Chapter 128

"IS THE CAMERA READY???" I asked and Adam nodded. I hurriedly carried cloud and kissed his head. My pet dog. At first I thought it was weird to have a dog but now that I had him, I absolutely loved everything about him.

"You look beautiful Elly...." Adam called to me and I thanked him with a flying kiss. I was wearing a woollen, seemingly hand knitted black pullneck top with a pair of pants that of course couldn't be seen on this part of the video because I was sitting down. I had my feet in socks that had a picture of me embroidered on them.

I mean....how beautiful is that....people can surely be romantic sometimes.

My hair was pulled up in a high ponytail and slightly curled making it ran up to half way my back. I was wearing nude make up and it was as though I wasn't wearing any. Good.

"You're on in 3,2,1....." the he gestured at me to start.

"Hie guys....good afternoon.....umm...am Eleanor..." I laughed not knowing what to say exactly. I saw Adam laugh with me and he could tell I was also out of words. I never thought I'd ever experience poverty of thought.

"I woke up two days ago to find my room fully filled and occupied with all these sorts of gifts and I was like what's going on?? Did I die or something? But it's not my birthday....so Adam was there to make me understand what was going on....say hie Adam...he's behind the camera shooting this video...." I smiled and he turned it to himself and smiled before turning back to me.

"He explained that I umm.....I was... hospitalised....not so long ago because I fell from the forth storey of the building I was kept in when I was kidnapped....yes you heard me right I got kidnapped. but that's a story for another day. Today, I just want to thank you guys very much for the love you have shown me and the prayers you gave on my behalf. Am alive today, because of all of you and I want you all to know that am so much happy to have you guys. Thank you very much for each and everything that you send, the cards, the food, the teddy bears and ooh before I forget...for him..." I carried cloud and had him look at the camera although he didn't seem to like it and barked instead so I dropped him. He immediately ran off.

"I don't think he likes the camera but no worries, we're gonna fix that...so I named him Cloud. To whoever set him, thank you so much...I think I'll cross-check in the box to find the actual name...forgive me for that...." I laughed and pushed some of my hair behind my ear.

"The doctor came over this morning to my house and Oh...I actually moved. I don't like in the apartment anymore and am currently living in my boyfriend's house in San Martin...Yey!!" I clapped hoping we'd add an applause side effect. "So the doctor said I was perfect fine and there wasn't any need to worry about...and I can slowly go back to my usual life although I have to start slow....to avoid straining me too much...."

"That's that guys... I'd love to thank you all so much once again for your love. And before I wrap this video, am going to show you guys how full my house is right now...." I said getting up and Adam focused the camera on the rest of the room. It was still full but better unlike before because Lauren had began arranging most of these stuff and it was all good. We moved to the living room as well as the kitchen and ohmyGod....now is when I noticed I had plenty of things still hanging around. After we had finished shooting those areas, Adam rolled the camera back to me and I smiled at it once last time.

"Can you believe all these things in my house???? You guys are so cute, I actually had a new set of heels and a whole heep of food, I won't be buying anything for the next month. Thanks y'all and so uh.... I currently don't have a phone...so am going to upload this on my boyfriend's Instagram account and when I get my own phone, I'll probably try to get the same number like I had before so that I can maintain my data from uh....my posts on my social media platforms....and before I forget...the very last thing. I am holding a funeral service tomorrow for Angela Juan at the Recolate Cemetery out of town. If you'd like, you're very welcome to attend and bid farewell to our friend Angela....now that's a wrap! See you next time guys...and thanks a lot. thank you very much...." I smiled and picked up Cloud.

"....aaanndd... we're clear.....!"

*********

(The next day, Recolate Cemetery)

"I will follow forever be grateful for what you've done for my daughter...." Angela's mum folded her hands in front of me as she wept.

"Oh...no...please don't do that...." I held her hands and hugged her instead. I could understand love but I've never seen a mother's love be so strong before.

"Actually am the one who should be thanking her because I got to see this side of me. All credit goes to her...." I smiled at her. "She was a daughter just like I am to someone...only that...I don't have my mother with me"

"Oh dear, am sorry about that.....I'll always keep you in my prayers...."

"It's alright...thank you. And please, pray...not for me...but for my mother...that wherever she is, she lives a safe and peaceful life..." I held her hands in mine, feeling the warmth in it.

"I will surely do that my dear, may you be blessed" she said touching my cheek and I loved that she did because in that moment, I felt like I was with my very own mother.

"Excuse me, miss DelaRue.... shall we start???" the priest asked from behind me and I nodded.

I walked to the tent and my...my..the turn up was actually good than I initially thought. A lot of people had come and to think that they filled all the five tents and some still lacked space was a blessing.

Through the entire ceremony, I kept thinking of Angela. Was she looking down at us from heaven?? What would she be doing now if she were still alive? Probably at school with friends and studies.

