Tedros Moore Rises To The Top

Chapter 1:

Tedros looked at the time for the umpteenth time. It was 11:00pm on the dot, it was high time he finished his shift for the day.

He took out his phone from his side pocket to look at the picture of the woman he loved one more time to warm his heart. He stared at the picture of the woman who looked like she was in her twenties with a huge, comforting smile on his face. It wouldn’t take long for a stranger to know this man really loved the woman he was smiling at.

With a sigh, he shoved his worn-out phone that had cracks all over into his back pocket and took off his shirt uniform.

He saved up his two-month salary and picked up some extra night shifts to buy Haley a bouquet of roses since that was her favorite flower and the cheapest ring he could find, though the ring wasn’t exactly her style, but it was from his heart, right? Wasn’t that all that mattered?

Thinking about being the first person to surprise his girlfriend on her birthday was the warmest thought of all. It warmed his heart so well that he couldn’t even feel the coldness that blew around the room quickly.

Tedros picked up his coat on the adjacent coat rack and headed for his girlfriend's house with a smile on his face.

A few blocks away from her mansion, he could see everywhere all lit up, lights everywhere and a faint sound of music could be heard from afar. He wondered what could be happening and moved closer to her house with the intention of knowing more. He thought she said she wasn’t throwing any birthday parties.

Immediately he reached the door, the music got louder, and he could hear distant chattering and clinking of glasses. He stretched out his hand to check his wristwatch, and it was 12:10am which made him sigh, “So much for trying to be the first person that would wish her happy birthday,” he said with a deep frown on his face and continued with a shrug, “Oh well, it’s never too late to wish her a happy birthday. It’s the thoughts that matter.”

Gathering more courage, Tedros twisted the door knob with the small amount of energy within him only to be greeted with pairs of different eyes staring at him, their eyes held mockery, and before he could say a word, he could hear their chattering from all sides of the room. It was obvious they were gossiping about him right in front of him. Some laughed while others pointed fingers.

“Isn’t that Haley’s boyfriend? Why is he dressed like that for her birthday party?”

“Who does he think he is?”

“I could never accept someone like this as my daughter’s soon-to-be husband.”

His legs stayed fixated on the floor. He wanted to turn back and leave, but he just couldn’t let himself do it. He was here for his girlfriend, not them.

Haley’s mother, Hannah, out of anger, stood up from the left-cornered chair where she sat and faced Tedros with bulging eyes that looked like it was about to pop off its sockets, “Why did you even bother coming here?” She rubbed her temples in frustration and a glass of wine in her left hand, “Obviously, you don’t belong here, and most importantly, you’re definitely not the right fit for my daughter, I’ve said this countless times.”

Tedros just stood there bowing his head slightly, not uttering a word, to say the truth, he was already getting used to even the slightest tantrums his in-laws would throw at him every day, so instead of replying, he would just bow slightly and not say anything to avoid trouble.

As if Hannah wasn’t satisfied, she kept on ranting, “You are clearly not husband material, he is!” She yelled and pointed at a young man. Tedros’ eyes trailed in her direction, and he noticed a man sipping wine carefully in a well-tailored gray suit. His hair was skillfully cut, probably by the best barber in town. His smile held elegance. He clinked glasses with Haley, flashed a smile, and they chatted like Tedros never even existed.

Not able to stand his presence, Tedros left his mother-in-law behind and walked towards them bitterly, his eyes never leaving Haley.

Tedros blinked his eyelids gently and stood in front of them for a while, but none of them noticed his presence until he cleared his throat, “Happy birthday, babe, i got you something to appreciate your presence in my life and the positivity it brought.” He said in one breath while his heart was banging loudly, he wanted to push the fear at the back of his mind since that was the least of his problems right now, but it was hard especially when his mother-in-law’s eyes were piercing through his scornfully, ready to judge even his slightest mistake.

Haley, on the other hand, already had the belief that Tedros wasn’t going to get her anything since he was only striving for himself, but she was shocked when his present appeared before her. She stared at the man standing opposite her then shifted her gaze to the present.

Mary, one of Haley’s rich cousins, groaned in frustration while clutching her Louis Vuitton bag to herself. She sat uneasily on the chair while rolling her eyes, “Open the damn package, let’s see what your pauper boyfriend afforded to buy for you.”

Haley nodded and sighed. She was delaying opening the present until Mary noticed and voiced out. She already guesses it would be below the gifts others got her and people would mock both of them.

Reluctantly, she opened the package and found a damp-looking bouquet of roses. A brown box was beside the flowers. She opened it to find a round silver ring with two tiny hearts on it and paper indicating, “Haley, will you marry me?”

Immediately Haley saw the note, she was dumbfounded. Her attention shifted back to Tedros who knelt on one knee, his eyes a little watery as he looked at her expectantly. She knew he was going to ask her to marry him, but not so soon.

Again, he repeated, “Haley, will you make me a happy man forever and marry me?” He breathed in and continued, “Without you in my life, I’m basically nothing.”