Rivalry and Relationships

Mario climbed down the jet plane and entered the limo that was already waiting for him to land.

He had no time to waste as his presence at the hospital indicated his rise to power.

He wasn't a fan of his family's power but yet he couldn't do anything without it.

He needed it. Not just for himself but to be able to protect his mother, to be able to support her dreams.

His day had started off rough when his credit card got frozen by his father. Then the order came next and because of his mom, he had no other choice than to obey his father and book a flight back to the country, and to Samdari next.

His agreement ofcourse got him his credit card back.

The drive to the rural branch of the hospital wasn't a comfortable ride for him.

The traffic jam and hurdles it took his driver before reaching the location of the hospital was much hated to him.

But he made it just in time, before his name was announced in front of the meeting of all staff and management of the hospital.

"We have the head of the department of Cardiology, Mr. Mario Jidenna C" the announcer said as he walked into the meeting room, adjusting his collar as he did while he mounted the podium.

He was dressed to impress and the fine finishings of his suit could not be hidden, neither could it's quality.

He waved his hand at the doctors and an applause erupted.

He took notice of a face that kept smiling at him and waved at her.

It was Senorita, the daughter of a family friend.

Thinking the introduction was over and as he was about to leave the stage to his office as the new head of the department of surgery, his curiosity was piqued when he saw the announcer adjust the microphone, wanting to give another announcement.

Who else was going to her announced? There were no new recruits and his father made no mention of any new other joining the hospital. He stood back and waited, wanting to know and see who else was getting announced the way he was.

New recruits were not announced except for ones with important positions. The reason for his curiosity.

"I now introduce the head of the department of Neurosurgery in the person of Dr. Francio Jidekene"

Mario's anticipation left his face as he stood watching for the entrance of the name that had been called.

This wasn't whom he was expecting and if anything, he shouldn't have been called in for that position.

He couldn't hold back the feelings of hate that began to envelope him at that instant and slowly,his hand began to fold into a fist.

"Dr. Francio Jidekene?" The announcer called again but yet, there was still no answer.

He got ready to call the name for the third time when suddenly, a man in his early thirties rushed in, adjusting the collar of his T-shirt as he did.

Senorita's gaze could not leave him as he walked in hurriedly to the podium.

Mario himself could not stop staring at him but his gaze were those of anger and bitterness and not the warmth and affection that filled Senorita's.

He shot him a glare from head to toe checking out the outfit he was putting on.

He scoffed after he did and a smug crept onto his face.

He was no a match for him either in dressing or achievements and wouldn't be a threat to his duty to his mom of being his father's heir.

"You still haven't changed,... brother" he whispered to his ears as he walked pass him to meet the announcer.

Francio smiled at him as he kept walking.

His brother hadn't changed one bit either.

While he was clad in a T-shirt and a trouser paired with a black sneaker, his brother was on a suit with designer shoes to fit.

Francio tool the microphone and first of all apologized for his lateness and then introduced himself to the doctors who sat hearing him speak.

"Always overdoing things" Mario muttered to himself while non-challantly hearing his unprepared speech.

The unending scene finally came to an end and Mario couldn't wait to walk out of the hall, with Senorita following him closely behind while Francio stayed behind to converse with some of the doctors.

****************

"Do you know Mr.Francio from anywhere before?" Senorita asked Mario, as she strolled in his office, admiring the architect's design.

Mario turned to face her, surprised by her question.

"Your expressions when his name was called kind of suggested that you know him from somewhere and your encounter with him was not a pleasant one" Senorita added, seeing the look on his face waiting for her explanation.

"We interned for the same company after our graduation from medical school". Mario simply said,not mentioning their blood relationship.

"Ohhh" Senorita muttered, rolling her eyes as she assimilated the answer he had provided.

"How about you? You seem to know him alot yourself" Mario asked, hoping to call her attention away from the question she had asked him before.

"Oh well I did before" she began to say and the glint that had been visible in her eyes before began to disappear.

"What happened?"

"There was a transfer student. She caused too many scandals and that made me hate Mr Francio even though he was my homeroom teacher then"

"Francio once taught at your school?" Mario took notice and his voice came out sharply like a realization more than it was a question.

"Yes he was but that was until the transfer student came. Do you know that she once threw an orgy and almost had me harrased after she tricked and invited me? She hated me alot probably because she was from a poor home and lived with only her grandmother whereas my family was the opposite of hers"

Mario continued to look in her eyes.

"Then what happened next?" He asked still staring at her knowing that the girl must have posed as Senorita's competition for her to hate her this way, even after she had graduated from high school.

*She was expelled but she ran away even before she got her punishment."

" I'm probably sure she ended up like most people of her calibre do. A drug addict or a single mother with numerous children. Even if she didn't, it's either she's married to a poor man now and saddled with the responsibility of childbearing with no money."

" Thays how lots like her always end up like, so I won't be surprised" Senorita ranted and finished but discovered Mario hadn't been listening to her the way she had thought he was.

His eyes were fixated on his laptop, watching in stunned silence, something she couldn't explain as she couldn't see.

Something that caught the whole of his attention. More important than her and her presence... More important to him than his enthusiasm for his new position.

What was that something?

She asked and her question lingered on in the air.