Chapter Two

He sighed at the sight of his account balance and wanted to turn off his phone when the alarm started ringing displaying “Girlfriend’s birthday.” A happy smile engulfed his face and he quickly changed his outfit, picked up his dollar bills, and left his apartment.

All eyes were on him as he strolled in the bustling street.

“Isn’t it that clown? He still had the guts to step out.” One said “Latest poor thief.” Another screamed. 

They couldn’t stop laughing at him, insulting and mocking him but he ignored them. He looked from one mart to another searching for the one that matched his girlfriend’s taste. He was wearing a pair of jeans that had changed its color to off-white because of too much washing and his polo had some torn spots and was saggy on his neck.

He walked into a shopping mall in the area, looking confident and excited meanwhile he had just $150 on him. The director and his wife were the ones running the business thus when they saw him, they exchanged knowing glares before the woman approached him.

“This place is not for you, please leave.” She shunned him.

“I want to shop here.” He didn’t show any atom of annoyance or hurt. He acted as though she didn’t refer to him.

“Does this look like a place to buy second-hand materials? All brands here are Louis Vuitton, Maxi, and Adidas and you can never purchase them in your life.” She scoffed, crossing her arms.

“I know I can’t but I saw a purse that I like.” He informed her. She looked at her husband.

“Is not by liking it, can you pay?” The man yelled from afar and other customers who were shopping couldn’t help but laugh at him.

“Last I heard, you stole someone’s phone. Hope you aren’t here to steal something?” The woman asked him rhetorically, curling her lips.

“I didn’t steal it, ma’am. I only want to get that red purse and I will leave.” He said, sounding somewhat serious.

“If I find out you can’t afford it, I swear you won’t like what I would do to you.” She hissed before walking over to the suitcase where the small red purse was, she pulled it out and checked the price. “It’s $125.6.” She batted her lashes at him and he brought out some dollar notes that looked squeezed.

The woman reluctantly took them and walked to the payment desk with him.

“Luckily he had some funds. Who knows if he stole it?” She raised a mocking brow as she cleared his payment, and gave him his change, receipt, and product.

“Thank you, I will come back again.” He said before leaving the mall.

“That’s if you will see something else to steal. The city security has been increased.” The woman commented, laughing mockingly with her husband.

He would have gotten a small gift wrap to design the purse but he had little balance with him. After standing on the road for a long time, he decided to visit his girlfriend.

“Happy birthday, Mia!” Male and female voices could be heard in the furnished one-bedroom apartment as Jamal entered the room with the purse in his hand.

Mia pretended to be happy to see him because she had bragged about him, hopefully, he would give her the best birthday gift.

Her friends, crush, and college mates were present at her birthday party and all of them were gifting her expensive things.

“You made it babe.” He was taken aback by her kindness because she was quite mean to him sometimes, but he decided not to care since it was a good day.

“Let’s see what you got for your girlfriend.” One of Mia’s friends suggested with a loud voice and the others followed, urging him.

“Babe, here is what I got.” He handed the small purse to her. “I know you would love it.” His statement followed with a smile.

“A purse? Just this?” She flicked it in the air, staring at him in dissatisfaction.

“Yeah, don’t you like it?” He raised an anxious brow. It wasn’t a big amount of money he used to purchase it but he sacrificed his rent for her, at least she should appreciate his gift.

“Today is my birthday, fish-head and all you got for me is a purse? A freaking purse?” Mia asked him in irritation. She was also feeling embarrassed because her rich friends were present.

Someone grabbed the purse from her: “Not even a purse, a freaking cheap purse.” The person yelled in mockery and the trio burst into laughter.

“Wait a minute,” Samson, the college-famous soccer player gave the purse a close look. “Did I just see 125.6 dollars? And it’s currently on discount.” Samson clicked his tongue and the others shook their head in disbelief, they couldn’t help but laugh in pity.

“Oh, poor boy. Mia, didn’t I warn you to get a good man?” A female friend chuckled, tapping Jamal on his shoulder.

“Babe, it’s not that I wouldn’t have gotten a better gift. It’s just that something came up and - -” He began, trying to explain calmly but she interrupted him.

“I don’t need your dirty explanation.” She waved her hand in the air, disgusted.

“But - -” Mia was only trying to behave coolly because it was her birthday, she turned to him with her eyes burning in anger.

“What are you still doing here? Get out!” She bashed at his face and shamefully, he lowered his head and left her apartment.