Chapter 114

Chapter 114

"So what is a wrong Andrew, you can open up to me and I will try my best to offer you the best advice" he said after we finished our food, I left out a sign of relief after drinking one full bottle of water and I sat back trying to remember everything that happened. "My parents actually called me to New York because they had something important to tell me and you know I told you about the dream in which my father died after being diagnosed of cancer" I asked trying to see if he still remembers what I said the previous week, "yes I remember everything, so what happened when you finally got there?" he asked looking so curious.

  "One thing that I have come to realize is that most of my dreams do come to reality and anytime I have such dreams, I do tend to get scared because I will see them happen before my very eyes. My parents invited me over and when I got there, my dad exposed the secret he has been keeping in his heart for the past eight years, this man who calls himself my father has been suffering from a chronic cancer for the past eight years and he didn't tell anyone about it until the doctor revealed to him that he had only few months to live because the cancer has eaten deep into his body system and it's only a matter of time before the cancer engulfs all his body system and once this happens, he will surely die.

My father broke my heart beyond repair and to make matters worse, he started begging me to get married and bear him a grand son or daughter before he will kiss this earth good bye" I replied with a heavy heart, Obi got up from his chair and came towards me, he placed his hands on my shoulder while trying to make me sit down on the chair well because I was almost falling off, "I must say that this is a painful news and I know how you feel right now, I felt the same way when I lost my own uncle to heart failure" he said.

  My ear stood up like antennas when I heard him mention that he lost his uncle, I never knew he has also passed through this pain too, "but that was your uncle, this is my dad and you can't compare an uncle with your own father" I replied. "yes you can't compare them but there are some things that will make you remember them for the rest of your life and my uncle was like my best friend, he always called to check up on me everytime even when he has his own kids, my father is a busy man and it was my uncle who took my father's position in my life. The day he died was like a nightmare for me because I kept on crying for weeks but keeping my own issues outside, I would like to ask why your father kept the issue of his cancer to himself all these years?" he asked 

"I have asked myself this same question over and over again but I don't seem to find an answer to it because I end up getting more depressed according to him, telling us the truth would make us feel pity for him and it would also make us panic" I replied, "so aren't you guys feeling pity for him?, this is so unfair and wrong" he replied. I was completely emptied of all thoughts and my mind was just like an empty container as I kept staring at Obi with nothing coming into my mind, "Hey, are you still here" Obi snapped his fingers at me when he noticed I wasn't talking.

   "I'm fine, I was completely lost for some minutes, but I'm okay now" I replied with a smile, he kept looking at me like someone who was confused, "alright then, but you just have to take heart and move on because there is absolutely nothing that you can do to change your father's condition and since he has finally decided to reveal the secret in his cupboard to you, then it's high time you take a bold step and if I was to be in your shoes, I would use this opportunity to gain a lot from him" he said

Obi was however right, this is the perfect time for me to gain so much from my father because he will be willing to give it to me since he is going to die soon, I kept on thinking about this for a few minutes till I let out a weird smile that made Obi shake my head to confirm if my brain has traveled again, "young man are you sure everything is okay, you keep going into a state of total silence anytime i say anything important, "please forgive me, I was only trying to digest that idea of yours about gaining so much from my father" I replied with a smile. "Okay, like I said, you can actually gain a lot from him at this point so you should be more happy than ever" he replied.

  "That's true but I will first need to obey his request to gain access to his heart and unlock anything I want" I replied, "yes and I'm here to help you achieve that but I would like to ask if you have any girl in mind that you would like to hang out with and possibly make her your wife?" he asked. I thought for a minute but no girl flashed into my mind which shows that I don't really have much girlfriends, "I don't have any but I plan on hitting the biggest clubs in this city so that I can eventually find my dream woman, you know most ladies like clubbing" I replied with a smile 

Obi smiled when he heard my last reply, seems he was pleased with what I said, "now you are talking like a real man, I know some luxury clubs in Lagos that will suit your taste and I do visit most of these clubs myself so I can assure you that they are the best" he said. "that's great then, can't wait to start flowing with different ladies of my choice, I need to flaunt my wealth" I said while bringing out bundles of a thousand naira note from my pocket, "hold it right there big man, you are going to attract attention to yourself by doing this, better keep that money in your pocket if you want want to get robbed on your way home, this is not New York" he replied

  I quickly squeezed the bundles in my pocket as people are beginning to look at me in an odd manner and I don't really like it, things are totally different here unlike in America where anything can happen and you will still be protected, "Alright so when will you be free so that we can both hit the club together, you need to take me to the best club in town" I said looking so joyful, "not so quick bro, you still need to make some amendments to yourself first" he said while giving me an odd look

I looked at myself trying to find out what is wrong with my looks, my shoes are okay and expensive too, same with my shirt and jeans so i don't really see the amendments I need to make, "I don't mean your outfit, first of all where do you stay?. I don't really know your address" he asked. Ever since I relocated to Nigeria, I haven't really given anyone my address based on the fact that I'm not the original owner of the place where I stay and I don't want to start inviting friends to someone's house, "well I live in an estate with my aunt and it's cool there" I replied with a smile but I was surprised when he burst into laughter as if he heard a funny joke, "what's making you to laugh like this" I asked when the laughter was becoming too much for me to bear.

