CHAPTER 6: COMA.

From that day Ivana never left the hospital, her dad was moved into the VVIP room. The room had a kitchenette, a sitting room, and a bedroom. Her dad become conscious for five minutes then went into a coma. Ivana was heartbroken when the doctor told her that her dad has gone into a coma. She decided to be strong for him and herself. The doctor told her that her father might come out of a coma if she keeps on talking to him every time about the events.

In the morning Paul came to the hospital before going to his work. Ivana refused to talk to him neither did she glaze at him.

Mrs. Mukhongo brought her breakfast and spend some time with her before leaving. She told her Aunt that she doesn't have to trouble herself because she will be cooking her food.

When she was alone , she tried talking to her dad, she had no idea where to start but she had to try.

"Dad please wake up, promise me you will wake up. You can't leave me like these alone,l don't know where l will start, dad," she said while wiping her tears away. That become her daily routine of talking to her dad every day. She hoped that he will wake up, what she has to do is talk to him as doctors do their work.

In the evening Paul dropped by to check on her, as usual, she didn't give him any attention.

"Hunny," Paul called. Ivana angrily looked at him with vampire's eyes, she had cried while talking to her dad. With that look, Paul knew that she didn't want to be addressed that way.

"Ivana, can l talk to you outside for a minute please?" He asked.

Ivana stood up and left for outside, Paul followed closely. 

"What do you want?, is it important? You better speak because l have no time for your nonsense".

"Ivana," Paul called as he reached to hold her hand, which Ivana reluctant obliged.

"Tomorrow l won't drop by,l am leaving early in the morning for a business meeting in Eldoret, you can even ask Mike," Paul said.

He was already doubting himself if he was saying the truth or not by dragging Mike in the conversation.

'Shit! why can't l tell her the truth?, why am l lying to her,l hate this' Paul thought.

All this time Ivana was looking at him and she noticed all his facial expressions but she decided to play along.

"Like l care, you are free to go wherever you want Paul,"she answered him.

"Ivana you are my wife, be it on paper or not. Nothing gonna change that, I am telling you this because it's my responsibility to inform you of my whereabouts you better start treating me like your husband Ivana, or else,"Paul yelled to her. 

"Or else what?" She asked him why walking away wiping away her tears.

Paul realised the mistake he had done as he said to her, "Hunny I am sorry l didn't mean to shout at you, my emotions got better of me l am so..."

Ivana slammed the door in his face and closed it. She didn't want to see him. She already have enough on the plate, with her dad in the Coma, she didn't want another stress.

Paul stood there begging her to open the door but Ivana never did. He walked outside full of regrets. He open his car and sat inside without doing anything. He got outside that car again and went inside the hospital. He begged again but she never opened the door. He couldn't stand to see her tears, even if she doesn't love him, he know with time she will fall in love. He isn't the King of hearts with nothing. He will do everything to fall in love with him. Because on his side he has started to harbor feelings for her. At long last Paul got tired of begging and left the hospital premises he decided to go and visit Mike before going home.

Ivana cried on the couch until she fell asleep.

**** 

"I am confused mean" that's the first thing Paul said when he stepped into his friend's house.

"What do you mean you are confused, you are a man Paul, what is it?" 

 "Mike l have feelings for Ivana since the day l saw her, she has this kind of vibe l just don't understand, but what l know is that my heart is starting to beat for her."

"What's wrong with that Paul, she is your wife and you must love her"

"You fool, you don't understand, Slyvia is still there, she is my first love Mike. You know it,l don't know how I am going to break this news to her. That I am. already married," Paul scratched his head as he looked at Mike for help.

"Mind you tomorrow is her graduation day, l can't miss it she has been reminding me for a week now. I just feel like this gonna lead to a love triangle," Paul said.

"You are already in it ..it's already a love triangle. Just do the right thing follow your heart. If it's Slyvia fine if it's Ivana fine as long as you are happy" Mike told him. 'or you just marry two of them ' mike mumbled to himself.

"I heard you mean,heheee l don't know, but l just wish l broke with her 4 years ago when l had the chance" 

"No regret Paul, just follow your heart l will support the decision you take, but l can't advise you what to do, Congratulations to Slyvia on her graduation and all the best Paul" he tapped him on the shoulder as he stood to see him off.

