Chapter 28: Chapter 28

"what are you doing here?" I asked

"don't you think that's my line? Did Scott not tell you to stay at the club for him to come pick you up?" Jade asked

"I need to use the bathroom, this time around, you can disappear with Xiao Ling, I'm not sure if she's your type because she doesn't have red hair," I sounded childish but I didn't care, what gives him the right to come here after leaving me at the club yesterday and the first thing he could say was ask why I'm here?

"what is the meaning of this?" Jade asked

"Don't worry, I'll go talk to her," I heard Xiao Ling say, "UK, wait up," she called. She placed her hand on the bathroom door, stopping me from going in. "What's up with the attitude girl?"

"I can't believe you're asking me this Ling, he left us there alone, I was so worried about him, he didn't even answer his phone. And now the first thing he can say to me is ask what I'm doing, he didn't even care if I slept well or not," I answered

"about that, you were having a nightmare weren't you?"

I nodded

"wanna talk about it?"

"It was my wedding day, as I walked down the aisle, no one cheered, no one clapped, I didn't even recognize their faces. And then... and then, I went to the altar, and there he was, kissing the redhead woman," I sobbed, "Jade?" she asked, I nodded

"so are you angry with him because of the dream or because of what that Madison said? Or is it because you like him and he left with another woman?" I didn't answer, I knew the answer, I didn't want to say it. What's my answer? all 3 of them.

"Anyway, he was here to pick you up, I have a part time job by 11 so I'll be leaving soon," Xiao Ling patted my back and left, I went into the bathroom and splashed water on my face. God what is happening to me? I mumbled to myself, I knew right from time, I found Jade to be really attractive but I was able to suppress that growing feeling by studying for my exam, and now that it's over, it felt like all the pent up emotions wanted to burst out of me, like I had no control over them.

I did a 10 seconds breathing exercise, when I was able to get a grip of myself, I went out to the living room. Jade stood facing the window, I didn't know what to say to him, so I walked as quietly as I could, took the pillow and blanket I slept with and turned to leave. "UK... I'm sorry," Jade said and I paused in my track, "I'm sorry for leaving without saying anything, I'm sorry for not responding to your calls, I'm sorry the way I spoke when you woke up, I'm sorry if I did anything to upset you, I promise, it won't happen again. Here, I brought you something to change, we'll leave whenever you're ready."

Hear that UK? He's sorry, you can smile now, I said to myself. I didn't answer him.

Xiao Ling left when I was in the bathroom, I came out to see a tray of food on her reading table with a note on it, "I made you Kung Pao Shrimp, I'm not sure you've had it before but it's nice, just in case you don't like it, there's instant noodles in the kitchen. You can leave whenever you're ready, please lock the door and keep the key under the flower pot near the front door, call me when you get home. XOXO"

I changed into the clothes Jade brought, and then ate, it wasn't bad at all, in fact I really like even if I used fork and not the chopsticks she kept. I did the dishes, arranged things to the best of my abilities. I went to the living room all set to leave, Jade was sitting on the couch, fiddling with his phone. "Jade?" he turned his head, "please take me home," I said. I don't know how I thought he'd react but I wasn't expecting him to open his arms for a hug, I ran to him and hugged him really tight, I breathe in his cologne "I'm sorry, for acting childish, I wasn't thinking straight," I apologized still hugging him.

"I won't lie to you, I've missed you, the house was empty without you," he said

"what about Juliet?" I asked

"she went to a slumber party at Katie's house," he replied

He didn't mention anything about the voice message, maybe he didn't get it, or he was waiting to taunt me with it.

"Can we say we've just experienced our first couple's quarrel?" he asked grinning

"we're not a couple," I said

"the message you sent me says otherwise,"

"Oh God, what did I do?"

"come on honey, let's go pick up our daughter,"The drive to Katie's house was silent, I mean awkwardly silent, I was really curious about his whereabout but I didn't want to say anything to prevent further misunderstanding, I was pretty sure he wanted to talk about the message but he too was preventing us from quarreling so he was quiet. I did see him stealing glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking, I've never seen him act so disturbed.

He sucked in air and said, "aren't you curious who the redhead woman I left with was?"

"actually, I'm not," I told him

"okay then, I could tell you what I did to her," he said

"no, I'm not interested in your sexcapade, Jade," I answered.

"okay, your loss I'm pretty sure you would have..."

" oh, that should be Katie's house," I interrupted, I've been here once, Juliet wanted to go visit Katie so Jade took her and I tagged along, though I waited in the car while Jade dropped her off so I hadn't met Katie and her family before.

Jade drove into their driveway, he was trying to park the car well when his phone rang, "hello Dr Kimberly,..."

"I'm going in," I told him as I alighted and he nodded, I walked up to the front door and pressed the doorbell, "coming," I heard a woman's voice say. The door opened to reveal a young woman in her 20s whom I assumed was Katie's mother, she looked at me and raised a brow, "good day, how may I help you?" she asked. "Hello ma'am, I'm Ukpono, I'm here for Juliet," I said smiling. She frowned, "Juliet's father is supposed to come pick her up, who are you to Juliet if I may ask?"

I paused for a few seconds, "I'm her friend, a very good friend." I told her

"Look I'm sorry but I can't let Juliet go with you, it's not that I think you could hurt her but... I don't know, I hope you understand," she said politely and turned to leave

"Ok, just tell her that mommy UK is here, she'll understand,"

"ok" and she went in, closing the door with a soft click. "Juliet, there's a woman waiting outside for you. She says her name is mommy UK," I heard her say, immediately she mentioned 'mommy UK', Juliet shrieked and came out of the house.

I went on my knees, and hugged her, "I missed you so much mommy UK, promise you won't ever, ever, leave me," she said. "I missed you too pumpkin, and I promise to never leave you," I replied.

Katie's mother stood there watching us, "I'm sorry, I wasn't aware of your closeness," she said. "You don't need to apologise to me, you did what every mother should do," I said

Jade came and they exchanged pleasantries, "Claudia, I assume you've met my girlfriend, UK,"

"girlfriend? Wow, I wasn't aware. And Juliet seems to be very fond of her," Katie's mother said. After everything, we left to the hospital, Dr Kimberly, the doctor who was in charge of my treatment (according to Jade) wanted me to come over for one last check up and to be officially discharged.

The initial plan was to drop Juliet at home but she started crying and we decided to take her.

Friday, the day that was to determine if I would continue being here or not, my result was to be sent through mail, all morning, I sat by the window, waiting for someone to bring Jade's mail. I must have fallen asleep, when I woke up, I was in my room. "It's here!" Jade exclaimed, what is here? I thought, then I remembered, my results. I kicked off the blanket and ran to the living room.

"you open it," he said handing me the envelope, I muttered a quick prayer and carefully tore the envelope open.

"From the American Scholarship Board, I say a big congratulations to Udofia, Ukpono Etim, for being successful on her scholarship examination. You have been offered full scholarship to study English language in Education for 4 years in New York University..." I didn't want to go through other things, I have been offered a scholarship.

I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP...

My dream has come to pass and it's only because of Jade, I ran up to him, the best way I could appreciate right now was...

I jumped and he held me, I had my hands and legs around him and kissed him passionately. Yes you heard me, I , Ukpono Udofia kissed Jade Kale passionately, it was not because of my success only, I realized something else while kissing him. I love Jade.