I looked at the woman with shaky eyes while fiddling with my fingers and I saw that she was not joking. Just then, she spoke again while looking straight at me.
"I like you and I want something desperately. We will talk about that later when you are settled but before then, you will have to come to my place for further discussions"
"I will be paying you 200,000 naira monthly, excluding the compensation fee you would get after the completion of the contract and also with complete feeding and a suitable accommodation. You will get to know about the contract when you come to my house" She said to me.
I was very happy to have that kind of smooth luck that fateful day, without care of what would come ahead..." But will it become a good luck, or a bad one?" Well, that would be a story for another day.
I didn't think much about the future, I was just too happy right at that time. I agreed with her and was told to go to her place the next day. She gave me 10,000 naira, which is not a little amount of money in Nigeria, just to pass the day and for transportation. And also, she gave me her home address.
I was so happy, but before I alighted from the car, she asked the quizzed question.
"My dear, please what's your name?"
That was when I recalled that, I had not told her my name and then I said to her.
"Auntie, my name is Haneul Ja St.gardens.
After telling her my full name, she just stared at me and asked me just a question or rather, told me.
"You are not a Nigerian, right?"
"Yyes auntie…" I stuttered.
"It's really interesting how you could bear the same name as my son! Alright, It's settled then!"
St.gardens looked at the beautiful woman and she couldn't say anything. She was a bit surprised. The woman noticed and then said.
"My dear, you don't need to feel that way. As you may have noticed, I'm Korean, just like you. But I'm here for business and I will be leaving with my son soon. If everything works out well, we could take you back with us"
St.gardens felt Happy to hear that. She had been looking for a way to return to South Korea.
"I'm Mrs. Cho Hei, from South Korea. My mansion is on the island, Victoria Garden City. You will be living with me there after everything is done"
She was so happy, knowing that she wasn't alone. Cho Hei hugged St.gardens before she alighted from the car and they left afterwards.
**********
After everything that was like a dream to St.gardens, she was finally at the woman's house. She was standing in front of a very big mansion on the island. It's a place for the wealthy. Victoria Garden City, is one of the best places to visit in Lagos, Nigeria. With beautiful structures, off lekki Ajah express way.
St.gardens was standing outside like a lost puppy, viewing everything on sight. She was appreciating God's favour upon the family and just right there and then, she pressed the doorbell, and through an intercom, someone answered. She was asked a few questions and then, the gate automatically opened afterwards.
Immediately St.gardens entered the mansion, she was lost in her own world. The mansion was very big and beautiful. Everything was sparkling and just by looking at it alone, one could tell that they were very expressive. Cho Hei was putting on a beautiful blue gown from a well known designer, with her legs crossed and was sipping her tea. She looked elegant.
"Welcome my dear! I'm so glad you could make it!"
"Hello eomeoni""And what's that, son?""What, mother?""Are you ok son? What's the matter?""I'm alright mother""No you're not! I know you too well!""Mother? Please, not today. I just want to go and rest now"Cho Ja Nathaniel was not ready for his mother's lecture, so he thought. He knew quite well what his mother was trying to say to him but he didn't want to give her the opportunity to continue. But sadly, that didn't work!"Are you trying to shut me up just because you know exactly what I want to say!"Cho Hei raised her voice a little. She wasn't happy with her son. Nathaniel rested his back on the car seat helplessly and listened obediently as his mother chewed him raw! He had no other choice because that was the only way to calm her down."I've told you too many times
Cho Hei did not know what to say to Nathaniel. After meeting St.gardens, she could not stop dreaming about her grandchild. And seeing her son getting strong headed, she wasn't happy at all."Enough with this argument! I don't have the strength for it today! I've already told you, the girl in question, is Korean and I will explain everything to you when you return home!""You don't need to bother yourself about anything. You just do your job and leave the rest to me!""What job mother?! I don't have the strength for that kind of job!""Yes you do, son! In fact, you must have that strength! And I will make it come to pass!""Mother!""Yes!"Nathaniel could not believe his mother. He never saw his mother more determined in his life before. It was really new. That was when he realized that, he would have to prepare himself for "the big night!
