When Love Sprouts

Chapter 4: The Truth Slaps

"HEY, COULD YOU RUN DOWNSTAIRS AND GET ME SOME APPLE JUICE?" Danika yelled from the bathroom.

Azania rushed down to the kitchen, but she heard her father speaking. Curiosity got the better of her. She stood nearby the office door, trying to use all the high school gossip-machine skills.

"Ludo, listen, please. You need to give me more time." Mr. Buvoir said.
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"Just give me time. The codes will be yours in no. . ."

Before he could utter another word, Ludo slammed the phone in his ear. This sent a strong message to Mr. Buvoir. He buried his head in his hard hands, the only shield he had from his worries.

"If Ludo finds them, he'll kill them. Starting with my baby girl, " He said.

Azania bumped into the tiki-god ornament that lay on the mahogany side table. She was baffled from the words his dad said. Heaps of panic set onto Mr. Buvoir. He hurried to the door and peered out, but he was no match for Azania's quick-thinking.

"Hello?" He said.

The tranquil walls told him he was alone, while Azania slithered into her bedroom. She collapsed onto the floor, looking blankly at the brightly-colored duvet. Danika walked into the bedroom, tightly wrapped in a towel, wiping her hair with a towel.

"Zaza, where's the juice. You know I like sipping on some juice while in the bathtub. It makes me feel like Bonang." She said.

Azania didn't reply. She was stuck in an inescapable trance. Danika stared into her hazel brown eyes, and could see a wave of anxiousness set in. A tear streamed down her face as she continued to fall into the trap set by the truth. Danika responded to her with a warm hug.

The sweet aromas of the herbs lingered through the house and invited Mr. Buvoir into the kitchen.
"Hmmmm, you must have put your foot in the food, because it smells...divine. Let me try some." He said.

Mrs. Buvoir slapped his hand. "Uh-uh, Baba, you have to wait." She said.

"Just a taste." He said.

"No." She said.

"Fine, just as long as you don't starve me the other way too." He said.

He hugged her like a bear from behind and stole a kiss from her.

"You guys should get another house, a room isn't enough." Joao said.

They separated quicker than Speedy Gonzales. He hungrily scanned the fridge. "Hey, were you...in the my office?" Mr. Buvoir asked.

He fixed his eyes on Joao, who was busy munching a juicy green Granny-Smith apple. "Oh, you're talking to me? No, I was there that's why you saw me." He said.

"WHAT!" He exclaimed.

"Relax, I'm juss messing with you, Timer. I've been in my studio doing the most. Hey since we're here could you give me 20K, I need to release my mixtapes? Pretty please!" He said.

"J, you need a stable job. Rapping can't be the centre of it all." Mrs. Buvoir said.

"Where's Azania?" He interrupted.

"In her room." Joao said. "So you're just gonna leave me hanging?" He headed upstairs to Azania's bedroom.

Joao was met by Azania's swollen eyes. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?" He asked.
No words could escape could escape from her brown lips, but sad sobs.