Love me, love my child

Never Cross Paths

Chapter Three

I nervously sipped the apple juice from my glass, sitting across was Chidubem looking more handsome than he used to seven years ago. My heart kept beating fast, he looked more mature and more manly. I have self pride and self esteem, I can't sell that out.

"You look more beautiful, Hannah", Chidubem

commented which made me feel awkward remembering how u left him.

"Thank you, you also look different if not for the face and the voice, I wouldn't know that it was you", I replied.

"Thanks. So how does it feel to be a flight attendant for over seven years, I guess", He asked and I remembered that being a flight attendant was my dream. The dream that I talked about with him casually back in our university days. Excited me, I couldn't wait to first my Nysc program and become one. But instead I became a mother and an assistant secretary at one of the biggest companies in Nigeria.

"Oh, about that dream. I didn't go for it, I guess I wasn't too fit and was just obsessed with it", I lied.

"That's not true, Hannah. You always wished to become a flight attendant, there must be a huge reason why you decided to change your mind. I know it hasn't been a while since we last spoke or saw each other but I just want you to know that if you need someone to talk to. I am always available. My phone number never changed but I guess yours did", He said.

As I remembered changed my lines because I wanted to cut him out of my life but I guess God was smart than me because I am sitting right in front of someone, I have been trying to avoid for more than six years.

"Yes, I did. I just felt that the phone number was too old and all. So enough about me. So what about you what did you end up doing over the years?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Ehnn, I took someone's advice and became an investor and an entrepreneur", He replied handling me his business card. I collected it, only for me to realize that he was the owner of the biggest competitor of the company where I worked.

"Wow, this is huge, I am so happy for you. You did make yourself someone who can spend lavishly without caring about the price tag at the end of the day", I said remembering when he told me that his biggest dream was to spend lavishly without caring about the money to sort out the bills.

"It was all because of you, Hannah. You told me that I should never give up till I achieve my dream and you will always be waiting to be proud of me", He said staring into my eye, making me feel awkward.

"Hmm, that was nothing. I just gave advice to a friend that's all", I replied honestly.

"So what's popping in your life?" He asked. My phone rang as I was about to reply. My hands trembled when I saw it was Adeife that was calling me.

"Why is she calling at this moment?" I thought as my nervous hands picked the call and placed it on the loudspeaker.

"Hello, mommy. Your beautiful daughter misses you already", Her voice sprung out from the phone before I quickly went off the loudspeaker while Chidubem stared at him with shock written all over his face.

"Hi baby, I will be back soon, okay? Bye", I quickly said and hung up. There was an awkward moment of silence before Chidubem broke it.

"So I just you are married and you have a kid, is that why you gave up on your dream job?" Bryan asked.

"Yes, I am married", I effortlessly lied as Chidubem's countenance dropped or I misread.

'Why would his countenance dropped when he has a diverse of girls around him now that he has loads of money in his bags', I thought silently.

"I didn't give up because of my daughter, I just didn't want to miss any part of her childhood and later regret it so that's why I chose her job which won't make me lose the opportunity", I sincerely answered.

I actually gave up on becoming a flight attendant because I wanted Adeife to have a memorable childhood. If I wanted to be a flight attendant, Adina would have helped me raise her but I insisted on being there for my daughter because I believed that since I brought her to the world, I should take full responsibility and take good care of her.

"Oh Hannah, you are still that very considerate person, I have always known you to be", He said smiling.

"Thank you", I answered.

"So you and Adina are still friends right?" He asked as I began to tell him about Adina's and I journey ever since we graduated from the university. For the first time, in many years, I spoke to my very close friend whom I have been running from freely without any care in the world.

Apart from the time, I was thinking of how to make sure he and Adeife don't meet because of the striking resemblance between the two of them. Chidubem was a light skinned guy whose skin is always shining and alluring. Adeife also has light skin which makes her lovable and cute. She has his eyes, his skin colour, his smile and some of his characters. She also took after him academic wise, she is also smart and brilliant just like him.

Though there are some little things Adeife got from me but Bryan's genes were really stronger than mine, I think. Although it won't be bad if Adeife met her biological father, she would be overjoyed but with this wealth that was backing up Bryan, he might want to take Adeife away from me. I had to promise myself right there on that chair that no matter what happens Adeife and Chidubem must never cross paths.