Epic 3

I left the hospital without uttering a word to Dinma. I'm sure her foster mother wondered what was wrong with me.

I met Leo on the way while going home.

“What is wrong with you? You didn't call me as planned before going to the hospital and you didn't even pick up my calls” He complained a bit angry.

I didn't even notice that he called.

“Um! I am so sorry for that, Dinma needed a sweater urgently, so I had to go give it to her, and as for the missed calls, I am so sorry, I didn't even notice that you called”. I managed to mutter while avoiding his angry look.

“It is fine, how is she? Hope she is getting better?”. He asked.

“yeah! She is” I replied.

“Did the doctor say when she will be discharged?” He asked.

“No! I didn't ask him though”. I said and we headed back home.

“You don't look happy, what happened?”. He asked, looking at me strangely.

I knew he was going to say something about my look, Leo can be very observant. I can't even pretend to be fine when I am not, because he will find out.

“My mum called”. I muttered slowly.

“You mean your real mum?”, he asked.

“yeah!”, I replied.

“What did she say?” Leo asked with a bit of a commanding tone.

“She brought back her request”. I replied while still crying.

“What request?” he asked, confused.

“For me to work at the club as a prostitute”. I said crying. I feel so ashamed telling Leo such. How can a mother support her child in prostitution? What kind of mother does that? I could see the disappointed look on Leo's face. For some seconds, I thought maybe I made a big mistake by telling him about my mum.

“What did you tell her when she said it?” he asked. 

I was surprised by the question, I wasn't even expecting that.

“She already approached me before, and I told her I wasn't interested, I still stood by my words, but I didn't say anything because I didn't want to be rude, so, I ended the call immediately without uttering a word”. I said while still crying.

“Why are you crying?” Leo asked.

I kept being surprised by his questions, why is he asking me all these questions?

“Nothing! I just feel ashamed and sad that I have such a woman as a mother”. I replied while cleaning my eyes.

“Well, it is cool, if you wish to cry, but have in mind that the tears you are wasting, will offer no solutions. Because it is only showing how weak you are, I can't believe you are letting a woman who doesn't care, spoil your day”. He said disappointed while shaking his head. This was so unlike Leo, Why is he sounding so mean, or is he probably telling the truth? I have allowed mum to get away with my emotions.

“Do you think I am weak?” I managed to ask Leo, who didn't seem interested in the topic again.

“I have always known you to be a strong independent woman, a woman with vision and dream, a tough lady. But, I doubt if you are still the same Angel of yesterday”. He said disappointed.

I wanted to cry but had to hold back. I can't believe I am this weak from Leo's description.

“I am still that angel of yesterday, but...”

“No but, don't let a strand pull you down,” Leo said while tapping me on the shoulder.

“Sure!”. I replied.

For the first time in my life since Papa died, someone is talking sense into me.

“Where should we go? I don't want to go home now” I said.

“Uncle Joe invited me to his office, maybe we can go together,” he suggested. 

Wow! That is one big opportunity I would never want to deny myself. I know uncle Joe, the owner of Pine valley right? I have longed to enter there, but no opportunity has come my way.

“Yes!!! I would love to go” I screamed in excitement.

“Wow! You look happy now, it has been a long time since I saw those smiles. We have in one way or the other wanted to get into that company. My childhood dream was to work there, but I still live with that dream”. He said after a big relief.

“Yeah! But, God is gradually making that dream come through, starting from us entering there today”. I said smiling.

“Entering where?” Leo asked, confused.

“What do you mean by that? You just told me that we are entering there, or are you joking with me right now?”. I asked him, annoyed.

“I am sorry for giving you false hope, I just wanted to see you smile again”. He said and my face quickly changed.

“You wouldn't have done that,” I said angrily.

“I'm sorry, but we can still go there if you wish,” Leo said while letting out a little smile.

“Go there!!! Why are we going there, what are we going to do?” I was surprised by his suggestion.

“Yeah! We can just go and hang around the company, just to take a look or probably take a picture” he said smiling.

Well, that wasn't a bad idea, we can just go there then, take a few pictures and come out, who knows, I might even end up getting connected.

Yeah! I am so happy to have such a genius like Leo as a friend.

“Well, that is not a bad idea, let's go now” I suggested, and he started smiling. 

“Okay! Slow down, we are going to get there” he said and I started laughing.

We got to pine valley, I made sure that I took pictures at every corner of the building. Just while we were taking the pictures, a familiar face passed us. I kept wondering where I met that face, but couldn't. 

Seems, the person did notice me, he was walking fast towards me, I became uncomfortable instantly, what is wrong with me? Why am I having such a negative reaction?

“Angel, can you change to another style?” Leo called out.

“Ow, sorry”. I said while trying to change position but the familiar face approached me immediately.

“Wow! What a coincidence! We meet again” the young-looking vibrant man said while bringing out his hands, for a handshake.