  "how can you be living with your aunt at this age, how old are you by the way and why should you be living with your aunt?" he asked jokingly but he became serious after a while, "Well I'm 24 and I see nothing wrong with living in my aunt's house, I don't really know much places in Lagos and I haven't lived here that long" I replied. "you need to move out of your aunt's house and live alone, that's what differentiates real men from babies" he said 

I kept staring at his face like a movie show, I wasn't expecting that kind of suggestion from his mouth, "why do you want me to move out of her house, I do get anything I want and she Is super nice to me, do you think I will be able to survive on my own if I move out?" I asked. "That's why you don't have an idea of the real world, I know you men who live in America tend to think that life is like a bed of roses, you need to live the comfort of your aunt's house and face life head on" he said. His reply sent some cold feelings down my spine and I don't even know how to process this to him.

  "I don't think I will agree with this your idea, I have only spent five years in this city and you expect me to just move out of my aunt's house when I don't really know the things about this city, no way bro!" I replied looking so bold, "let me just tell you the truth, no girl will take you serious when you tell her you are living with your aunt, how do you expect to bring a girl home in the presence of your aunt?, do you think the girl is going to be happy about it?" he asked. He was making a point though, most girls will think that I'm still a baby adult who can't cope with the idea of living his aunt's home and there is no way I would start kissing or making out with a girl under my aunt's roof, I will need some privacy for myself too

"You may be right, I will need some privacy if I want to truly bring a girl home and I don't know if my aunt and her fiance would give me that space" I replied, "you see what I'm saying, you need to move out and live on your own and come to think of it, you are old enough to even buy your own house. You work in one of the biggest companies in this city" he replied. "Hmm, but don't you think she will be sad by the fact that I will leave her house and start living on my own?" I asked with a sad look

  "You keep acting like a girl, what's your business if she is sad, is she the one to dictate what you should do with your life?" he asked. "No but I feel she won't be happy about it, we have become so close to each other" I replied, "Andrew will you marry your aunt?" he asked, "no I won't, why are you even asking this question? I asked looking a bit angry now 

"I'm asking you because of the way you keep talking about your aunt like she is your girlfriend or something. Just tell her you want to move into your house and start your life as a real man, a 25 years old guy like you deserves his own privacy and ladies will respect you more when they learn that you have your own house and car and above all, they will respect you better when they know you are rich" he replied, "So you mean I need to stand my ground and tell her I need to move out and get my own house?" I asked once more to confirm if he is really serious about this

  "Yes, just explain to her that you need some privacy and if she is a good lady, she will agree with you and even help you find a good house to buy in Lekki" he replied, "alright then, let me see how things will go but I will keep you posted on any update that takes place" I said, "no problem my man, I guess I will start heading back home right now, have some important things to attend to" he replied and we both hugged each other before he went out of the restaurant.

He even forgot to pay the bill and now the waiter came to me with a long paper bill and the total cost of everything we ordered is three hundred thousand naira, I simply used my card to pay for the bills and she left. I had to spend some hours alone, thinking about what Obi said and I find it difficult to accept it but I just have to do it because he is actually right.

  No girl would take me seriously when I invite her home only for her to find out that I'm living with my aunt, I wouldn't even have the mind to make out with the girl especially when I know that my aunt's might hear or see us. I walked straight to my car after spending close to two hours alone and I drove back home with speed as the road was completely free from any form of traffic.

On getting back home, I met my aunt in the living room and she called out to me after she noticed my presence, "how are you doing Andrew, heard you left before I returned back home this morning" she said. "Yeah, went to see some friends, I would like to talk to you about something and I don't know how you will feel about it" I replied.

  She paused for a while, obviously trying to see if there is anything wrong, "I hope there is no problem?" she asked. "Not at all, perhaps I would talk about this later in the evening after I freshen up in my room" I replied and walked straight to the staircase, she kept looking at me while I walked away but I tried to keep my fake smile so she doesn't suspect anything.

I locked my door immediately I walked into my room and jumped on the bed looking so tired, everyday of my life seems like a stress because I have to keep making decisions up and down and it's killing me slowly. How am I going to cope with responsibilities of living alone, I will have to cook, wash and clean the house myself or maybe I would employ someone to do that for me but still it would be very lonely for me especially now that I don't even have a girlfriend, I sure hope I'm not going to regret this decision later