His memories

CAIN

17:00 hours,

June 18th, 1999,

Cain had just returned from the office and lay on his couch in his apartment in Quartz Army barrack Aztec. He thought about how life had been fair to him right from his youthful days in his community. The women he had encountered flashed through his memory, but only one stood out, Max. As a young soldier from Langtang, life couldn't be going any better for twenty six years old Cain. He had just been posted to the Eastern Naval command in the city of Cantina for a course on marine warfare. Standing at 5.9, with a low haircut that made him look radiant, he had a perfect dentition with a sparkling white set of teeth, a sugar tongue, and a smile which when combined had the ability of getting him laid back in his hometown as a teenager.

He always had his way with things in skirt and once sweet talked and had a quickie with his next-door neighbor's young wife.

But for the fact that his dad was a leader in the estate business and a core spiritualist, he would

have died because the husband had laced the woman with charms to prevent her from straying. And this was unknown to both him and the young bride. After about three months secluded from the rest of the community, he recovered from the effects of the laced charms. As a result, his dad sent him to the military so he could "grow up" and become a disciplined man.

The military not only succeeded in making him a fine soldier, but it also made the task of getting the ladies easier. Added to his charm was the fact that he now wears a neatly pressed khaki. The girls kept flowing and he never lacked attention. The story wasn't any different when he arrived in Cantina for a 12-month training course. Unlike the timid girl back home who always let him have his way the fresh and old ladies of Cantina always played hard to get. Within three months into his training program in Cantina, he had slept with nothing less than ten girls and three married women around Small Town Cantina, the area where the Eastern Naval Command is located and where he resided. He was not a prostitute kinda guy. Due to a deficit in accommodation for the officers on training, he and some of his colleagues were given special accommodations in and around Small Town.

This was for only special officers with the right connections and his uncle (townsman actually) was the General Commanding Officer of one of the army barracks in the city.

One evening he had decided to go play football around the neighborhood with his guys and also check out some girls to see if there was any new catch. For the past month, he had been sleeping with Ivy, one very pretty married woman on the other street.

Ivy had told him she had two boys, one in boarding school and the other one he saw often with her.

Her husband was an expert in the real estate business and was hardly around the house.

Some hours later 

He had stepped out to get some items from the grocery store when he met her again (Max).

He had offered to pay her bills but she declined politely. he offered to walk her home as they both left the store together.

After escorting her to her place he began strolling back to his place.

As he walked back home after escorting her.

**Fast forward.**

Their love had blossomed though it remained hidden. He wasn't even interested in sex with her as he still got it from other places, and he loved her genuinely. She always found reason to come home from lectures and he always sent her money occasionally. Twice he had visited her in school, though not their visiting days, he was allowed to see her courtesy of being a military officer with a car (his uncle's).

After about 3months, he decided to end his relationship with other girls and women (especially her mom Ivy). Ivy had been livid, begging and finally resorting to threatening to deal with any girl she saw with him. He never mentioned the fact that he knew she had a daughter because Max had told him, her mom just doesn't like her. Something she had no understanding about.

He wondered why she stopped replying to his letters. He had sent about four of them after the last one, he, got from, her and none replied to. That was when decided to stop sending. But he was missing her at the moment when he remembered the last date they both had together. He had told her he was leaving that weekend after completing his program. His reposting was the only thing still keeping him in Cantina. They had been seeing each other nonstop since she got back from school. He was going to miss her he had told her beginning of the week.

It was supposed to be their last date but, she didn't show up when he was expecting her because of the rain. He had already dismissed the idea of her making it under that rain again. Fortunately, he had given her some money the previous day just in case he would be too busy at the command to see her that day.

Then somewhat past 20:00 hours, he had heard faint knocks on his door. Wondering who it was he had shouted angrily at the person because he had been aroused and frustrated. Added to the fact that the power supply had just been cut due to the heavy rain.

Then he heard the only voice that could make him go against his beloved mother "It's me, Max, Cain please open up. I'm scared, it's dark out here" she had cried like a little girl. Fortunately, he had already turned on his lamp and without giving it any thought, he jumped up from the bed and ran over to the door struggling to open it while crying out "My love I'm coming, hold on". *You ought to understand that this was the 90s and landlords around these parts usually made their doors with so many security features ranging from two or three bolts to one or two long rods or sticks across and padlocks.*

Since he wasn't living in the barracks and knowing the kind of promiscuous life he led, he was always careful to secure his door properly before going to bed for fear of attack by any aggrieved partner or thieves. "Cain" she cried out, sounding scared of the total darkness.

"My love just one more" he called out lifting the last rod from its hook around the door. Once done, he quickly threw the door open standing face to face with Max, he was lost. Holding each other tightly, their hearts raced fast as he promised never to let any harm come her way while he stood and watched. After about a few compliments he made way for her to come in. He closed the door behind them and bolted about three locks leaving the rest. As he turned to face her, she pushed him back against the door and locked her lips in his as they both kissed immediately after the rain came to God'

judgment of the earth. Now he was putting on just a shirt and boxers which were now wet as a result of her soaked body from the over two minutes of of French kissing and promises of love and protection session.

Breaking the kiss, he asked her to hold on while he went to get his towel. He came back almost immediately with the towel in his hands. Loosening the vest, he began to dry her body because she was still shivering. From cold this time around. He dried her body, standing with youthful grace and pride. The fact that she was shivering from the cold was what mattered to him. Grabbing his blanket from the bed, he used it to wrap around her and hurriedly left for his kitchen to prepare tea for her. Fortunately, he had made some for himself not up to five minutes before she came and the water was still hot in the kettle. All these happened in less than 10 minutes and she was drinking her tea. She had relaxed by the time the contents of the mug had gone halfway. "I didn't know you'd still come my love," he said returning a hand through her back after watching her quietly for some time. "I promised you I would. And you know we have both never failed each other before when we promised. I didn't want to be the one to break a promise." she said taking another sip. "That's so sweet my love," he said before asking about her parents and brother "They left earlier before the rain started, Ojo is sleeping at home. Will never wake up till tomorrow she said" giggling into her cup as the thought of how her younger brother slept ran through her head. "Hehehehe" he laughed at her statement while caressing her back through the blanket.

Both young lovers had sat silently listening to each other heartbeat and wondering what life would mean for both of them from the next day.

When she was finally done with the tea, she placed her mug down on the table and thanked him (Despite their fondness for each other, they both respected each other a lot and were usually too formal at times).