Chapter 33

On her way, Juana kept checking her phone. She had the feeling that someone was in trouble and the person would call. Or maybe the person needed company urgently. Colin called few minutes later, and he only asked if she was at her destination already. She said no and hung up.

She waited twenty minutes and when no one who was in trouble or needed assistance or company called her, she decided to call who her mind went to-her two friends-Ivy and Alicia. It's been a while they spoke on phone or video call because they were writing exams and they've made a promise not to disturb one another with too frequent calls until the exams would be over because Ivy and Alicia had a lot of catching up to do in their new school because they joined the others late. But her mind was with them. Yet she called Ella first.

"Hello girlie" she picked at the first ring

"Ella what's up, are you back home?"

"Nope. I should be back by next week tho. I have a lot of gists for you, girlfriend, I'm so excited" she said giggling.

"Wow I'm glad. I can't wait" Juana smiled

"I'm working here, on a ranch and I'm being paid well. You know I need to save money" she said

"That's nice, dear. But you're missing school. You've missed almost three weeks already. That's not okay, you know that right?"

"You should trust me girl, I'm going to school here. Remember i told you that our school has a branch here too, so it's the same thing we're being taught. When I return home, I'd have not missed a thing in school. You get it?"

"Yeah, you're. so wise. That's a brilliant method. So when are you coming home? I miss you" Juana asked focused on the road. She kept whispering to the driver the address she was going to, so that he'd not miss it.

"I miss you too, girlfriend. You know I'm thinking it'd be easier staying here for the whole session. Schooling and making money together is interesting but then, I have to take care of granny and John, that's why I decided that I'd come home next week. I'll tell my boss about it today." She said

"At least you've saved a lot of money already right? What work do you do exactly?" Juana asked

"I feed the chickens, goats and horses, I clean them, fetch their feed and change their water. Everyday after school for five hours. We close at 2pm here , so it's easier to catch up, and my boss pays me daily" she said with excitement

"Isn't it stressful?"

"It is, but I don't mind, the pay is good" she said laughing

"I really do not feel like quitting" she added. Juana sighed.

"Who do you stay with? Do you know anyone there?"

"I live on the ranch with other workers. I go to school from there everyday. My boss enrolled me when I explained everything about me to him, so I'm not paying out of my money. I'm so favoured"

"Praise the Lord"

"Baby girl, I'll call you back tonight. I have to go change Striker's water. Bye okay?"

"Okay dear, see you" Juana hung up. In few minutes, the driver stopped at her destination.

As she alighted from the cab, her phone rang. The phone call she was waiting for. It was Alicia. She never called by this time. Seeing the call, Juana's heart started beating fast. Her instincts were never wrong. Something was definitely wrong. She sighed two times and breathed deeply before taking it. She was walking slowly towards Jason's apartment

"Juana" Her voice was rough like she had been crying. Her heart made a leap.

"Is everything okay? Huh"

"Not really. You know Ivy liked Eric?"

"Yeah I know, what about that?"

"You know he took her to his place and had sex with her, and she didn't stop him? She told us that right?" Alicia sounded like she'd soon scream

"Yes sadly"

"I think she's pregnant" she dropped the bombshell

"Why would you say that?"

"For three days now, she's been vomiting, and feeling dizzy. She claims she has nausea too. She's trying to hide it from our aunt, so she doesn't know yet" she said

"Where is she?"

"She went to the clinic, to do a test"

"Very good. Why didn't you go with her?"

"Aunty asked me to clean the house. Her children travelled last night and she went to work" she replied

"Okay. Let me know when Ivy returns, okay?"

"I'm scared. Our aunt is strict, she might just throw her out if she's actually pregnant"

"Don't be scared. Everything will be okay"

"Okay. See you"

"See you"

Juana's mood was altered. She could not hide the fact that she was equally scared. Ivy was only fifteen. A child should not be carrying a child, so she heard.

She tried to focus on her environment. Besides she was soon entering a house that looked like paradise. Perhaps the next question she'd pose to Jason was, "Where did you get all this money to build such beautiful, well-furnished house?"

Jason's front door was open, but he was not in his living room, not in his dining room either. Juana went to the refrigerator and poured herself a glass of water and made herself feel at home.

She could hear someone playing the organ. That meant Jason was in his studio. He had said that he'd be there if she didn't find him in the living room. But Juana didn't know where the studio was. It'd not be difficult though to find it; the house was not big, not too small either, just okay to occupy five people conveniently but he lived alone

Juana took off her shoes and started to trace the sound the organ made. The door of the studio was slightly open and she peeped in. There he was, playing and singing quietly. One thing caught her attention though; he was crying. The room was well equipped. It looked exactly like a studio, it was in fact more beautiful than all other rooms in the house. Juana felt emotional immediately she found tears rolling down his face. He didn't notice her.

"I am taking the road down memory lane...I found that I was lost..and yet I'm not found...dad said I was good-for-nothing, mom said im the best guy...I lose myself every time I can't find her..." He sang. He had very lovely voice. He was indeed talented. More tears rolled down his face and he had his eyes shut tight. It was a very emotional sight. After a while, he suddenly stopped singing and started to cry so loud that it shook Juana to the roots.

That moment she knew what she ought to do. She walked up to him and embraced his back, and used her fingers to wipe his tears. She too was crying now. He didn't stop her. He just sat there screaming and crying. He was broken. They were in that position for an hour, he never stopped crying, but his screaming was reduced to sobs. His body shook with sobs under Juana's arms. She didn't say anything. She just patted him. She didn't say anything because she didn't know what to say.