30th chapter!!! I don't know why it's making me this happy 😂.
And we never near climax . It is well 🙂.

Anyways, enjoy 🥂.

Dedicated to Wemsoflight because she's my wife 😌💕✨.

°°°°°

Again, my gaze fell to her lips and-

❦︎

~[JASON]~

My fingers tapped on the steering wheel as I watched the red light count down from thirty. It was at nineteen and I willed it to start from the top all over again.

The General Hospital was just after the next junction, and to say the least, I was freaking out.

It was a whole internal battle debating whether to take the next U-turn or go ahead when the light turns green.

Promise me you'll cooperate, Chibuike.

Mom's grey eyes flashed in my mind, with the desperate need for assurance they bore. I could suddenly feel the way she had held my chin again.

The red light got to five, my fingers tightened on the wheel; my knuckles were even beginning to turn white.

For Mom, for my friends, I had said to myself at some point. But now, I had the strong urge to break that resolve.

The light turned green, road users were quick to rush ahead. Meanwhile, I took my time to breathe, ignoring the honking cars behind me.

I only pressed on the throttle when I sighted a Traffic Management Officer approaching. I was not about to spare him my cash for bribery.

It dawned on me that I was approaching the hospital when my eyes caught the huge, red and white building, the sculpture of a serpent wrapped around a rod proudly atop it.

"Jesus..." I muttered, licked my parched lips.

For Mom, for my friends. I decided that I'd keep repeating that. Else, I was sure as hell going to drive past that building.

It even felt like an achievement when I pulled into the parking lot. I tell you, I legit patted myself on the shoulder.

"Good." I breathed, rubbed my palms together, they had suddenly gone cold. "Here we go."

I killed the engine and literally rushed out the car before I could change my mind, almost made a sprint for the entrance. But I had to maintain my composure if I didn't want people to tag me as a lunatic.

You could say that the thought of what Mom would do to me if I didn't attend contributed to why I was making for the entrance with hurried steps.

The lady that was asked to show me to the damn therapist was smiling too much. Nevertheless, I tried to return it; although, I was sure that what I thought was a smile was just a grim line.

The door she had led me to was white, had a little metal sign with the professional's name inscribed in it.

"You can take some time to breathe." The lady had said to me, her bright smile still present on her face.

"Okay." I had simply told her. And then actually took the time to breathe.

On the other side of that door, I would sit down and actually talk about shit I preferred not to, to a total stranger at that.

Wait, who even came up with the idea of therapy? Must have been one hell of a nosy freak.

But I had promised Mom, I had made a resolve. So, I flung the door open and strolled in, with my still cold palms buried in my pocket. And as usual, I maintained a blank expression.

The so-called therapist didn't even flinch at my sudden entrance. He was going through some files, flipping through thin sheets with a slight frown.

I was tempted to spin on my heel and leave. Instead, I announced my presence with a subtle clear of my throat.

His head shot up, lips parted as he assessed me. And then he exhaled, shoved the files in what I assumed was a drawer and looked back up at me with a gentle smile.

"You're five minutes early, Mr. Ugonna." Was the first thing he said to to me.

I bit on my tongue to stop myself from dragging a hiss. But I asked, "is that a bad thing?"

"Oh, no." He shook his head, exhaled a short laugh. "Please, sit."

I obliged, let my back relax as I faced the dude. And I just had to wonder what that smile he had on was all about. Perhaps, smiling the whole day was part of their job description here.

"Tell me about yourself." He said to me, slightly leaned in and hoisted his elbows on the table. "Y'know, the basics."

"You know my name already." I started, then let out a low breath. "I'm a student," I gestured to my uniform on my body, "And I... um... isn't that enough?"

"For now, yes." He nodded, laughed. "You can call me Kenny."

"Hmm." I nodded alongside that hum.

I swear, I was about to scream. This shit was really going to last for one whole hour.

I just wanted to go home Mom's dinner. But she was going to give me a whipping with her spatula instead of food. So, I just had to bear with this man.

"So," he pushed a clear bowl across the table, the screeching irked me, made me clench my jaw, "chocolates?"

If he was some kind of monitoring spirit in the guise of a therapist or he just made a lucky choice to have chocolates in his office, I didn't know. But the two-hour session would definitely not be as gruesome with those.

"Yes, please." Of course, I maintained my composure as I picked a pack.

"Tell me more about yourself." His elbows were planted on the table again. "School life, interests, y'know?"

While I calculated a way to respond, I slowly chewed on the sticky goodness in my mouth. He could wait, afterall, he offered them.

"I attend Sage High, captain the basketball team too." Was all I replied him with.

"I know all that already." He said to me, leaned back on his seat, and that his smile was still on his face. "I follow The Nationals every year."

"Okay."

Really, how else was I supposed to reply to that?

"I see that you prefer to be closed off," his little smile had vanished, but his eyes still held the softness, "but I need you to understand that that helps neither me nor you."

Silence wrapped around us like a thick blanket, only our eyes communicated unsaid words; his was of a plea, and mine was that of consideration.

So, I breathed out, "What is it you want to know?"

His lips stretched in a satisfied smile as he propped his elbows on the table again. "Let's start simple. Tell me about the important people in your life."

"Well, my mom, because she's... well, my mother." I began, kissed my teeth. "I've got friends too, three of them, they're pretty interesting people."

