*EPISODE 19*
{MY SOULMATE}
Ken was driving Eric to the airport when he suddenly realized that he cannot watch Eric go far away from him. He quickly parked the car at the corner of the road.
“What’s wrong?. Why did you suddenly stopped the car?.” Eric asked Ken who kept hitting his forehead on the steering. “Ken, what’s wrong?.” Eric asked totally confused.
“I can’t do this Eric.” Ken said raising his head.
“You can’t do what?.” Eric asked totally confused.
“I can’t watch my son get ruined. I won’t forgive myself if I let you get away from me. I’ve remained Vanessa’s driver for the past 25 years just to be close to you. I really can’t watch her take you away from me. I have to tell you the truth now.” Ken said looking steadily at Eric who was completely lost, Confused and curioused.
“What truth are you talking about?.” Eric asked.
“Have you ever wondered why your mom has been all worked up and anxious over your grandma’s visitation?.” Ken asked.
“Yeah. I really do not understand why she’s been acting up eversince she heard of grandma’s coming. What’s actually going on?.” Eric asked with curiosity written all over his face.
“She’s all worked up and restless because your grandma is coming to reveal the whole truth to everyone.” Ken said.
“There he goes again. What truth are you talking about?. Does Mom have some hideous and dark secrets that I don’t know of?.” Eric asked.
“Far from that my son. Your mom just wants to hide your true identity from the Ogbuefi family.” Ken revealed.
“What about my identity?. Look Ken. If you don’t have reasonable things to say to me, you better start this car.” Eric said.
“Check the Storage compartment before you. You will see a small brown envelope.” Ken said.
Eric reluctantly opened the Glove/storage compartment of the car and brought out a brown envelope like Ken had instructed.
“What do I do with this?.” Eric asked.
“Open it and go through the test result inside of it. I believe you are learned enough to understand what’s written on it.” Ken said looking away.
“Hmmmmmmmmm.” Eric sighed.
He opened the brown envelope and brought out the D.N.A test result slip that was inside it.
Going through the result, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He shut his eyes and opened them again but nothing changed.
“K…k…Ken. Wh…a.t…what’s the meaning of this?.” Eric asked totally confused.
“I believe you aren’t dumb and gullible not to have known that, that’s a D.N.A test result.” Ken said.
“That’s what’s confusing me Ken. I know quite well that this is a D.N.A test result cause it’s written here. But what I don’t understand is why my name and your name is in here. Why is there a 99.9 percent match?. What in God’s name is going on here?.” Eric asked totally losing his mind.
“That’s the truth your mom has hidden for the past 25 years Eric. The truth that she wouldn’t want your grandma to reveal to the Ogbuefi’s family. The very truth that I have kept to myself for the past 25 years. The truth that will change everything about you Eric. That truth is what is currently in your hands.” Ken said.
At this point, Eric’s head was literally filled with so many questions and confussion.
“What’s going on?. This is not true right?. This is a dream right?.” Eric asked with tears gathering in his eyes and pains in his heart.
“Eric I’m truly sorry for letting you find out about the truth this way. I was satisfied watching you grow into your current self. Even though there was nothing I could do for you as a father. Although at times, when I saw you around Chris, I got jealous and envious that I began to consider spilling everything. But I couldn’t do it because I knew how much you love Chris. And I knew how much he loves you too. Seeing how he has never for once made you feel or notice that he hates your mother. I’ve seen him endured so many things just because he wanted you to feel loved and accepted. I remembered the day he cancelled his business trip just because he had promised to go watch you perform during one of your interschool competitions. I saw how you gained courage immediately you saw him cheering you. I saw how happy you were with him. And that’s why I remained mute and maintained my position as a driver even when I had other job opportunities. I never wanted to be away from you. I was patiently waiting for the perfect time to tell you this. But I guess this is that perfect time.” Ken said.
“So, you want me to believe that you are my biological father?. How?. How did it happen?. Why would mom keep such a thing from me?.” Eric asked with tears dropping from his eyes.
Ken had no option but to tell Eric everything that had happened and how he came into existence. The entire story broke Eric’s heart so much that he didn’t know how to react anymore. He quickly picked his phone and dialed his mother’s number.
“Hello son. I hope you arrived safely at the airport?.” She asked as soon as she picked the call.
“Mom?.” Eric called with his voice shaking. He was praying and hoping that his mother would prove Ken wrong. He just wanted to hear that he was truly Chris’s son.
“What is it son?. And why is your voice like that?. Are you crying?.” Vanessa asked.
“Yes mom.” Eric responded.
“Why?. Did something happened?.” Vanessa asked totally curioused.
“Mom, is it true?.” Eric asked.
“What are you talking about?.” Vanessa asked with her heart beating.
“Is It true that I’m not daddy’s biological son?.” Eric asked.
This unexpected question pierced Vanessa’s heart so much that she almost had a heart attack. It was like her fears had finally caught up with her. She didn’t know what to say to Eric as her brain became void.
“Mom you are silent.” Eric said covering his mouth in disbelief and tears.
“Did your grandma say these words to you?.” Vanessa asked thinking it was Agnes who had already told Eric about his true identity.
“That does not answer my question mom. I need you to tell me the truth. The whole truth mom. Who is my biological father?.” Eric asked.
