Chapter 76

GORIOLA ADAMS

"Jade, please I'm trying to have a good conversation. That was so mean." I tried not to sound pissed because I needed us to discuss, so I just ignored it. I really didn't know why she had the dark spectacles on. The place was a bit cool, and dark. I wondered if she was seeing me at all.

Then she raised her head. Opened the bottle of water that was brought for her. She drank out of it, closed it back, and finally had my time by looking straight at me. "I'm sorry about that. So how have you been?"

Okay. Jade had always been the kind of girl who look you right in the face with boldness, and a lot of attitude. She was still that girl. Trying to play cool didn't really fit her. Now, she was looking at my direction, while I acted a bit composed hoping I looked good because I couldn't really tell what she was looking at. Either my face, or nose, mouth, chest or whatever. There was just this aura around her that made her look different, and could intimidate a guy who doesn't have the same boldness as her. I looked back at her. "It's okay. I've been pretty good. So I'm still gonna say what I had in mind when you walked in hoping you won't give me a savage reply this time."

She made that kind of reaction of...guy don't waste time, and just get to the point. I got it. She came prepared, but I would just be nice anyways, and pour out my mind.

"You...,,..I mean you look beautiful. I was kinda jealous when you smiled to that guy knowing you came here to torture me, and I might not be getting any smile."

She played with the head of the bottle on the table, and smiled, then chuckled not too loud. But of course, she was looking away from me to tell me...boy, that wasn't for you. But then, I was glad I saw her beautiful smile again. She looked matured, and more beautiful than she was back then. "Thanks for the compliment." She looked at me, but her smile was gone. She looked down beside her, dipping her hand inside her bag, and brought out a photo album which I immediately recognized. She pushed it to me while I stayed silent as her two hands clutch on the spectacles on her face revealing what I had been dieing to worship with my gaze. She dropped it, and her eyes met me. I knew I was hypnotised.

I couldn't look away. If I had gone ahead and do what came to my mind to those eyes, I would not just be receiving a slap, but more than that. Yea. The thought was that bad, cause I felt like grabbing those eyes, and just set them on fire with my kisses.

But then, I just had to swallow my saliva. The way they looked at me made me had trouble sitting down with the sudden bulge I felt. No, I didn't plan for that. Not even the other girl's touch could make this local man have a hard on. But her eyes, they lifted what she could never have imagine. Ahhh... Gori concentrate mhen! Hold yourself, and and try not to make her angry. Yea! That was the goal of the meeting. To discuss. But then, I didn't like how she suddenly became broken. If she was supposed to cry at that moment, she must have fought so hard because they didn't fall.

She sensed I was staring at her, and went ahead to grab the album she pushed to me. She opened it, and a picture of a little baby wrapped in a white material stared back at me. I looked up at her, but then, she stopped fighting as a tear slowly rolled down her face. "I came for you, but I couldn't find you." She began in a slow voice as another tear rolled down her lovely cheek that deserve to be embraced with kisses, and not tears.

Her left index finger wiped her tears away as she continued. "Three weeks after, I realized I was pregnant. You didn't give me the pill, and I just didn't know anything at all. It was the beginning of a bad experience for me. I didn't know what to do. I was just so unfortunate to realize on the first day I was to start my waec exam. I slept off in the hall. Can you imagine that!" She made a laughter mixed with pain, shame, and regret. Her eyes were immediately soaked with tears again.

"The principal looked me right in the eye and told me I was pregnant. Not only was I afraid, I was scared! Scared if it was really true, but then, it was true I was actually carrying a child that belongs to someone who talked down on me! Who said I was just like every other girl! Who insulted me, and threw it right into my face that I was cheap after he had gotten what he wanted! Gori, you got what you wanted, and said all that to me that day. Do you know how I felt? I felt like a bad girl who has committed the most outrageous sin in this world." Her eyes were raised at me unable to hide her expression which clearly told me she was undeniably angry at me.

But she wasn't done. "You never even liked me! You once said I was annoying, lousy, I talk too much, I act like a sick person, and when I thought we were starting to become cool, and you kissed me that day, thinking you were

starting to like me back, and I fell for it without any thought. Only for you to hurt me with those words because I never wanted you to be that guy again. Because my heart wouldn't want you to go through another pain again. But instead, you threw everything to my face, and because of you, I went through a lot." She was starting to cry again, but I didn't stop her. Her heart was full, and I felt she wasn't done at all.

