Chapter 76: Chapter 76

I left Mr Lewis promise to get back to him in a day or two. I went to a public telephone booth to call the agent for the second house I was checking, we agreed to meet Immediately at the house. I took a taxi immediately, I needed to get a house today no matter what it took. my result will be sent in two days and I had only tomorrow to send my new residential address to the school.

The house agent, Antonia Garner, was a petite looking woman with a thick french accent. She reminded me of Natalie, I shook my head, the part of my life that had all of them had been shoved into a room far away at the end of my mind and the key to the room had been destroyed so that nothing comes out.

The house was beautiful and surprisingly fully furnished, according to Antonia, the former owner was leaving the country and wasn't planning on taking any thing except few belongings. The house was a beautiful three bedroom apartment with a big kitchen (not as big as Jade's), the living room and dining room were in the same room.

It looked as if the previous owner just stepped out of the house, everything was there, complete set of sofa, a fancy chandelier, pots of artificial flowers, the kitchen had complete kitchenwares. Ranging from pots to pans, cutleries and plates, toaster, oven and gas cooker, even a refrigerator. I felt scared that I was trespassing into someone's house, there was only one bed in one of the rooms, the other rooms were empty but clean.

"Antonia are you sure the owners of this house don't need their properties?" I asked

"no, it was only a young woman and her grandmother that lived here but the old woman died about five months ago and the young woman is going to live with her new husband in Italy, in fact you'll be surprise at how cheap she's giving it up for sale," Antonia said

"how much?" I asked

"Five hundred dollars which includes all other bills,"

"for reals?" I asked

"yes, so would you take it?" she asked.

"is there anything I should be wary of? ghosts? evil spirits? burglars? snakes? insects infestation? flood or anything?" I asked

"oh my goodness! no, you have a wild imagination. but don't worry this house is hundred percent safe," she said

"fine, I'll take it now," I said. I transferred the money to her account, she gave me some documents to fill and sign, she sealed them with her stamp and handed the keys to me.

"Miss Ukpono Udofia, you are now officially the owner of this house, I'll be here tomorrow morning to give you a copy of these documents. Your electricity and water supply will begin tomorrow," she said and left.

"yes! I got my own house!" I said dancing.

The first thing I did was email the school the school to send my result to my new address. I went to a phone shop and bought myself a new phone and registered a new number, good thing I had the number of all my contacts written down on my diary. I got back to the hotel later in the evening, got the keys to my room and went in to take a nap. All that walking and inhaling dusty rooms made me feel a bit nauseous.

That night I had a dream, I was at a cemetery, I saw my friends wearing black standing around a grave and Jade kneeling at the mouth of the grave crying.

"guys, what's going on?" I asked but no one answered, no one heard me. "Ariel talk to me. Ling? Natalie?"

"why did you have to do this to me UK?" I heard Jade say

"Jade what did I do? I'm right here," I said

"I know I made a mistake, I know I had hurt you but why did you go ahead to end the pregnancy and killing yourself along the line? why? why?" he cried

I was shocked to hear that, " no, that's not true. Jade I'm right here, please, I am still alive" I cried

"I am still alive!" I screamed as I woke up. oh God, what is happening to me? I feel like I'm loosing my mind, I cried.

That morning, I went to my new house to clean up the place. The furniture and household items were covered in sheets and so they didn't need much cleanup, it was just the floor and wall that needed work. I was taking out the trash outside when I saw the mailman leaving, I dropped the trash and rushed to the mailbox, my result was reading. out of seven courses, I had one A, the rest were B's. At least I didn't lose my scholarship.

Later in the day, I went to a hospital nearby, "please can you direct me to antenatal section?" I asked a nurse

"just go straight and then take a left turn," she directed

"alright thank you," I said and followed the directions. when I got there, I met three pregnant women, they all turned and looked at me. I smiled awkwardly and went to the nurse

"hello, I'm here for a check up," I said

"is this your first time here?" she asked

"yes"

"alright, take this card and go sit there,"

I did as I was instructed. Turn by turn, the women got in and about an hour later, it was finally my turn.

the gynecologist was a woman in her mid fifties, "hello Miss Udofia, please take a seat," she said smiling

"thank you" I said sitting

"tell me, why are you here?" she asked

"I just found out that I'm two weeks pregnant, I'm scared to keep it because it'll hinder me from doing my work and continuing my studies..."

