Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Daniel had gotten home late from school. He met his mother, Alice Bassey heading out to God knows where. He greeted her after alighting from the car, but she responded like he was a pest that needed to be avoided or sent away. He marched into the house angrily as he has not been on good terms with his mother recently. It's already past seven in the evening. He entered the bathroom and stepped into the shower. That day was really stressful. He had gone to his father's company after school under his father's instruction.

"You have to learn everything about the company. All you know is playing around and going after girls. His father would frequently say. He made dinner after bathing since thier maid took a break to receive medical treatment. While he was eating, his elder brother arrived from the company.

"Good evening" he greeted no one in particular.

"Evening Alex. I bet you had an hectic day at the hell of a company." Daniel said.

"Of course. Who wouldn't. The activities were too tiring"

"Take your bath and relax. I'll be in the room. I prepared your dinner too" he said.

Daniel entered the room he shares with his brother. The room was big enough to accommodate them both with two separate bed sets and beside tables at the opposite ends of the room to grant the boys thier privacy. Daniel laid on his bed reflecting on the days event. Shortly after, his brother entered the room as well.

"Dan, you're not sleeping. What's wrong?" Alex asked concerned.

"What do I do?" Daniel replied rhetorically.

"Anything gone wrong?"

"What exactly should I tell him?, About Michelle, About mum, Or about what I saw at the company." he thought.

"Dan are you okay?, you zoned out just now" Alex said

"Gosh! I'm so confused. I'll just tell him about school" he thought before responding that he's fine.

"Just that there's this girl at school....."

"A girl?" Alex interrupted. Daniel nodded again.

"She's beautiful, and I tried talking to her. I mean I want to be her friend but she acts weird"

"Maybe she doesn't like you" Alex continued with what he was doing on his phone.

"It's not that she doesn't like me, she just acts weird to everyone except a girl, whim I learnt they've been friends for a long time"

"Then talk to her friend" Alex said airily.

"I tried talking to her, but whenever I mention her friend, she excuses herself". Alex ignored what he said. He was so engrossed in the game he was playing.

"Alex you're not saying a thing" he cried out. Alex laughed his heart out. What do you expect me to say? You're having a sleepless because if a girl. For God's sake, it's your first day at school. I advise you mind your business at school. Goodnight" he said

"Fucking air-head" Daniel mumbled.

"I'll get back at you later. That reminds me. What happened between you and mum?. I noticed you both are not really on good terms" Daniel remained silent.

"Dan! I asked you a question. I need a response. I heard you arguing with her the other night to the extent you called her by her name" Alex said.

"Nothing's wrong. I just asked her to give me something but she refused to give it to me"

" Dan!. Stop lying I'm not a kid"

"Fine! I'll tell you when the time is right" Daniel said with a tone of finality

"What could have happened to make Daniel this rude?. It's unusual of him" Alex thought.

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"Hi" Richard said entering the house but there was no response.

"I guess no one is home". He dropped his backpack on the center table in the living room and walked straight to his room to undress but he heard a sound coming from his mother's room. He paused then the sound came again, but together with the snuggling sound of a kiss. He knocked at the door but no one responded, then he kicked the door open. The sight which greeted him was disgusting and annoying to him. His mother was busy having an erotic time with someone he doesn't know. He hit the door again to make them acknowledge his presence, but they were too engrossed in what they were doing.

"Leslie" he shouted. Immediately, a jolt of shock ran through them.

"Are you this shameless?" Richard asked and stormed out with tears in his eyes. This was not the first time he would catch her having fun with a stranger. He talked to her severally, pleaded with her, but all yielded no result.

"Please, I have to go now" Leslie said to her partner.

" We have to finish what we started " her partner said.

" No way. I promised my son not to indulge in this again. But I have no choice here. So let me go" she pleaded. She tried getting up , but the man was far way stronger than her.

After some minutes, which Richard expected the strange man to exit the house but didn't, he stormed into the kitchen, took a glass cup and threw it on the wooden headboard of his mother's bed.

********************

Daniel couldn't sleep. He kept turning and tossing on the bed. Suddenly, he caught glimpse of something flickering and glinting through the window. He craned just in time to see a car flashing it's headlamp trying to reverse out of the compound. He hurried out of his room to check who arrived, then he saw his mother. He glanced at the wall clock and saw it was exactly 12 in the midnight.

"Where are you coming from and who just dropped you?" he asked but got no response.

"Am I talking to a deaf person?" he asked again.

"Do I need to report everywhere I go and everything I do to you?" Alice responded.

"Oh! You don't need to but don't blame me when I tell dad the whole thing" he threatened.

"Get out if my way. You fucking bastard" she yelled.

"Who's a bastard?" he drew her back as she was about to leave his sight.

"You heard me right" she said pushing Daniel away from her path.

"Gosh!, what's happening. This will be the third time she calls me a bastard. I'm so confused. She's acting harshly towards me these days " he was dejected.

All the while, Alex was eavesdropping on the conversation. "What does Dan mean by the whole thing" he thought.

*********************

Somewhere in Braxton City, two men of average heights were seen discussing in a car.

"I told you she's so sweet" the first man said.

"Yeah!. I had a great time with her. But it didn't last long. Her child came home during our make out" the second man said.

"Really!, you got to see her child?"

"Yeah! that boy is freaking handsome. But I suffered a cut though"

" She never gives me the chance to see her son. I guess this is good news. We have to tell him"

"Who?"

"The boss!" the first man concluded and began driving the car.