It's so hard to believe that people die sometimes and we never get to ever see them again. It's just a difficult moment for me to grasp and knowing that someone like Angela was gone, at a very young age, shook me in my feet. I was so worried about her and other girls who were just like her. People like Drake had to be detained and locked up in very far away hard cells so that they don't cause trouble for anyone. I was gonna say they should be killed but everyone had the right to life so why would I really even think that? They surely just deserve the hardest punishment possible. But if it wasn't death, what was it??

After the priest finished, he called for Angela's family and they each dropped a rose and a sand into the grave were the casket containing her remains was put. After the family, people like me, Adam and Lauren also went to bid our farewell along with everyone else who came over to the funeral. It was a very short service and in two hours time we were finished. Various people from different radio stations and all TV networks had gathered here like this was some met gala. I wanted to barn then at first because I didn't want anyone to gain publicity over a funeral but decided against it. I wasn't going to cause any drama at all. I bid farewell to Mrs Juan and asked her to come to me whenever she needed help with anything.

"Thank you my dear...."she waved and got to the car. I asked Aaron to drop her off at home and he agreed.

"Hey Elly.....Orange Weekly would like an interview with you now...they also said they have a little something planned for you at the very end so please don't refuse....." Lauren pestered me and I knew she knew I'd refuse. I was moaning my friend and someone wanted an interview??

🌺

"How are you miss Eleanor....??? Am Conan Doyle...one of the reporters for Orange weekly..." the man in a fine suit introduced himself.

"Am very good thanks...and you??"

"Likewise miss...uh...DelaRue....so we just want to know generally how you've been....well of course grateful to the almighty for helping you recover. I understand you were in a pseudo coma???"

"Mm-hmmm" I nodded.

"How does it feel to be back alive..."

"Well....I can't say for sure but I think it's great..." I replied.

"Alright miss DelaRue... without wasting much of your time...umm...what can you really say about the events that have coiled up in your life since the moment you were with director Lane to this time you're now a heroine....what's your take on this matter?? and the chronology of events...???"

"Wow....ummm...I like that question.... Thanks a lot Conan...." I smiled before taking a sip of water and then turning back to him.

"If am being honest.....I completely lost my confidence the very first time I had my dignity questioned. It didn't take much for the world to turn against me and point fingers at me when I was actually the victim....." I explained with tears dropping from my face.

"I...I..couldn't understand...what was going on and how it was going on...." I explained. I found it worthy to be given such an opportunity to let it all out and make it known to the whole world what I had been through.

"I got scared of even walking outside of my very own apartment. To....to make myself feel strong, I painted leopard prints on my nails but...my mind was still not strong....I had no confidence at all...." I sniffed.

"Behind the dark shades and elegant looks I wore was a broken girl who's dreams and faith had been shattered over a mere unfulfilled rumour....Just because am a model doesn't mean am not prey to the ravenous desires of beasts of men. People like me are actually more prone to this than you know....there's so much darkness going on in showbiz that you guys don't know about. I am expected to sleep with a lot of people just to get a breakthrough in my career. Really??? Is that it?? People like me are constantly pestered by our agencies and managers pushing us towards the cliff to render us helpless but there's nothing we can do about it. And when we come to light with it, were called names and harassed by the very public we wish to get help from.....

"A few months ago, I went on vacation with my boyfriend to Peru and a dead girls body was dropped in my bathtub as an attempt to scare me to leave my boyfriend or I'd experience the same fate. And to think of it, how can someone be so heartless...?? She was someone's daughter, someone's sister, someone's best friend and possibly someone's friend. She was many things to many people and not even a minute was spared to put her into consideration. Her life was taken away...Just like my life was taken away when I was accused of deserving what came to me through my director but no one did anything for me and now that I've fought for someone's justice am suddenly called a heroine...

"Please don't get me wrong am not against it, but I just want to encourage each and everyone to always be a pioneer for goodness and stand up for justice regardless of who you stand against and serve it to. We all deserve justice.....everybody deserves justice. Thank you..." I finished my speech and a huge round of applause echoed and frightened me as I thought it was the earthquake.

Adam laughed with me and together we clapped and laughed along with the applause that was continuously airing around us.

Everyone and each and everyone, young and old, male and female, big or small, rich or poor had their hands together for me.

Right away a girl walked to me with what seemed like a sash made of royal silk, scarlet and velvet velvet stripes with hundreds of rhinestones. She offered to help me wear it and I gladly did without knowing that was written on it.

I squatted and gave her a hug. She pecked my nose as I stood up and we posed for a picture.

"Another round of applause please....." Conan Doyle screamed on his microphone and the entire place was filled with joy and beautiful applauses.

"I would like to thank everyone who made it a point to come here today. Special thanks to Eleanor....our very own "Goddess On Earth"...wwwooooowww" he remarked as he read my sash. Goddess on earth you say??? My heart sank in joy and happiness.

"That's it for today ladies and gentlemen.....Have a lovely evening..." He said in a wrap and the entire program came to an end.