Love Reveals

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Two weeks later, Jim became agile and strong enough to resume work.

When he walked into the office, faces lit with smiles.

"Good morning Mr Jim, I'm happy you are back" Mr Louis, his colleague, greeted Jim with a warm handshake.

"Thank you Louis" Jim said and thanked them all.

Jim walked straight to director's office to sign his attendance time.

He knocked and walked in.

"Good morning Ma" Jim greeted Joan who looked at him as if she was uncomfortable.

"Good morning. Thank God you've recovered fully, please come and sign in the attendance book" Joan said and Jim signed.

"Any task for the week?" Jim asked as he was ready to start off.

"Ok..." Joan searched through her files.

"Yes take this, read it carefully and get back to me so you can start off with it" Joan said and handed Jim a file.

"Thank you, I will be in my office" Jim said and turned to leave.

"Jim!" Joan called out.

"Yes ma'am" Jim answered.

"Let's see today by 6:00pm at my place. I'll like to share somethings with you please" Joan requested politely.

"Ok ma'am" Jim said and went out immediately.

****

Jim was home by 6:30pm, he went to his kitchen even though he was tired to prepare any food. He brought out two packets of noodles from the cupboard and was about to cook it when a thought struck his head.

"Precious Lord! It's 6:30 and I was supposed to meet Joan by 6:00 oh my! I have to run" Jim kept back the noodles inside the cupboard, took his keys and ran out.

Joan kept walking around the room thinking that maybe another bad luck had happened but after thirty minutes time Jim queitly opened Joan's door.

"I'm sorry I came late..." Jim apologized.

"Thank God you arrived. Please I want you to sit down" Joan who had heaved a sign of relief said and Jim found himself a seat.

"The way I treated you the last time...I know it wasn't fair...kinda kept you in the dark" Joan said and Jim was mute.

"You coming into my life is not a mistake but fate...my personal life experience changed a lot about me which is why sometimes I withdraw myself from making new friends or going out and having the most fun like others do" Joan said.

"Don't freak out okay?" Joan continued.

"Okay" Jim said calmly.

"Ok...Years ago I met my ex boyfriend, Joseph, that was when we were in our 300 level in the university, so he was a genius in statistics so I made friends with him, he taught me the ones I didn't understand in statistics. When we graduated the next year we started dating... You know after school everyone faced his or her career at different locations and after four years I met Joseph and one day when he visited me... We had sex... After two months I started seeing strange signs on my body, I went to hospital and ran a test, they confirmed that... That I am HIV positive" Joan said it and Jim was like, "what?" Jim screamed and almost ran out of his skin.

"You are screaming?! You are freaking out" Joan said and almost regretting why she revealed her truth.

"No! I'm not freaked out... I'm just...surprised. You don't look like you have HIV or any disease at all" Jim said looking at Joan from head to toe in amazement.

"Whether you like it or not I'm not ashamed of myself. I am strong and happy" Joan said defensively.

"Oh poor Joan! Don't be sad...the love I have for you is intense. I'm sorry if I reacted badly to what you told me...I was just...nevermind. I love you Joan more than what words can explain. I will stand by you no matter what I will never leave you. It will change nothing Joan" Jim said as he held Joan's palm tightly.

"We can have kids who will be free from it. Joan I will die when you die, I will be buried where you will be buried... I have immeasurable love for you" Jim said and held Joan tightly as both of them cried uncontrollably on the couch.

"To prove to you that I still want you..." Jim said as he knelt down and revealed a ring in his palms.

"Please marry me Joan" Jim said.

Joan couldn't help but shed tears as she now know that Jim loves her so much.

"Yes I will marry you Jim! Yes! Yes Jim! I love you" Joan hugged Jim with happiness.

"I love you too" Jim muttered.