Meantime, the three little rascals were in their mum's room. It's dark already and their mum was not yet back from work.
The two brothers were seated around their mum's study desk and were drawing, It was their innate abilities, just like Derrick with so many artistic tendencies. Their sister, Chioma on the other hand was seated on the bed thinking about their mum, "She was yet to get a boyfriend. What if I get her a boyfriend?"
Soon, a knock came on the door, snapping the kid's into excitement, "Mum is back finally!" That was their first thought. On a second thought, why would their mum knock on her own bedroom door?
The three of them gingerly stood up and padded barefoot to the door, Jame's twisted the door knob slowly, not knowing who it was that's knocking on their mum's bedroom door.
Once the door opened,
"Tadaaaah" Derrick said with the intention of surprising the kids as he raised the two packed plates of jollof rice and chicken that he was carrying.
The kid's were surprised indeed, although felt startled with fear when they first heard his "tadaah!"
Chioma's gloomy face brightened all of a sudden on his sight, and her brothers sleepy eyes lit up with activeness as they gawked at the plate of rice and chicken. John's stomach rumbled on the sight. They were hungry!
"Can I come in?, Derrick requested,
"Yea!" Jame's agreed excitedly.
As Derrick walked in, following the kids, he said, "I figured you guy's haven't had dinner so I thought of bringing you one myself!" As his words fell, he dropped the two plates of food on the desk.
Chioma then slumped to the bed disappointed, she had initially thought it was mum, although her face brightened when she first saw it was Derrick, it didn't last long.
"I don't want to eat anything until mum comes back home!" She said, somewhat with emotions. Low-key, she admired the fact that Derrick was caring and thoughtful enough to bring them dinner personally.
"He would treat mummy right" she discerned,
"We don't accept food from strangers!" Jame's noted.
Derrick was shocked these kids still saw him as strangers, "I thought we were friends already?"
"Even at that!" Jame's voice was firm,
"To be sure you didn't poison it, mix it up together and take a spoon and a bite each!" John added, although super hungry they were very cautious of the food they eat.
Derrick, upon understanding their plight did as he was told.
He then walked over to Chioma on the bed and sat beside her, "Don't worry. Your mum will be back home soon!" He assured her as he ruffled her hair, trying to comfort and persuade her to Atleast eat something.
Meantime, the two brothers were already devouring the food served on the plates.
Alas, Chioma joined her brothers after Derrick successfully pet and persuaded her to.
He stood up and glanced around, just by the pillow there was an art note. He leaned forward and picked it up and started to navigate from one page to the other. As an artist himself, he was utterly impressed that he asked, "Who drew this?"
"Jame's and John...." Chioma was quick to answer.
Derrick smiled with surprise as he watched the kid's continue devour their food.
Few minutes ago, he talked with their mum and he knew quite well how busy she was.... and since their talk was about the kids father, he felt a need to check up on them and finding out that they were yet to have dinner, he brought along something for them to eat. Although, he was certain marital bliss wouldn't play a part, he had love for children and this children rekindled it. The kids made him felt humane for the first time in decades now!
He then dropped the art book, completely flabbergasted about the genius gene of the kids. They were not only smart, they were good artist like him, they share a lot in common indeed, with a sigh he said, "I'll be going to my room. When your mum comes home, she will clear the desk! Goodnight!" With that he started towards the door.
"Thank you!" Chioma thanked from where she was seated at the instant Derrick twisted the door knob.
A bright smile appeared on Derrick's face when he heard that, subsequently he said, "You're welcome!" And then he left.
Soon, the kids all had their fills and drank a small bottle of water each. At exactly two minutes time sleep enveloped them.....
Meanwhile, Anamika was inside Derrick's bedroom, panicking as she paced forth and back. She had just found out she was pregnant, obviously for her secret lover because he was the only person she had been seeing as of recently.
Too many trouble for her. She had lost the military contract and now this? Why is fate being hard on her?
"Think..... com'on think... Think think... Mika think!" She bit her fingers as she mentally scrolled through the options she had.
"Abort it?"
She deliberated on that.
Then she suddenly snapped her fingers as a very smart cunning idea hit her like the rays of the sun.
She smiled diabolically........ indeed! Time to harsh!
With that plan intact, she headed straight down to the kitchen and prepared a juice for herself and one for Derrick.
She had just arrived with the glass of juice when Derrick retired back to his bedroom.
"Honey!" She called out to Derrick romantically as he removed his T-shirt exposing the eagle tattoo and scars on his back.
Anamika took few steps toward him and dropped the two glasses of juice on the desk beside where Derrick was standing, just before the mirror.
"How was your day?" Anamika asked in a concerned tone.
"Fine!" He responded firmly, clearly not interested in knowing about her day.
"Uhmm..... I figured you must be tired so I specially made you some blue juice. It's good for your body, especially after a long day. It was my dad's therapy after a long day. You should try it too!" As she said that, her hands fumbled around Derricks body in a seductive manner as if to turn him on.
"No, I'm good. I have had too much wine this evening. I just need to relax and rest!" Derrick refused and instantly, Anamika hastily stopped moving her hands around his body, subsequently, she withdrew to herself.
"Why do you treat me like a nobody? Do you have any idea the sweetness that was in my heart as I made this juice? You never want to accept anything from me. Now I know you have no soft spot for me and why you're yet to propose to me!" Anamika wept as she vented. Crocodile tears running down her cheeks already.
Derrick quickly grabbed for a polo shirt and wore it before turning to face her. Her sob's were too much to be ignored.
"I have grown to love you for over six years now. You promised to stand by me come rain, come sun. You promised to take responsibility for your action. You shattered and broke my life into shreds. No marriage proposal! Nothing at all!" Anamika continued sobbing.