DADDY’S PARAMOUR

Chapter 02

Chapter 02

MHALEE'S POV

THE following day, my boyfriend visited me before going to work. He brought breakfast for me. He always brings breakfast whenever he goes to work because his mom sells breakfast in the morning.

"Thank you, babe." I smiled at him and hugged him.

"You're welcome, babe. I'm off to work." He said, then hugged me again and kissed me on the lips.

"Take care." I said with a smile. I love Raven deeply. We've been childhood friends and have been together for five years. The only thing missing is marriage, but I don't want to marry yet because we don't have savings.

I want to be financially stable before I get married. I don't want to live in poverty. I come from a harsh environment, and I have been suffering from poverty all my life. I want my future married life to be prosperous and not like what I have now.

After Raven left, I went inside to put the soup he brought in a bowl and started eating. My boyfriend knew that soup is my favorite, and he was always thoughtful to bring it for me.

As I was eating, my niece Aika came over, rubbing her eyes.

"Hi, Auntie." She greeted me affectionately.

"Hello, do you want to eat?" I asked her. I knew that she approached because she wanted to eat with me.

"Yes, please." She answered me politely.

"Come here." I invited her and let her sit beside me. Then I moved the bowl closer to her. My nieces often go hungry because their father doesn't work much. So whenever I have something, I can't resist sharing it with them. The kids are close to me, especially Aika.

"Eat." I said with a smile when she looked at me. The child smiled, and I noticed her decayed teeth. Her mother doesn't even ensure that Aika brushes her teeth.

"Can I have this?" she asked me. I smiled and nodded at her.

I'm not hungry yet, and if I do get hungry, I have money because Raven gives me money.

"Hi, Bestie."

I turned toward the door when I heard my friend Mel's voice. She's been my friend since we were kids. She also works in the local market. I used to work with her until I resigned from my post.

"Oh, your brother is still asleep," She said when she saw that my brother and his family were still asleep in the cramped living room.

"You don't have work today?" I asked, changing the topic.

"No, it's my day off. When are you coming back to work? I have no one to talk to," She asked me, pouting and then greeted my niece. "Hi, Aika."

"Hello," my niece answered politely.

"I'm not going back there. Our boss is so unreasonable, getting jealous of me," I answered her with raised eyebrows.

"That's because you're beautiful," she said with a laugh while patting my shoulder.

"Of course, I am!" I replied smugly with a smile. "It's not my fault that he's totally head over heels for me," I added.

"Well, lucky you," she said with an eye roll. My friend also has a boyfriend, a market vendor.

"So, what are you doing here?" I asked her after a while.

"Nothing, just hanging out. It's boring at home. The people there are so noisy," she said with a frown and sat beside me. Then she whispered to me, "Your brother is something else. He's got it easy."

I rolled my eyes at her comment.

"You said it. Mom's working her butt off, and he's just lounging around," I replied with a smirk.

"They should get their own place since he's got a family now," she gossiped. Even though Aika was there, the child didn't tattle anyway.

"Let him be. It's mom's fault that he's like that," I said irritably. I get really annoyed because my brother and his family are freeloaders.

If I didn't feel sorry for the kids, I'd have kicked them out by now. But I pity my nieces and nephews. I don't want to be a bad aunt to them.

"So, what now? Where will you work? You should go back to our employer. So I have someone to talk to," she said while shaking my arm.

"I don't want to," I said firmly. "I won't go back there. Maybe with another employer, but I don't want to work yet. Raven is there anyway, and he gives me money."

"Wow, lucky you. Are you two going to move in together?"

"No," I replied with a pout. "I want us to save up first."

"How will you save up? You don't even have a job," she said to me.

"Relax, I'll find a job," I said with a smile. I will look for a job. For now, I'm just taking a break. I've been working for so long, but I haven't saved a thing because it all goes to the house expenses. How could I, when my brother's family is crammed in with us? That's why mom and I can't save a thing.

"Don't worry, if there are any openings with people I know, I'll let you know," Mel said to me.

"Okay, thanks, sis," I said with a smile, and I saw that the freeloaders had woken up. I asked Mel to go out with me. I didn't want to be a hypocrite with my brother's family.

"Your brother's unbelievable, huh? He's trying to avoid work. I pity your mom for having such a lousy freeloader son," Mel said as soon as we got outside.

I took a deep breath and adjusted my hair.

"Exactly, I feel sorry for Mom. I want to work to help her. But whenever I think about how my brother relies on us, I lose motivation," I sighed again.

We headed to the store to buy some cigarettes. The area was noisy because the gossipers were hanging around again. They were on the lookout for something to gossip about. This is very usual in this community, where people's pastime is to gossip. As soon as they wake up, they're out there gossiping.

I lit the cigarette that Mel gave me. She paid for both the cigarette and the soda. Though I had some soup, my stomach was still empty, but I was already sipping on a soda.

We headed over to the bridge to hang out. That's where Mel and I always chill out because there are lots of cute guys.

"I've got an aunt who works as a maid. Want me to ask if they need another helper?" Mel asked me after a while.

"Sure, I really don't want to go back to the market," I said. "I've got too many enemies there."

"Alright, I'll ask her when she gets home later. She's a stay-out maid."

"Stay out? That works for me," I said, thinking I could still be with my boyfriend while working.

"By the way, did you know the pay is good?"

"Really?" My ears perked up. If the pay is good, I'm in. The pay when I was working at the market was too low to support a family.

"Yes," she replied, making me smile. I guess I really am money-minded. Well, life's tough these days. Honestly, everyone's money-minded, not just me, even my mom.