It was my birthday , I was really excited , as I made my way back home , I certainly would be getting a surprise from my family after all that's what the did the past years but something seemed different to me , I was feeling restless which was awkward , I was feeling as if something bad was about happening .
As I made my way to my home drawing closer to it , I saw cars lined up at the entrance to my house and men in suit who resembled bouncers standing beside them.
"Is my birthday going to be this big? that my dad called up rich personalities for it?" I asked myself
I made my way to my homes gate , trying to go in when I was stopped by those men, asking me of my identity and who I was looking for.
I told them whom I was and after the called up someone, I was then permitted to enter my home
"Wow! This is weird" I thought to myself
I made my way to the door, expecting to see people with bright smiles on there faces screaming and wishing me a Happy birthday.
But when I opened the door I freezed on seeing my parents on the floor asking pardon from a certain man.
I walked in trying to know what was wrong and why my parents who never bowed down to any one or let anyone look down on them was busy begging on the floor and also to see the man who was the cause of all that's happening.
I stepped in closing the door , trying to hold myself together as all attentions were fixed now on me.
"Hello Mr Daniel, how are you doing?" The man asked
"Am fine , thank you sir" I replied
"Ok then, I think you should join us " he requested
"Ok sir" I obliged
I walked to him reluctantly , and as I did I saw him clearly.
He was a young , good looking fine man in suites
He was chocolate I complexion from his body parts I could see , slim but in a sexy way .
He really looked good but had a cold look in his face , a look that showed he was a very dangerous man, a man no one can toil with.
"But what could my father be doing,with such a dangerous looking man?, And what could make him bend his knees begging a young man old enough to be his own son ?" I asked my self
As I got to where he was I was offered to seat down , which I did and after wards the begging continued .
Through out there conversation I was calm. Not because I wanted to, but because I was curious to know what was happening .
After all my silence , I still couldn't get out anything from all the were saying ,it was Asif the were just mumbling loudly, I got tired of the want for knowledge that I asked my father what the problem was.
"Son ,stay out of this , it's non of your business I will handle it" he answered me trying to avoid my question
Knowing who my father was , acknowledging he wouldn't tell me what it was , I slowly stood up from my chair and Drew a little bit closer to where the were until I could finally hear what the were discussing.
From my eavesdropping I gathered something's , information that clearly states that my father owed this man's father ,who was now late .
And my father after promising this man to pay up a year ago but hasn't payed and according to what I heard doesn't have the means to pay up any time soon.
I knew that this meant trouble for us , this could even lead to deaths in accordance to the man's treat , but I couldn't figure out what my father would use such large amount of money to do .
We were financially ok, we owned a chocolate company and even if it was to build the company, one thing I knew was that my father had enough money to rebuild the company.but the amount being mentioned by the man was too much .
After much deliberation within myself , I decided to ask my father about it , after all I am his first son and I had to know what was happening.
"Dad !" I called up to him trying to get his attention and find my way into there conversation.
"Dad!" I called again
" Son what is it ?, Don't disturb me am in the middle of a situation" he answered me nonchalantly.
"Dad I want to know what's happening , what all this and I huge sum of money? I requested to know .
"Didn't I say , stay out of this ?" He replied me with a question trying to go back to his conversation but was stopped by the man who asked him to give me the information which I wanted
The conversation between my dad and the man died down, immediately my father was asked to explain things to me .
It took a little time , until my dad began explaining things to me.
He told me of how young he was when he borrowed the money he was presently in debt for , he told me the reason why but I couldn't believe it.
That at a certain point in time my dad was a very poor man who could barely feed, my dad who seemed all classy
That a certain point in time he was an indebted gambler and a drug addict .
I really don't know my dad well.
He also explained that our company was built from the remains of the money .
If this was really true , then that the amount borrowed to my father must be more than I heard or expected.
In his explanation I got to know that the man's dad was late , this was the reason my dad didn't pay up , thinking it was all over and forgotten untill this Mr came along a year ago and crushed those believes.
"So the story has now come to an end and now my money must be paid " the man declared
I now knew the truth, I now knew my dad had no choice and that's why he borrowed the money but his only mistake was not paying up when he was able to , but we all are humans and we make mistakes.
I knew my dad didn't have any money in him and to get enough cash to pay up , that would be in years time .
