Emma
I rushed past the short bamboo gate that was wide open into the old bungalow building, my heart racing as I imagined all kinds of things that would have happened to my grandma.
"Emma, you are here" Grace, the one who had informed me about Grandma's situation, was the first to welcome me. I didn't have time to greet back as I just wanted to see my grandma. To know what happened to her, to know if she had taken her medications.
However, Emma stopped me, her usual gummy smile spread across her face but it didn't look like she was excited, it was more of a nervous laughter while she scratched her nape, still obstructing me from going in.
"Grace, why are you standing in my way?" I questioned, totally confused by her actions.
She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "Fine, I will tell you why grandma fainted, I need to tell you now so you don't bring it up to grandma now that she's awake" Grace cleared her throat. I had understood what she said, but what could be so serious to make grandma faint and then hiding what she knew from her was a must.
"First is that your boss? He doesn't look like your team leader's boyfriend, this one looks more expensive" Grace had totally changed the subject which annoyed me, however, I couldn't help but trail her gaze to meet Liam who was behind me, leaning on his red sports car. It was understandable how Grace thought he was my boss, Liam's dressing, and his car could only be owned by someone loaded with a massive money in their account, everything about Liam screamed money, from the strand of his hair to his well-polished designer shoe.
I shifted my gaze back to my high school friend who was drooling over the man behind me. Her moves on flirting with Liam with her eyes made my skin crawl.
"Excuse me Grace" I pulled her attention back to me.
"I will tell you, grandma is okay now, just introduce me to-" \
" I'm Liam" The voice resounded from behind as he approached me, a small smile pasted on his face, while his right hand stretched forward for a shake and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his introduction.
"You can return to work, I will give you a proper tour tomorrow" I turned to him and said but he shook his head slightly.
"I will take you home" His voice was so stern I had to turn to Grace to see if I was the only one that noticed it but with her wide eyes that stared at me, I was certainly she also heard it.
"Okay, I'll get straight to the point" Grace informed while her expression became a little gloomy.
"Emma, your dad came back. He asked Granny for your number, but she refused. In response, he stole Grandma's savings and pushed her, causing her to hit her head and fall unconscious"
My heart ripped apart. That man came here and he hurt my grandmother, his own mother. There was no doubt that he had lost it. He has gone from abusing me and stealing my savings to his old mother.
"But grandma doesn't want you to find out" Grace finished and I nodded. It wasn't surprising. She knew about my trauma and my fear for my father, it had been a year since I saw him if I should show up to his face, he would kill me.
But it hurts, I can't do anything for Grandma, she has refused to move out of here, and I fear my father will one day meet me here, that would be my death day.
"Can I go in now?" I questioned Grace who nodded and stepped aside for me to go in. I rushed without realizing the driver at my back was still trailing behind me.
"Grandma!" I exclaimed the minute I saw my grandmother in her rocking chair, a worn-out book in her hands which she immediately dropped at the sound of my voice.
"Emma, what are you doing here?" Grandma could barely speak, her voice was hoarse, it seemed as though the words were hooked in her throat and she was trying to force them out.
My heart tightened as I didn't fail to notice how dry she had become. She had brain cancer, she was diagnosed of it three months ago and we had been saving up for her surgery but that man had stolen everything.
I hugged her and ignored her question which earned me a smack on my back the minute I wrapped my arm around her. I couldn't help but wince at the sharp pain and pull away from the hug.
"You stubborn girl, don't you have work? you even brought your boss here," She pointed at Liam behind me.
"I apologize on behalf of my granddaughter, please do not be offended, you can take her back" Grandmother stated, pushing me away from her. It did hurt how easy it was for her to chase me back, we had not seen for two weeks now, yet she wanted me out so soon.
"No ma'am, I'm actually her junior" Liam stated with a nervous chuckled.
"That's worse, did you bring your junior here to put him in trouble? leave now" Grandma pointed at the door.
I knew grandma was chasing me because she feared I could lose my job and also she didn't want me to see her in this state. She had been that way since I was little, everything she has done for me since I was born, the yelling, the little smacks, affection, she did everything because she cared for me. But I couldn't help but get a little annoyed by her pushing me away.
"Fine" I sprang to my feet.
"I will return to work but don't forget to take your drugs and I will be back to spend the weekend with you" I stated, and she scanned my face before nodding in agreement before she shifted her gaze to Liam behind me.
"Have I seen you before, son? You look familiar, have you ever lived around here"
At grandmother's word, I turned to Liam who shook his head slightly. It's impossible for one like him to live in the countryside, besides if he did, I would have known him, everyone knows everyone in this small area.
"I live in the city ma'am" He responded politely and grandmother nodded before she continued to shoo me away, eventually after another hour of grandmother packing local foods for us, we began to make our way out of my grandmother's compound.
The moment between us was silent until we both got into his car. Liam was the first to break the silence as he spilled a question I never expected from him.
"Does your father still hit you?"
His question struck a core within me. Aside from the people in the area and Charles, no one knew about my father abusing me but Liam…
Since we met I felt something odd about him, he was mysterious and charming but the mystery of this man somehow made me itchy, it made me feel like I was forgetting something important, like I should be concerned about what he was hiding from me
So I couldn't help but ask,
"Who are you, Liam?"