For Better And For Worse
Chapter 55

Prison.

Krist and Aristide talk.

Aristide: you know what I’m thinking?

Krist: no, for what?

Aristide: If the director was so keen that you participate in these fights, it was because he hoped that you would be killed there.

Krist: There are no rules to follow?

Aristide: no, the only rule is that only one will remain standing, whether the other is dead or no longer able to fight.

Krist: he still plays for Gauthier.

Aristide: Yes.

Krist: well you know what, if it’s God’s plan for me to participate in these fights, I’m going to participate and I hope that with his help, Gauthier and the director don’t get what they want .

Aristide: the Lord will be with you.

Krist: So be it.

Aristide: you haven’t trained, yet it’s in a few days.

Krist: don’t worry, the Lord is with me. Now I sincerely believe that all things (good or bad) work together for good to those who love God (Rom8:28).

Aristide: we agree. You will be the winner my friend, and your life will change.

He pats her shoulder reassuringly.

Célestin’s home.

Master Célestin brings his brother and installs them in the living room.

Célestin: so, do you want juice, water, a beer?

Séraphin: give me a good energy drink.

Célestin: and you, miss?

Clarisse: same!

So he brings them what they ask for and sits down to talk with them for a moment. He gets up to go prepare food for them and his brother accompanies him to chat. After the preparation, they have dinner together. After dinner, he decides to give them rooms.

Célestin: Do you want one or two bedrooms?

Clarisse says two, Séraphin says one.

Célestin: are you married?

Seraphim: yes.

Clarisse: no.

Célestin: what are you playing there?

Séraphin: I say yes because we have already slept together several times. We are already linked for life my brother, all that remains is to formalize our relationship in front of men because before God, we are already married, of course, illegally. So don’t bother, prepare a room for us.

Célestin smiles, shaking his head and goes to prepare the room for them. Clarisse looks at him strangely. He pushes close to her.

Seraphim: what? You know that I can’t stand a night without you, my beautiful Clarisse.

He covers her with k****s.

Clarisse: stop, your brother is here!

Séraphin: my brother is not my father or my mother.

Clarisse: give him some respect!

Séraphin: very good, but we continue once in the room.

Clarisse: I think this trip has exhausted us too much.

Séraphin: with this meal that my brother prepared, I regained all my strength.

Clarisse: You will never change.

Séraphin: that’s why you love me, right?

He wanted to k**s her again when Séraphin arrives.

Célestin: the bride and groom’s bedroom is ready.

Séraphin: thank you brother.

He gets up and carries Clarisse in his arms.

Clarisse: hey, what are you doing, put me down on the ground.

Seraph: I’m bringing my princess to rest. Good night bro.

Célestin looks at them, smiling and shaking his head. He brings his girlfriend into the bedroom and they have s*x before resting.

Séraphin: ah, how much I love you!

Clarisse: me too, moron! Do you want to dirty me in front of your brother or something?

Séraphin: that was not my intention. Besides, my brother doesn’t judge people by appearance. Good night darling.

In the living room, Célestin takes Stella’s photo and thinks of her. Stella for her part also thinks of him. She takes the ring and tries it on her finger. It’s perfect but she’s still hesitant. She puts the ring back in its box and lies down with her eyes looking up at the sky. She imagines a home life with him, what it would be like. In addition, does she know Célestin well enough to be able to decide to make a life with him? All these questions keep him from sleeping. Because she still hasn’t decided.

Fountain bar.

This evening, Cornelius equipped all his men with weapons with specific recommendations.

Corneille: if you come across this vigilante again, take care of him but don’t forget, the boss wants him alive but not in good health.

These men leave and disperse around the city to sell the drugs. Once alone, Commander Léon calls John.

John: yes commander!

Leon: John, you have to be very careful if you go out as a vigilante.

John: What’s going on?

Léon: new measures have been taken. Corneille equipped all his men with weapons. They have orders to capture you but not in good health.

John: okay, thank you.

Célestin’s home.

In the morning, Célestin wakes up and goes to prepare breakfast. Séraphin wakes up while his fiancée is still sleeping. He goes to the living room and goes to turn on the TV. He replaces a photo of Stella and takes it to look.

Seraphim: name of God! Who is this girl?

He brings the photo with him into the kitchen.

Séraphin: hello brother.

Célestin: hello, slept well?

Séraphin: yes very good. Who is it ?

He shows her the photo.

Célestin: my girlfriend.

Séraphin: no, where did you get that one from? She’s a goddess my brother! Seeing how beautiful she is in photos, I imagine what she would be like in real life.

Célestin: Don’t touch that.

He takes the photo from her.

Séraphin: It’s okay, I’m just congratulating you.

Célestin: thank you.

Séraphin: when will you introduce her to me?

Célestin: when things get more serious.

Séraphin: wait, but what are you waiting for?

Célestin: she’s not ready yet.

Séraphin: sorry my brother.

Célestin: now let me finish my meal.

Seraph: ok. Hey, we’re going to celebrate Christmas as a family, right?

Célestin: I don’t know, it’s you who came to celebrate Christmas.

Séraphin: I came for the family celebration and that includes you too. It’s in two days, don’t forget. I come home in the evening to see the parents and prepare everything.

Célestin: okay, I’ll be there.

After he finishes preparing, they eat together then Célestin goes to work. As for them, Séraphin accompanies his girlfriend home, to her family. He leaves her at the door.

Séraphin: I’m going back to my parents’ house this evening so you can join me before I leave.

Clarisse: okay darling.

They k**s and Séraphin leaves. Clarisse rings and her little sister comes to open the door. She was overcome with joy, hugged her tightly and helped her bring in her luggage. The welcome was extremely moving but his father had already left for work.

Krist’s home.

During breakfast, Stella chats with Isabelle.

Stella: Last night, I thought a lot about Célestin’s marriage proposal.

Isabelle: and what did you decide?

Stella: I will accept his request.

Isabelle: are you sure?

Stella: Yes.

Isabelle: in this case know that you have my support. I’m happy for you.

Stella: thank you Isabelle. But for the wedding, Krist would first have to join you. I won’t leave you alone and that’s without discussion.

Isabelle: okay, it’s whatever you want.

Stella: otherwise, how do you envisage the Christmas party this year?

Isabelle: I don’t know, it’s the first time I’m going to celebrate it without my husband. I think I would just say thank you to God.

Stella: It’s going to be okay. We will normally celebrate this holiday, I have already planned everything.

Isabelle: ok.

After the meal, Isabelle goes to work, Stella to the living room. She’s been getting a lot of customers lately, with girls braiding their hair for the party.

Renaissance hospital.

As soon as she arrives, Isabelle receives Doctor Roger in her office.

Roger: hello to the one who makes my heart beat.

Isabelle: hello doctor.

Roger: Christmas is coming the day after tomorrow, do you want to go out with me on the 24th?

Isabelle: I will never do that.

Roger: you know that the real holiday is the 24th.

Isabelle: you have a wife for that, right? Why don’t you take the opportunity to renew your vows?

Roger: actually, I was thinking of exchanging new vows with you. The kind of uniting for better and for worse.

She starts laughing then suddenly stops.

Isabelle: I have too many problems in my life, doctor, so don’t push me to hurt you. Now get out of my office.

Roger: okay, I’m leaving, don’t get upset.

The doctor leaves. Isabelle sits down and thinks about her husband.

Prison.

This morning, Krist trains together with Léo. He hits the punching bag with all his might, thinking about everything that happened to him. Bayoko approaches him.