Chapter 12

“talk, I want to hear every bit”, he said looking at her like a child waiting for his grandma to tell him an old tale,

“well sir, it’s nothing, I just did what I could do besides if you’re asking about the secret, you of all people should know it after all you’re the one who taught me that”, she said,

“I did??”, he asked,

“yes, you said ‘no matter what don’t let anything pull you down, even if you fall make sure you rise as a phoenix from the ashes’, and that’s just what I did”, she said,

“with that??”, he asked pointing at her tummy,

“well sir for me I don’t feel it’s a disadvantage, yes I know what I did was bad and inconceivable,

I mean getting pregnant for a man I don’t even know, now that’s stupid but for me I feel like it’s the best mistake I ever made”, she said,

“I feel this is the heavens way if comforting me because I was lost, angry, sad, heartbroken and depressed when this happened, the one whom I thought loved me a lot, the man who I gave my all for betrayed me,

the one for whom I fought the whole for, left me behind without looking back or thinking twice, the one whom I showered all my love on,

(sighs) yes I agree I have nothing, no riches, no power, no influence, nothing, the only thing I had and still have is my family and that was the only thing I cared for, my world revolved around them, I had no life and light as my world was full of darkness,

he came into my life and filled it gradually with light, though at first we got off on a kind of wrong foot, we eventually fell in love, well that was what I thought until I found out that he back stabbed me, right after bringing joy and happiness to my world he took it back in such a cold hear-ted way, I was full of rage, depressed, sad and broken l, I was so downcast I thought of ways to kill myself, just then a familiar smiling figure appeared in my head”, she said,

“who??”, he asked,

“my dad, even if my eyes were picked, kept in a chest and thrown into the ocean,

I would still be able to identify his smile, at that moment even though my body wasn’t moving I went back in time to the happy times, the times when I would to silly things and my dad will only smile at my foolishness,

sometimes I did something so bad that mom will have to call upon her almighty spatula and little me will run and hid behind his long legs gripping it tightly,

laughing at my mom’s red face from anger and from dad’s flirting,

all the memories came one after the other, hitting me nonstop, in that moment of flashback the words he gave me on the day I turned thirteen began to replay in my head”, she said.

*Flashback*

“Hey Xio”, Alex called, “yes papá”, she answered, “lets talk”, he said, “okay”, she replied, “come with me”, he said.

(At the balcony)

“Listen here princesa (princess) what am about to tell you us very very important so lend me thine ears”, he said, “(giggles) ok sir”, she said,

“as you clock thirteen I wish you a happy happy birthday and you must remember that I, your mom and brothers love you a lot, but don’t forget, now I mean it,

don’t you ever forget that you are my angel, my princess and at the same time you’re my partner in crime,

my fellow inmate and never you forget that you are special with or without our acknowledgement,

always hold yourself high and don’t allow what people to say to affect you, never you dare let anyone push you to the edge,

don’t let what people do or say, no matter the gravity make you feel like killing yourself okay!! Because you’re special, that’s why killing is not just a crime and sin,

it’s also a selfish thing to do because you’re ridding the world of a special soul, so don’t you ever try it okay?!! Be yourself and trust me the right people will come even if they don’t,

you will still have me, your mom and brothers (pats head)”, he said,

“okay dad”, she said,

“now come give daddy a hug”, he said and they hug.

*End flashback*

“Wow”, he said,

“he even made me make a pinky promise when I was fourteen and make an oath when I turned fifteen but not the bad kind”, she said correcting his thoughts,

“and I nearly broke it, I was down to the extent that I wasn’t able to keep a single promise,

my courage shattered, my strength faded and just when my life was hanging by thread, this happened but I don’t regret it, all I feel is happiness and I’m not going to give up easily, after all I can’t give that bastard the joy of seeing me in pain”, she said and he smiled and immediately the teachers around froze in shock as the unbelievable occurred, right before their very eyes Mr. Anthony who had never smirked not to talk of frown just smiled in their presence, now this was something to watch,

they began to video this scene, some even broadcasted it on the schools blog,

in the café, notifications popped up and phones were ringing, as soon as the caption was seen everyone started watching.

“Here (stretches hand) take”, he said after taking a little box from it’s drawer,

“sir am sorry but I can’t take it”, she said,

“look am not giving you this out if pity or anything, am giving you because I want to”, he said,

“but sir”, she protested,

“alright since you don’t want to accept it as a gift then take this on the account that you’ll be doing me a favor, how bout that??”, He said,

“well”, she said,

“I insist”, he said,

“okay fine, but only because you insisted and also because you’re an elder”, she said taking the box and made to leave after seeking permission,

“no problem, after all that’s what she would have wanted”, he said, muttering the latter in low tones.