CHAPTER 20: YOU ARE A GREAT MUM.
“Here, have this.” Evelyn passed a beverage to Kira.
“Thanks. ” Kira appreciated it. It was Friday night for them to enjoy themselves. Kira was having a sleepover at Evelyn’s place. That was what she was getting used to.
“Living alone is one big hell of a ride,” Kira said as she popped the drink openly.
“Don’t tell me about it. I experienced it for a while before giving birth.” Evelyn replied and took a sip from her drink. Her friend simply smiled.
“So how are you coping at work?” Kira asked.
“I am coping well. The workers are nice…”
“And your boss? I have never really seen him at all so I don’t know what he looks like. Is he handsome? Is he that dream guy that we would always talk about when we were teenagers?”
Evelyn smiled and remembered Raphael’s distinctive features that got her red like a tomato.
“Are you blushing? Wait…you are blushing, what the f*ck? You are blushing about your boss…”
“What? No, you totally got it wrong. I was just having a random thought, that’s all.” Evelyn denied and Kira wiggled her eyebrows as a form of teasing, Evelyn pushed her away playfully and they burst into laughter.
“Wow, that’s a first,” Kira commented and there was silence between them as they concentrated on the movie they were watching. A few minutes later, Evelyn was done eating her snacks. She adjusted her sitting position so she could rest her head on Kira’s lap.
Kira brought her legs down and rubbed her forehead playfully.
“What is wrong?” She asked.
Evelyn sighed and closed her eyes, “I am confused, Kira.”
“About what?”
“A few nights ago, Tom asked about his father,” Evelyn revealed.
“Really? What was your response?” Kira questioned seriously. Evelyn opened her eyes and looked at her friend.
“What could I have told him? I only pet him to sleep, that was all I could do that night. I was tongue-tied. He told me that they were asked to say something that they loved about their father and he just couldn’t say anything because he had no idea who a father was or what importance it was. His friends made fun of him.
This is exactly what I am afraid of facing, Kira. I expected this but not at this age, I thought maybe when he is grown up. I just can’t…I can’t tell him the truth. How will I even say it to him? I had a one-night stand with an unknown man.
My life revolves around my son, Kira. I don’t regret giving birth to him. Instead, I am proud to be his mother no matter the circumstances that warranted it but I am afraid that I won’t be able to handle it anymore. I just want to provide him with a happy family, a family with no problems, not a perfect but happy family but how will I be able to do so?
He is still young. I don’t want him to be burdened with anything that can stress him at all. I am just…[sighs] is it wrong if I say that I am tired?” She asked.
Kira stared at the television and then at Evelyn. She raised her head so they could sit face-to-face with each other. She cleared her throat as she began to speak.
“Evelyn, I understand how you feel and what you are passing through but I am only going to respond to this in a way that I understand. No one wants to be alone, that is why we seek partners and friends to be with. You don’t need to be afraid, this is your first time being a mother, I know how overwhelming it can be but then you are doing a great job, trust me.
If Tom was here, he would have climbed on your lap and reassured you of his love as your son. But then why don’t you try being in a relationship?” Evelyn’s eyes widened a little at the suggestion.
“Before you burst, let me explain why I said that. That you got betrayed by someone doesn’t mean that it’s the end of your life or that every other guy out there is a bad person. All you have to do is to give love a chance, try socializing, and don’t distance yourself. I know that many other things get you worked up like your family and the fear of seeing Jade anytime but for him, there is no assurance that you two will meet, and there is nothing between you two anymore.
He is trash and so is your family, no offense right?”
“Nah, I am fine.”
“Thanks. So just let go of the past, don’t let it hold you. Have fun, let your reservation be limited and become a bad b*tch, and put those who shun you or insult you in their places. You are an independent woman, a willing and strong one that can face any obstacle without any fear. You are a proud single mother…a proud mother of one cutie pie. Be proud of yourself and love everything about you. If you can take good care of yourself that way, you will be able to open your heart to more fun things to do.
About the unknown man, when we get to that bridge, we will know how to cross it. Also, he is at fault. He just left like that so he can’t just swoop in or else I’m gonna kick his a*s.” Kira demonstrated by throwing one of her legs in the air.
Evelyn laughed and hugged Kira.
“Thank you so much, Kira.”
“No problem, I am always here for you. Keep assuring Tom that you will tell him everything in detail when he grows up and that if he wants to know the answer quickly, he should study more and be a good boy. It is his right to know his father so one day he will have to listen to the past but for now, work more on yourself so you can be the best version of SWEET MOTHER to Tom. Just give love a chance, we are both heartbroken but that doesn’t mean that we will stay single forever.