" One thing Mike just looked out for Ivana for me. Please check on her when l am away, Don't try to change the government, l will kill you with my bare hands heheeee, see you when l come back" Paul said as he accelerated the car to his home.

When he reached home he freshened up before going to bed. He didn't have an appetite for supper. He had different thoughts crisscrossing in his head. He didn't know what to think about. Every time he thought about Slyvia, Ivana's crying face flashed in his eyes. He didn't know the reason for that. Before he could figure out why he drifted to the land of dreams. 

He was woken up by his alarm he hurriedly went to the bathroom and had a hot shower. he dressed in a black tuxedo and black shoes. When he checked himself in the mirror he was satisfied because he was looking like a Greek god with well-groomed beards. He went downstairs for breakfast luckily it was already served. He kissed his mother goodbye as he headed for a parking lot. He choose the car that he will be using and signaled his driver that he will be driving himself today he will be resting.

***

Mike woke up and prepared tea and arrowroot (nduma), he didn't know if the girl will like it but had no money to buy bread. He took a cab and went to the hospital to check on his friend's woman. He knew that Ivana was in the VVIP room as Paul had told him earlier. He took the private elevator that. He knocked on the room. Ivana got startled because she was busy talking to her dad.

She opened the door and was surprised to see a strange man at the door. But the face looked familiar as she tried remembering where she had seen it. 'it must be Mike, Paul's friend.' 

"Hi, Mike extend his hand for greeting.

Hello"

"Hope am not in the wrong room....l am mike, Paul's friend".

"Oooh come in, come in" Ivana welcomed him.

" I have brought you breakfast sorry l don't know if it's on your preference. It's tea and Numa"

"Wooow duma, ooh thank you so much they are my favorite food," Ivana said surprising mike.

"You mean you like drama, l thought you are some kind of slay queens hahaha". Mike said.

"I love them,l love duma so much they are my favorite" 

" Ooh that's nice to know l don't want to bother you with my boring talk,l will take my leave now"

"No no no... I mean how fast, you can keep me company am not complaining"

"No Ivana l don't want Paul to get a wrong impression l just came to check on you we are not even acquittanced hehe" ' how fool you are spouting out nonsense 'Mike cursed himself.

" Ooh it's okay then by,"  Ivana said reluctantly.

After Mike leaves Ivana eats breakfast like a glutton. She had slept empty stomach,dumrummaginger favorite she eats it all. What did mike mean by 'Paul getting the wrong impression?' didn't he send him to spy on me. 'that fool' she smirked.

She picked up her phone and texted him " you fool how can you send your friend to spy on me? shameless husband" she sent it and switched off the phone.

****

Paul was stuck in the Jam on the way to the university. Being on graduation day many people had come to attend and celebrate with their children. 'l wished l took my private jet phew' he sighed. He was brought back to earth when his phone vibrated with a message notification. 

"You fool how can you send your friend to spy on me? shameless husband" the massage read.

He chuckled and the ' you called me husband,l knew you will fall for me'. He dialed her number and called him. Only to find her off. ' these women know how to play with me now she texted me and turned her phone off okay'. The jam opened and he drive to graduation square. The ceremony was almost over because people and graduates were moving around.

He tried looking for a particular face only to be startled by her voice.

"Handsome you finally came, "Slyvia said while reaching out to hug him."You smell nice.

"Thank you say...babe, Congratulations on your graduations day". 

"Thank you, thank you babe for coming, now let's go l want you to meet my Parents," Slyvia said.

"But babe ...can l talk t- 

"No babe we will have all our time on earth when they leave, they are leaving to catch the next flight from JKIA( Jomo Kenyatta International Airport )to New York Slyvia butted in.

"Paul wanted to refuse but with puppy eyes, Slyvia is making while telling him to follow her was enough to lure him.

They reached where her parents and Slyvia never wasted time introducing her man.

"Mum, dad guess who we have here, these my bo- 

Just a minute, a call came on her father's phone interrupting them.

...........

"Slyvia we are so sorry but we need to leave now,l have a meeting tomorrow, please bear with us....we are sorry again"

"Its okay dad l will be fine, and l will think about doing masters abroad, thank you for coming Dad, Mum, she hugged them and bid them goodbye.

Now she had the alone time she ever dreamed of with her boyfriend. She can't wait.

"