FATED BOND

Daisy’s POV

I stumbled upon Stanley on my way out of campus. He seems to be waiting for someone. He was in blue sleeves and shorts. He was looking more handsome than I knew him to be. He grinned widely the moment he saw me.

“Are you waiting for someone?” I asked him.

“Yeah. You?.”

“Me? How? How did you know I will be done with my lectures by 3 pm today?”

“I am Stanley. I know things.”

“Really?” I folded my arms around my bosom.

“Yep. Do you mind if I give you a ride”, he asked.

“I don’t mind”, I replied and went over before he could open the door for me. The way Stanley was acting all gentlemanly was surprising and hilarious. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s funny?”

“Nothing.” I smiled.

“Ok. So how have you been?” He pulled out of the parking lot.

“Been great. I forgot to get Eric’s number from you the last time.” I quickly brought it up before it escape my mind again.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Eric? Why do you need his number?” He questioned with a furrowed brow.

“To reach Maria and….” I wanted to say Damien but quickly shut my mind. I didn’t want him to know there was something between Damien and me, or to even think something transpired between us.

“Maria and who?”

“Just Maria,” I answered and pasted a fake smile on my face.

There was no way I would tell him I have a daughter for Damien. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him. I didn’t know what his reaction would be but I couldn’t tell him. I didn’t feel like telling him. There was no reason for him to know. Not that I wasn’t proud to be a young mother of my little princess. Her father doesn’t even know about her. I saw no reason why he should get to know from outsiders. I ought to be the one to inform him about his child.

“I don’t have Eric’s number”, he announced.

“What? But you told me you have it.”

“Did I?”

“Of course, you did.”

“I didn’t even realize I did. I lost his new contact.”

“You have the old one?”

“Yeah, but it’s no longer in use.”

I felt sad at that announcement. I had waited for a week to see Stanley just so I could get Eric’s number. I wanted to hear from Maria and also from Damien. I wanted to tell him he has a child. I didn’t know how he would feel about it, whether bad or good but I felt he needed to know. He deserves to know. I wasn’t sure if he would believe me but I felt it was my responsibility to tell him, no matter how long.

I almost cried when I realized that hope was dashed. There was no way I could contact him. He might never get to know of his child’s existence till the end of time. We might never get to see each other again. And that thought makes my heart irk. I thought our child would bring us together but I was wrong.

If he doesn’t know about her, he will never think of me. What if he knows about her and doesn’t accept her or if he accepts her but doesn’t accept me as his partner? I ask myself.

I felt my heart torn into pieces at that thought. It was evident that I haven’t gotten over Damien totally. I was in love with someone I can never be with.

“I thought you had his contact. I want to talk to my friend, we haven’t talked in years and I miss her a lot”, I told him.

“I thought as much. But I heard they broke up.” He announced again.

“What?”

“Yeah. Eric and Maria broke up right after high school. She left for England without informing him.”

“Oh, My God!” My hands were on my mouth. “They were so in love.”

“Yeah.”

“In love and compatible.”

“Yeah.”

“Eric was really heartbroken but I guess he must have moved on already.”

“Yeah. I wonder how Maria is now.”

“I never liked her, you know?”

“Why?”

“She was too lousy and crazy.”

“You are crazy too. My best friend isn’t lousy. Even if she is, I love her that way.”

“Obviously”, he said and swirled the car down the road. “So any response yet?”

“Response? What response?”

“About our date.”

“Stanley. I am not interested please.”

“Come on. I promised you already that I will behave well and I won’t…”

“I’m not interested in any form of relationship, Stanley”, I cut him up.

“With me?”

“Not only you. Anyone”, I replied.

“What? At this age of yours? What happened?”

“Nothing happened”, I scowled at him as he chuckled. “It’s just a decision I took a few weeks ago and I’m sticking to it ”

“Ok.” He nodded and went silent.

We were almost home before he spoke up again. “You broke up with your boyfriend already?”

“Yeah. Caught him cheating.”

“That’s bad.”

“Yeah. That’s what you all do.”

“Not everyone”, he placed his left hand on his chest and grinned at me, with his right hand still on the steering wheel. “I believe I am unique.”

“Unique my ass.”

“Yeah. Your pretty ass”, he retorted and I slapped him on his shoulder.

“Shut up.” He laughed.

“You’re still young, Daisy.”

“I know.”

“So if you don’t want to go out with me on a date, can we go out as friends? That wouldn’t hurt, you know?”

“No.”

“Please.” He pleaded with a babyface, holding his hands together like someone who was praying.

“Don’t get us killed, Stanley”, I warned.

“You need to reply to me first.”

“What a manipulator? Alright, I’ll think about it.”

