Luxury In Adversity

CHAPTER 3

TIME LEAP – 5 YEARS
“Baby?”
“Sweetheart?”
“Where is this girl” Chris wondered.
Although she was loved and pampered by all her family, she preferred playing with her daddy. Chris didn’t shy out in showering his only daughter with love and everything she wanted. When she was born, he told his wife he wanted to be the one to name her but then spent almost a month thinking of the perfect name for her. He had never known how to choose names for his kids and his late wife named all his sons hence, he decided to name his first and only daughter. His wife couldn’t hold in the frustration of prolonging her child’s naming ceremony and had to name her Emilia temporarily. Although he kept searching, he began to love his daughter’s name and decided to keep it.
Ever since she could walk, she’d always play hide and seek with her daddy. Especially when he’s back from work, she’d hide and wait for him to find her and he always does.
Today, he’s checked all the possible places she could hide but he didn’t find her. He walked towards the kitchen and skimmed around but still didn’t find her. He turned around to leave and then heard giggling under the working table situated at the centre of the kitchen and smiled to himself. She didn’t know she’d given her location away. She watched her daddy’s feet turn back towards her and her heart skipped a beat but then it passed and went deeper into the kitchen and she smiled at her smartness in choosing a hideout.
“BOOM”
“ARRG” she screamed. She was surprised her daddy saw her and even scared her but she was happy. He gently pulled her out from under the table, carried her in his arms and tickled her. He smiled happily as he watched her laugh innocently and in a carefree manner. If he’d have his way, he’d give anything to always see her happy and laughing because that keeps him happy as well.
“How’s my baby girl doing?” he paused his tickling
“I’m fine daddy. Daddy, I missed you today” she smiled toothlessly
“Daddy missed his baby girl too. Have you had dinner yet?” he walked back slowly out of the kitchen
“Not yet. Was waiting for you” she hid her face in his neck
“Then let’s have dinner, okay?” he smiled at his adorable daughter.
When he reached the parlor, he met his wife coming down the stairs.
“Welcome love” she greeted.
He smiled at his beautiful wife, the mother of the darling daughter. He went closer to her, since he was carrying Emilia on one hand, he used his other palm to cover her eyes while he kissed his wife’s lips. God, he loved this woman.
“Is that only what I’m having for dinner?” he smirked enjoying how she squirms uncomfortably whenever he starts his sexual innuendoes
“Of course not” she smirked back after recovering from her initial embarrassment. “I’m sure the cooks have made something special. Go up, shower and change up then come down to the dinning. We are all waiting.” Feeling proud of herself, she got a confused looking Emilia from her husband and went up to call the boys.
The boys share a room even though there are enough rooms for all of them. When Chris built the house, he made the room for his or his late wife’s siblings whenever they all come over for a celebration but since the boys decided to share a room, he decided to let them have the room as it was large. Each boy had his corner in the room and decorated it the way they’d like, hence the room had 4 different types of decoration.
“Dorcas said she wrote a love note to you” Mark smirked at Luke. “You haven’t replied yet huh?”
Luke just rolled his eyes. He knew his brother has always had an unrequited love for Dorcas but since high school, she claims to be in love with him hence, Mark has always tried to stay at the side and make her happy and if shipping her relationship with him made her happy then he’d do it.
“Am I supposed to reply? Last I checked, I’ve never done that before” he didn’t raise his eyes off his phone
“I know, that’s why I’m telling you to reply” he frowned a bit. This isn’t something he wants to do, it’s just that he’d promised her to do it
FLASBACK
“Mark, Mark wait…”
He turned to find his dream girl running towards him and he smiled happily.
“Dorcas? Hold on. I’ll come to you” he moved briskly towards her so she’ll stop running but she didn’t until she reached him. Although she was panting, she looked very happy. “what happened? You look so happy today” he playfully pinched her cheek
“Am I? Is it that obvious? She tried to hide her smile but couldn’t.
She was adorable. From the first day he met her at junior high school, he was infatuated and it gradually grew to the love he felt for her till this day. He thought then that he’d only have to wait till senior class to ask her out but when she started talking to him, she told him she loved his brother Luke. He didn’t know what to do then so he just followed her blindly, defended her during quarrels even though she was the one wrong and was found mostly at her side when he’s not at home.
He always remembers what his late mother had taught them when she was alive. “my boys remember this, no matter whatever situation and wherever you find yourself, consider your family first. Do not give outsiders the privilege of dividing you because you are stronger together. Take a bunch of broom for example, you can break it only when you divide it to individual pieces but when it’s in a bunch, it’s very hard to be broken” and that has prevented him from holding a grudge against his brother.
“Actually, I came to ask a favour” she blinked her eyelashes at him
“Go ahead” he stepped closer to her and held her hand gently
“I wrote another letter to Luke as he has never replied to them” she whined
He was shocked and he unconsciously dropped her hand. He didn’t even want to think if he’d hidden the shock on his face. Why does his brother get to have what he’d wanted since young? He stepped back a bit still looking at her face but she didn’t seem to notice anything wrong with the atmosphere so she continued
“I want you to help me talk to him. He’s your brother and you know him well. Can you tell him to send me a reply, anything. I just want him to feel for me the way I feel about him” she replied dejectedly.
He knew she loved his brother but did he think her heart would suddenly change and love him? He found himself shaking his head as if not believing what he’s hearing or trying to erase the thought of her loving him finally. His heart beat was inconsistent, fast at one second and slow the next. His mind was in chaos and his eyes began to sting.
“Please Markey…” she pleaded with her puppy eyes and his favourite nickname that he loves and she knows it.
He looked into her eyes and saw the desperation in them and his heart melted at the spot. He knew he was the one who signed up for this life since the day he continued as her friend after knowing her heart. He didn’t hold her hands again but he stepped closer and finally smiled faintly while nodding. He couldn’t say anything.
She saw his change in demeanour and knew she’d gotten him again. She knew he had always loved her since junior high school but her heart was set on his elder brother who was god-like in terms of charisma, smartness, sense of style and most of all looks. All four brother are good looking and unique in their own way but to her, Luke was the bomb.
While growing, she had always had whatever she wanted and this case isn’t going to be an exception so she decided to take advantage of Mark’s infatuation for her benefits and it worked every time except Luke was the one not responding.
END OF FLASHBACK
“Why don’t you tell this girl how you truly feel?” John jumped from his bed
“Urrg, I wouldn’t dare” he face-palmed himself.
“You do know Luke’s got a crush right?” Sam asked Mark
“Seriously? I didn’t know. Who is she?” he got curious
“Joyce, Mrs Suzy’s daughter…” Sam replied. “The librarian?” he added when he got a confused look
“The librarian in our school is a scrawny man”. he replied
“It’s the state library, dummy” Sam rolled his eyes and left discourage.
“I’ve never been to that library before” he went to sit on Luke’s bed.
“How would you when you are always following Dorcas around” Luke smirked when he saw Mark act like his buttocks was on fire. He was about to sit on the bed but after hearing what Luke said, he got up immediately
“I’ve always wondered why our librarian looks so skinny. With all his money, doesn’t he eat?” Mark walked to the door.
“Don’t dodge the conversation bro” all three said in unison but Mark smiled and opened the door but was greeted with his stepmother carrying his toothless smiling sister.
“Hello boys. Your dad’s back so assemble downstairs for dinner. She tried prying her daughter’s thumb from her mouth and she got series of “okay’s” and “yeah’s” as her reply.