I’m Vengeance - S01 E04

2 years ago

I’m Vengeance - S01 E04

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 4

Just as Desmond promised, he visited from time to time while I engaged myself more in studies and my business to help me in school.

It was a week to my final exams and I got a call from my dad that my younger one was involved in an accident. I was in the shop when the call came in, I quickly closed the shop and rushed down to the hospital she was taken to but it was only a dislocation she had.

I checked the time and saw I had a lecture to attend since it was nothing serious but my dad asked to drop me off. I just accepted and got into his car and he drove off, on the way I noticed he was looking at me as if he wanted having a conversation with me but that was none of my business. I can’t remember the last time I had a conversation with him apart from the day he came to my house, so I just kept looking through the window and he cleared his throat,

“I heard your exams is next week, right? he asked and I nodded.

“Good, and I also heard there’s this small boy you’re seeing, he said and I looked at him.

“Where are you hearing all these from? I asked.

“Is it true? He asked back and I smiled.

“What makes him a small boy? Is maturity by age? I asked.

“Are you asking me that? What will you be doing with a boy you’re older than? Its like you dating your younger brother, he replied and I smirked and looked back outside.

“You have to stop seeing him and start thinking about yourself, you’ll soon be 29 and you’re still playing around at your age, He continued and I looked at him again.

“Really dad? I wonder why you’re so concerned about me now, last I checked I was your good for nothing child, I said.

“Joan……. “Don’t Joan me! The person you are stopping me from seeing is the reason why I am still in school when I wanted dropping out. He saw just a little light in me and held on to it, he helped me get back on my feet again and believed in myself. But what did you do? All my life I had nothing from you than hurtful words telling me how good for nothing I am. When your wife took me as a slave for her kids when your kids are studying and relaxing did you care? When I will overwork my self and sleep late at night and be the first to wake up to serve your kids and end up dozing in class, did you care? When I was put in a public school while your kids are in the best private schools, and when I return from school she puts a rubber filled with minerals and bread buns for me to hawk until evening, did you care? And when I couldn’t meet up with your precious children when I had no chance to read, you humiliated me, took away my self esteem and all I have ever heard is your voice in my head telling me I am nothing but a failure even when I strived to be better. Whatever fling you had with my late mother which made you almost got separated with your fiance then, it was not enough my mom died after giving birth to me, you punished me also and made me an outcast! Sometimes i do keep my ears on your children door admiring the way they speak queens English, but where was Joan?! I shouted and my father had to park the car immediately.

“Joan please……. “Good bye papa and thanks for the ride, I said and left the car immediately cleaning my tears as I stopped a cab.

I got to the school and Precious quickly saw my mood,

“Wetin come happen again? She asked.

“Nothing, is like my dad is monitoring me because I don’t understand how he is able to know about Desmond, I replied.

“Desmond? Ahhhh he knows him? She asked.

“He heard, looks like someone is giving him information about me, I replied and cleaned my face.

“He’s asking you to stop seeing him? She asked.

“Yes o, he said I should start thinking about myself and stop playing around, I replied.

“But he made sense na, she said and I angrily looked at her.

“Hiannn wetin i Talk? Abi Desmond go marry you? She asked.

“For once Precious mind your damn business! I shouted on her and left……….

I finally dropped the biro on my final paper, even though it was not really the final because I had carry covers to write, but I was glad I went that far. My dad called me up that morning before I left to school inviting me to come home after the exams which I accepted, and after the celebration from my course mate I reached home.

Surprisingly they organized a house party for me and I just smiled, even though 2 of my younger ones were already graduate, I felt there was no need for that.

‘Congratulations my daughter, I heard my dad said and I nodded.

“Thank you, I said not interested with all they did.

“Congratulations big Sis, I heard my younger ones shouted hugging me and in my mind I was like “so I was a big sis all this while?”. When I want to remember all I went through in my siblings hands, the insults and everything, so they can call me big sis today?? I thought and also told them thank you still smiling sheepishly.

“Go ahead and cut the cake its yours, my dad told me and I looked at the cake and shook my head.

“Its not yet my birthday, I told him.

“Its next week sis I know and there will be a cake for you on that day also, my sister said smiling and I giggled.

“Oh its interesting to know you all knows my birthday, I said laughing and they bowed their head.

“There’s no need for this, yes it may be my final exams but I still have exams to write o, let Me tell you all now, Joan has a heap of carryovers to still write, don’t forget your sister is a blockhead. So thanks for this but i am very tired and I want to rest. Most importantly, my birthday is not next week, its long past thank you, I said taking my bag, and before anyone could say anything I was already at the door hitting home.

I got home and had a long talk on phone with Desmond and told him what happened. He was not happy I was pushing away my family when they are trying their best to come close to me,

“Truth is I don’t even know where to start to be close to them when we lived like strangers. Okay just imagine, they think my birthday is next week meaning they don’t even know when I was born because they never celebrated my birthday, I told him.

