Thirty-eight

💜 Andy💛

I sat in the living room, playing a video game on my phone when dad came in, all smiles.

Dad: hey Andy! That's my boy

He patted me happily. My face was puzzled up

Dad: now you've proven yourself. You're a true Del Solo my son

Me: what... happened?

Dad: your girlfriend's father called my company. They are finally willing to partner with us

Me: oh wow

Dad: I know it's your handiwork. I heard Mr Achimugu is very close to his daughter. And I'm sure you made her convince her dad to partner with us. I'm so proud of you

Wow, I did not do any of that

Dad: this calls for a celebration. Where's my sweet wife?

Me: wow

He happily raised upstairs and I could hear him calling out to mom

Me: wow

I was so surprised all my words turned into wow.

So his company has finally gone back up. With my estimation, we were ahead of Alberto Empire with about 20%. Then they shot up with 30% being ahead of us with just 10% assets.

So now that we're back, we could possibly get either 10% and be even with them or 20% and be ahead of them

Well, it's not like I really care but dad is happy and dad's happiness means no beating for me. And I really want to get the bond going between mom and I. Ever since that Ugwa incident, she has been reserved from me. Sometimes I try to bring up conversations but she just answers with few words and goes away

I think she's still feeling bad for standing against me. Against the very thing that could make us happy.

But I'm hoping dad can change her mood because when dad is happy, then everyone must be happy along him. It's not easy to see that man smile

Mom and dad came down the stairs and dad was still grinning from molar to molar. Showing all his dentition

Mom too had a bright smile

Dad: you should be really happy with your son. He's made us proud

He walked to the bar

Mom: I'm proud of you dear

She kissed my cheek. Wow, what did I even do?

I smiled

Dad: go get some dinner ready my love. We're going to celebrate this

I chuckled. My love? When was the last time I heard that

I stood up with my laptop

Me: I'm going to drop this

Dad: okay and you should call Ugwa. Make sure she has lunch with us this weekend

Me: I'll try

I bowed and left. I entered inside and sat on my bed

I called Ugwa immediately

📲hey babe

📲HI luv

📲how are you

📲I'm... fine

I could hear her chewing on something

📲are you eating?

📲yeah. I'm with Anibe

📲oh wow. I'm wanted to ask you something

📲I'm listening

📲did you tell your dad about my dad's company?

📲no I didn't. Why did you ask?

📲because he got the partnership and he's giving me all the glory. Saying I made you tell your dad

She chuckled

📲I didn't. But congrats to him

📲haha

📲guess who I saw today

📲who?

📲Daniel

📲Daniel... Roberto told me same

📲well he's back

📲he's welcome anytime

📲hahahaha

📲well, we'll talk later babe

📲okay bye, luv you

📲 luv you too

I hung up and dropped the phone beside me on the bed.

So Daniel's back huh? I hope he doesn't do what I think he's gonna do

💜Unugwa💛

I entered the school building and met up with Daniel at the lobby. I smiled and walked to him

Me: good morning

Daniel: you look good

I laughed

Me: thanks. How are you doing?

Daniel : I'm good actually

We began to walk towards the class. What Anibe and I talked about last night came ringing back. I have to tell him before he finds out himself

Me: so did you get any girlfriend in the USA?

Daniel : why would I get a girlfriend without yelling you first?

Oops!

Me: well, you could'have. I wouldn't mind

He chuckled

Daniel : this place has changed a bit

Me: yeah, renovations took place

We entered the class and Loretta was sitting down

Loretta: what?

Me: guess who's back?

Loretta : the devil? Oh My God!

I looked at Daniel who didn't even care about what she said. He sat down at the back and I dropped my bag beside Loretta. She pulled my hand and pulled me out of the class

Loretta: (in whispers) the devil is back?

Me: stop saying that?

Loretta: I thought he had gone for good

Me: well he's back

Loretta: to start throwing fire bolts at everybody again

I sighed

Loretta: Andy's coming to school today?

Me: no, he's going to the agency. That's every Friday, remember?

Loretta: yeah yeah I know

Andy has been a model for the past one month. And he skips school almost every Friday for some photoshoot

Loretta : and here comes the she-devil

She nudged her head towards Agnes who was cat walking towards the class

We didn't talk to her, she didn't even look at us. She just entered the class and we heard her stop. We peeped in and she was looking at Daniel who was looking at the desk

She rolled her eyes and sat at her usual seat.

More students began to come and we entered the class

Me: (in whispers) I need to tell Daniel about Andy and I

Loretta : before he finds out himself

I nodded

Loretta : good luck

I smiled at her and walked to the back

Daniel : are you done gossiping about me?

He didn't look at me

I sat beside him

Me: yes

There was an awkward silence. I didn't want to start a conversation and I didn't even have any topic

Well the day was boring. Daniel was just too reserved, always thinking. I even asked what his problem was but he chuckled and said he was okay.

I went home after school and just as I changed and came back downstairs, dad came in looking tired and frustrated

Me: welcome back dad

I took his briefcase

Dad: Unugwa, you've really put my company in danger

Me: what?