“Hi!” I said wearily while shaking him.

“You seem to have forgotten who I am already,  well, I am Benjamin. We met earlier today, in the morning when we bumped into each other,” he said while raising one of his eyebrows.

“Okay! I remember” I screamed in excitement.

“Sorry for the altitude, you work here?”. I asked him while pointing at Pine Valley. 

“Yes, I do,” he said, smiling.

“Wow! Nice, sorry for my manners please do meet my friend Leo, Leo meet Benjamin, my friend also,” I said in an introductory manner while referring to Leo and Benjamin. 

I watched them exchange greetings. I was so surprised and excited, Benjamin might be the hero God is about to send to me as a helper.

“How is your sister, hope she is fine?” he asked. 

I was surprised he could still remember Dinma.

“Yes! She is getting better”. I said smiling.

“Okay, that is a good one, you still have my call card right?”. He questioned.

“Yes, I do,” I replied while digging my hand in my pocket to bring it out.

“Okay, cool, do give me a call when you are chanced or better still, give me yours”.

"Sure“, I said while calling out my number for him. 

”I will be leaving you and your friend at the moment,” he said while shaking Leo's hand, and left immediately.

Wow! What a gentleman.

“How did you guys meet?” Leo asked, confused.

“We met this morning, while I was going to visit Dinma, I bumped into him, I didn't know he could still remember me,” I said excitedly.

“Okay! You seem happier than I expected, did he give you any change?” Leo asked and we both started laughing.

“What changed? I am so excited because he is going to be the success and the door opener of my entrance into pine valley. I said, still sounding happy.

I got home that day after a long walk with Leo. Just during the cool evening while I was dishing out food for a meal, I got a call. I knew it was Benjamin, my cheeks were all reddish.

I picked up the phone and told him how busy I was at the moment. He was very understanding and quickly ended the call. I kept blushing to the extent it got to mama's notice.

“I noticed you have been happy lately, has Dinma been discharged?” she questioned, confused.

Immediately my mood changed, upon hearing Dinma's name. I realized there is no other greater happiness I deserve if not for Dinma to get better. 

No, she hasn't been discharged” I managed to mutter. 

I lost my appetite all of a sudden, so I quickly served the food and left for my room.

“Aren't you eating?”, Mama had managed to ask. 

“I am not hungry. '' I managed to say and immediately left the dining room, with that, I was angry over every little thing.

I subbed quietly on my bed, just at the wrong time, my mother called me. I wondered why she would be calling me by this time, why would such a woman still have my contact, why can't she just leave me alone, always calling at the wrong hour.

"What is it?" I said while picking up the call.

"Who is this?, I suppose this is not my Angel, so please hand the phone over to her". She said while letting out a little chuckle.

" Well, I am not shocked at the sound of that, coming from a mother who abandoned her children. How do I expect her to recognize the voice of her daughter, when she doesn't even know what the sound of a crying baby looks like?”, I said rudely.

But, without reaction, she started laughing. I was wondering what my father was doing that made him encounter someone like that.

"Oh, my darling! Is that what you were told? I left you huh! Who could probably be feeding my princess with such cramps?". She said while letting out a weird laugh.

" Nobody told me that, you thought I was young and foolish right? But, sorry to disappoint you, I wasn't. I can vividly remember that night, papa was begging you not to leave us, you vehemently left your nursing baby, I ran after you that very night, I screamed for you to come back, but you didn't. You didn't even look back when you had me scream over an injury I had while trying to chase after you, here you are, blaming someone else, eew! How pathetic", I said in disgust.

"Yeah! How pathetic, my daughter, still chooses to be foolish and unwise, this isn't the angel that I have always known, I thought you were smart, it is quite unfortunate you carried your father's low IQ". She said while laughing out loud, I couldn't believe she was my mum.

" yeah! I know, it is better to have a low IQ, than to have a high one, yet not make a difference. How can you be a mother to us, papa died, and you didn't even bother to take up your responsibility as a mother, instead, you invited me into joining your dirty lifestyle, Dinma had an accident, not like you weren't informed. I believe your IQ has a better role to play in that, yet you didn't and haven't bothered to come to visit your daughter. You are a big shame to motherhood". I said really angry as tears ran down my eyes.

"Ow! Did all this happen? I suppose my IQ must have filtered them out because it doesn't store irrelevant information, it is quite a pity it happened to be a deep memory for some people ''. She said while letting out a loud laugh.

"hold on, so papa's death and Dinma's incident, are irrelevant to you? I screamed, don't ever call my number again, you are not worthy to be called a mum". I screamed.

" hold on Angel!!! just before you end the call", she called out, as I made to end the call. 

Maybe she wants to apologize, I knew this was going to touch her, I thought she doesn't have emotions.

