Complicated

Episode 7

The research was a success

The sun was nearing its settings, its soft rays light radiating from golden-edged cloud and had casted a perfect glow in Atarah’s bedroom. It was like a fire in the sky, warm but soothing.

Atarah stood there by the window, watching the sun disappear and change. Something about it calmed her and she felt much more relaxed.

“Atarah, darling.”

The sudden sound of her god father’s voice startled her to the point that she squealed. “Oh my goodness!”She clutched her chest and turned around abruptly. Uncle coco was standing close to the door way with a big grin on his face.

“You scared the hell out of me, Uncle.” She frowned at him.

“I’m sorry poo.”Uncle Coco laughed uneasily, trying to make light of the moment. “I guess I was just too excited by your return, please forgive me.”He muttered somewhat.

Atarah was quiet for a moment, her expression absent, and then she raced over and hugged him tightly.

“I miss you so much Uncle.”She buried her head in his shoulder and breathe in his familiar scent deeply.

All Uncle Coco did was hug her. One hand patting her back affectionately, and then he reluctantly released her, and tenderly stroked her face.

“How is your mum?” He softly asked.

“She’s fine.” Atarah let out a quiet sigh and Uncle Coco nodded his head, his eyes was roaming around the small but cosy room.

“Are you returning today?”He was surprised to see the packed handbag in the corner of the bed.

“I don’t know.”Atarah replied hesitantly, looking into his dark brown eyes before heading for the sitting room.

“What do you mean by that?” Uncle Coco was so curious that he followed behind her. “Are you waiting for someone?”

“No.” She lied. She glanced down at her phone and sighed in frustration.

“There is still no call from him, not even a text message.”

“A call from who?”Uncle Coco was beginning to get rather confused and Atarah turned around, first in disbelief, and then in shock.

‘Wait! Did I just say that out?’ Gosh! She hadn’t intended for that to happen.

“Erm…my course mates…erm…I mean, my lecturer.” She spoke with a pronounced stutter and Uncle Coco laughed softly and Knowingly.

“Quit lying, Tarah! You aren’t here for a field work, are you?” His voice was calm, but his eyes accused her.

Atarah bit her lip but didn’t answer, causing an uncomfortable silence.

“It is just me here, Child.” The calmness in her godfather’s voice encouraged her to talk.

“Fine!” She let out a deep sigh, “ I travelled down here with an American doctor, Jayden Hobsons. He wanted to make up for his wrongs so he………”Her voice trailed off into silence as she heard a slight groan coming from her grandmother’s room.

“Nana has woken up, let’s go outside.” With brisk steps, she led the way out of the house and stopped short in complete shock.

The same white Cherokee Jeep from this morning was driving towards her gateless house and towards them. “Holy crap! How in the world did he locate this place?” She turned around to run, but it was too late. Jayden had already seen her.

“Stop the car.”He almost cried out in relief and the overweight driver did immediately, pulling out in front of Atarah’s humble home.

Jayden surveyed the area around him as he slowly stepped out of the car. The surroundings looked remote, almost strange but was at the same time cool. He could feel the cold breeze warm his skin and this made him somewhat comfortable.

“How did you get here?” Atarah chose to attack him right at that moment.

He looked at her and saw she was shooting daggers at him.

“By asking anyone, I repeat anyone with whom I had come across with on the street of Tondo for an Atarah.”He scoffed at her.

“Oh!” Atarah paused in surprise, ‘so he knows my name’

“Is this your Prince charming?” Uncle Coco asked with a dreamy look in his eyes and Jayden turned to him, noticing for the first time the short womanish man.

“Hi.”He greeted dryly and then shifted his attention back to Atarah. “Are you ready?”He calmly asked her.

Atarah was still furious with him, How dare he show up here without calling me.

“You should have called me first.” She voiced out her mind.

Jayden gave a nonchalant shrug in reply and she felt like slapping him hard across his face.

What an annoying jerk!

“What’s going on here, Tarah?” Her grandmother’s voice boomed from behind them and Atarah jumped up in fright. “And who is this young man?”She looked from her granddaughter to Jayden.

“Good evening ma.” Jayden cleared his throat and began to speak politely. “I am Jayden Hobsons, a friend to…………”

“He is my school mate.” Atarah cut in abruptly and Jayden was confused.

School mate? He gave her a questioning look and Atarah winked an eye at him, pleading with him to help her.

He finally understood the situation and swore under his breathe. “Actually ma, we are school mates and also friends.”He lied brilliantly and Atarah felt relieved.

“You are welcome, Child.”Her grandmother looked uncomfortable as she forced a smile through gritted teeth and stormed into the house.