Dad: do you know that Mr Alberto has been stealing from my AUC treasury?

Me: what!

Dad: he's been doing that for a month now. I'm going to have to deal with him

Me: this is bad

Dad: I'll see you during dinner

Me: okay dad.

I handed him the briefcase and watched him enter his room.

So Daniel's father misused the opportunity I helped him get. Stealing from dad? How unlawful!

💜 Daniel 💛

As I entered my car, Agnes approached me. This witch again

Agnes: HI Daniel. It's nice to see you're back

Me: thank you

Agnes : it's so unfortunate you lost your best friend to your best enemy

Me: I don't get you

Agnes: what? You mean she didn't tell you

Me: look Agnes. I don't have your time

I closed the door

Agnes: Unugwa and Andy are dating. Looks like she betrayed your silly head

Me: what?

She brought out her phone and showed me a picture of Unugwa and Andy, wearing matching outfits and Andy was pecking her cheek. That's enough for me to believe. That idiot shouldn't even have anything to do with her

💜Unugwa 💛

I went to see Anibe. I wanted him to advice me on Daniel's matter.

As I walked outside, I saw an angry looking Daniel leaning against his car over the second side of the road

I walked to him

Me: Daniel

Daniel : Unugwa! What the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy? Are you this stupid?

Me: what's going on?

Daniel : I thought we were friends. I thought you were on my side

My heart raced. He found out already?

Daniel: you're dating Andy! You're dating the guy I hate so much! How could you!

Me: I fell in love with him

Daniel : fell in love! To hell with your damn love! You're a traitor!

He was yelling so much that I wanted to cry

Me: I don't care about whatever it is you have against Andy. I don't care. I love him and I'm never gonna leave him. You better go and suit whatever you have against him

Daniel : so you're choosing him over me?

Me: I'm not. But I love him and I can't throw him off in the mud...

Daniel : ...because you don't love me

I heaved out a sigh

Daniel : break up with him

Me: you know you're joking

Daniel : Unugwa, break up with him!

Me: shut up! Just shut the hell up! If you're so selfish and won't care about my happiness then get the hell outta my life

He slapped me. I was so surprised that I stood with my mouth agape

Daniel : Unugwa you're so gonna regret going behind my back to date Andy. And Andy is so going to regret knowing you. I'm going to teach that bastard a lesson!

He opened his car, entered inside and drove off. I blinked my eyes and watched as his car disappeared into the street. I looked at our house, luckily no one was at the balcony of the house and no one in the house would hear our conversation. Besides, we were standing about five metres from the house

I went back to my car and drove to Anibe's house. I was trying hard to blink out tears that were blurring my eyes.

I got to his apartment building and entered the lobby

I quickly entered the elevator and went up.

I got to his room and knocked. I knocked again and he opened it

Anibe : whoah you look awful

I glared at him

Anibe: come in

I entered inside and met two Filipino girls sitting and drinking. They looked at me like I was the lady who stole their boyfriends. I looked at Anibe

He passed beside me and whispered 'not what you think'

I shook my head and walked to the kitchen

One of the girls spoke up

Girl: who was that?

Anibe : someone really important to me

I looked back at them. One of them stood up and walked to him with her hands crossed

Girl: may I know how important she is

Okay, she's flirting. I thought this dude is done with girls

Anibe : aren't you interested in the school work anymore?

He asked sitting on one of the red stools. I opened the fridge and brought out a can of Pepsi.

2nd girl : of course we are

1st girl: we just wanna know who the girl is?

Anibe looked back at me

Anibe : I'll see you girls in school tomorrow

He came down from the stool

1st girl: tomorrow is the presentation

Anibe : look, I can't help you because you two have been here for the past three hours and all you've been doing is to talk about random things and flirt. As you can see, that lady needs attention

They glared at me

2nd girl: whatever

They grabbed their bags and stomped off. Anibe closed his door

Anibe : so why were you crying?

Me: Daniel already found out and he was so angry and yelled at me. Saying I'm a traitor

Anibe : did you pacify him?

Me: I couldn't.

Anibe : he shouldn't put all the blame on you. It's not your fault they hate each other. And Daniel didn't even tell you not to date him

Me: Daniel doesn't have the right to control me. I can date whoever I wanna date

He sat down on the couch and I sat beside him

Anibe : I know you care about Andy so much, but I feel like you two are gonna go through a lot and might not be together

Me: I don't get you

Anibe : I'm just saying, you might reach a time when you'd have to choose between Andy and Daniel

I kept quiet

Anibe : who would you choose?

Me: I don't wanna think about that

Then I actually thought about it. If I choose Daniel, what will be my gain? Leaving the one I love just to make a friend happy? And what if the friend then falls in love? Will he leave his lover for me to be happy?

Why would I even be happy if that happens?

My phone began buzzing and I took it. It was a call from Loretta

📲hello Loretta

📲Unugwa...

She was crying

📲Loretta what's wrong?

📲it's Andy...

My heart dropped

📲what? What happened to Andy?

📲come to Luisa hospital now

Then she hung up.

Anibe : what happened to Andy?