Also seeing how serious and mean that man looked , I knew he was seriously going to kill us , if nothing was done or if no solution came up , so I decided to ask for an alternative.
"Sir , sorry I don't know your name, but I would like to know , if there is any alternative?" I asked fearfully
"Ooh my name, am called me Mason ray and in regards to the alternative , you would have to spare me a minute for that" he replied me
I excused him ,as he went away to his car to think I guessed .
My dad was sitting on the floor in a helpless state , I really knew how he felt, and maybe everything that was going through his mind
To be a father and still be the cause of your families problem must be a heartbreaking stuff.
Few minutes later, Mason walked back in , looking mean that he already was before he left , he sat down comfortably in one of the cushions , got comfortable before he spoke up.
"As for the alternative I have come up with a solution" he paused and looked at me and then he he continued ," and that alternative is you " he said pointing towards me
"Sorry , I don't understand what you mean sir , who ? What ? Why ?" I asked in a confused state
"Calm down , let me explain" he requested
"What I meant by you is , the alternative to your dad's debt is you being a slave to me for four years , being at my every Beck and call for a complete four years of your life" he explained
I was really left dumbstruck.
"What does he mean by four years of my life , does he know how long that is? So he wants me to agree to his demand of being a slave to him for good four years of my life ,Was he really serious?" I asked myself
I decided not to agree but first wanted to Know the consequences if I didn't agree to his demands and there and then he bluntly told me , it meant death for us all, and From what I saw he meant what he was saying.
I looked at family the looked like the were in misery , after much deliberation within me I announced my decision.
"I accept" I declared.
"Ok then, indeed you made the right decision , my lawyer would be here tomorrow evening with the legal documents , which you would have to sign" he said
"Ok sir, but please can I ask you for a favour?" I asked
"Ok , go on " he replied
"Please can the day I would start serving you be delayed for two weeks , due to graduation coming up" i requested
"Ok, but mind you don't try anything stupid and my lawyer would still be coming by tomorrow including my tailor , because I will be changing your clothings " he oblige my request.
"Thank you sir " i said to him as he walked away
After he left and I heard his cars zoom off , I picked up my stuff and went up to my room.
Later that evening , when I was still lost in thought on how and what my life was going to become like in the near future , I heard a knock on the door and my father's voice afterwards , asking if he could come in which I accepted.
He came in and sat beside me asking how I was doing , which I answered , we discussed for sometime and he thanked me for what I did for my family .
Soon my mum came in with teary eyes and she hugged me before she began apologizing for what had happened and what was yet to happen , it was an emotional moment , it was as if I was going away that day , the all left afterwards and then it was my sister's turn.
she cried like my mum, as she came i she hugged me in tears , I began consoling her after few minutes of talking she fell asleep on my bed , I waited on my brother to come but he didn't so I went to his room , I saw him sleeping and when I came close to him I saw tear marks on his cheeks , it really broke me , seems he couldn't come inside , I just pray he is fine when I go away and he is able to protect our sister and himself.
After sometime I left , went to my bed and slept oof after thinking how awful my 17th year birthday went .
As said by Mason , the next day the lawyers did come including his tailor , the all did what the came for and left , giving me Mason's number on his request before the went away.
Time went so fast and it was my graduation day , I didn't let my friends know where I was really going to, cause I just told them I was traveling outside for studies , this was after I knew I was traveling to South Africa and not staying in Nigeria after talking to Mason .I also got to know that Mason was a 27 years old south African based mafia boss , who took over his father's business at 23 after his father passed away , he was also into drug business which the police never knew due to his other many businesses that cleans up his cash.
After my graduation party , I was picked up by Mason's men , where I went to get a few stuffs of mine that weren't clothings because he said I didn't need them . After picking my stuff's ,getting emotional and saying farewell to my family farewell, I enter the car and left to the airport, where I met Mason . My documents were given to me for departure and when it was time we went off.
On the plane I felt different waves of emotion go through me.
Emotions of uncertainty, sadness and sorrow.
Joy seemed so far away , I knew not where I was going or what would happen to me , I just prayed I would be fine after this four years .
I hoped it would all be good when am done , as I thought about all this , I felt tears fall down my cheeks , I didn't mind cleaning them , after all it was the expression of my pain , I just allowed it flow as I soobed silently.