Chapter 3

“I don’t understand why you’re still with him.” I said

We were now seating down in the kitchen and talking.

“I thought he’d change.”

“You love him that much?”

She was quiet.

“I don’t like to see you like this.”

“I’m sorry and I know this is something you’d do for every other woman that’s being abused but I promise you that I got this. Oakley will stop and change eventually.”

“How long have you been with this jerk? And how long has he been abusing you?”

She stares at me then looks away.

“We’ve been together for five years and the abuse started shortly after we got married, after we got back from our honeymoon.”

“So he’s been beating you for five years and you didn’t even get help?!”

I was shocked!

“What does he have on you? Do you guys have kids?”

“No, we had a miscarriage three years ago because of this.”

“I’m so sorry. That must have been hard”

As much as I didn’t want her to have any kids with anyone my heart broke when I heard that she lost her first child that she never even got the chance to meet.

“Why don’t you tell your parents about this?”

“Haley we’re different people okay, it’s easier for your people to inform their families about this but with mine it’s difficult and different, I’ve tried telling my parents about this but in Africa you must obey your husband and stick with him through thick and thin, that’s a role of a wife.”

“So you must tolerate someone trying to take your life because you’re trying to play a role of a wife? I mean…he’s the solid reason you lost your first child right, do it for your child then.”

“It doesn’t work like that, I need to go.”

She went to grab her bag in the seating area and I followed her, she turns around, still looking pale and heartbroken.

“Thanks for letting me in your house, please don’t let anyone else know about this, I beg you.”

Her eyes filled with tears broke my heart and she stepped out of my house and left. My stress escalated.

A little later on my friends Niel, Paul and Russ came to pay me a visit and we played video games to get me in the mood.

“Boy I heard what happened, you fought Ms. Presley’s husband last night”

Niel brings the topic up.

“Yah I did and I don’t want to talk about it.” I told them

“Sure I mean…whenever you’re ready mate.” Said Russ

The next morning was Sunday and my dad and I went fishing like every Sunday morning, we didn’t stay far from the local stream that we often went to fish and it was sunny.

“Shall we continue talking about what happened on Friday?”

I liked my dad for respecting me, he always made sure I was comfortable enough with whatever topic he brought up before discussing it.

“I don’t think so dad. We can talk about anything else it’s fine”

“Okay but if you want, whenever you want we can talk about this okay?”

I smiled at him

“Sure pops.”

We did our fishing and after that went back home to play match together at the back of our yard. My days spent with my dad were literally the best, even if I was not okay emotionally whenever I spent time with him I’d forget all my troubles.

Monday arrived and I was called to the headmaster’s office in the morning and when I got there apparently I find the headmaster, coach and our mayor.

“Good morning gentlemen.” I greet them

“Morning son, you may have a seat.”

My headmaster Smith asked me to have a seat and I did.

“I’m sure you know our mayor, Mr. Zach Heidi.”

I nodded.

“Well, he’s here for a great offer.” Said my headmaster

I was wondering what offer.

“Well son, my offer is, like your headmaster said, I came with an offer for you. I want you to join our local soccer team after your senior graduation.” He said

Wait! What! Local soccer team! Our own!

I couldn’t even sit properly because my town’s soccer team was always on tour, playing against big soccer leagues, loving lives of celebrities in Hollywood, they were coming home only for holiday seasons and only if they were not that busy during that specific holiday season, they were famous too!

“Uh…that sounds like a very good offer, Mr. Heidi.” I tell him.

I tried my best to hide my excitement so I don’t jump around.

“Well, I’ll give you a month to think this offer through and be sure about what you want out of this life son.” Said the mayor

Well, I guess I was wrong about him anyway, he does give chances of success to other people like a mayor should

I stood up and shook their hands, coach looked excited for me, he couldn’t hide his smile.

“Thank you, gentlemen.” I said

“Enjoy your day, Aiden.”

I left the cabin and ran to tell my friends the great news they were never this excited for me!

“Boy! That’s huge, you’ve got to go back in there and accept the offer!” yelled Russ

“Wait, do you think Layla had anything to do with this?” asks Paul

I shrugged “I don’t know and I don’t care, long as I got this offer” I said

“Yah but I think Melvin got the same offer too, I overheard people speaking about it.” Said Niel

Regardless of anything we danced around and rejoiced when Layla was passing by with her friends.

“Congratulations again, Haley, you deserve the offer.” She said and left.

“She’s still pretty though” comments Russ

“But my boy here, will get other girls prettier than her in Hollywood once he takes up the deal.” Said Niel

We then went to class and went about our day.

Finally, my time with Ms. Presley after school on Friday arrived and I was excited to tell her the good news I’ve received on Monday.

She looked better than she was the last time I was alone with her.

“Hey”

“Hey, please have a seat.”

I sat down and smiled at her.

“Guess what? I’ve received an offer from the town’s mayor and they want me in their local soccer team.” I tell her

“Wow that’s great news, almost a few months till you’re done with school then you can because our super footballer, I can’t wait” she was pleased.

“I know, I’m excited too. The mayor gave me a month to decide if I want this or not so I’m still thinking about it.” I said

“Well, it’s better than just taking the offer right away, a month is enough to make you think this through, but if it’s actually what you want then you should go for it, my advice.”

“What if there’s other things I want to go for?” I was staring at her, right in her eyes

“That too, go for whatever that you want, I believe you can do it.” She grins

I stood up and walked to her side, she was already standing up and looking at her book when she notices I’m more than close to her, I could feel and she could feel my breath, she looked at me.

I touched her hips and closed my eyes to lay a kiss in her pretty red lips.

She moved back slowly and walked to the other side.

“Uh…Haley, what? What was that?” she asks politely.

Deep down I was glad she did not make a whole fuss about it and shout.

“What do you mean? That’s…that’s how I feel about you.” I finally confessed.

Her eyes opened wide to show how shocked she was.

“Haley you don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re just a seventeen year old student, my student and I won’t do this with you.” She tells me

“I’m sorry that this is wrong and whatever else but this is how I feel and I can’t help my feelings.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She tells me

I pulled her back for another kiss and she pushed me away this time around.

“Get out, leave my office right now!”

Oh boy, maybe I shouldn’t have done that.

I walked out of her cabin and she shut the door behind me. I thought to myself that I screwed up!