I Did It For Love

chapter 4

*chapter 4*        *I did it for love*

             *By Fauziyya Farouk Muhammad*

_Dedicated to Safiyya Sani Abdu_💓

*Daniel's p.o.v*

     I walked into an old poky club loud music filling the room. It was old and shabby where old folks normally pass their time. I actually love it because it's Dan cheap unlike the fancy clubs in town. It was very peaceful and calm. Jordan and the rest were already inside waiting for me. I walked to where they sat drinking. I had an absurd look on my face and they laughed wholeheartedly at me " he met the tough one huh!" Jordan shouted between laughter. I shrugged taking a glass of liquor "I'm not yet done man" I said sternly. We did our usual manly-hand-shake and began our first step of gamble. " I told you that chick was a stubborn one!" Jeff squealed and they all chuckled " ten thousand pesos is on the line!!" Kim chirped in laughing loudly  I cocked up an eyebrow and smirked " oh yeah?! Whatever man I won't back out" I said confidently " so how was the slap? Does it still hurt?" McCarthy said mimicking Andre's thin voice. I scuffed and placed my bet.
            We got drunk afterwards and got drunk gambling until I were out of cash and I was on the losing end. " so how much do we owe" I asked a bit dizzy but drunk.           " fifteen thousand pesos " the guy said. just then did I get up fully awake in shock        " what!?" I shouted "just shut up and pay " the guy said "Jor....?" I stared but realised they were all gone. I'm doomed. "How did th.." I began but he wouldn't let me finish. I can't calmly mom, I'll get it from her. I can't be grounded now! I thought rubbing the back of my head. My head hurts badly. I couldn't believe Jordan and the rest! I thought-provoking. I had no one to turn to but Andre.I Dialled her cell phone and minutes later she was on the line. "Andre ?" I said sarcastically. "I knew you would call she said in a nonchalant manner. "Andre? I need your help" I ignored her and told her everything before She could say all sorts of junks.
     "What happened to you son?!" My mum yelled but I ignored her heading straight to my room. "Dan!" She called "what have you done to my son?!" I heard her scold Andre before could shut my door.
             *Mona's p.o.v*
I returned home from school afterwards. It was tiring but manageable... no doubt right? I'm already used to the stress. But today it was all different, you know, seeing your first crush on the very first day! So amazing. I headed straight up to Nicky's room. Seeing me, she jumped up and run towards , "what's my babysister doing?" I asked. She wrote some words on her tab and showed it to me " painting!"  " oh! Can I see?" I asked and she nodded. She drew five persons on the drawing sheet and I looked at her puzzled. She collected the sheet and began to demonstrate. "...oh that's , mummy " I tagged along as she did the presenting. "....... and that's kuya Inigo?!.... " she nodded oh and kuya means brother in Filipino. Only God knows why she use the word 'kuya' instead of  'brother' well that's Nicky for you, she never cease to amaze me. I thought ".......and that's me!? Wow baby you're so adorable!" I said and she giggled "...... and then you!" We continued. Her mood then changes as she looked at the last one. She actually drew him far away.... " oh baby? Who is he standing all by himself?" I asked in a concerned tone. She kept her tab and the drawing sheet , then used her left and right finger and placed them on her head making them stand upright "... huh baby what does that mean ?" I asked confused. Just then I got what she meant... oh no ! I thought "baby! He's still family don't refer him to the devil" I said calmly 'then why does he keep hurting mummy?' She wrote    " well baby whatever daddy has done wrong don't you think he should be forgiven?" I asked ' but then he never said sorry' she wrote and I sigh " you know what let's play outside it's getting stuffy in here" I said ignoring her and she nodded _phew! that was close_ my conscience spoke ' yeah it was' I thought
Although I was tired, I still had to pay some attention to Nicky. I mean she's all by heself most of the time and I could tell she feels lonely. I mean who wouldn't be? My shifts are not until later so I'll give thirty minutes of my time to Nicky an hour to studying, then an hour or two till the end of my night shift at work. That's my to-do list for every Mondays.
     Nicky has been mute when she was only three. Growing up became hard as all she ever gets to experience is hardships and watching her mother being beaten up. I guess now you'll blame David for Nicky condition. We went to see her doctor every year but all she kept saying was " Nicky will speak again, when she's ready" I wonder when that miraculous year will ever come by. I'll be the happiest person on earth I guess.
     My mum got remarried when I was 8 and Inigo 10. Then Nicky was only 3months old. Their relationship wasn't the best and sometimes I would think it's just normal for married couple to have misunderstandings and  have a little quarrel but I was totally wrong. My stepfather gets angry at any slight mistakes my mother do. If Nicky's crying he scold her... if he gets hungry, he scolds her knowing fully well there's nothing she could do and anytime she tried to talk back,, she gets the beating of the day. Neither Inigo nor me could do anything to save her. Sometimes I put the blame on my father for leaving us behind. After Father left, Nicky came into our lives and four months later she got married to David. Each time we Ask my mother why our daddy left us, she brings up another story. I can't help but blame him for what my mother was going through. And when Inigo was 17 he decided to go look for our father. It was stupid of him to do so, but then I really couldn't blame him. He was tired of how David treats mum and so were we and mostly he picks a fight with david, sometimes if he couldnt find his money, he puts the blame on Inigo. And Inigo wouldnt stand and watch him do so, then they fight. It annoys me. He left promising us to return real soon but after a year we stopped getting in touch with him. We lost him and that made my mother so depressed. David was actually the reason we stopped contacting Inigo. He took away all our cell phones and disconnected the cell phones in the house. And now only God knows where Inigo is right at the moment. But where ever he is I always pray for his safety.
