Chapter 16 Past
1194 Words
Rose shook her head helplessly. Of course, it wasn't fair.
"One time, after Felix had finished school, he came back to prepare for his NYSC, and I had just started university. I was here in Lagos while they were in Abuja.
"My father had gotten sick and needed a blood donation. I couldn't donate for two reasons: I had a mild illness at the time, and secondly, I was in Lagos. My father wouldn't let me come back, insisting that my mother and brother were there to take care of him and that I should focus on my studies.
"It just so happened that the hospital ran out of blood, so Felix was the only option. But he was reluctant about doing the transfusion. It turned out he already knew his identity but teamed up with my mother to deceive Dad.
"How could he? Father had treated him like a son, sending him to the best schools, telling him about his assets, and considering him the firstborn.
"Rose, tell me why. Why would she do this? Even if she didn't love my dad, I was her son. She carried me for nine months. How could she be so indifferent to me?
"My dad literally worshipped the ground she walked on. Even a cold-blooded person would have been touched, but she wasn't. There wasn't a time she failed to remind me that I was a mistake.
"She's even willing to sever ties with me because of three houses. Rose, is that how much I'm worth? Am I that cheap?"
Yoseph's voice trembled.
Rose was a crying mess. She didn't know how to share in his pain. She simply shook her head repeatedly, trying to tell him that he wasn't cheap.
"After the blood was tested and compared, it was found that it didn't match. My father's illness worsened after hearing the news, and he slipped into a coma.
"It was after twenty-four hours that the hospital had blood again and he was transfused. I learned the news from my uncle and rushed over. My mother didn't even tell me.
"I had to defer my studies until the following year. My dad needed me.
"My dad woke up after a month, and surprisingly, he didn't ask for a divorce. He only wrote a will, which he gave to my uncle for safekeeping until I was old enough.
"I got the will seven years ago, but I kept hoping my mother would realize her mistakes and love me just as much. But she didn't.
"My dad died three months after leaving the hospital. I was just seventeen, Rose. Seventeen, with an unloving mother. I had no one to wipe my tears."
Rose tightened her hold on him.
"I moved to Lagos after the burial, where I continued my studies. My uncle visited occasionally, but not once did my mother call or come.
"You know, I still considered her my mother until one time they came to Lagos. I was twenty. Felix and I had an argument over something, and he actually let me beat him up, then went ahead and reported me to my mother.
"And she believed him.
"Like, how could a twenty-year-old beat up a twenty-seven-year-old? But Mom didn't care. She hit me until I bled just to avenge her beloved son.
"Rose, I hate him. He took everything from me. Dad died because of him. He took my mother's love and still coveted everyone around me.
"It was after that incident that I stopped considering her my mother, even though a part of me still wanted her."
Rose's heart ached.
"When I was twenty-five, I had a girlfriend. By then, with my father's connections, it wasn't hard building Dekan Tech. My father was the person I loved most, so the company is my tribute to him.
"I gave her everything, you know, but somehow she wasn't satisfied.
"During that time, my mother and Felix happened to be in Lagos. Though I didn't reach out to them, somehow Felix found out about Lilian.
"I don't know, maybe he became obsessed with taking my things. I don't know what lies he told Lilian, but he managed to convince her that the company was his and that I was just helping him manage it since he was always abroad."
"She actually believed it?" Rose asked.
Yoseph smiled and nodded.
Rose chuckled. "She's stupid. But then I have to thank her for leaving this big fish for me."
Yoseph smiled and tapped her forehead.
"Then you should hold on to me tightly. Otherwise, where will you find another big fish like me?"
"Of course I won't let you go. And you're not allowed to let me go either."
"Hmm. Domineering, are we?"
Rose nodded.
"I'll gouge your eyes out if I have to so you won't stare at other girls."
Yoseph laughed.
"Why would I stare at other girls when I have you?"
"It's good that you know."
"You look like a puppy."
"Well, you love this puppy," Rose said, pouting.
"Don't get proud yet. I'm still angry with you. After I finish talking, we'll go back to the silent treatment."
Rose stuck out her tongue.
"Are you really going to give me the silent treatment?"
"Don't try acting cute. It won't work."
"Well, I—"
"Shut up and let me finish."
"Okay. Continue."
"Actually, I don't know how long they'd been seeing each other behind my back, but one day she barged into my house, claiming I deceived her and threatening to break up.
"It was really funny. Whether I owned a company or not, did it really matter?
"It turned out she was there for the money after all, just like my mother.
"After she finished yelling, she left without giving me a chance to explain. And I, being the gentleman, waited for her to calm down 8before settling it.
"But look where it ended.
"Communication is really important in a relationship."
"Yes," Rose nodded. "I'm sorry I yelled at you and—"
"I guess I should stop playing the gentleman card," Yoseph joked.
They both laughed.
"But do you really think you're a gentleman? I almost thought you didn't want me anymore."
"How could I not want you? Don't you know those three weeks without you were the hardest? I was losing my mind."
"Hmph. You deserved it."
"You're heartless."
Yoseph paused before continuing.
"She cheated, you know. She actually cheated.
"Maybe it would have hurt less if she'd done it with someone else. But it just had to be Felix—someone I despise so much.
"That day, I went to her apartment hoping to find her and smooth things out, but I..."
He laughed bitterly.
"I actually saw them together.
"Meanwhile, she presented herself as virtuous in front of me, wanting to wait until marriage.
"I honestly didn't have a problem with that, but in the end she was a gold digger.
"I don't know how I got out of there.
"Why do they all choose him?
"I'm not worse than him. In fact, I'm better.
"But in the end, I always lose to him.
"And my mother always supports him."
- Writer
