No More Waiting, She Chooses Love



"Today, it's all about clearing the table in one go. Clear it and you win. Miss a single shot and you lose. You've got fifteen minutes," Brown announced, laying down the challenge like the lord of the manor he was.

I didn't really have a choice, so I accepted with gusto. "Alright!"

"Start whenever you're ready," he said, settling into the couch like a VIP spectator.

Standing at the edge of the pool table, I took a deep breath, nodded to the guy keeping time, and with his shout of "Go!" I started my game. Thud, thud, thud...

I pocketed each ball with precision, and ten minutes in, two balls remained on the table.

So, I was pretty much winning.

Holding my breath, I geared up for the final push. With another precise hit, one ball left.

Clap, clap...

Brown started clapping, clearly trying to throw me off. I ignored him and lined up my next shot, but just then, I felt something cold and slimy brush against my foot, as if something had crawled over it.

I screamed instinctively, jumping up and inadvertently leaning onto the pool table, sending the cue stick flying.

The ball clattered...

"That doesn't count, you cheated," Yolande's voice rang out.

Still shaken, I didn't understand what Yolande meant by cheating and could only look towards Brown.

He was reaching down to the floor, and following his hand, I saw a yellow and green snake slithering towards him.

It seemed that this creature had startled me. I've been terrified of such creatures since I was a kid; even caterpillars freak me out, let alone snakes.

Brown picked up the snake, wrapping it around his arm, petting its head. "Naughty thing, why did you sneak out? Look how scared you've made our friend here."

He looked at me, "It's harmless, really gentle. Come, give it a pet."

As if I'd touch that thing.

Though the snake was now in his hands, I still couldn't bring myself to step down, glaring at him instead. "Brown, if you can play fair, then But don't be a sore loser."

play

"Can't handle losing?" he retorted mockingly.

BUMS

"I wouldn't have lost if you hadn't let it interfere."

"A true player should be able to ignore any distractions," Brown had the audacity to measure me by professional standards.

It was clear then that he never intended to let Ernest off the hook, even if I had won.

Ernest, who had been silent till now, finally spoke up, "Stop with these childish tricks. Just tell us what you want."

Brown stood, still petting the snake, and walked over to Ernest, "You've not just hurt me bad, but also made a fool out of me. How do you plan on making this right?"

Ernest's gaze hardened but he didn't retort.

"How about I give you a taste of your own medicine?" Brown suggested with a sinister smile.

He was clearly out to humiliate Ernest.

Before Ernest could refuse, Yolande spoke up, "Brown, if you want to play that game, you better have the skills to back it up." Yolande's confidence in Ernest was clear. She knew Ernest wasn't someone Brown could easily manipulate.

If they supposedly met through an

arranged union, I didn't buy it. They must have known each other for a long time, or perhaps even shared a past relationship.

"You think you're up for it? Alright, let's test your skills today," Brown said, and in no time, two barrels of billiard balls were brought in.

Seeing all those balls, my temples throbbed. Brown was clearly out to settle scores with a vengeance.This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.