Leonard kept on trekking with home as the destination in mind, the apartment he shares with his college friend. Or to be precise, the apartment his friend let him live in without him adding almost anything to the house rent. As he trekked, he thought about the threatening words the man said to him, 'If you don't give me my money next week, lots of things you wouldn't expect would happen'.
He might have to die, why? 'cause there was no money. His bank account was almost empty of money, his wallet was always empty of real cash. He had been trying his best in the gambling houses for this week to win a large amount of money, but to no avail. Anytime he manages to win something, it's always a token amount. Then he'll end up betting those token amounts and lose them again.
What would he have done if not for his college friend? He might have died by now. His friend always tips him with money, he lives in his apartment for free. Though it's not completely free 'cause Leonard does assist with the house rent anytime he gets lucky in the betting houses. But that doesn't change the fact that his college friend had and was still playing an important role in his life.
And though it does show sometimes that Leonard was a bit of a burden to him, he always treats him well. And Leonard has plans of rewarding his friend big time if things go well for him in the future. As for his brother and mother, he had taken it like they had neglected him 'cause of his gambling habit.
Some people stared at him as he trekked. They were staring at him 'cause he wasn't putting on clothing, and he was barefooted....no shoes on. But for sure, they didn't take him as a mad man. He kept sauntering until he arrived at the two-storey building where the apartment he shares with his college friend was located. Then he began mounting the staircase, their apartment was on the first floor of the edifice.
Arriving on the first floor, he began strolling to the door of their apartment. Reaching the door before theirs, he heard a sound he was always used to hearing...moaning sounds. Yeah, most of the time, he hears moaning sounds of different ladies anytime he passes the front of this apartment. He knew the guy that was occupying the apartment, but they don't talk for reasons best known to them.
The only explanation for this was that the guy was banging different ladies. Who knows, he could be telling all of them the same thing, 'I love you, you are the only girl I love and have sex with'. He was a player...what a life. Leonard just shook his head as he kept sauntering until he arrived at the door of their apartment.
Looking at the knob of the door, he could tell that someone was in, most likely, his college friend. He turned the knob of the door, opened it, and stepped foot into the apartment. Entering the apartment and reaching the parlor, the person he set eyes on was his friend eating dinner and watching television. His friend didn't need to take his eyes off the TV program he was watching to know that it was Leonard that entered.
Chewing and swallowing the food in his mouth, he uttered,
"Leonard, you back". He hadn't even glanced at Leonard to know that he wasn't wearing clothe and he was barefooted.
"Yeah, am back". Leonard responded with a tired and bit of frustrated voice.
It was 'cause of the tone of voice that Leonard used in replying him that made him take his eyes off the program he was watching and stared at Leonard. The moment his gaze landed on Leonard, he inquired,
"What happened to your outfit? And where are your shoes?"
"Men, it's a long story". Leonard retorted.
"It happened as a result of gambling, right?". His friend questioned, he had already discerned the main cause of his loss of shoes and outfit...he knew Leonard too well.
Leonard hesitated for some seconds before retorting, "Yeah. A hefty guy lent me money to win back the money I lost, but I lost his too. So he forcefully collected my shirt and shoes and told me he was gonna sell them to make back the money he lent me".
His friend sighed and inquired, "When are you gonna stop this gambling of yours?".
"Not anytime soon, don't worry, when I win a large amount of money large enough to settle all the people I am owing. If the money remains, you gonna be the first person I'll reward. I promise".
"OK, I've heard you and I trust your words. But you still need to strive to stop your gambling habit".
"OK, I'll try to stop". A total lie.
Then his friend told him something about what he does for a living and what he has passion for.
"Remember I told you that I'm gonna be DJing at a club party where lots of upcoming artistes are gonna be present there".
"Yeah, I remember". Leonard retorted.
"It went well, the party went well from its beginning to its climax. I was able to make everyone dance. And 'cause of how good I DJ'ed, seems like my DJing is gonna move to a higher level. I might get the chance to meet with blown up artistes". His friend explained, he said this with so much excitement on his face. By now, you should have discerned what he does for a living and what he has passion for...he was a DJ.
