[STORY] DELILAH (Episode 05)

Episode 05.

No one talked about the matter anymore but concentrated on the weakness of my father,
“Let’s take him to the hospital, Frank suggested.
“No don’t worry I’m fine, don’t worry. Let me just rest my head, my father said and they led him to the room. All this while my mother just covered her face on her palms while I concentrated on my phone chatting with Loveth telling her all that is going on here.

“Are you equally mad with papa? Patricia asked standing before me and I raised my head and looked at her.
“I think there’s nothing else to talk about, I have work to do okay, see ya, I said and left the house and no one said a word.

Few days later I was at my stand very frustrated with the competition around and how I was not making sales when my phone began to ring. I saw it was Frank and ignored, after two rings I reluctantly picked up.
“Patrick, Frank spoke up when I didn’t say anything.
“Yes, I bluntly replied.

“So Patrick it has come to the point you no longer pick my calls huh? He asked.
“Not again please, I am very busy now, I replied.

“Your father is in the hospital, his sugar level grew so high, Frank said.
“Wow, what have you been feeding him with? I asked.

“Are you okay? No are you mad? What has come over you! He shouted.
“What do you want me to do? I mean why are you telling me? Are you trying to say I should contribute money for his hospital bills? You know I am not working so forget it, I replied.

“Is it about money? What about staying in the hospital with him? Frank asked.
“Oh that? Why not use this opportunity to do something for your father, last I checked you were the long lost son while I stood in, so fill up the gap okay, I replied.

“Patrick, Frank whispered.
“I am busy please, you think you’re the only one working huh? So you expect me to leave my business and stay with your father as the jobless son huh? I asked and dropped the call and hissed keeping my phone aside.

That evening I got home not happy at all and Loveth hugged me from behind,
“Talk to me, what is making my baby sad? She asked and I heaved.
“The competition is getting annoying, no sales at all, I replied.

“Hey calm down, but yours tastes great right? She asked.
‘But its not enough, its just like a breeze is blowing them elsewhere. At my sisters place I have never experienced this before, I replied and she left me with a frown.

“What’s wrong? Did I say anything wrong? I asked.
“You’re bringing up your sister comparing her with me right? Are you trying to say you were better with her? She asked.

“Oh common don’t be like that, I am just talking about the business premises and not my sister. If business is not going on well how will I take care of you? I’m so worried right now because I am a man, I replied holding her.
“I think you need a job, you don’t have to compete with those low class on the street, she said.

“You know I have tried severally to get a good job but its not working, I’m just tired, I said.
‘No babe don’t say that. Let’s try again, I’ll even help you to write the applications, she said.

“I don’t want to get my hopes high please, maybe I should just move to another location and do my business in peace, I said bowing my head.
“Babe you don’t believe in me? She asked raising my head up

“Of course I do, I replied.
“Good, now let’s start writing the applications okay, and before I forget I heard of a vacancy somewhere. We’ll start with that alright, she said kissing me and I felt so blessed to have her.

The next day she walked with me until I exhausted the application letters I carried and I breathed out so anxious and she smiled cleaning my sweat,
“Thanks love you’re the best, I said to her.
“I know right. Do you have any place you really wish they’ll call you? She asked.

“Oh that will be the place you first took me to. If I can get there mhen the pay will be so good, I replied.
“I trust you’ll have the job, let’s go home and rest, she said.

‘Rest? I have to go open my stand you know, I said.
“No not today, common you have to rest, she said dragging me and I smiled.

As usual the pay was not encouraging and when I wanted accepting the pay of 60,000 naira Loveth told me not to.
“But babe my business is not giving me up to 10,000 naira anymore and I am so desperate, I said to her.
“Then you’ll settle for less? Dont you know your worth? She asked.

“I do But this is manageable, I replied and held her.
“Let me just hold this bird I am seeing now, when a better one comes I will surely take it. I really need to support you financially and I am not comfortable that I can’t support you in your wig and cosmetic business. I want to build you the biggest wig store here, I said and she laughed loud hitting my chest.

“Hope you’re not kidding me? She asked.
‘No I mean it. I want to take care of you that other ladies will be so jealous. I just pray that I get a good job soon, I replied.

“Sure you will, just give it time okay because I need that giant building, she said and I smiled carrying her.
“When will you take me to your parents? I asked and she rolled her eyes.

