Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Chapter 27.

I am hazed in confusion and senile. I ring the doorbell and once Juliet opens the door I walk past her in a hurry I don’t acknowledge her at all. I know she is probably staring at my back because I can literally feel her stare as I rush towards the bedroom but I don’t give a hoot! I know it’s working hours but I should probably take some time off so I know what to do next. How could people be so malicious? Anyway, what did I expect? That he would support me and not his mum?

In my dreams.

That’s so ignorant of me.

I jump to the bed and lie on my back facing the roof. I don’t see the reason why I should feel heartbroken. If that guy Harrison wants to toy around with me, then I will find a way to deal with him I will just assume that he exists.

If he was going to do his shit then leave me there heartbroken then he can go to hell for all I care. I don’t see the reason why Harry would just come in to defend his mum without even listening to my side of the story.

Anyway, it would still be her word against mine.

His mother’s words haven’t stopped ringing in my ear. I want to understand what she meant by me coming back to the city.

That’s not possible.

I was born in the village and I have been there all my life. Not unless there is something I don’t know, something everyone is hiding from me. Maybe I have a twin. A look alike.

I make a mental note there and then. I am going to call dad and speak to them. I want to know who is playing a game with me. I wanna know if there is something they are hiding from me.

I want to brush all that from my mind but it keeps coming back. I keep asking myself if I am a lost child. I don’t know what to think.

I thought coming to live in the city was going to be an easy task but that’s not happening. There are mysteries here and there that I need to solve. Puzzles that look like they are going to be impossible to solve. I hope I manage them soon.

The door’s annoying sound brings me back from my reverie and I turn swiftly to see who is there. Tabby, my cousin is standing there looking like an angel.

It’s been long since I last saw her. I am so glad that she is here. I don t think twice before standing up quickly and running towards her. Her embrace is warm and soothing. I feel better.

‘’Are you okay, babe?’’ I shake my head. She knows I am not, that’s probably why she is here. She must have been told by Janet. She wouldn’t be here doing shit when she is supposed to be working. ‘’What’s up?’’

‘’Harry is a fool.’’

‘’I already know that.’’

‘’How did you know?’’

‘’You just said it yourself.’’ She says then pulls back from the hug pulling me towards the bed. She is looking at me straight in the eye and I keep blinking because I know what she will do. She is going to force me to tell her each detail of what happened.

She motions me to sit at the edge of the bed and I do obediently as she follows suit.

‘’What are you doing here, Tabby? Aren’t you supposed to be working?’’ she nods.

‘’Yes, I am, but I am here to know what is going on with you. I haven’t seen you in days, or should I even say years? Anyway, don’t try to change the topic because you are going to tell me the story anyway.’’ I shake my head.

‘’Which story?’’

‘’What did Harry do to you?’’ I blink to keep away the tears that are threatening to come out at bay. I don’t want her to see me crying, I don’t want to break her.

‘’How did you know that he has messed me?’’

‘’If you must know, then I will tell you. Harry is outside, he came looking for me himself and said that I should come and speak to you one because you are mad and wouldn’t speak to him and two because he thinks you needed someone to talk to because you are hurting. He couldn’t tell me the reason why but because it was you, I just came here straight away.’’ My fragile broken heart leaps with joy and I smile internally. He cares about me and it doesn’t matter if he supported his mother.

‘’He came to where you work in person?’’ she nods.

‘’Yes, babe. Now, can you stop asking questions and explain to me what happened. He couldn’t tell me a thing and I don’t want to be here the whole day, otherwise, I might lose my job and I will have a jobless ass.

‘’Well, he took me to their home. His mum requested to talk to me in camera, Harry had refused but I insisted to know what she wanted. Besides, I wouldn’t have died just from getting to know what she wanted to say. She then took me to a private room and guess what?’’

‘’What?’’

‘’She started telling me how my plans will not work and so many other nasty things. I was disgusted especially when she said I have come back to the city to execute some plans and that I will fail. I started walking out and when she asked where I am going and I told her I do not want to listen to her crazy shit then she hit me right on my cheeks. When Harry came in, his mother lied to him that I had insulted her and he believed her. I got mad and went out of that room.’’ She shakes her head unbelievably.

‘’Are they crazy or what?’’

‘’I think they are. Hey, have I ever been to the city?’’ she shakes her head. ‘’I was thinking that maybe I have amnesia and that’s the reason I don’t remember if I came to the city in the past. That woman knows something that you and I don’t know and I want to call dad right now to ask if there is anything I am missing out on.’’

She nods in agreement. ‘’Did you tell that Harry guy that his crazy mum slapped you?’’ I shake my head.

