I am bewildered.
The printed photo Karen have with her is the one her dad took alone which is also the same as the one in my hand right now except that my dad was standing next to her dad.
When I first found this, dad told me that this man which happens to be Karen's dad is dead but he is in prison. The reason I am confused is if dad thinks the man is dead or if he is planning something against him.
I could also recall the way he clenched his teeth that day, even though I couldn't examine why he did that.
"Are you okay?" He adds as I do not respond to him.
"I'm not," I finally retort. "Who is he?" I add, trying to play along while I frown my face, looking serious.
"You have asked me this before," He answers.
"This person is not dead, he is in jail," I interjected and he gasps in shock.
"Wait, you know he is alive?" I ask in alarm.
"Of course not," He replies. "I...I...thought he is..." He adds and covers his face with his hands. Since he said he was his boss, I wonder if he ever checked up on him rather than believing some rumors.
"How did you even know this?" He says, furrowing his brows.
"Well, your 20 years ago boss happens to be Karen's dad,"
"What a small world," I hear him mutter.
"Exactly," I agree with a shrug. "She will be surprised to hear that the next governor of Lagos State had once worked under her dad,"
"What! You dare not tell her that?" He cautions me as he gets to his feet in frustration.
"Why? Why are you even upset?" I shrug in confusion, not taking my eyes off him as he veers to the shelf.
"That man is dangerous, didn't she tell you why he is in there?"
"He was framed and convicted for embezzling jewelry worth some huge amount of money,"
"He wasn't framed. He stole the fucking jewelry while he asked for my help and I turned him down. Telling that girl about this will make this man come against me especially since the election is near. I don't want any drama," He addresses. "He is dangerous as I said before. So you have to keep your mouth shut like we do not have this conversation,"
"Okay then," I reply and I get up to leave. I reach for the journal while he pours some wine into a glass.
"It's better if you can even break your relationship with her," He suggests and this makes me stay still. I scoff a little as I am shocked to hear that.
Whatever happened between them doesn't in any way concern Ren and me.
"That will never happen dad, but trust me, my lips are sealed," I disapproved. "Good night," I add before bouncing out of his study.
As I am heading to my room, I keep thinking about it. It's possible Karen's dad lied to her but what about my dad? I do not trust him either, knowing the fact that he is a drug dealer.
Probably they are two different criminals while one is already facing his punishment and the other, my dad? Who knows if he's gonna go scot-free?
They say things cannot be hidden forever.
*****
As determined, after getting my things, I drove back to Scott's hostel, and to my surprise, I find my dude kissing Becky in his room the moment I barge in without knocking.
"Hey, will you ever knock?" Scott chides me as they pull back from each other. Scott is only in his pants while Becky is in his dress.
"I never thought of this, I'm sorry for intruding," I stutter. "Hey, Becky,"
"Hey," She answers with a slight smile.
"I will be right back," I hear him muttering to her while I can't stop laughing as I step out of his room, and head outside.
"Hey," His voice later stops me and I wait for him to catch up.
"You didn't mention this to me?" I say in confusion.
"Well, it's just started tonight,"
"Oh, my word!" I marvel and he rolls his eyes. "I hope I didn't spoil anything,"
"Hopefully,"
"But you should have texted me,"
"I thought you aren't coming back, look at the time now,"
"But what about her taller than you..." I am saying and he shut my mouth.
"I'm heeding your advice okay?" He says and I burst out laughing.
"Finally," I react in the middle of gulps.
"It's high time you left guy," He retorts, pats my shoulder and he starts heading back to his room.
Well, well, well, there is no more pressure on me to cook for this guy again. I let out a deep sigh, thinking about where next to go. I make my way to my car after concluding to drop by Jeff's.
Racing to his apartment, I try to correct myself by knocking on his door so as not to bump into what I bumped into earlier.
The door opened by him in his pajamas and he is surprised to see me.
"No harm," I say in surrender and I walk in while he shut the door. His TV is on and a wrestling smackdown match is ongoing. I sit on his couch to see an ordered meal package and a bottle of red wine on the table.
"What are you doing here by this time," He says as he moves close to me and shakes hands with me.
"I just drop by, it's been a while since I'm here," I answer, recalling that the last time I was here was bad for the both of us.
"Sure," He agrees as he also settles on the couch next to me. He opens the package for me to see it contains some chicken and chips. I veer to get us two glasses from the kitchen. After I returned, we begin to enjoy the meal while concentrating on the WWE Smackdown.
I'm not a wrestling fan but I can still mention some wrestlers which include the ones we are seeing tonight, Roman Reigns challenging Randy Orton.
I gaze at Jeff as he intently focuses on the TV. I take a bite out of my chips, nibbling it gently as I keep staring at him.
"Spill them out, Mike," He reacts and I gasp in shock. I can't believe he noticed me staring at him. As I can't get my mind off Karen's dad and mine, I wanted to ask Jeff if he knows anything about it but I'm sure he won't give me a straight and honest answer to defend my dad.
Probably I should begin with the dilemma of him and my sister to get him.
"What are you going to do? She finally told dad," I let out and he exhales.
"There is nothing I can do. The chief doesn't approve of us,"
"You do not love my sister then," I play along and with that, he slips his eyes all from the TV to my face.
"Why would you say that?"
"If you do, you will fight for her," I shrug in expression and he chuckles a little while I proceed.
"You have to choose between her and those illegal work. You are a lawyer for Goodness's sake, sometimes I do wonder why you of all people would engage in that stuff,"
"Because I owe him, I owe your dad a lot,"
"How?"
"He brought me from the street where I have thought I would never escape from," He begins to explain. "He made me go to Law School, spent his money on me, and you think it's easy? The only thing I can do to pay him back is to work for him, yet he still pays me cash, he is trying everything to make me eliminate poverty in my family,"
"But not in a dirty way, don't be a coward just because he helped you," I assume and he chuckles a little, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You will never get it, will you?"
"What about the gun? What is that for?"
"It's licensed to protect me from
foul play...from the stoners,"
"What if you kill someone or you get caught?"
"I know you are worried about me but we are talking about your dad, chief Anderson, he will always protect me as long as I won't betray him,"
"Really?" I react with a scoff. "And I hope so," I add and get to my feet, reaching for my backpack.
"I...I...thought you are...staying overnight," He stammers.
"I don't trust you anymore Jeff, so don't expect me to stay overnight with you," I retort. "Good night,"
I can't believe Jeff is gradually becoming a stranger to me and he should break whatever the relationship with my sister. It's better that way since he is choosing dad over everyone including the person he admitted he deeply loves.
What I learned tonight, in addition to Tracy's, shows my dad does quid pro quo stuff. He is only helping people with strings attached to his personal gain. No wonder he wants me to follow in his footsteps.
I hop into my car and recall that I could not even ask Jeff about what made me show up in his place.
My assumption might be TRUE that Karen's dad and mine are two different criminals. I start the car engine, intending to race down home to have a sound sleep.