Leonard shook hands with him and uttered, "I'm so happy for you bro". And truly, he was happy for him.
Then he voiced out once again, "This food you're eating, is it remaining?".
"Yeah, it's remaining in the kitchen. I wouldn't just cook for myself when I know you'll be coming back soon".
"Thanks, bro, what would I do without you". Leonard said with a smile on his face as he dashed into the kitchen.
He dished his part of the food into a plate and joined his friend in the parlor as they ate and watched TV together. After they were done eating, they watched TV for some minutes more before putting it off. Then they chatted before going to sleep.
*********
The next day, Leonard woke up at the time of 7:30 am, then he went about in search of his friend, but he couldn't find him. He wasn't surprised by it though, his friend was used to leaving the house very early, he was a busy guy. He wasn't like him that lazies about gambling.
Leonard dashed into the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and took his bath before coming out of the bathroom. Then he dried himself and dressed up. He ate something light for breakfast before departing from the apartment. You should have guessed where he was heading to...the gambling house.
He was determined to win something today, he was determined to win some cash. But he wasn't heading to the gambling house he went to yesterday, he was heading to the other one along that same boulevard. He arrived at the gambling house, and 'cause he was a regular customer there, they recognized him immediately,
"Leonard is here, it's time to win some cash from him". One of the men uttered, yeah, they knew that he was always losing.
But Leonard didn't say anything, all he knew was that he was determined to win some cash today. He got into the main deal immediately as he started playing card game with the man that teased him. And 'cause of the effort and focus he put into the game, he won. He won both the money he betted and the man's money altogether.
That gave him more confidence as he engaged in more gambling games with other men. He won some, and he lost some, but the win was higher than the lost, his pocket wasn't empty of money...today was his lucky day. He spent a lot of time in the gambling house as it was evening already getting close to complete nighttime. His pocket was filled with money, he wasn't determined for nothing, with this in mind, he left the gambling house.
He was used to trekking home, he hates wasting money on taxis or other public transports...he doesn't even have much, to begin with. Getting to a certain street that was a bit silent and wasn't that filled with people, a car stopped in front of him as two men came out of the car and tried dragging him into it. He tried fighting back, but one of the men punched him seriously on the stomach...that was enough to weaken him, then they dragged him into the car.
Entering the car, he immediately noticed one of the men he was owing, holy shit! Those men that dragged him into the car were his bodyguards. One of the bodyguards put the car in motion, where were they taking him to? He had no idea. He was expecting the man to say something to him, but he said nothing. They drove in silence for some minutes until they arrived at a silent area, then the guard stopped the car as the other guard pushed him out of the car and pointed a pistol at him.
Now, Leonard was terrified, seems like they had plans of killing him. Their boss came out of the car and walked to the spot where Leonard was standing. He then smiled and voiced out,
"Leonard, it's been a long time, I think I've given you enough time. Now, where is my money?".
Leonard knew that the money in his pocket wasn't even up to quarter of the amount he was owing the man, but he brought it out and gave it to the man...it was better to give him something than nothing at all.
"That is all I have". Leonard uttered.
The man counted the money and voiced out, "Are you kidding me? You are owing me up to two thousand dollars, and this is what you are giving me? Not even up to hundred dollars?".
"I'm trying my best to make more money". Leonard asserted.
Then suddenly, BANG!!
Sound of gunshot echoed, one of the man's bodyguards mistakenly shot Leonard in the chest. Leonard glanced at his chest to see bullet penetration and bloodstains around that area.
'I wouldn't die, it's just one bullet'. He thought to himself, but no, he was dying.
He knelt, then fell to the ground, his vision had become blurry, he couldn't see the man and his bodyguards clearly. He heard the man question the bodyguard that shot him in a loud tone of voice,
"WHY DID YOU SHOOT HIM?".
"I didn't shoot him on purpose, sir. It was a mistake". The bodyguard retorted with a bit of trembling voice.
"WHO IS GONNA PAY ME MY FUCKING MONEY NOW?".
..Then darkness...Leonard had kicked the bucket.