JOHN'S POV

A part of me felt pity for James and another part was giving in to less concern. I shifted comfortably on the chair wondering how James was ever hospitalized. He might have had cancer, I thought sheepishly. I shifted my head in confusion as the first ray of sunlight entered into my eye and I whispered silently. I stood up and adjusted the window blinds and the door knob shifted again to give a spotlight view of a stunning Eniola in a white gown.

"Good morning." Eniola greeted shly.

"Good morning Eni."I said smiling, letting go of the window blinds.

"Thank you for yesterday." Eniola said dropping a foodflask on my desk.

"I figured you might not have had breakfast." Eniola continued smiling.

"Oh yeah. Thank you." I said chuckling.

Eniola smiled once more and left. Throughout our brief conversation. I kept smiling like a fool. Eniola's smile was infectious like a deadly virus and I willingly caught it.In the past few days, I had grown a huge crush on Eniola. Anytime she speaks,i feel a tingling sensation in my belly.

I opened the foodflask which felt warm in my arms and to my utter disdain it was eba and ogbono soup. Why did it have to be ogbono soup? I hated ogbono soup so dearly but James desperately has a firm affection for it. I closed the flask shut and flopped back on my seat. How was I going to look for an excuse not to make her efforts look fruitless?

I swipped the flask under the desk and went into another round of deep thinking. Should I go and see James? I shifted my head with disapproval. He might probably go into coma. My thoughts were halted by the ringing of the phone in my pocket.

Why again?

The call log made me swallow my pride. Why did it have to be mother? Our last conversation was very brief since I was the one that did all the talking. I cleared my voice with my saliva sticking out of my tongue and received the call I dreaded picking up.

"Hello Mama." I said disguising my voice in the best way as possible.

"Hello my son. How have you been? It's been long since I spoke to you and the last time you hung up on me. I understand you are busy but try to check up on your mother." Mary said with concern.

"I am fine. I am very busy mama." I said hurriedly.

"I know you are always busy ,so I will come to the office to see you today. " Mary said laughing.

"No mama you can't do that." I said standing up.

"Why not?" Mary asked.

"Because that's bad work ethics. It's not right for you to just pop up in my workplace." I said lieing.

"So will you come home?" Mary said with an ecstatic voice.

"Of course. Goodbye Mama" I said hanging up the phone. " I said.

I buried my hands into my black thick hair. What is mama's problem? I knew I had no choice but to see her or else I might get exposed at the workplace and I will be on my second journey to prison.

I grunted internally. It would only last a moment, I locked my office doors to see Eniola staring at me quizzingly.

"I am going out to see someone. It would only take some minutes" I said reassuringly.

"Alright." Eniola said, going back to the huge textbook she was reading.

As I walked towards the car. I kept giving myself certain reasons why I shouldn't go. And reality kept slapping back that it was my only option. I roared the engine back to life in a hasty and angry manner.

The roads were very busy since it was just morning. I sped up to accelerate my movement and the banging of my heart against my chest. The journey didn't take up to thirty minutes as I stumbled on a less smooth road. I was almost home and I was at the peak of panicking.

An idea snuck up into my brain. What if I rolled up the windows and talked to her that way? She might not be able to figure out that I am not James.

A slim tall figure stood outside the gates waiting and expecting someone. I knew it was mama. She was already impatient. I steered the car slowly and I could see her place her hands over her head to notify me of her presence.

I stopped the car and she ran towards it. I sighed heavily. I kept a straight face knowing that it was my last resort.

"James, you came home. My son came home." Mary screamed in joy.

She was very close to the window and I shifted in my seats to avoid suspicion from her.

"Yes mama. It's me." I said hastily.

"I am so happy. Come out of the car. Let me hold you in my arms." Mary yelled banging the glass windows.

I knew I was entirely done for. The moment I open the door, Mama would freak out. I steadied myself in the car and took a huge breath.

"Mama I can't do that. I have to get back to work." I yelled.

"It's just for a moment. Should I cook for you?" Mary smiled.

My stomach grumbled in excitement. I was starving but this wasn't the right location for me to eat or dine in happiness. I placed a hand on my brows. I thought of driving off, but it might hurt mama's feelings. If I stayed, I might end up being the one hurt.

"James please come out. I just want to see you. It's being three months since I last saw my son. If there's anything I did to annoy you.Please forgive me." Mary pleaded.

That statement made me to raise a brow. James hadn't talked to mama in the last three months and she was ready to apologize for anything. Mama never apologized for anything that she did to me. My anger caught up with me as I faced mama squarely with a furious face.

"Mama I said I am busy. Why can't you understand that?" I said yelling.

Mama looked at me in a way that seemed like shock. Only then did I realize that I was looking at her eyeball to eyeball. Mama looked like someone that had been electrocuted. She dipped her face closer into the window and by reflex, I shifted my head backwards. Mama's face changed completely to a frown and her mouth opened in amazement

"John?"

Which mother won't know her son?