“Honey I understand but its over now, just forgive them and take them back remember they are family, He said and I rubbed my face.

“Seriously it will be hard and I hold nothing against them but I’ll try okay, I said.

“That’s my baby, Desmond said and I laughed………..

The next day i saw my dad at my door and heaved. I opened up greeting him and he came in,

“Guess you were passing by again right? I asked him.

“Joan, am not here for a fight. I heard what you told me the other day in the car and how you behaved with your siblings yesterday. Okay I apologize, I was wrong and am sorry, we are still family don’t forget that, he said as I sat down folding my arms looking at him.

“Sometimes family is not necessarily by blood but where you’re accepted, i told him.

“Blood is thicker than water Joan, we may have wronged you in the past but am sorry. I am sorry Joan, I did all I did back then because I wronged my wife by cheating on your mother then, I wanted to make her happy and was so stupid to turn a blind eye to all she did punishing you for my mistake. But all what I did to make her happy and to forgive me she still ran away with another man after so many years, but am sorry Joan, let’s be family again, my dad said and I can’t believe it was my father apologizing to me. I saw that weakness in his voice and knew he meant it. He truly loved his ex wife and was a mugu to her, sometimes I still wonder how he got in bed with my mother when he was so into his ex wife, but whatever happened he’s still my father.

I slowly stood up from where I sat and got him water to drink and he took it from me,

“When last did you go to the hospital? I asked him after he drank the water because i noticed he wasn’t too well.

“Last week, my sugar level is high again, he replied and I heaved.

“Are you not following the meals and the drugs prescribed to you? I asked.

“Joan I am religiously taking them but the sugar keeps rising, I don’t know if your younger ones are still putting all that seasoning in my food. That’s why I want to make things right because I’m getting weak, he replied and I held his hand.

“Nothing will happen to you okay, stop saying that. I don’t have a problem with any of you, its just difficult for me to cope or feel among now but don’t worry I’ve heard you, I told him.

“Thank you, thank you Joan. Your siblings are waiting to talk to you, he said.

“Okay papa, tell them I’ll be there in the evening, I said and he smiled.

“I’ll be waiting then, let me be going, its time for my medication, he said getting up.

“Okay let me see you off, I said and followed him outside.

I went over to the house that evening as i promised and my dad used that opportunity to talk to us as a family. He preached on the necessity for us to be united as one, and in all what he said I noticed the message was likely like a parting one and it got me more confused.

“Papa I don’t understand, you’re talking as if you’re dying tomorrow or is there anything am missing out? I cut in.

“Joan, no one knows tomorrow, but I feel I should do this because its necessary. In case death comes tomorrow I won’t worry because my house is in order, all I want now is you all to be at peace, he replied and coughed and turned to my younger ones.

“Joan remains your elder sister and I want that respect for her to start now. I understand you all were groomed to see her as an outsider but you all are matured now to know what’s good and bad. Joan is your blood and your most senior, treat her as one and be as a family, my dad continued and it was as if i was in the clouds. My belle was sweeting me where I sat and heard my juniors apologizing one after the other to me………….

Few months later Desmond returned back fully. Hey God if happiness was a person it will be me. I already prepared his best meal to celebrate him and he slept over at my place, the next morning I woke up and saw him smiling at me and I kept my head on his chest,

“I miss this, I told him.

“Yea me too, look at your hand, he said and I looked at it and saw a ring,

“What! I screamed sitting up and he held me,

“I was scared to ask you directly Joan, I know I just returned from the camp and am that small boy that has nothing to offer to you but I have one thing, my dreams to make it and make you happy. Let’s start small babe and I promise you, we wont be here forever. We will have our own house well furnished, we’ll travel round the world and make beautiful babies, are you ready to sail that path with me? Desmond romantically asked.

“Look at you, come here baby, you know its a yes, I replied hugging him laughing happily.

“You’ll inform your people about us right? I asked him.

“You know am an orphan Joan and ermmm…. Am not close to my family but it doesn’t matter, he replied.

“It doesn’t matter? But they have to be there at our wedding, I said.

“The only people important are my late parents and my sponsor, but since they are not alive I don’t care about the rest and I don’t want them to be there. Besides it will be something simple, just a private one that will contain your family and close friends, and us, that’s better right? Stop spending money on what does not matter when we have a home to build, he said tickling me and I didn’t want to go further with the discussion……

My dad health was gradually deteriorating, so I visited him the next day and also used the opportunity to tell him I said yes to Desmond proposal.

“But he just returned from the camp, he doesn’t even have a job, my dad said.

“It doesn’t matter dad we can manage, we’ll grow together, I told him.

“Are you really sure about this? He asked.

“Dad I’m happy with Desmond and am very sure I know what am getting myself into, I replied and he heaved.

“Joan there’s something you need to know, your late mom was older than me, my dad said and my eyes bulged out……….