CHAPTER 04
CHAPTER 04
Elvis Sinbad, 26 years, an intelligent and hard working young man. He was in charge of his father's pharmaceutical company, AMAZ pharmaceutical company. From childhood, his father groomed him to take their business to the pinnacle and the man didn't disappoint his father, Wilson Sinbad, 69 years.
Elvis had a younger brother, Alex, 23 years. He too was learning the ropes from his elder brother. Both of them used to cooperate very well. There's peace and understanding in their lives.
That fateful day, Elvis drove his car to their pharmaceutical shop. Tessy, 21 years, his fiancée and Alex were in the car. Tessy was sitting at the front seat with Elvis. Tessy was pretty in her own way. With make-up and beautiful clothes, she could pass as a beautiful lady.
When they got to their shop, the three of them came out from the car. Elvis turned his attention to his brother Alex.
"Alex you will take Tessy to the bus park terminal. Drive carefully and bring back my car here in one piece."
"yes brother." Alex responded and collected the car key from Elvis.
Tessy clinged on to Elvis and smooches him.
"darling, make sure you take care of yourself. Eat well and sleep well." Tessy said to him and kissed his lips.
"yes ma, I will." Elvis replied her in an amusing way.
"I will miss you so much." Tessy said to Elvis.
"I will miss you too. Try and keep in touch." Elvis advised her.
"you know me, I will." she assured him.
Tessy gave him a peck on his cheek and entered the car. Alex entered the driver's seat and drove out while Elvis waved at them.
"I will miss you, Tessy." he muttered to himself.
He watched them until they were out of his sight, then he walked into the pharmacy.
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Tessy was in higher institution on east of Longvill and her family resided there and they were about to take their exams. As Alex was driving her to the bus terminal, she engaged him in a lively conversation.
When they got to the bus terminal, Alex parked the car well. Then he opened the boot and carried Tessy's little luggage for her to the entrance. There he bade her farewell.
"thank you for driving me here.Alex." Tessy thanked him.
"don't mention, it's my pleasure." he said.
"please keep an eye on my darling for me. Don't allow another girl to entice him." Tessy begged him.
Alex was amused by what Tessy asked him to do for her.
"I thought you know that I like you and I want my brother to marry you. I won't let another girl to near him." Alex assured her willingly what he would do for her.
"call me if anything happens here." she said to him.
"nothing will happen, but no problem. I wish you safe journey and excel in all your exams, no carry-overs." Alex said to her.
"Thank you, Alex. I will see you soon."
Then Tessy took her bag and carried it inside. When Alex confirmed that she has entered the terminal properly, he decided to go back. He went to the car and drove home.
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Simdi was a student at Longvill University of Technology. He operated from home because the university wasn't far from his home. He always stopped at his mother's shop each time he was coming home.
Simdi's mother's shop was along the road to his school. He enjoyed hanging out with his mother. They spent quality time together, discussing many issues. Simdi was closer to his mother than his father.
When Appolonia saw Simdi coming toward her shop on his way home from school, she smiled happily and welcomed him.
"good afternoon mom." Simdi greeted Appolonia.
"welcome my son." she welcomed him cheerfully.
"how's business today, mom?" he asked as he was sitting down.
"it's moving little by little." she answered.
"mom, what can you offer me, am hungry?" Simdi demanded for food.
"there's no food here, go home and eat. Amorita is cooking at home." Appolonia suggested to him.
"is that so?" Simdi was happy.
"yes, you can go home." she said to him.
"I am going home at once, I will see you at home later." he said to her.
"yes, and how was school today?" she asked.
"it was great mom, we will talk more when you come home. I love you mom."
"I love you too, my dear boy." she replied and Simdi left.
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Daphne ran into the bush and stayed under a tree. She had been there since morning because she had no other place to go to.
Her maternal uncle who was older than her mother lives very far away at Westcoast. She doesn't have money to eat, so where will she get a huge sum of money to embark on such a long journey. Another obstacle was that she doesn't even know where he lives. And it will be so shameful to visit him in her present condition.
Hunger was tearing Daphne's intestines and she was shaking all over. She didn't know whom to approach for assistance. Her so called bosom friend, Sophia, disappointed her last night.
The sun was shining brightly, and she felt she was dying and she decided to pray before she losses her last consciousness.
"oh God, hunger will kill me. If I die here, will my corpse be found? Should I go and beg for food on the street?"
Daphne lay there on the ground, very weak, her mind began to wander far and near and then she remembered someone.
FLASHBACK
Eleven months ago , Elvis was with some group of boys, his friends, on the street. Then he saw Daphne passing by and he was immediately struck by her beauty. So he walked up to her and stopped her in her track.
"beauty excuse me." Elvis said to her.
Daphne smiled at him, Elvis was a handsome guy and she liked the way he approached her.
"what a beautiful smile you have." he complimented her.
"thank you, mister." she said politely.
"please, can I know your name? Am Elvis Sinbad." he introduced himself to her.
"my name is Daphne Jones ." she replied.
"what a lovely name." he said to her.
"thank you." she replied.
"Daphne you are so beautiful, I will like to know you better. Can I have your phone number?" he asked her.
"no, you can't." she said to him.
"but why?" he asked her.
"someone won't like it." she said.
"someone. Someone." he repeated the word several times before an idea struck him.
"do you have a boyfriend?" he asked her.
"yes I have." she answered.
"now I understand you. You are honest and straightforward. I admire you even more."
"can I go now?" she asked him, not carried away by his words.
"I want to be your friend, but your boyfriend will not understand us. When you are ready to have me as your friend, give me a sign." he said to her.
Daphne began to laugh, she was really amused by Elvis words.
"how can I give you a sign?" she asked him.
"walk up to me and say to me, 'can I have your number? ' "
Elvis and Daphne began to laugh like good old friends.
"you are really a funny guy." she said to him.
"and do you like me?" he asked her, hoping she would answer.
"I like you already, and you look like a nice guy to me. I wish I met you few days ago." she confessed.
"don't forget to give me a sign, I will make you happy." he reminded her.
"I won't forget, goodbye." she said to him.
"goodbye beautiful Daphne."
Daphne walked away and Elvis returned to his friends. Daphne left her mark on Elvis's mind. She was innocent and wasn't pretentious. Her smile and laughter were unique. How he wished she would have the courage to give him the sign.
As Daphne walked away, she felt sad and happy at the same time. She felt happy that she met someone like Elvis. She knew who he was, even though she doesn't know his name. Such a guy from a rich family admired her was a refreshing feeling for her.
Daphne felt sad because she couldn't accept his friendship because she just accepted Eliot as her boyfriend. It would be bad to accept Elvis's friendship whereby Eliot have not wronged her. So she chose to stay with Eliot even though he was not from a rich family like Elvis. But deep down inside her soul, she felt that Elvis was a better choice than Eliot.
PRESENT
Daphne wondered within her if she should go to Elvis for help. She began to mutter to herself.
"if I go to him, what will I tell him? My world is finished." she began to sob.
Daphne lacked the strength to cry, so she quickly comported herself. Her biggest fear and worry and shame was how to tell Elvis her predicament. He would be so disappointed in her. She was a rotten egg, she had no value, she was useless. So she quietly lay down there, blaming herself for her condition.