‘’He didn’t even ask me what had happened. He sided with his mum as I watched. He never even did it in secret. I felt bad but I will overcome it.’’

‘’You need to talk to him.’’

‘’Pass, that’s a wrong idea. You and I both know that speaking to Harry will not help at all.’’

She shakes her head. ‘’It would be good if you told her what is going on. You will not hide from him forever, he will always be here to haunt you, the earlier you speak to him, the better for it will be for you, babe.’’

‘’What will make it better? He didn’t even think twice when his mum accused me. He shouted at me and that’s total bullshit to me. I don’t think I want anything to do with him. Not now, not ever!’’

‘’Hey, calm down, babe. You and I both know that it can only work if you two have a mutual agreement and understanding.’’

‘’What can work?’’

‘’Your relationship with …’’

‘’We don’t have any relationship. I hate his guts and if I ever see him close to me, I will hit him right across the face. I want to revenge …’’

‘’No revenge, babe. You will not do any stupid thing okay?’’

‘’Watch me, I will.’’

‘’that’s not you. I don’t know the person who is talking. Did you get to know the relationship between the two? I mean your boss and Harry?’’

I nod gently. ‘’The story is quite long, but they are foster siblings. Aliana is adopted.’’

‘’Okay.’’ She moves closer to hug me. She assures me that all is well and that I shouldn’t be hurting because that’s what life is all about. It’s never smooth to the end, it has ups and downs, it’s a journey, you might board together or some might board on the way. and I am not exclusive. Some people alight on the way, and others go to the end. Some roads are rough, others are bumpy but some are smooth. Either way, at some point the road is steep while somewhere else, it is sloppy. We cross bridges and valleys but in the end, we should be strong enough to endure all that to the end. That they are meant to make us stronger. Not to make us feel weaker or vulnerable. She asks me not to revenge anything because as it is, I am a ‘nobody’ and Harry can take advantage and harm me. I agree with her when she says she has to go so as not to get fired. She hugs me then leaves promising to come back later to check on me. I am glad when she bangs the door behind her and I take that opportune moment to call Mr. Jerald. My daddy. He is the only one who can clear the air right now. I don’t want to go mad with all these happenings.

He picks on the very last ring. ‘’Clare speaking, good morning.’’ Clare's voice comes through, and my heart softens. I was already prepared to speak to dad and I thought he would be the one to pick the call.

‘’Hey, Clare, Clara here. How have you been?’’

‘’Sister, is that you? I have been okay. We all are. I miss you so much.’’ She sounds so excited that I feel happy and I almost forget that I was to speak to dad on something very crucial. ‘’You, are you okay?’’ I can hear murmurs and when little Carly’s sound hits my ear, I smile and a lone tear of joy scrolls down my cheek. I love my family. My thoughts of not being one of them is baseless.

‘’I am good,’’ I respond uncertainly. ‘’Um ... Can I speak to dad?’’

‘’Yeah, sure. I love you, sis.’’

‘’I love you too baby girl. Say hi to everyone.’’ She hands dad the phone.

‘’Hi Clara,’’ dad’s voice flows through my ear a few seconds later. ‘’How are you doing?’’

‘’Am good, dad. Have I ever been to the city before?’’ I ask straight without mincing my words.

‘’What do you mean have you ever been to the city before?’’ he asks surprised. ‘’where did you get such things from?’’

‘’Tell me, dad.’’ I narrate my ordeal with Harry’s mum. I swear I should have been there to see his face because the stammer and stumble in his voice prove his words otherwise.

‘’She… I … maybe … she just con … fused you with someone else. It cannot be you.’’ He says making me doubt his words.

‘’I don’t wanna sound rude, dad. But I don’t believe you.’’

‘’You should. Definitely, because that’s the truth.’’

‘’Alright, dad. If you say so.’’ There is a soft knock on the bedroom door interrupting me. I eye the door. I am not going to open it. ‘’Thank you, dad. I got to go.’’

‘’Have a good day, my daughter.’’ I roll my eye.

‘Your daughter indeed.’

‘’Daddy,’’

‘’Yes,’’

‘’Please think about it. Let the two of us not have amnesia both at the same time because that would naturally be messy. In fact, ask mum if you don’t remember me ever being in the city. Please don’t let me figure this out on my own. I’d rather you tell me the truth, instead of me finding out by myself.’’ I say confidently. I don’t want him to think I will forget what that woman said that easily. There is a loud sigh from his end. I don’t know if he wants to say something, I just disconnect the call without letting him say another word.

The person won’t stop knocking so, I walk to the door, open it and I cannot believe my eye.