On a bright Friday afternoon, Eva received a phone call from home. Her father had returned from one of his business trips…
"Would you like me to come with you?" Sade asked, with a look of concern for her friend. "Did they say what the emergency was?"
"I'm sure I'll be fine, Sade. Thanks. They didn't say what it was but I guess I'll have to go find out."
"When do you leave?"
"In a few minutes…"
"And when will you return?"
"I wish I could answer all your questions but I can't, babe. I'll call you as soon as I can when I arrive home." Eva assured her.
Feeling uneasy about the unknown, she struggled to make sense of what the emergency could mean.
Is dad in trouble? Did Mack do something silly? Did someone die at all? What could it be?
These were the thoughts that consumed her being as she sat in the ride back home.
As they arrived, her anxiety and curiosity piqued. She just wanted it to be over.
"Welcome home!" Mack said to her while welcoming her into a deep, warm embrace.
Okay…maybe it isn't bad news after all.
She concluded based on the excitement oozing from her brother.
"Where's mom and dad?"
"They await you inside. Come on!" He said, holding her hand as they walked. "Take my sister's luggage inside, Patrick!" He ordered the chauffeur.
"Can you please tell me what this is about, Mack? I'm dying in curiosity. You gotta help me out here." She persuaded.
"I think it'd be best if you heard it from our parents. But…bear in mind that it's not that serious." He assured.
Pfft. Not that serious indeed, yet I was asked to return home like it's some life emergency.
She thought.
"Here comes our baby girl!" Her father said in delight as he stood up to hug her.
"Oh, father!" She said while hugging him tightly.
"I see…your father's the only one who gets all the love…" A jealous mother interrupted.
"Don't be like that mother." She laughed as she disengaged her dad, "You know you'll always be my number one." She hugged her tightly as well.
The entire room was filled with laughter and happiness. It was good to be back home. It felt great to her.
She was eventually served lunch to help her relax after the 4-hours trip.
Amidst the blissful engagements going on, Eva still felt amiss. Why wasn't anyone saying anything to her?
…
"Mom, Dad?" She stared at them from across the table, anticipating…
Frustrated, and not getting any feedback in return, she spoke directly. "Why have I been summoned home?"
Both parents looked at each other. Eva felt it was a mischievous look.
"Omg! Don't tell me you just wanted me back home cause you missed me?!" She said, wearing a look of surprise.
"And if it were the case?" Her mother shot back, clearly taking her unseriously.
"Dad!" Eva shot her dad a look of anger, seeking an immediate clarity to her mother's insinuation…
With a heavy sigh, Mr. Thomas Beckhams joined in to save the day…
"There is no emergency, Eva. We're sorry. It is true that we missed you, but there's an important event coming up this weekend and it'd be great to have the whole family there."
Eva plastered her head in her hand. She couldn't believe her family, but there was nothing she could do. Although she could attempt returning back to school, but…it didn't matter now, did it?
"What event is it?" She finally asked.
"Your cousin, Dominic, is getting married. I've made arrangements for our trip tomorrow morning, so please get your things in order so we don't miss out on our flight." He answered.
"Why are you leaving out where we're flying to?" She said irritably.
"I thought you knew?"
"Knew what?" She blasted, "As much as I hate to say this, I'm really mad at you and mom for tricking me like this. I'm in school for crying out loud! Did you even bother to think about my lectures? Or if I had projects to work on or something?"
"I understand your frustration, and it's valid. As foolish as we may have acted, we didn't think doing this over the weekend would affect your studies, honey."
"That's my decision to make, not yours." She said, throwing looks at her mother too, a gesture made to apportion blame.
"Will you forgive us? I mean, it's fine if you wish to return to school… You don't have to come with us."
"What's the point? I'm already here, tied down deceptively into your web of trickery." She said, "I'm going to bed."
"We're flying to Paris!" He said loudly so she could hear him while she climbed the stairs to her room.
Mr. and Mrs. Beckhams glanced at each other in confusion.
"Something isn't right with our daughter." Mr. Beckhams pointed out.
"That's quite an observation, my dear. I feel the same way." Mrs. Beckhams agreed, taking a step back, she said— "Maybe I should go talk to her."
"Perhaps you should, honey." He urged her on and kissed her.
Knock knock…
No response.
Knock knock…
Still no response.
Well, I suppose I'll take my chances and just barge in.
She thought.
"Mom!" Eva cried out.
"I'm sorry, honey, I just want to talk to you."
Lost for words, she nodded in approval.
Her mother sat beside her on the bed, caressing her daughter's hand gently.
"What's wrong, Eva? You're acting kinda off today. Go on, please talk to me." She persuaded.
"Nothing's wrong, mom. I'm just exhausted."
"Is it school? Is it wearing you out?"
Eva hesitated. She wasn't sure about sharing her feelings with her mother, but she knew she needed a friend now, more than ever.
"Yes…that, and…other things." She finally opened up.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really, but I'm having boy troubles in school, mom. Philian won't let me be. He's been chasing me and trying to get me to take him back but I just can't. And then there's this friend of his that likes me and I think I like him too, but I seem to think that I like Dunsin more, mom!" She spilled it all out without holding back.
Her mother sat there, looking amazed and thinking about what she could possibly say to her daughter.
"Who's Dunsin?"
"Oh! He's a Junior, but that's okay. We like each other and he's kind to me. He's really sweet, mom."
"Uhm, Eva…I suppose you've made your choice already. Dunsin seems to be the one you desire more."
"No, mom, it's not that simple!" Eva interjected, "The other guy, Benjamin…I'm just getting to know him and I can't deny that I like him too. My feelings for him are starting to grow stronger." She clarified.
"My sweet child, I'm sorry you're going through all of this. It is difficult sometimes to deal with matters of the heart. Your dad and I had our struggles as well before we finally settled down together." She paused, continuing, "I think you should take things easy and see how it goes. The more time you spend with each of them, your heart will eventually decide…" she finished, smiling.
"Thank you, mom. I mean, thank you for listening to me. I feel a lot better now." She said, adjusting on her bed, "And I'm sorry about my earlier outburst. I didn't mean to. It's just that I'm overwhelmed by everything."
"You don't have to be sorry about anything, Eva. Your father and I totally understand you. We messed up, and we apologize for that. Plus, it would really be nice to have you come with us on that trip."
"Fine, I will. I'll pack up a few things tonight." She assured her mother.
"Great! Love you, baby." Her mother said, exiting the room…