gold flacks with a dark outer rim, and they appeared to be dancing as he spoke. His face was firm with chiseled movie star qualities, and you know the look, Denzel Washington merged with Shemar Moore and topped with Idris Elba. When he spoke, his voice was a rich baritone, and the sound of it made her chest rattled. Rhys smiled again, and it made her look down to check the front of her shirt to make sure her heart was not pumping wildly in-and-out like in the cartoons as it raced along. As reality set in, her head snapped up to Look at him and respond when she nearly bumped into his chest, not realizing he had moved closer to her. She closed her eyes and shook her head slightly to help clear her mind, and took in a deep breath to respond to his answer properly.

Jazzy reached deep down into her innermost self to pull out the answer she really wanted to give him as “No, and that line was weak,” then walk away. But nothing came out of her mouth, frustrated; she stepped around him and began walking along the sidewalk once again. Please, he asked, keeping in step with her, leaving his companion behind in front of the First National Bank.

Jazzy was taken aback by his insistence, and she refused to look at him. Realizing she needed to end this, she turned and clearly said, “no, thank you, not interested!” Her response didn’t discourage him in the lease; he just kept walking alongside, matching her strides step-for-step without touching her. Aware he wasn’t getting the picture and was still there, this was too much, she stopped abruptly and turned to let him have it!Rhys held a hand up and interrupted her by saying, “I’m truly a nice man, ask anyone.” Your beauty captured my heart, and I just want to get to know you. Now she was steaming; placing one hand on her hip and angrily waving the other finger at his face, she began. But when she looked into his in eyes again...his beautiful eyes! She almost forgot her train of thought. Gathering herself and she told him, “You might be a nice man! But I’ve told you, I. Am. Not. Interested! I don’t know who you are or where you come from, but a gentleman doesn’t do things like this, especially when told No! If a woman says she’s not interested, she’s not interested, and you need to back off, Got it!

Rhys’ face filled with pain at her words, he lowered his eye from hers for a split second to compose his emotions. Because no one had ever spoken to him that way, Rhys raised his head to look at her and said, “my sincere apologies, I intended no harm or offense towards you. Please forgive me for disturbing you, Belle,” and walked away in the other direction towards his friend.

His friend Sam Bioko had not moved, still waiting for Rhys to finish his conversation with the young lady so they could continue their business with the bank. Rhys glanced over his shoulder one more time to see if she was still there and smiled. Sam asked, “Why are you wasting your time?” She’s another spoiled American!” Sam didn’t bother to have a conversation with her because, in his mind, she didn’t matter, but it mattered greatly to Rhys Munballia. “Be kind, my friend, Rhys told him, you are speaking of my future bride. She’s just not aware of that fact yet,” Sam apologized for what he said about her, and they both laughed. Still, the offhanded look in Sam’s eyes told him this was not an apology; there was a different story from the expression on his face. Sam just shook his head at Rhys in disbelief. Jazzy immediately felt bad for her rude behavior, but it was too late to correct it; he had walked away as she had asked him to do. She entered the Cantina, ordered her lunch, and then crossed the street to go back to her office.

Before she could get her foot into the office good, several co-workers surrounded her desk to inquire about the handsome man Celia saw her talking to in front of the restaurant. Without fail, this group had something negative to say about her stand on no sex before marriage. Once, she even overheard one of the men say he would drop his girl like a hot potato if she wouldn’t agree to have sex with him, how crud Jazzy thought, but she always blocked their words out. Of course, Celia led the pack to ask questions. Jazzy ignored their remarks and simply turned up the Christian radio station’s volume, which made them scatter as quickly as they came.

Three days later, Jazzy was about to cross the street near the same spot to go into the sub shop when she spotted Rhys. He was looking more handsome than before. Ashamed, she dropped her head and began looking in the other direction, hoping he had not seen her. Oh, but Rhys had seen her and noticed she was going into Sub World. Moving quickly, he got there before she did and pulled it open, not saying a word. Jazzy didn’t look around or realize that Rhys was the one opening the door for her and several other women as they passed him to go in. By the time he reached the counter where she was, she had placed her order and was waiting to pay for her meal. Rhys moved closer to her and cleared his throat to get her attention. When she looked up at him, he addressed her cheerfully. “Good afternoon Belle.” Jazzy sighed when he spoke and turn to look at him with regret in her eyes. Rhys raised both hands in surrender, smiling, and said, “I am not following you or trying to harass you. We only arrived near the same location at the same time.” Jazzy dropped her head feeling remorseful for how she had acted the last time they met. “Uh-mm,” she stammered, then taking in a cleansing breath, she said, Hi, again. Look, I want to apologize for the way I acted the other day. I’m normally not rude to people, especially to people I don’t know. He interrupted her again and told her, “No harm done.” “Please understand I did not intend for you to feel uncomfortable when I approach you, forgive me as well.” With that, Jazzy picked up her order and walked towards the door, which Rhys opened for her again.

After they moved a few feet away from the restaurant, he turned to speak to her again. Miss, would it be rude of me to ask your name? No. Not at all, she replied. She turned to face him; this time, she extended a hand towards him and said, my name is Jasmine, Jasmine Wallace.