As Edu's car pulled up to the grand entrance of his mansion, he felt a tumult of emotions raging within him. Anger, frustration, and a deep sense of betrayal coursed through his veins, fueled by the events of the evening. He could still hear Bassy's desperate cries echoing in his mind, haunting him with every step he took towards the imposing double doors.
Edu stormed into the house, his footsteps heavy with determination. His father awaited him in the music theater, a stern expression fixed on his face as Edu barged in, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"What was that all about, Dad?" Edu demanded, his voice laced with frustration. "Why did you prevent me from seeing her? You knew how important it was to me!"
His father glanced up from his desk, his demeanor cool and collected. "I'm not sure what you're referring to, son," he replied evenly, though a hint of tension lingered in his tone.
"Don't act oblivious, Dad!" Edu shot back, his tone sharp with defiance. "You know damn well who I'm talking about — Bassy! The girl I've been talking about for years!"
His father's facade wavered momentarily, a flicker of recognition crossing his features before he swiftly composed himself.
"Well, that's the first time I'm meeting her in person, so how do you expect me to know the exact person she was?"
"I've said it before, Edu. She's not suitable for you," his father stated firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Focus on the relationships that will benefit our family's reputation, not some sort of village girl. Aren't you ashamed of yourself to be panicking for that classless thing, a whole Edu?"
"But I love her, Dad!" Edu retorted, his voice tinged with rebellion. "I can't just forget about her, about us. It's really hard. I've tried several times, but it didn't work, and you know it."
His father's expression softened for a fleeting moment, a trace of sympathy in his eyes before it vanished, replaced by unwavering resolve. "That girl is not and can never be good for you," he spoke with a tone below whisper, trying to calm Edu who seemed to be raging even more.
"Dad!" Edu called out in a firmly calm tone. "If I get Bassy by my side, I'll turn her into an icon within a few months, and you know about that. She's the woman my heart longs for. Please let me amend my mistakes before it gets too late. I saw it in her eyes that she still loves me, and I'm pretty sure she'll forgive me. You know how this has been eating me up for the past years. Don't deprive me of my happiness, please father, I beg you." Edu clapped his hands together, speaking in a pleading tone. "I could feel it in my heart that the child she was carrying is my blood." Tears streamed down his eyes as a hint of what Bassy must have gone through to raise a child hit him, just like always. "Stop standing as a barrier and be helpful for once, please dad. I know you can help make things happen if you want to."
"The music label is the main problem here, not me," his father declared dismissively. "Think about what the media would say if they see you gushing over some regular, ugly-looking village girl who called out your real name after your consat. You're young and impulsive. You don't understand what's best for you, and that's the problem we are facing here," his father declared dismissively. "Trust me, you'll thank me one day for steering you away from a lifetime of regret."
As Edu retreated to his room, a sense of defiance burned within him. His father's words echoed in his mind. He couldn't stop imagining how Bassy had turned into something else within the years. She was looking so pale and almost unrecognizable. He couldn't help but question if his father was truly sending Bassy money on a monthly basis just like he claimed. Fantasy memories of him playing with Bassy's baby bump and fathering his son with passionate love flooded his memories. It was like his heart was beating at the back of his chest as he couldn't shake off the vivid memories of Bassy's appearance off his head. He couldn't stop dripping tears as a sigh of regret socked him in his inner turmoil. All through the night, it was like sleep had traveled a million miles away from his eyes as he could not catch a glance of a slumber.
He vowed to figure out a way of getting to Bassy if his father still insisted on his words with the consciousness that he can't remain in this bondage for the rest of his life.
As the first rays of dawn tiptoed through the curtains, Edu's phone started ringing. He quickly grabbed it since sleep was already far away from him all through the night. He had been patiently waiting for the break of dawn of the morning, not because of any special event, but he had always believed sorrow may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Well, that was his own personal belief.
Reaching out to his phone, which was on the nightstand, he was kind of amused to see Nathan's call on his phone that early as they haven't spoken for over a year perhaps. They didn't have that close relationship anymore, just like back then in the village community secondary school. His father made him completely cut off his relationships with literally everyone in the village ever since he traveled, but that's goodness he still had some of their contacts, that's for the ones that had a cell phone and contact number to exchange with him before he traveled.
"Hey, Nathan, what's up? It's been a while," frustration amid restlessness detracted all over Edu's tone.
"Hey, Edu! Long time, man. Yeah, it's been a while indeed," Nathan replied casually, though there was a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Listen, I heard some stuff last night, and I thought I should reach out to you for old time sake as a good friend, although you never remember to call me."
Edu's interest piqued. "What kind of stuff?"
"Well, you know how things spread like wildfire in our modern world now," Nathan began, carefully choosing his words. "I heard a rumor that you were seen with... well, let's just say, someone from the past."
Edu's heart skipped a beat, conscious of whom it could be. "Who did they say I was with?"
Nathan paused for effect before continuing, "The media didn't really mention the name of anyone, but they said your reaction to the unknown girl was worth questioning. She looked like your ex-girlfriend from back home." Nathan tried avoiding mentioning Bassy's name as if he's not aware that Bassy is in Abuja.
Edu's stomach churned as memories flooded back, both bitter and sweet. "That's impossible. I haven't seen her in years," he played along, acting like he doesn't know what Nathan is talking about.
"I know, I know," Nathan reassured him, though there was a trace of doubt in his voice. "But you know how these rumors go. People exaggerate things all the time. Listen, man, you know I've always had your back." Anytime, man. Just be careful, okay?" Nathan cautioned before changing his tone to teasing. "You know I'm still your friend. Oh, transfer me some bank gifts now, Edu, my long time no see friend."
"Okay, no problem, send me your bank account number, let me forward it to my accountant," Edu uttered, avoiding any further conversation before hanging up the call nicely.
As Edu hung up, a sense of unease settled over him even more than usual. He couldn't shake the feeling that Nathan was trying to manipulate him into staying away from Bassy. But for now, he had bigger issues to deal with than rumors, old flames, and the media. He sighed in disbelief, realizing that his father now had more reasons to hold him back from Bassy.