“Really?” His hands were now back on the wheels with a mischievous grin on his face.

“Really.”

“Ok, here we are”, he pulled over in front of the house and I saw Nina entering the house.

“Is that who you stay with?” He asked and I nodded. “Your mom?” I nodded again and alighted from his car. He came out of his car too.

“Thanks for the ride, Stanley. I really appreciate it.”

“The pleasure is all mine. I can decide to be your chauffeur, you know?” He laughed.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I began to walk to the door.

“I’ll give you a call in 2 days to hear your response, so please give me your number”, he said and ran after me. I didn’t want him to enter so I quickly turned back and input my number on his phone before waving him goodbye.

I got into the house to meet Nadia and Ellah in the living room. Ellah had stopped going to the neighbor’s house, ever since we discovered her health issue. Nina forbade it and said we needed to keep a close eye on her, at all times.

“Mommy”, she ran towards me.

“Hello, baby.” I picked her up and threw her up. She giggled and I pulled out the chocolates I bought for her from the school cafeteria.

“Thank you, mommy.”

“Watch the way you give her chocolates, Daisy. She is still a child. Ignore the fact that she is obsessed with it.” Nina came into the living room, with her laptop. She wasn’t looking bright like she was looking earlier that morning and I wondered what happened.

“Mom, good afternoon.” I greeted.

“How was your day?” She asked.

“Mine was fine. How was yours?”

“It was good.”

“You sure? You don’t look too bright.” I muttered.

She looked up at me. “When did you become a psychologist?”

I smiled. “I know you in and out.”

“I’m fine, honestly.”

“Nadia”, I called and she looked up from the hair she was braiding. She was braiding Ellah’s hair.

She seemed too quiet the past few days too and I wondered what was wrong with her.

We chat a lot but due to school stress, we don’t chat often, like we used to and I know something is wrong with her. I need to talk to her in private, I thought to myself.

“Did you see Mom this morning before she went out? She was looking beautiful and sweet. And here she is looking dull.”

Nadia smiled and continued what she was doing.

“Aren’t you going to comment?”

“Maybe she’s tired.”

“Really? Mom, are you tired ?” I asked her.

“Maybe.” She replied nonchalantly, as she typed away on the laptop.

I sighed and gave up. Then I turned to Nadia. “I’ll help you in the kitchen today, Nadia since I’m back early today.”

“I’ll appreciate that”, she grinned.

“That will give us enough time to chat. It’s been a long time since we last chatted and I miss doing that.”

She replied. “Me too, Daisy. But I understand it’s school.”

“Yeah. Let me go change my dress. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

“Alright, mommy”, Ellah answered instead and we all laughed, except Nina. I guess she was in a bad mood.

Going to Danny’s place didn’t end well, I guessed.

It was really a bad idea. She was supposed to give him enough space to process all that happened. To process the fact that her baby father was back and he was unable to propose to her as he intended. I know he would still be angry and it will be very easy to pour out his anger and frustration on her.

I took the stairs up and went to my room. I found a strapless dress and pulled it over my head after dumping the dress I wore to school. I went into the bathroom and looked at my face before stepping out. I opened one of my little boxes to bring out a hanky that I can use to tie my hair since I was going to the kitchen. I was used to doing that right from home.

Immediately I opened the box, I saw a novel. It was upside down so I turned it to view the front cover. It was one of the erotic books Maria gave me. I realized just how much I missed Maria. I really wished there was a way to contact her and tell her about all that has happened and also to know what has happened to her over the years. I really hoped she was fine and doing great. I took the novel and the hanky before closing the box back. I threw the novel to the bed, to read it later, before going back downstairs.

“What the hell are you doing here, again?” I could hear the anger in Nina’s voice.

I stopped in my tracks on the staircase and watched Amar’s face. Ellah was in his arms already and she had her head rested on his chest. I wondered why Ellah liked him that much. He didn’t say anything but took a seat beside Nadia, who stood up immediately.

I wanted to turn back too and excuse them but I knew it won’t end well, just like the day before. Nina was provoked, so there was no way she would listen to Amar.

“Leave my house this minute.” She ordered and I quickly stepped in.

“Come on, mom. Mr. Amar should always be welcome here.”

She turned back to face me with the furious look still on her face. “Don’t interfere, Daisy”

“I will.” I stood my ground.

“Really?”

“Yes. Don’t pour your anger on any one of us, mom.” I didn’t know where the courage came from and the moment the words came out, I regretted it.

She tapped her feet on the ground as she watched me intensely.

“Good”, she whispered and picked up her laptop before taking the stairs up to her room. I felt guilty and bad for talking to her that way.

Amar stared at me and I shrugged.