Atarah was shocked by her actions, but kept her cool. “Let me go get my bag.”She said, self-effacingly in a low mutter before following her grandmother into the house, leaving Jayden and Uncle Coco waiting outside.

In her room, she met her grand mother pacing up and down restlessly as she mumbled words no one could understand.

“Tell me, Tarah.” She paused and stared at her. “Does your mum know you travelled down here with that boy?”Her expression became stern.

“What are you talking about?”Atarah feigned ignorance and her grandma scoffed.

“Is he your boyfriend?”Her accusing eyes was fixed on her.

“Grandma?” Atarah called out, her face masked in shock but her grandma wasn’t ready to listen, she continued…

“You shouldn’t hang out with that boy, I can smell trouble all over him. Wealthy people are all the same, so selfish, inconsiderate and self-centred…”

Atarah could hardly understand her, she just stood there blinking and blinking.

“You should talk to your mum more,”Her grandma went on, “She is in a better position to explain better.”

Atarah grew confused, “Did something bad happen to my mum?”She was lost.

“Just talk to her child,”Her grandma spoke to her gently. “Love her, that is what she really needs now.”

Atarah nodded wordlessly and reached for her handbag.

“Bye nana.” She gave her grandmother a warm hug before walking out of the room and out of the house.

Uncle Coco was trying desperately to engage Jayden in a conversation, but Jayden being a snub completely ignored him and clamped his headphones over his ears.

He noticed Atarah just then and climbed into the car, briskly.

“Are we leaving without her?” The overweight driver asked, staring at him through the rear view mirror.

“No.”Jayden grunted his response. He stared out of the window and silently watched Atarah with what appeared to be amused interest.

“He is not my Prince charming.” Atarah told her godfather for the umpteenth.

“Hmmmh!”Uncle Coco regarded her thoughtfully for a moment. Perhaps she is right. “I don’t want a rude jerk for my precious goddaughter.” He whispered, as if afraid to be overheard and Atarah laughed the way school girls do, with her hand over her mouth.

“Good bye godfather.”She got into the car beside Jayden and slammed the door shut. “Let’s go.”She spoke in a mutter.

“Have you settled with your grandma?”Jayden asked after signalling the driver to move.

Atarah nodded her head slowly, her grandmother’s words were still ringing in her head.

~~~~~

They soon got to the airport and Jayden alighted from the car first.

“Tell Dr Aidan I am grateful.” He said politely to the driver and then proceeded into the large aircraft.

“Wait for me, please.”Atarah screamed, climbing out of the car and walking behind him.

Jayden stopped abruptly, causing her to bump into him. “Ouch.”She grimaced and he turned around and stared down at her.

Their eyes locked, and Atarah heart began to pound hard and fast in her chest, her legs were growing numb already.

“Sorry.” She looked away quickly and collapsed on the seat beside her.

Jayden smiled a tiny secret smile, meant only for himself as he sat down opposite her.

He had noticed the colour of her beautiful eyes for the first time—-Dark brown.

~~~~~~~~~The United States, Seattle City~~~~~~~~~~~

The late afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the air was clear and cold.

Jayden and Atarah stepped out of the jet, feeling weak and tired. The long haul flight had taken a toll on them.

“So,” Jayden cleared his throat nervously before facing her, “are you still interested in the modelling offer?”

“No,” Atarah glanced shyly at him out of the corners of her eyes, carefully avoiding his gaze. “I won’t do well as a model.”She muttered lowly and Jayden fingered his jaw thoughtfully.

“What then about working in an hospital?”

“Hospital? Atarah looked up at him, her expression was confused.

“I need a personal assistant.”Jayden was trying to hide his smirk as he said that.

“But I’m not qualified for that.” Atarah argued

Jayden regarded her thoughtfully for seconds and then shrugged. “It doesn’t mean.”

“Really?”Atarah rolled her eyes and made a face at him. “Are you trying to compensate me with………”Her voice trailed off into silence as she realised he was no longer listening to her, he was staring straight ahead, as if staring at someone, something.

Atarah was curious. She turned around and saw it, the news highlights showing on the huge television hung outside the airport building.

‘No more blood transfusions. No more 50/50 chances of survival. Second son of the Hobsons, Jayden Hobsons discovered a drug treatment for leukaemia.”

Her mouth became dry, her eyes widened and she began to tremble all over. “Is… Is…this really true?” Her voice was filled with emotions she couldn’t explain.

Jayden slowly shifted his gaze to her and was surprised to see her eyes burning with tears.

“Are you alr…………”Before he could finish his words, Atarah jumped up and hugged him tightly.

“Thanks so much, thanks for giving hope to the sick.”She whispered in his ear.

Jayden was confused, completely gobsmacked. He hesitated a little before wrapping his hand around her and patting her awkwardly on the back of her neck.