------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author Says: This chapter might confuse you, but I did my best. I hope it's still good.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 17: Coercion
“Ahoy Friz!” Luis called me when I was about to enter the bar. I raised my hand as hello. I guessed this was a good time to forget about Snow’s second letter. I wouldn’t want them to notice that I had a big problem.
I noticed almost all the men in the village are here. They fully occupied the long, curved bar counter while the others were having their own sessions in the corner tables. I asked loudly to get all their attention. “Hey you, seniors! Why do you always leave your wives and children alone in your homes?” I walked then joined them. Rick switched to the very end barstool for me to seat in the middle.
Everybody looked at me and laughed.
I was glancing randomly at whoever spoke. Arthur winked, “I have no wife Friz!”
“Me neither, I’m too old for that.” Saibara tapped the counter and drank the wine in his glass.
“These two single ladies are unlucky. My wife didn’t mind of spending here every night at all,” Joe said, while letting Luis pour more wine to his glass.
Nolso drank in his bottle, slightly choked. “I’m used to pinches punches that my wife gives me when I walk home drunk,” he said.
Arthur jabbered, “Pinchy punchy what?”
Everybody laughed, some were making noise, tapping, pounding and stomping.
Matt boasted, “Tell that to my wifey, because all she does is to romance me when I’m drunk!”
“Yeah, put your puny shotgun in—“
Arthur countered but Saibara palmed his face that stopped him from talking.
Matt kiddingly reminded, “Hey, guess who’s doing it with his hammer?” Everybody laughed.
I shook my head laughing with them, too. They were being a jerk to each other sometimes but they know that everything was just for laughs.
“Hey!” Rupert shouted. “Don’t forget about our youngest brother here, Benji!” shoving his arms on Benji’s shoulder and tossed a drink with him. “You’re not going to be a single lady, are you?” Rupert chuckled, grasping his shoulder considerably tight.
“Shut up, Rupert.” Benji removed himself from Rupert’s grip.
I watched them laughed though I felt sorry for Benji, but I knew he’s used to it.
Noticed Luis cleared throat. “Why don’t you ask Friz about it, Benj? These oldies would never give a sense of advice.” He was looking at Benji, freshening up his own drink.
I was watching Benji and he scratched his head. He moved to a vacant table while the rest continued their laughs and drinking session.
“Here, Friz! Grab a drink.” Matt passed me a bottle of wine then I left them, too.
I walked and sat across from Benji. I looked at him waiting for him to say something.
“My auntie just received a letter from Kieran, earlier,” he said tapping his glass on the table.
“Tell me about it,” I said, leaning my forearms on the table, holding the bottle of wine.
“She told me that her brother from the city was looking for me. He heard that I was good at baking pastries,” he said then drank the last drops of his wine.
Thought it was good news, but he seemed bothered. “Do you want to take that opportunity?”
“I don’t know Friz. I don’t want to leave.” He bowed, couldn’t seem to look at me.
I asked him why then gulped in the bottle. He looked away then glanced at me. “Remember what you said to me about my parent’s promise?” I poured another shot in his glass.
“I understand… but Benji, this one is a great opportunity for you. Don’t worry about leaving us here. You could always go back when you need to. Besides, you might find someone there, for you.”
I looked at him figuring out what he’s feeling now. Arthur’s shout and laugh was distracting me. But then I focused and gazed at Benji, I thought it would be a good idea for his future, not just spending all day with those men in the counter, who were contented with their simple lives.
He sighed, expanding his left arm on the seat railing, staring at his glass in his right hand. I could see that he couldn’t come up a decision by his own. It would take him a lot of time to get used to life in the city, but I believed with his guts and ability that he learned from here.
In a second, we tossed for a drink. “When are you supposed to be there in case you changed your mind?” I asked then drank in the bottle.
He drank in his glass straight. “My auntie told me as soon as possible.”
“Hey, you’re young. You should take time and figure out what you really want in your life.”
“Young? 23 isn’t young,” he said.
I raised my brows, smiling lightly. “Young adult perhaps?” I said then nodded and tossed another drink. I guzzled too much in the bottle. I really love the taste of Luis’s wine.
Benji smirked with wide eyes. I burped. “Excuse me.”
He rubbed his nose then gazed at the front door near behind me. I believed someone or something was holding him to stay here.
Then I thought of Jane.
“Tell me something about you and Jane.” I leaned forward against the table, folded my arms, still holding the bottle of wine with right hand. That guzzling was a bad idea, as I wanted to clearly listen to what he’d share.
“Jane? She’s my… best friend.” He told me an obvious answer, not looking at me in the eye.
“I know, but did you ever felt something for my daughter?” I asked but thought it was an odd question for me as a father.
He finished his glass of wine, glimpsed. “When we were kids, yeah. Why do you ask? He’s with Kieran now and probably with Percy, too.”
He hiccupped.
“What Benj?” thought I heard a name that I didn’t know. I noticed regret on his face, probably said that unintentionally.
“Wait, ugh no… I’ve drank too much now, sorry Friz,” he apologized, fixed the way he was sitting. I thought he must have kept it from me so I asked him whose Percy was, if I heard it correctly.
“He’s an owl, good friend of ours,” he said.
I finished the wine, left in my bottle. Thought this was a serious issue for me, considering that Jane would had Crystal’s ability to speak with animals. “Tell me, can Jane speak with Percy?” I put the empty bottle on the table with force.
“Huh? No… No. But we all do make friends with the animals around.” He was burping, couldn’t seem to look at me again.
The bottle was empty, but I wanted more to drink. I signaled Luis for another bottle.