“Son, can we talk about this when you’ve landed safely?. I promise to tell you everything you wish to know. But for now, you have to leave.” Vanessa said not knowing what to say.
“I’m sorry Mom. I’m not leaving this country. I also would like to hear the remaining truth that grandma has to say. Cause right now, I’m tired of living in lies.” Eric said.
“I’m sorry son. No one will be hearing what she has to say. She put me into this mess and it’s only right if I drag her into her own mess. All you have to do is leave the country while I handle the rest.” Vanessa said and ended the call.
Eric couldn’t help but broke into tears. Ken was speechless that he didn’t know how to console Eric. He just looked away and silently shed tears.
After a while, Eric picked his phone and dialed Janice’s number.
“And what do you want from me?. Haven’t I told you that I’m no longer interested?.” Janice shouted at once as soon as she picked his call.
“Hi Janice.” Eric said in a calm and sorrowful tone.
Janice who had known him for long, noticed that something was wrong.
“Are you okay?. Why do you sound so dull?.” Janice asked completely curioused.
“I’m not Janice. I think these are the type of situations that makes us discover who our true friends are. I really want to run into your arms and embrace you right now. Maybe that would ease my pains.” Eric said forcing a smile.
“Why are you sounding this way?. Is everything okay at home?.” Janice asked in a calm tone.
“No Janice. Everything is about to get messy at home. So many truth are being revealed lately that I’m beginning to doubt if I’m actually 25 years and if my name is actually Eric like my birth certificate says.” Eric said after which, he scoffed.
“What exactly is the problem Eric?. Where are you?.” Janice asked completely worried about him.
Cause she has never heard such depressing words from him. She used to think that Eric’s life was perfect. But her new discovery proved her wrong.
“I’m on my way to the airport to pick my grandma who has an interesting and heart wrecking story to tell my family.” Eric said.
“You are confusing me Eric. What’s going on?.” Janice pressed on.
“Janice, would you have agreed to get engaged to me if you met me as a son of a driver?.” Eric asked and Ken looked at him in pains.
“Eric, you of all people knows how less concerned I am about a man’s status or class when it comes to love. I don’t care about material things. As long as he truly loves me, then I’m okay with him.” Janice said.
“That explains why you fell for Collins right?.” Eric asked.
“Collins and I are just friends. He hasn’t said anything to me yet.” Janice said.
“You know I’m the last person you can lie to right?. I’ve seen how you looked at him. How you smiled at him and the way you care deeply about him. He may also be trying so hard to fight his emotions. But love is like pregnancy. Cause it can never be hidden for too long. I’m sorry for pushing you into the hands of another man. I was told that love doesn’t matter. That what matters is the family you are getting married into and what they have to offer. But when Collins came into the picture, I suddenly felt jealous. It was then I realized how much I had fallen for you. And right now, I miss you coming to the office to piss me off. I miss all your disturbances and small fights. Back then, I used to think that you were just over dramatic. But now I know those where your own way of demonstrating love. You wanted me to return the energy. But I was too busy and proud to understand what you were saying.” Eric said.
“What’s with you Eric?. Why do you sound like someone who is about to die?.” Janice asked feeling scared and anxious.
“If my death can bring things back to the way they were, I would have given up my life Janice. The truth is, I don’t want to end up like my mom. I don’t want to pursue love where there is none. I will accept my fate and move on. And I hope you do thesame. And as for Collins, I just pray he would be able to forgive me when he finally recovers.” Eric said.
“Recover?. Who is recovering?. I don’t understand. What happened to Collins?.” Janice asked with her heart beat racing.
“Haven’t you heard about his condition?.” Eric asked in disbelief.
“What condition?. I tried calling him to wish him well in his first day at work this morning. But his number wasn’t going through. So I thought maybe he was trying to avoid getting distracted at work today. I was actually planning to pay him a visit after work hours this evening. What’s going on?. Did anything bad happened to Collins?.” Janice asked.
“I’m sorry Janice. Collins is currently in a coma as we speak.” Eric revealed feeling guilty and sad.
“What?. Tell me this is one of your jokes Eric.” Janice said not believing his words.
“Go to the Lord is good hospital and ask of Collins Ogbuefi.” Eric said.
“Ogbuefi?.” Janice asked totally confused.
“Yeah. Cause he is from Ogbuefi’s household.” Eric said after which he ended the call.
“Why didn’t you tell her about yourself?.” Ken asked.
“Because she’s no longer interested in me. Can we go to the airport now?.” Eric asked looking at Ken who sat upright and started the car engine.
They got to the airport and patiently waited for Madam Agnes’s arrival. She finally arrived at exactly 12:30 pm. Meanwhile, Eric had already contacted her telling her where their car was parked.
So when she arrived, she called Eric to inform him that she was already at the airport heading towards their location.
“I think it’s best I go help her carry her luggages to this place.” Eric said to ken.
“Alright then. I will be here waiting.” Ken said sitting back in the car.
When Eric finally saw madam Agnes, he waved at her and was about getting close to her when he noticed a vehicle coming towards her direction.
Eric quickly ran over to where she stood and pushed her out of the way with full force. Thinking the car was trying to hit her but the next thing he heard was a gun shot. After which, the driver speedily drove away.
Ken heard the gun shot and ran to where Eric and madam Agnes were. But to his greatest surprise, he met Eric in the pool of his own blood gasping for breath.
Vanessa the evil that you do will come after you