  Sometimes I wonder if my father is still alive or dead. Also I wonder if he would ever come back into our lives or not and if he really shows up would I be able to forgive him for abandoning us? From what I learnt, my stepfather was my mothers first love. But as usual, David was not the perfect guy because he's of low and poor family. What people call the middle class? So there they were in love but couldn't get married. My grandparents were very strict with my mother and the dictates her every move in life. plus Who she can and cannot marry. And I guessed that's how she ended up marrying my father first and David second. My father came from a very rich family and even though they weren't interested in each other, they were forced into the marriage. The marriage that gave rise to three wonderful kids. Me Inigo and Nicky. Can I ask for more?. Shattered in pieces was my family when my father left us for what I call ' no good reason' and broken it'll remain as long as David stands in the picture.
     Most of the times that my stepfather mistreat my mom, I'll be with Nicky preventing her from listening. He locks her up and told us if we go close to the door he'll break our ribs. If he had locked us up together it wouldn't have Been so difficult watching her cry for help and we standing idle. Mind you, anytime locks her up we don't get to eat for the days she stayed locked up. We either beg in the streets, or go to Abby or better yet eat leftovers in the restaurant I work in.
    " daddy please help me with my assignment" I said approaching him where he sat. "Get out of my sight stupid! If you're going to be bugging me to teach you your homework everyday then I guess it'll be best if you just quit school" he said pushing me away until I fetters to the floor. " David!" My mom would try to defend me but he'll hold her jaw in his hands tightly pushing her also " stay away from the  conversations I have with my _children_"he would then walk away.....
   If Nicky played in the corridor, he'll interrupt making her cry. " what do you think you're doing on my floor?! you've got some nerve you little brat" and Nicky would bend her head down to cry. "Mute thing!" He would always say.... "David stop it already what has the little girl done to you huh?!" my mum would yell "stay away! You're not even related yet you take her side!" He would say " shut David she doubt deserve this!"she would reply. That was the one statement I always bug my mother to give me answers but she will say I'm not yet of age. "If Nicky was not related to my mother how then are we related? I would ask "can't you see your father's drunk? He doesn't know what he's saying" she would reply. One fact about my mom is that she becomes too obvious when she lies and I know for sure that there's something she ain't telling me. Sometimes when I get in the way to save my mother from David, I becomes included and beaten up badly. I had to stay away from school for a day or more, taking care of myself and my injured mum.
The day I threatened to report himtothe police was the day I regret till now. He took away my mum and Nicky to some place I don't know of. They were away for weeks and I was left all by myself. I begged him to let them go because not that they were just gone, they paid dearly for my actions. "Please I beg you let them go! Take me instead please!" I would plead "hahaha! You wouldn't dare do what you did ever again will you?!" He said "no! I promise I won't" I cried holding my ears " good girl" he smirked. And the next day they were back. Their face all swollen up. It kills me day by day that I was the cause for their condition........
    One night I met my mom in the kitchen preparing dinner. I walked into the kitchen to meet her. She looked terrible. She had dark circles under her eyes, like she hadn't had sleep for days. Her right eyes was sore. "Mum? Did David beat you again?"I asked " no .. no this is nothing my dear" she said and  I knew she was defending her no good husband again " when will you stop lying to me mum?" I asked depressed she started to cry " let's go away from here mom" I suggested  but she wouldn't agree to It. She cupped my cheek "dont you worry ill be fine we cant just leave your father all by himself you kn..." she started but I cut her short... "he's not my father! Even if daddy left us,  he still isnt as cruel as david!" I shouted " mona! Show some respect he's family!" She scolded I ran out in anger " mona! " she called but I didnt stop.
It took me untill a while before I convinced my mom to run away from home. David was away as usual to only God knows where. We packed our stuff and made our move but guess who se saw on the way.... "going somewhere?" David asked we dropped our bags in shock as we became speechless.  I know we were in for no good. He pulled my mum by her hair and dragged he into the house.Nicky and i followed behind crying. It was all my fault, and my mom was going to pay for my stupidity. I hugged Nicky preventing her from listening further. "I'm sorry Nick" I apologized to her as she could do nothing but cry.
       It was Nicky that kept pulling me when I guessed she noticed I wasn't paying attention to the game we were playing. Hopscotch.  Her favourite game. "What are you thinking of " she wrote... "Ohh baby its nothing lets play" I said shrugging away the thoughts of my annoying past.
"Let's go" she wrote. "To where Nick?" I asked "play, dant you wanto play witme? SHE SAID!!!!!  Nicky spoke ! Her  voice was so adorable _even voice are adorable mona!_ my conscience spoke but I couldnt care less im just too excited... it was actually the first time I heard her  voice in ages. " Nicky you spoke! ! I squealed she just giggled.  I guessed having david being away has its own good effect... My goodness this kid just made my day! I thought

Thanks for reading guys
Forgive my mistakes #wink#