Just bear it in mind that there is someone capable out there who will take the position of Tom’s father and love him unconditionally.” Kira added and only stopped when she heard sniffs. She furrowed her eyebrows and released her from the hug.
Evelyn was sobbing.
“Oh no, darling, don’t cry. It’s alright. This is to make you strong.”
“Kira, thank you so much once again.”
“Now, I am your mummy.” Kira teased. The two friends stayed in each other’s warm embrace for the rest of the night in the room.
____________
In Raphael’s penthouse, the guys were playing games, precisely Zeke and Dan. They seemed to be more focused than any other thing as they both tried to stop each other from winning the game with either distractions or a little bit of cheating.
Raphael came out from the kitchen sluggishly with a plate of fried eggs and slices of bread placed beside the fried eggs. He looked worn out for a second and his hair was messy.
Zeke looked up from the game and smiled cheesily. He was about to say something when Raphael shut him off.
“Don’t even think about it.” He warned and sat down.
“Come on, you don’t even know what I wanted to say. Aren’t you being too forward?” Zeke asked, he was the middle belt.
He had the same profession as Dan but he was Dan’s senior as Dan was still in University even though he was hardly taking any of his studies seriously.
He was the shortest among them but had good looks to win himself any lady only that he had no such time for them.
“Look at who is asking the rebellious question.” Raphael snorted and picked a slice of bread, he used the spoon in scooping the eggs on the bread before covering it with another piece of bread. He took a bite while the two men watched in awe, hunger, and disappointment. The game they were playing wasn’t the main purpose anymore.
Dan stood up and threw the game board in frustration. His belly growled at him and he pats it like he would have done to any crying baby.
“Don’t worry, darling. I will feed you soon after I escape the eyes of this stingy devil, humph!” With this, he walked away arrogantly to the kitchen.
Zeke chuckled and folded his legs. He had a crybaby to take care of now for the rest of the night.
“I heard you found the woman you are looking for.” He started. Raphael nodded and gulped the mashed bread with eggs.
“You don’t know how happy I am.”
“Trust me, I know how joyful you feel especially after discovering that you are a father I don’t think your family will be happy about it and it is going to be a bomb if the news leaks out. I hope that you are ready for whatever is going to come.”
“Who is going to leak the news? You or Dan?”
“Your son’s appearance. Dan told me that he looks so much like you. Any wise person can easily put one or two if they are to find you and him together, the conclusion will be that he is your son and even if it’s just a baseless rumor at first, people will start digging the dirt out. I don’t know how your woman will be able to handle the attention, bro. You have a whole lot of work to do.”
“I know…I know, stop reminding me how much trouble I have to go through. I am trying my best to win her heart and I am going to do that in a month because just within a few weeks of her working in my office, I have known what I need to know about her likes and dislikes…maybe not all but the important ones are written in my heart.” Raphael replied proudly. It was at this moment Dan arrived carrying two plates of fried eggs. He sat beside Zeke and pushed one to him.
Zeke smiled cutely at him, “Thanks, babe.”
“Don’t call me that.” Dan glared at him.
“Is there something going on between you two that I am not aware of?” Raphael asked suspiciously.
“Stop thinking nonsense, Ralph.” Dan threw him a ‘shut up look and Zeke laughed.
“You are blushing.” He teased Dan.
“I am so done with the two of you,” Dan replied with a sighing fate.
“Anyway, jokes aside,” Zeke said seriously.
“Any new leads on your business?” He asked Raphael. He drank some water and nodded.
“I am going to give my father the last chance…”
“Seriously, bro? How long are you going to do this for? This is seriously weighing you down, man. You have to become a man and stop taking decisions from him. You are worth more than that and you know it, don’t you? Just with a snap of your finger, you can bring down the whole Theophilus business so why stay there anymore?” Zeke questioned furiously that Dan had to calm him down by touching his lap gently.
“No, that’s the truth, Dan. Don’t stop me from saying it, he’s got to man up.” Zeke said to him.
Raphael didn’t say anything and just finished eating before leaving the sitting room. He went to the front balcony that wasn’t far from the sitting room to smoke. Zeke came to speak with him after being urged by Dan too.
“Hey, bro. I apologize for…Uhm…you know, for talking to you out there like that. I just don’t like to see you act all cowardly…”
“I know, Zeke and I understand that. Thank you but you need to know that he is my father. Even though he didn’t treat me well, I still want to try one last time. There isn’t anything bad in that, Zeke. I need to be patient and shoot my shot so I don’t regret it. Just a little more time.”
“If you say so then I believe you, you have us at your back no matter what,” Zeke said as he pats his friend’s back.
TBC…