LEONA"Leona."My heart dropped and I turned, expecting to see his harsh blue eyes on me but they were closed with a little frown on his face.I walked out of the room in relief and gently closed the door behind me. I have no idea how I'd be getting out of this big house. I walked straight down the hall and I was relieved when I saw the stairs. I ran down on it hastily and almost ran into someone."Leo it's you. Where are you going?" Kim asked and my pulse quickened. She ran her eyes on me. "You look like someone who's sneaking out."My heart skipped a beat.Was it necessary to see her now?My heart drummed as I thought of something to say."I'm just going to get some water." I lied and prayed she left."Here." He presented a jug of water to me with a smile."Thanks." I smiled and turned to go upstairs with the water."I really will love it if we talk, Leo. I'm sorry for your loss anyway.""Let's talk tomorrow Kim. Good night." I hope I didn't sound harsh."Yes, Goodnight." She yawned
LEONAOkay.So there's no bullet in the gun. Lando just made a fool out of me.I'm glad Dave gave me the signal earlier. else... I wouldn't know what to do."Okay, enough of the drama. Let's get out here. Tell your fucked up dildo of a boyfriend to leave and not follow us again."I turned to him in surprise."Don't be amazed. Nobody fools me. Welcome back to the game, Leona. Come on, let's go." He got back on the motorcycle.I just stood there. I don't wanna go through this transaction with him as Leona. I thought my charade would've worked but luck is not on my side. He turned out to be smarter."What gave it away, Lando?""Everything. First I sighted Dave around and you looked like Leo even with the disguise though you did a good job then I realized my phone was not with me. I connected the fragments and decided to test you. You passed but I saw how you hesitated in pulling a trigger. You were literally shaking with your face full of emotions. I'm not a dumbo. I
KATHERINEI got up from the bed. "I misplaced Emerald's file so I came for it. Kim directed me here." I waved the file for her to see.She stared at me suspiciously. "It's been a week. You don't even think of your daughter.""And I am here now. Where's she?""If only you're a bit responsible and not busy being a thief, you wouldn't have asked this." She hissed and left.Do you see that? So much attitude for an old hag.How can I care for something I never wanted?There were a lot of papers bound together and I can't wait to read all of it but not here.I hid it in Emerald's file and rushed out of the room.Once I was inside my car, I rolled the windows up and read the surrogate contract.Okay. I didn't expect this.It's written here that Mary's daughter Natalie, who I've been told is late, signed this contract with Kim and Charles. And Natalie is Dave's biological surrogate mum and not Kim.Such interesting news. So Kim is actually not Dave's mother but her husband
DAVEIt's been a week and I've been with Leona all through. I've been informed that Lando has been arrested but he's in the hospital at the moment and also, I don't know what came over Katherine but I received everything back. I learned she was also arrested but got bailed. I didn't bother to ask who did it.Raymond's last rites are yet to be done and we don't want it to happen in Leona's absence. Raymond's soul won't be happy either.Today is the day I started a peripheral blood stem cell collection on mum's insistence and I took my first injection today. It's going to continue for five days then when I turn out to be a match, I will donate the Marrow to Emerald. I pray to be a match else we'd have to start looking for a compatible match.I thought I'd have to recover first before I do it but mum spoke to the doctor and he said it's okay and that I can go through it.A WEEK LATER and I'm ready to undergo the transplant. It turned out I was a perfect match which I
LEONA"Who are you talking about?" Kim asked, looking a bit infuriated.Dave stared daggers at her and I wondered what was stirring up between them."He escaped from the police.." Dave began."What!" I exclaimed."But he's in the hospital. He still hasn't recovered and he's being monitored." Dave explained and I nodded."I want to go home." I mouthed to Dave who wouldn't stop looking at me.He nodded and got up. He looked tired and stressed even.Another day passed before I was being discharged. The rest had already gone home yesterday but Dave was here.We stepped out of the hospital and for the first time in a month, I saw the sky and the sun. It was difficult adjusting to it so I looked down till we got to his car. He sat by me while the driver took charge of the wheel. During the drive, I stole a glance at him and my heart dropped at his solemn look. He just wore a simple plain shirt with jeans and sneakers. His stubbles have grown out of the ordinary and it looks like he hasn't
LEONA"Have you seen what you've caused our family? I've always known you're a bad egg. How could you? You should've looked for a decent job like every graduate or come back home. It was out of rage I acted harshly and threw you out but you could've come back. Your father got hospitalized because of you and yet you never showed up. What kind of a daughter are you Leona? And now because of your reckless ways, you lost your brother. You caused his death, Leona. I hope you know that!" Tasha scolded me once I joined them in the guest room."Are you done, woman?" Dad asked and she rolled her eyes."Must I always remind you that if you have nothing sensible to say you should keep quiet?""You won't start again Cornelius!" She warned.I knew just then that if I don't come in, they will start fighting."Dad, Tasha is right. I fucked up..""See? She started cursing. I fear you, Leona. Especially after what we went through because of you. I know you're a murderer just like that fearful man and
LEONA“Dave.” I called once the door clicked open and he stepped in. I shuffled to my feet and adjusted my eyes to the darkness."Why are you avoiding me?”He came late and I had stayed up all night just to talk to him.He found the switch and turned the lights on."And who said I am?” I watched him hang his suit jacket."Then what? Why are you doing this? This is not you." I complained."What am I doing? We talk, don't we?" His brows furrowed as he took off his cufflinks leisurely."You know what I'm talking about. Stop being nonchalant."“Fine. I'm only giving you space because anytime I try to get close you tell me you want to leave. To leave me. I didn't want to hear that…"Dave I ...""No Leona. Please don't say anything." He cuts me off and walked out.So this is it. He thinks I will leave? Well, that was my initial plan but I aborted it long ago.I tried starting a conversation with him to try and clear his misconception but he wouldn't give me a chance.I regret s
LEONAI paid the driver and stepped down. I stared at Raymond's apartment and literally wept.A lot of memories are being embedded here. I still can't believe that I lost my brother. My only brother. What kind of fate am I carrying? Why's it that I always invite trouble for people wherever I go?Dave went through a lot because of me. My family is not an exception but they survived it and my brother couldn't. Life is so unfair and especially to me.Oh, Lord. Please save my soul and remove all this pain and sorrows. It's more than I can take.I'm living but my life is not worth living without my backbone.I looked for the key where he always keeps it, put it in the keyhole then turned it gently before pushing it.The room was just as I expected. Dust and cobwebs everywhere which is clearly indicating that it's been a long time since a human lived here.I opened his room and walked slowly into it.I saw a photograph of us together on his bedside table and picked it up. I stared at it an