"My mom shouted at me, screamed at me, hit me hard! I became the latest gossip for my friends, and walked around with my head down because of the shame that consumed me. Being in that labour room was hard for me as a sixteen year old girl. My life was delayed but you got everything going for you. You were doing well, while I lived in shame, and struggled to become a better person just to have my life positioned again because I didn't like how I was seen back then! And thinking about everything when I saw you again... I'm mad at you! I'm so mad at you Gori! But then, you didn't know and that's why I'm here. I feel a lot better now." She stopped and covered her teary eyes.

I couldn't believe my ears. I felt so miserable for making her go through all that. She confessed everything with so much pain in her heart. Her tears made my heart so heavy, and I felt bad knowing I was the cause of it all. I've been

an asshole, and a bad guy, but I really don't want to hurt people anymore. The people have come to cherish, and admire always end up being hurt by my mistake, and just the thought of that, the incident of how my reckless, foolish mistake made me lose my one and only best friend came to my mind. I couldn't let that happen again. At that moment, I knew this girl meant a lot to me, and I want her at every cost.

Jade removed her hands, and her tears were gone. She drank out of her water again, and spoke up. "She is the girl you saw with me that day. Her name is Arabella. She's six years old. Very smart for her age. I always wonder if you are that smart cause I know I'm not."

I managed to chuckle, and I caught her stare. "I was, before I became very playful and naughty. I stopped being a serious student the moment I entered jss1."

She cleared her throat, and coughed. "Thank God it's a girl this time."

I laughed, and I felt relaxed a little. "Thank you, and I'm sorry." I muttered. She looked up at me. "For what?"

"For opening up to me. For gracing my life with your presence. For giving me this chance to have a talk with you.

For fighting so much for Arabella. And I'm sorry, for hurting you. For making you go through all you went through.

For not being there for you. For being an asshole, and your biggest mistake. For---"

She gave me that sweet smile, and this time, she was looking at me. "It's okay. I'm glad you pushed me you wanna talk, and showed a little effort." She closed the album, and drew it closer to her putting it in her bag. I wanted to ask her if I could hold it to check the whole pictures, but she was already standing on her feet.

"Leaving so quick?" I sprang up to my feet. It was just only an hour.

"Yea! Thanks for having me." She stretched a card at me. "That's my home address. I will let my parents know about this meeting in case you wanna come over and see her as the Mr. President's son she met in her school for now until I explain things to her." She put me under condition, but I was glad she actually gave me a chance.

"Will I see you when I come?" As much as I want to see my daughter, I was ready to come the next day if I was going to see her.

She shook her head. "No. I'm going back to school tomorrow cause my exam starts on Monday," she replied. I realized I didn't even know anything about her now. I thought she should have been done with school by now, but then, not everyone is that lucky. And there was no way I could ask any question about her because she was ready to leave. She stretched the card at me again, and I collected it immediately this time. I decided to try my luck still, hoping I could persuade her. "Can we just talk a little for some minutes, and I can just drop you home."

"I'm sorry, no." She shook her head. "Only came here to talk about Bella, and I'm done with that. I have to leave now. And one more thing..." She brought her right index finger up at me. "I don't welcome calls when I write exams. Whatever you and my parents talked about, they will let me know. I'm fine with things staying that way.

Thanks for the water." She picked it up, and instantly turned her back on me, as she slowly made her way out of the restaurant without looking back at me. I just stood there as heavy breath escaped out of my lungs, and I wondered what to do next. It was obvious she didn't want anything to do with me.

"She still likes you." That voice calmed me a little cause I trust his words. "If she could show up today, then you can have her completely if you try harder. I caught her stared at you many times. She's a little bit scared of getting involve with you again. But mhen, this is the first time you've ever been so humble in your life!"

That made me chuckle a little, throwing a small slap on his chest. I knew I acted so different this time around. I had pleaded with Davery to make it down to the restaurant because I needed to know if Jade still likes me. I just didn't know how I could figure that out myself. If he said so, then I would just have to try harder.