“Please stop bringing this up. Just like you I don’t have a family, they are so useless, she replied.
“What if I want to get married to you? I asked and she laughed.

“Why? What’s funny? I asked..
“You’re thinking about marriage? Oh common, she replied and I kept her down looking confused.

“Why are you not always serious with this any time I bring it up? Or are you still hurt your ex boyfriend canceled the wedding you were supposed to have? I asked.
“Babe there’s time for everything. We should think of better things now, marriage can wait okay. Let’s focus on us being successful because you see I don’t even want to stay in this country when I am having my baby, I want a British citizenship for my angels and that won’t happen now so relax, She replied touching my face.

“I know but then….. She sealed my lips with kisses.

Days later I resumed work without my family knowing, in fact ever since Frank called to tell me about my father condition, I totally forgot about such a thing and I totally forgot I have a family. Loveth was my everything and she was all I ever thought of, I didn’t have a mind of my own anymore and I was absolutely comfortable with it.
I was at work one day when a strange number called. I looked at it and ignored because I don’t pick strange numbers, but it kept ringing and I angrily picked up,
“Yes? I asked.

“Patrick, can you come to the hospital? I heard and it was my mother voice.
“Why what’s the problem? I asked and I saw my boss coming and dropped the call because calls were prohibited in the organization.

When I was about going home a text entered my phone and it was for an interview scheduled for the next day. I wanted ignoring but then it was from the big organization I had my eyes on. I joyfully got back home and showed Loveth the text,
“Wow love you have to attend this, she said.
“Hmm babe my boss is strong like rock, I am even tired working there sef but then what if I don’t have the job? I asked.

“Take permission na, what’s there? She asked.
“Babe that man won’t allow o, I replied.

“Give me his number, she said and I gave her his number.
“Watch me, she said and cleared her throat while I sat smiling at her and she dialed my boss number.

I never knew Loveth was a great actress and within few minutes she was able to convince my boss that I was rushed to the hospital and I won’t be going to the work the next day.
Hearing the word hospital I quickly remembered my mother called and I waited for her to be done and she dropped the call looking at me as I kept a sad face,
“What’s wrong? Yuh can go to the interview now, she said.

“Yea thanks. Mom called this morning at work telling me to come to the hospital, I said.
“Why? Whose there? She asked.

“I forgot to tell you,in fact I didn’t remember at all that Frank once called to tell me dad was rushed to the hospital, I replied.
“You can’t miss this interview hope you know that? I’m sure its not something serious after all Frank and Patricia is there, she said.

“But I have to see him, it looks somehow don’t you think so? I asked.
“Okay fine, maybe when you’re through with the interview you can go see them, how about that? She asked.

‘Fine no problem, let me call her, I said taking my phone but she took it from me.
“Let’s eat love I’m so hungry, you know i was waiting for you, she said and I got charged to fill my hungry stomach.

The next day I went for the interview and to my surprise the crowd there gave me running stomach. I took my phone very discouraged and took pictures for Loveth to see,
“I don’t think I can succeed here love with this, let me just go to the hospital, I texted her on WhatsApp.
“Love stop this. So if there’s a crowd how does that concern you? Wait till it gets to your turn, don’t you dare leave that place else you’ll regret it, she replied putting an angry emoji.

“Hey babe calm down, what’s the fuss about? I asked but she logged out and I sighed and had to stay.
At around 3pm was when I got into the room and I tried my best to impress them,
“So tell me, do you have any experience? A beautiful lady there asked.

“To be sincere ma’am I haven’t worked with my certificate before. The labor market has not been so kind, I replied.
“Is that so? The lady asked with some moves I clearly understood as a handsome boy and I did more emotional damage with clean accents because it seems to me that she’s higher in position than the other two men that was with her.

When I finally left the room I called up Loveth telling her it went cool but then let’s hope it comes out with good news.
“Sure babe it will, come have your rest okay, she said and a call came on phone.

“Babe please let me pick this call okay, I said and she dropped the call and I picked the awaiting call.
“Hello! I shouted for the fourth time when all I heard was confusing noises with no one saying anything.

“Patrick, congratulations your father is dead, I heard Frank voice finally.
“What! I shouted and he dropped the call.
To Be Continued… . . .