They both went to Cho Hei's study room and St.gardens was amazed again. The house was indeed a mansion, with every good thing in life."Come and sit with me my dear"Cho Hei said to St.gardens and St.gardens obeyed and sat beside her. She was tense at first but was later calmed down by Cho Hei's sweet voice. She gave St.gardens some snacks and started telling her about what she was supposed to do."St.gardens…?""Yes Auntie""The first thing you need to know is that, you are here to work for me and my son and nobody else, ok?""Yes Auntie""You see, I have a son, like I said before. His name is Cho Ja Nathaniel, you both bear the same name. He went to Korea for a business trip and will be back soon. He is 26 years old and he's still single. Nathaniel is my only child and he is a quiet person that doesn't talk too much, but is very
St.gardens went back to the room that was given to her and sat on the big bed, with the big envelope in her hand. She was very tired and could not stop thinking about her life. She opened the envelope and was greeted with a well defined contract. That was the first time she had ever seen one. She kept on studying all the clauses of the contract, very carefully. It was agonizing.After a while, she was done. Now, it was time for her to make that big decision in her life. A decision that would either be favourable to her or otherwise. "We never really know anything until we try", at the same time, "trying something that big first, is a different story!""What am I going to do now? This is really tempting!""200,000 naira, that is over 500 US dollars, as a monthly payment! Me…!""Oh, Lord! How is this possible?! How did I get myself trapped like this?! This is too much! This is pure temptation!!"
St.gardens and Nathaniel, were still lost right there. They couldn't move nor say anything to each other, except the fact that their mouths and eyes were wide open and their hearts pumping real hard! It was a very big show!They both froze right there, until Cho Hei came in. She almost died of instant shock. She was downstairs, waiting for Nathaniel to come down because he had stayed in his room for too long and their lunch was already set. After waiting that long without seeing her son, she thought of going to his room to check on him and also, go to St.gardens' room to get her for lunch.St.gardens and Nathaniel's room was directly opposite each other and was almost identical. That was how St.gardens mistook Nathaniel's room for her own room. And she was already a bit sleepy too at that time. It became really confusing for her and she just opened one without thinking too much about it. She didn't know she would meet a hot scene right there
Nathaniel started thinking about St.gardens without him realizing it. He finished up and then went downstairs to join them for lunch. As soon as St.gardens saw him, she started choking.*Coughs*"Oh, dear! Sorry my dear""Thank you Auntie""Mhm"Nathaniel smiled without them knowing, of course. He knew quite well the reason she coughed and he intended doing it again. He pulled out a chair and sat on it, directly opposite St.gardens. St.gardens raised her head slowly and took a glance at Nathaniel.She immediately lowered her head after seeing that Nathaniel was staring at her while eating, and she felt really hot. Nathaniel looked at the girl and teased her even more."St.gardens? That's your name, right?""...Yes...sir Cho""Please, pass me the ketchup""Huh?...Oh…!"
Nathaniel was unsettled. Everything was moving too fast for him."Son, it's not! Don't worry, all is well!"The doctor and the nurses all entered St.gardens' room and Cho Hei followed, of course. St.gardens took off her clothes and the examination started. After awhile, they were done."Mistress, everything is fine. She's perfectly ok!""That's great, doctor! Thank you!""Thank you for having us. We will take our leave now""Ok!"The doctor then left with the nurses and it was just St.gardens and Cho Hei left in the room."Are you alright, my dear?""Yes Auntie""I know it's going to be difficult, knowing the fact that, you know, it's your first time and all. I just want you to know that, you shouldn't think you are going to be selling your child or anything. Just think of it,
South Korea"Mama?""Mhm?""What are you thinking again?You are always lost in thought. I don't understand you at all, mama""You know, ever since you returned from the UK, you've been very sad. Please, talk to me mama…""Please Lilly, i don't need any headaches right now!""So...I'm the headache now...mama?!"Lilly's face was gloomy. Hyun Hyun looked at her sad daughter and then hugged her."I'm sorry my dear. Please, forgive mama, hm? I'm just a bit down these days"Lilly looked at her mother and then nodded."It's alright mama, just don't take it out on me. You know that i don't like it when people do that to me""Mhm!"After calming down, Lilly spoke to her mother. And she said..."