He remained silent, his soft, brown eyes urging me to go on. His gaze, it was warm like Chris's, not from burning flames, no; but from the warmth of his aura. Somehow, my taut shoulders began to loosen.

I breathed a sigh. "I have a flair for photography too."

"Ouuu!" He cooed, bouncing on his seat. This full-grown man with defined muscles was bouncing on his seat like Tracy would.

That actually drew a chuckle out of me.

"So, tell me," he balanced his chin on his fist, expanding his grin as he stared at me intently, "what inspires you?"

"Inspire?" I cocked a brow at the man. "I simply like to capture beautiful things when I see them. You'd call that inspiration?"

"Yes nau." He laughed. "You're inspired by beauty, amongst other things."

"Hmm?" I squinted, tilted my head to properly face his eyes. "You're so certain."

"Wanting to capture beauty is being inspired by it." He casually shrugged, rebalanced his chin on his fist. "It's as simple as that."

Again, I hummed to myself, took a moment to ponder on his words. That was another way to put it.

Inspired by beauty...

I liked how that sounded in my head, and I couldn't fight that little smile that danced on my lips.

"You're a pretty boy." His voice had me lifting my gaze to his face again. "Your eyes remind me of a calm, rainy day."

"Um..." I cleared my throat, somewhat flustered. "Thanks?"

"And it's sad that our time is over." This man actually pouted, sniffed and wiped non-existent tears from underneath his eyes. "I'm eagerly anticipating tomorrow."

"Oh?" I glanced at the walk clock above his head, behind him. 4:15pm. "I better get going."

"See you tomorrow, pretty boy."

Why I was smiling, I didn't know. Because this man reminded me of Fidel, and that shouldn't have had a smile tugging at my lips.

As I relaxed on the driver's seat, I felt even more fulfilled than when I had parked here. So, I gave myself two pats on the shoulder this time. And despite myself, I admitted within me that the session was actually quite wholesome. I simply liked the man's vibe.

With a sigh, I made to push the start button of the car, but my phone buzzing with messages made my fingers pause midway.

I said a little prayer, hoping that all was well as I picked it up.

I couldn't hold it back, the long hiss I dragged. All the messages were from a WhatsApp group chat that Tracy had created for us only, named it The Gang with an array of weird emojis. And the supposed messages were actually photos of herself flaunting a new hair bonnet she had gotten.

An actual message finally came in, and it read,

I look bomb, but they're nothing compared to what I'm about to send.

I laughed to myself. What was she going to send next? Herself in her father's fila? Weirdly enough, I was actually waiting to see the so-called better photos.

About fifteen photos flew in the chat at once, I shook my head. Thanks to the fast WiFi, they loaded fast. And I found myself unable to inhale; actually, I seemed to have forgotten how to. My throat got dry just like that, and I realized that a lump had formed in my throat when I tried to swallow.

I was frozen, staring at my phone, sinking deeper and deeper in her eyes that were like honey; momentarily, I'd stupidly glance at her caramel lips and my stupid spine would shiver.

What is going on with me?

For the life of me, I could not even answer that question in my head.

[One of the photos. He has not even seen the real deal yet 🙂.]

The sun's rays had enhanced her golden undertones, made her skin shimmer. For someone weird reason, I visualized reaching out and pinching the tip of her nose.

What the fuck?

Again, my gaze fell to her lips and-

My phone's buzz shook me out of whatever that was. I sent a prayer of thanks to heaven because I was finally able to freaking breath.

I may or may not have taken some screenshots of her old insta photos. She hasn't posted for a while!!!

About thirty, if not even more, crying emojis accompanied that message. I was still in the middle of rolling my eyes when Chris's message came in.

Obviously, she has taken a break off social media, Tee. Her mother died.

Her mother died? Whe-

It hit me like a truck at that very moment. And low-key, just low-key, I felt stupid for not even seeing it before. I mean, not quite long ago, the internet was buzzing with the news of the death of Kevin Kanayo's wife, the same man that has turned out to be her father.

Well, damn...

And maybe that was why they moved from Abuja? I, for one, was sure that I'd go completely insane if I should remain in a city that reminded me of my dead mother. Heck, I would even relocate to the Amazon forest and live amongst the wildlife.

A simple 'oh' was all Tracy could reply with, which was expected. Because how were we even supposed to reply to that?

My stomach growling from emptiness reminded me that I should be on my way home, instead of reasoning Victoria Kanayo's life at the parking lot of a hospital.

So, I pressed the start button, the engine roared back to life. And I drove home to Mom's satisfied smile and a special dinner.

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A/N

👁️👄👁️

I don't know why I did that 🙂.

Jason is a certified mumu 😂💔. My guy doesn't know what's up yet sha 🙂.

I'll definitely return to edit this chapter tho, it's kinda tacky to me 🙂.

And guess who's POV it is in the next chapter. Whoever guesses right gets to visit me at Burna's mansion 😌✨. I'm already writing it and I'm having a blast!! 😂🥂

One more thing, if you're enjoying this book, please vote, comment, share, recommend to people! 😂😂

I trust you, you'll do that. Abi? 👀

Anyhoo, that's all 😌.

Remember that I love you! 😗💕
Stay safe! 💞✨