Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The following day, after a lonely breakfast in my bedroom, I took my study material to the library room, where I met Jade 3 other people, a woman and 2 men. The woman, Mrs Smith, was my English language tutor, his friend Sharon was my History tutor and the other guy, Mr Phillips ,was my literature in English tutor. After all the introduction and pleasantries, the class started. I would be having one subject a day, Monday to Saturday, starting with English.

I enjoyed the classes and how they kept me busy, I saw less of Jade and Juliet. I was seriously drilled to know historical background of places I never heard before.

One morning, I went to the kitchen to get my breakfast so I could eat in my room as I've been doing for the past few days, when I got there, Hannah said my food was at the dinning table already and that Jade and Juliet were waiting for me to join them. I didn't want to eat with them, since that incident, I'd been avoiding them and I usually get my food very early to my room before they came out of their rooms.

When I went to the dinning room, I saw father and daughter seated already and chatting happily. "Hey" I said, forcing a smile as I sat down waiting for my food to be served. Juliet was smiling broadly at me, which was looking really confusing. Hannah served me a plate of hot oat meal and slices of bread and then left the room. I was eating quietly when Jade got up and stood behind me, "Ukpono, do you know what day today is?" he asked. "Thursday?" I answered scrunching my face. "Yes, yes, I know today is Thursday but have you forgotten what makes today special?" he asked. "Actually I don't know, why don't you tell me", I replied. "it's better if I show you, come on, get up", he said, I wiped my mouth with a napkin, took a sip of water and got up. I stood face to face with him and said, "alright, show me".

What happened in the next few minutes seemed like a dream, Jade said, "UK, I lost" and kissed me. I stood there with my eyes wide open in shock, I heard things happening around us but I couldn't move. First I heard Juliet shriek happily, then it seemed the main door opened and 2 more voices joined in shrieking but theirs was in shock and then I heard Juliet say, "grandma?" It happened so fast I couldn't even wrap my head around anything that happened, Jade ended the kiss immediately he heard Juliet call Grandma. "Mom, what are you doing here?" That's when I started panicking, Jade kissed me, and his mother is here!

I slowly turned to see 2 pairs of eyes boring holes on my head, one an elderly woman who looked exactly like Juliet except she had short black hair where as Juliet's hair is blonde like Jade's. And a young, Kim Kardashian looking lady, she had this plastic surgery face, if looks could kill, I would have been long dead by now.

" Jaden Riedmann Wendell Kale," Jade's mother shouted, "what in the seven seas is going on here?" "mother, you didn't tell me you were coming and who is this person with you," he tried avoiding her question.

"If you had known I was coming, would it have stopped you from kissing this black girl? Jade have you forgotten why we hate blacks? They killed your father, my husband. Now I don't want to know who she is or what you have to do with her, I want her out of this house before I lose my temper."

"No grandma, no one is chasing my mommy out of this house," Juliet said as she came and stood between me and her grandmother."Mother please, bring your guest, let's sit at the living room and talk as civilized people. And Juliet, go to your room now," Jade said. "I don't want to go, I want to be with mommy UK," she cried, "Juliet please listen to your daddy, I promise when we're done here I'll come see you," I said trying to persuade her to leave but she refused. Jade had to call Hannah to take her to her room and make sure she didn't leave, she was screaming and begging me to save her, I couldn't watch her in so much pain, "Hannah let her go, I'll hold her". Immediately she was free, she ran and held me tight, "please mommy UK don't let them take me away, I promise to be good from now on", she cried. I wiped her tears with my sleeve, "let's go," I said to them.

I noticed Jade's mother was not looking at me with annoyance or disgust as she did before, she was just looking at me with interest, watching how I made Juliet stop crying and even smiling. All 5 of us went into the living room to talk. "Jaden, who is this black girl that can control your daughter's tantrum?" Jade's mother asked in a surprisingly calm manner, "mother this is Ukpono Udofia, she is from Nigeria. I'm helping her to gain scholarship into New York University, right now she is preparing for the scholarship exams." Jade answer, "I thought the exams is scheduled to take place next month?" She asked, "yes it is, I told her to come a month earlier so that she can study and get familiarized with the way things are done here," he told her, "and kissing her fell into which category? Studying or getting familiarized with things here?" she asked pouting.

"None, mother," I spoke up

"Mother?" Jade's mother asked aloud

I got up from my seat and stood in front of her, "yes, mother. Where I come from, our elders are called mother and father whether they are related to us or not. I am very sorry for what you witnessed earlier, Jade and I had a bet and he lost, I myself had forgotten about it and he took me by surprise. I am Ukpono Udofia, I'm studying for the scholarship exams next month and I hope that you will put away whatever differences you had with blacks in the past and welcome me into your home." I said and bent my knees as if I wanted to sit on the air, a sign of respect.

The Kim Kardashian looking lady scoffed, I ignored her. "What is my son to you?" Jade's mother asked me, "he's my friend and guardian," I replied. Kim Kardashian lady guffawed, " friend? guardian? that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard", she said to me. "Hey duck face, no one asked you to say anything, so shut up, my mommy and grandma are having a conversation here." Juliet said to her, the lady's face grew red in anger but Jade's mother only laughed, "O Juliet, you haven't changed one bit," she said. "Juliet apologize immediately," I told her

"But mommy UK..." she started and I held up my hand, "Juliet... now,"

" fine," she stood in front of her and said, "sorry, not sorry," and ran to her seat.

"oh kids, aren't they cute," Jade's mother said laughing

"Mother, you didn't introduce your guest to us," Jade said changing the subject, "why not let her do it herself," she replied

Kim Kardashian lady left her seat and went to sit beside Jade. "Hello Jaden, I'm Christy, your fiancee,"

"WHAT!!!" Jade and Juliet exclaimed in unison.