Chapter 55-Happy birthday Jonathan
Jonathan's POV...
Three weeks later...
I stared blankly at the documents in my hands. I was seeing just clusters of letters, but I couldn't comprehend the words they formed.
I was in the office. Richard had come in a few minutes ago, reminding me that we had new investors coming in. My tech launch was a few days back and after revealing our name and our brand's motives, we've had a lot of businesses, companies and industries interested in partnering with us.
Now, we've made new partners and I was to meet with them as the CEO... but I wasn't in the mood for that. My life has not gone back to normal yet.
I missed her... a whole lot. I was looking at a picture of us together. That night at the art gallery.
The way she smiled so freely and held my hands. How beautiful she looked. I swiped to the next picture. We were smiling at each other.
I zoomed into the picture, into her face. My hands hovered over the screen before finally touching it. I touched her eyes. They were so bright as she looked so happy.
I smiled to myself when I remembered our plan for our next date.
A hiking date, as she called it. That was one of the many things we never achieved.
My eyelids slowly closed on their own. I felt the pain of that night all over again. It always felt fresh and new like a wound that was tampered with or sprinkled salt.
I never got to tell her how much she changed me. How much I loved her that I was willing to do anything for her. To ruin and destroy whoever tried to hurt her..
"Are you okay sir?"
My head quickly snapped up from the phone. Richard was there, by the door, looking at me.
"Yes," I quickly nodded and put the phone aside. "I was just um..." I cleared my throat. "When did you come in?"
I didn't even know when he knocked or came in. I knew he would never come into my office without knocking. He must have knocked, but I was too distracted to hear him.
"You don't seem fine sir," he said and came inside, shutting the door behind him.
"It's nothing to worry about," I said, slightly irritated.
Was it pity he felt for me? I scoffed. I didn't want that reaction from him.
"Tell the investors to come back tomorrow," I said, arranging the files on the table.
"Sir?"
"You heard me Richard" I said, not looking up.
"But sir, they've been waiting for some time now. About 30 minutes. And they're asking for your presence. We can't just ask them to go,"
"Well, ask them to," I snapped, my voice rising. "Just think of something to tell them. An emergency or something,"
"Yes... yes sir," he muttered and slowly left the office.
I sighed heavily. I couldn't meet them. Not while I felt this way. I had just picked up my phone when I heard a knock.
I groaned. "Come in,"
"Sir..."
"What is it Richard? Why are you disturbing me? Just ask them to leave, that's all,"
"That's not it sir," he said. "It's your father," he paused. "He's here and he wants to see you,"
I scoffed. "I don't want to see anybody. Not now,"
He nodded and left. He came back shortly after.
"He left, but he invited you tonight, to the house. He says he has a surprise,"
My brows rose. "Surprise?"
He nodded.
"Hmm," What does he want to do now? I thought to myself.
"You can go," I dismissed him.
I reclined on my chair and shut my eyes. I wasn't so sure how ready I was for his surprise.
That evening, as I drove to their house, I couldn't stop thinking about what she said that night.
'Your father is reason my family fell apart and I was foolishly falling in love with his son'
My left hand instinctively reached towards my chest and I squeezed the cloth covering that area.
'I think you need to see a doctor' Richard's voice rang in my ears. I had told him about my constant heart aches. He thought I was about to have a heart attack.
But that was far from it. Her absence in my life made my heart ache.
From a distance, I could see their house. I drove steadily to the gate and as soon as I had parked properly, I came down slowly. I still wasn't sure what this 'surprise' was all about. I got to the porch and opened the door.
The lights were different colours. Everywhere was decorated with high-end floral installations.
I scoffed. What was this about? I walked further inside and heard it... soft and subtle music playing in the background.
I looked around, but no one was in sight. But I knew they were around, watching me.
I sighed. "What's the meaning of all..."
"Happy birthday!!!"
I jerked around immediately, nearly tripping. My hands were on my chest and my eyes were wide as saucers, with my mouth opened in shock. I nearly had a real heart attack.
My mom and Alexa were standing in front of me, with wide smiles on their faces.
I didn't say anything. I was still too shocked to say anything.
"Happy birthday my baby" my mom said and came to embrace me.
I was stiff. I couldn't even return the hug. She detached from the hug and pecked my cheeks, smiling at me.
Alexa came forward and handed me a bunch of flowers.
I looked at her, then at the flowers... then back at her. She must have understood my reaction because she rolled her eyes mockingly.
"Just take good care of them,"
"You haven't said anything," my mom said. I glanced at her, then at Alexa.
"You both nearly gave me a heart attack," I said, straightening up.
"We're sorry about that," Alexa said. "We just wanted it to be a surprise,"
"How did you two come in?" I asked. I didn't hear them beside me.
"That's still a surprise," she added, smiling.
"Happy birthday son,"
I froze at the spot. I couldn't turn back, not when I knew clearly who said that.
He descended the stairs and came to stand in front of me.
He was smiling. I just stood there watching him. The next thing happened in a matter of just a few seconds.
Before I could think, he embraced me. I felt like jumping out of my body. I didn't return the hug either.
He patted my back and whispered to my ear.
"I'm sorry son. Forgive me,"
Then he slowly detached and moved towards the dining.
I was too stunned. He asked for my forgiveness?
Hearing him say those words broke my walls of not wanting to forgive him. I watched him as he walked towards the dining area.
Did he really mean that?
______________
The dining table was lively. Everyone talked about random things. They also talked about how they had been making preparations for my birthday since forever, whereas myself, the celebrant, didn't even remember it was my birthday.
I hadn't said much since I arrived. Most times, I would raise my head to see my father watching me. It was really awkward whenever that happened.
"So,' Alexa said. "I've got a lot of gifts for you brother..."
"Why do you call me that?" I asked, my voice low. I didn't raise my head to look at her.
"I have a name you know," I added.
"But you asked me to stop calling you what I called you when we were kids," she said.
I raised my head and looked at her. I forced a smile. "You can now,"
Her eyes widened in surprise for a moment, before smiling widely. She nodded rigorously.
My mom smiled as well.
"I got you these things," she said, pulling out a big box from under the table. Why hadn't I seen that?
"I got them specifically from Paris. It took me almost a week to get these. I wanted the best ones. Besides, Audrey said Paris was her best shopping country..."
I stopped chewing when she said that... when I heard her name.
"Why did you say that?" My mom whispered, slightly hitting her arm.
The tension hung in the air after that. I just poked at my food, running the fork up and down the length of the plate.
I was upstairs in my room. My mom had begged me to stay over for tonight. The room I grew up in as a child. It was much different now. More like it was refurbished, to suit my personality.
I entered the shower for a bath. I had so many thoughts making me want to go crazy.
My father's behaviour and his words, Was he looking forward to a family reunion? And most of all... her.
I stepped out of the bathroom with a white towel hung over my waist. I applied my lotions and put on my clothes.
I didn't want to think anymore. I just wanted to sleep, but somehow, something was nudging me to my phone.
I ignored it, but later on... I succumbed. I grabbed my phone from the bedside table. I unlocked it and was just scrolling aimlessly.
Five minutes later, I got a message from an unknown number. I thought to open it since I was already on my phone.
'Happy birthday Jonathan' The message read.
I frowned, who could that be? Another message came in.
'I really miss you a lot'
The phone slipped from my hand as realization dawned on me. She sent it.
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