Meanwhile, when Talik got home and got into the sitting room, he met an unfamiliar sight. His father was seated in the living room with a magazine in his hands and a cup of coffee beside him. Talik walked behind the chair and greeted his father.
"Talik?"
He stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Therman. Talik had a frown on his face as he could feel the atmosphere in the place. It was as thick as bread and Talik wondered if a quarrel had happened between Therman and Lenecia. It was not something that was uncommon and Talik ended up being the one that would hear all the complaints about the issue afterwards. However, Talik silently hoped that wasn't the issue.
"Where were you?" Therman asked. He did not raise his head as his gaze was still fixed on the magazine that was in his hands.
"I went out with a friend…"
"A friend?"
"Yes…" Talik replied with his frown deepening. Now, there was almost a smile as his father didn't usually ask these kinds of questions.
"Who exactly?" Therman asked, now folding the magazine and setting it down on the table where the cup of coffee was. He had a stern look on his face as if he was angry about something. He had been there waiting for Talik to return from wherever he went to. Therman had a feeling in his guts and he needed his confusion cleared up. He needed to know if what he was worried about was in fact true. And if it was, there were things that needed to be put into place – things that Talik needed to know about.
"Is there a problem, Father?" Talik asked as he turned around to face his father properly, He had been close to the flight of stairs, but now, he stood with his hands in his pockets. He didn't like how Therman sounded and needed to put an end to the feeling that he had as well.
"Yes there is," Therman said. "Now, you will answer my question… who was this friend that you went out with? I hardly hear that you went out… only for you to meet with someone and suddenly you're going out…"
"Is there a problem with me going out?" Talik asked with a surprised expression on his face. "When has it become a crime? I'm not a child, Father... And I didn't think that I needed to remind you of that," Talik stated with a little annoyance lacing his voice.
"It's a crime when it's with the daughter of-" Therman spat but stopped midway. He took a long breath in with his eyes closed as he stood up from the chair.
Talik narrowed his eyes.
"Was it that girl from your office?" Therman asked again, not relenting. "What was her name again? Hanita Hill?"
Talik didn't respond and just kept looking at his father.
"Don't you dare ignore me, " Therman warned.
"What you are doing and saying is senseless to me…" Talik said with a scoff. "Honestly… make all this make sense to me please."
"Alright then…" Therman said. "I do not want you with that girl.
"What? Why?" Talik asked.
"You will do as I say, Talik… without questions." Therman wore his house slippers and left the sitting room. He was fuming and seething. There was no way that he would allow his son to become friends with the daughter of his enemies.
Talik laughed a little and shook his head.
'Y'all be running mad in this house,' he thought as he walked up the stairs to his room. He had things to do and things to think about. What his father said was quickly pushed to the back of his mind as Talik consciously decided that he won't allow it to ruin the great day that he'd had.
The next day came quickly and Talik woke up early so that he could plan with the pilot for the trip to North Carolina. As he got down and into the general living room, Talik met his father in the dining area.
"Good morning, Father…"
But Therman didn't say anything to him or even acknowledge his greeting.
"Good morning, Mother, " he said to Lenecia who was sitting on a chair that faced Therman.
Lenecia waved her hand and rolled her eyes at the same time. She shot him a side look that made Talik know that they had been talking about what had happened the previous day.
Talik had had enough. He walked out through the front door and went around to where his father had built apartments for their service staff.
"Good morning…" Talik said to the man that had dressed in his sharp pilot uniform and was about to head out.
"Morning, Talik, " the pilot replied. "I have just spoken to your father about the flight tomorrow…"
"Oh? What was his response?" Talik asked, unsure because of their encounter the previous night.
"He didn't say anything regarding the matter but…"
"But what? " Talik asked.
"I didn't tell him that you were going to be traveling with someone."
"Why?" Talik asked even though he was relieved to hear that, especially after what his father said to him about Hanita. He had a quizzical look on his face but there was a small smile as well.
"I didn't just see the need."
"Cool…" Talik said. "Is morning time okay, then?"
"It's one of the things that I would look into today… and see the time that would be alright for take off tomorrow," the pilot explained. "We'll handle the fueling and such today…"
"Call me then," Talik said.
The pilot nodded and they both shook hands and went their respective ways.
Talik walked back into the house. He had to admit that his father not speaking with him made him feel uneasy and uncomfortable. But there was no way that Talik could accept his father picking out his friends for him – especially without a valid reason. Therman didn't know Hanita from anywhere and it seemed that he already disliked her. That wasn't fair to Talik who had begun to develop feelings for the lady. So Talik wondered what his father would do when he heard that he planned to date and even go into a relationship with Hanita Hill.