"so you want to get rid of it?" she cut in

"I... I don't want to do that either. can I... is there a way I can conceal the pregnancy?" I asked

"of course my dear, you can hide it but not for long,"

"tell me, I'll do it for as long as possible" I placed my hand on my stomach, don't worry Jade, I will take care of our baby.

It took me two days to paint and decorate the house to my taste, I must say it still felt weird moving into a house in which everything has been provided. All I did was stock the refrigerator and pantry with groceries, shop for few clothes, drapes, bed sheets and blankets, toiletries and other necessities. The temperature had dropped so low that most times I stayed in the kitchen, lighting stove just to feel warm. In times like this, I missed sitting by the fireplace with Jade or Juliet, well... what was done was done. I'm sure by now he must hate me so much for leaving that he wouldn't want to see me.

School was resuming soon and I was dreading it, going to school meant I would meet Ariel and Xiao Ling, it meant Jade could be waiting to see me or might send someone to follow me home. I did get a modelling job in Manhattan, I realized that I wouldn't be able to survive only with the money I earned from acting and modelling. I needed another means to earn money and getting a paid job will be difficult for me to combine with my studies and show biz work. I then decided that instead of me to find a job, I'll create one for myself. Afterall, I did attend a baking school for three months and I had been making money through my baking skills even before coming to New York. I lived in a house that had two empty rooms which I didn't use for anything, I could convert one to my studio. I wouldn't get a shop, all I'll do is bake and decorate the cakes at home and personally deliver them to my clients. Who wouldn't love to have their birthday cakes, wedding cakes or anniversary cakes made and personally delivered to them by UK, a popular person in New York. I could even upload some tutorial videos on YouTube. Ukpono, you are such a genius, I said to myself.

I used about a thousand and five hundred dollars in buying essential cake materials and equipments, decorating and setting up one of the empty rooms to start my business. I created a simple logo with my laptop and then I posted an ad on my Instagram page "Cakes by UK... pretty and tasty, delivered at your doorstep. orders will be taken from Sunday next week"

I had beautifully decorated few cake dummies and took pictures of them, I posted those pictures alongside and in few minutes, my phone was busting with notifications. like I said earlier, who wouldn't want a cake made by a celebrity especially when they stand a chance of meeting her in person when she delivers the cake. One thing I did was to drop my email address, all orders were made through email, I didn't want people having my personal number. And I didn't want Jade to easily find me.

School resumed for second semester, I went to school dressed in a thick layered sweater with hoodie and a pair of leggings, knitted gloves and ankle boots, the cold weather had become so unbearable this past few days. I wore a fake spectacles as a disguise from Ariel and whoever may be looking out for me.

I walked behind a group of students and used the backdoor to class, in all my classes, I didn't sit in front but either at the back seat or middle row. our courses for this semester had been reduced to six and we had classes only three days a week and in the morning only, giving me lots of time to make cakes and attend to other things.

I usually go to the hospital every Tuesday morning for antenatal care, and everytime I got checked, the gynecologist, Dr Mayweather would say "Miss Udofia your baby is sound and healthy,"

For 5 months, I kept my pregnancy and my whereabout a secret from everyone, at a point I stopped getting acting and modelling jobs telling people that I had to focus on school for a while. I now depended on my cake business (which was flourishing) to earn money, I had ran into Ariel and Natalie on few occasions but I refused to let them know where I lived, I just told them "I'm fine and the baby is fine"

my doctor had suggested that I make use of belly binder if I wanted to continue keeping the pregnancy a secret. I had developed a strong appetite and my refrigerator is never low on food or snacks. I kept snacks at every corner of the house so that where ever I am and I was hungry, I'll have what to eat without having to make a trip to the kitchen.

This past few days had been so busy for me, I had two wedding cakes and a birthday cake due in the same week. I had successfully completed the jobs and delivered them to the designated venues, on my way from delivering the birthday cake in a house close to DANIES PLACE, I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen, I forced myself to endure it till I reach home but it was becoming unbearable. "h...help" I sobbed "somebody help me," I cried falling on my knees and holding my stomach in pain.

A black car pulled over and out came the person I have been hiding from for 5 months, the person I prayed to see, the father of my baby. He scooped me up, "I am here UK," he whispered.