"What is it?". I said rudely, trying to act so mean.

"I just want to remind you, that the deal still stands, in case you change your mind, you know where to find me, remember your future and that of your sister". She laughed and ended the call.

I couldn't hold it back, I had to scream out my pain, I felt like strangling her to death.

Just immediately mama came inside, I quickly turned my face, while facing the wall.

"What is wrong Angel? I know you don't like our home, I am not giving you the best of treatment which you deserve, but I am very sorry, my husband as well as sorry, please forgive us, we promise to try our best, while providing for you". She said while pausing a little and coming towards me.

Slowly, she wrapped her hands around me.

It made me sub the more, I can't imagine my mother being so cruel and wicked. Meanwhile, a woman that isn't even my biological mother is here, being all caring, taking the blame for what she did not do.

" Mama, I am not angry with you, I was only angry at myself". I said while hugging her as well.

She was really happy, and with that, she let out a weary smile.

"I love you, my Angel". She said while giving me a peck on my forehead.

" I love you more than you can imagine mama". I said smiling.

Slightly, she shuffled my hair with her hand. 

"Your food is at the dining table, make sure you put something in your stomach before going to bed". She said while panting me slowly before leaving the room.

I smiled at her. 

I kept wondering the kind of Angel she is. I can't believe even with my insincerity, God still blessed me with such a caring mother.

Just immediately, Benjamin called, he noticed the change in my voice, he inquired to know, which I told him but didn't mention anything about my real mother to him. I only told him about my sister and my work which I got fired on.

«»«»«»

I woke up hungry, Benjamin had woken me up with his call.

“Good morning Sir” I greeted him while picking up the call.

“Excuse me! I suppose I am not the one you are referring to as Sir, right?”. He said in a low tone.

“ow! I am sorry, good morning Benjamin". I said excitedly, he is making this plan less tough for me.

”Good morning, hope you slept well?“. He asked.

”Yes, I did, what about you?” I said and just immediately, my stomach grumbled.

“Well, I slept well, and I will appreciate it, If we can end this call right away. And get something and put it in your stomach”. He said laughing.

“Of course, I am really hungry,” I said while laughing.

“Okay, take care, and remember, we will be meeting today,” he said.

“Sure, Message me once you come back from the office,” I said and we quickly ended the call.

Just immediately mama came inside with all smiles.

“It's been a long time since I saw you laugh that way, hope you slept well”. She asked.

“Of course mum, why won't I? after spending such a beautiful moment with you". I said while hugging her.

”Good morning mum“ I further said.

”Good morning my Angel, I noticed you didn't eat your dinner yesterday, and I suppose you should be hungry by now. I have prepared breakfast for you, you need to come and eat now“. She said while letting me go, gradually.

”Oh my goodness! I love you so much mum, thank you, I am coming right away". I said blushing.

What a sweet mother!

«»«»«»

“I will be going to Leo's,” I said after eating.

“Okay! That won't be a problem, just come back early okay!” mama said.

“Okay, mum! I promise” I said, and left for Leo's house.

On reaching there, I saw Leo, his facial expression on seeing me, covered more of his words.

“Who am I seeing? Angel, is this you? What happened? Who did you come to see?” Leo said while screaming out loud.

“Can you please stop embarrassing me? I came to see you of course” I replied while trying to defend myself.

We kept on arguing, till we got inside the house, where his parents were staying.

“Good morning ma, good morning Sir!" I greeted while giving a little bow.

”Good morning Angel, how are you doing? It's been a long time“ they said while smiling at me.

”I am fine Sir,“ I said.

”How is your sister now?“ Leo's mum asked.

”She is fine,“ I replied.

”Has the doctor said when she will be discharged?“ the father said.

”No sir, but she is getting better,“ I replied. Before Leo called me.

It was really fun, spending some time with Leo.

”I need to get going, I have an appointment with Benjamin,“ I said while noticing the disgust on Leo's face.

”Who is Benjamin?“ Leo asked.

”Don't tell me you have forgotten his name already, the man we met at Pine valley yesterday", I said while rolling my eyes.

"Wow! Yeah! I remember, why are you guys meeting?“ he asked worriedly.

”I don't know, but I pray it yields something positive, “ I said smiling.

”Should I accompany you?“ he asked.

”No, that won't be necessary, “ I said while hugging him, and left.

”Be careful, okay!“ he screamed out to me.

”Sure, I will!!!,“ I screamed back.

I reached the appointed place, Benjamin was already seated.

”Good evening, hope I didn't keep you waiting?“ I said while sitting down.

”it is fine, hope you are good?“. He asked.

”Sure, I am“. I replied.

”About yesterday, can you share?“ he asked.

I felt a bit reluctant but had to open up. After sharing my experience so far with him, I got confused when he said he would help, I was really happy not until he said there's a condition attached to it.

”What condition?“ I asked.