Tragedy of the African Cinderella [Black Book3]✔

27.

"Are you ok?" Ace asked after observing how nauseous Nora looked as the plane took off. She skeptically nodded yet, he embedded her hand in his.

"I forgot to ask; how long will it take to arrive?"

"Forty-eight hours."

"Oh, God!" She shut her eyes in exasperation.

Barely thirty minutes into the flight, Nora had fallen asleep while Ace rounded up on the magazine he was skimming through after which he drifted his attention to the white walls out of the window.

No one knew he was returning home. Not even the closest member of his family who was Eloïse. But he was going to get to that as soon as they alighted the plane. He then wondered how things would turn out after Nora's operation; would she want to return or stay with him in his hometown? Would they be more than what they were or was it going to be the end of them? He sighed. How he feared to get devoted. It would probably be best if they parted ways.

Nora's ruffle made him turn to his right, where she faced him and fought to open her eyes. She was extremely pretty. Her brown skin gleamed ten times more than he last remembered. Could probably be the effect of their previous encounter. He smiled at the thought.

"What are you smiling at?" She rubbed her eyes and for the first time, he found something cute. She looked just like a kitten who just woke up from sleep.

"Nothing. You didn't sleep last night, did you?"

She shook her head. "I couldn't,"

"Why not?" She smiled and faced forward. He understood. "Did you enjoy it?"

Nora nodded, still not sparing him a glance. He almost promised her more and better after her operation but bit back from it. He didn't want to paint of himself an awkward image.

"I want to know," she turned to him. "About you and your family."

"We're good." He flatly said.

Nora didn't insist. He probably wasn't ready to let her know about his bond with his parents. His father especially.

"My mum is a very kind and God-fearing woman," he began, "she's a fashion designer- an African print fashion designer, precisely. She's a Cameroonian-American which explains a little why I'm here in particular; of all countries in this dead-ass world.

My dad on the other hand...well, he's the CEO of an automotive company. He wants me to take over against my wish. You see...I have no interest in his company or anything related to it. I told him to educate my younger brother, Nate, on it, and oh, I have two kid sis in addition to Nate; Eloïse and Bethany,"

"How are things with your dad?"

"Not so good," he fidgetted on the magazine he was reading earlier. "It's been so since I turned one as per my mum. There was this bond absence during my birth-"

"He wasn't present?"

"Kind of. He arrived when I was already birthed."

"Where was he during the pregnancy and labor?"

"He and mum had a gruesome misunderstanding which made her fly across the country."

"Oh! So basically, you were born in Cameroon?"

Ace bobbed. "So yeah, I grew up that way. We never agreed on anything. We never had the father-son conversation, excursions, and all. My mum tried on several occasions to make things right to no avail; the atmosphere was always suffocating and awkward." He shook his head. "When my siblings came, my mum quit trying and things got worse. It was like...they carved me out of the picture somehow, so the only way to get the attention I needed was to act out of hand."

Nora reached for his hand. "I'm sorry about that."

He scoffed, "don't be."

After a long while of silence, Nora finally said, "tell me more about your siblings."

"Eloïse is nineteen. She's an aspiring fashion designer and a sweet pain on my back I can't reach. She'll act out of hand when she sees me with you-a girl, I mean,"

Nora smiled.

"Beth is just...there. She's a chubby seventeen years old who does nothing but eat and gang up with Eloïse in making my life a living hell," he chuckled. "Nathan on the other hand is fourteen. Quite shy and reserved. Not with me though. So...yeah, that's the crazy family I love to hate."

She smelled his sarcasm. A nice family he got. She suddenly found herself wishing she had one like he's if not, she wanted to make one like that but in the absence of a bond like Ace's and his dad.

The rest of the journey consisted of sleep, eat, and little talks. She asked him about the famous New York City and the places he'll love to make her visit. They were numerous, from his reply and that made her wonder if they were ever going to visit all of them and also, how long he intended to keep her in the strange land she knew nothing of. Hopefully, everything goes well, for she wouldn't appreciate it much if she stayed there for up to a month.

"I got a surprise for you,"

"What is it?"

"If I tell you it won't be a surprise anymore. You'll see it on our arrival."

"Can't wait!" She literally squeaked.

~

"Hey, Nora wake up," he nuzzled her cheek. "We just arrived."

"Finally?" She purred while rubbing her nape. It really hurt despite the comfort of the seat.

"Yup." Nora stood up and almost fell if she hadn't supported her weight on the chair adjacent to hers. "Hey! Are you alright?"

"Yeah, my eyes are still a little sleep-clouded." She laughed.

"Let's get you someplace to sit while I claim the luggage."

Ace held her by the arm as they descended the plane. Her legs wobbled after each stride and she prayed subconsciously for what she thought to not occur. Not there at least. "Ace..." She called.

"A step at a time. Don't rush it."

Nora's eyes teared up. She wasn't feeling it; her body appeared boneless, her sight foggy and her head was a thumping mess. "Ace I can't..." Salty drops streamed down her cheeks. "I can't feel my body anymore."

"You sat down for too long. That explains it," He consoled. "Just one more step to go."

She vigorously nodded as she overcame the last step in tears, hoping it was just the effect of the journey. It was her first time in a plane after all but her hopes failed when her body systems shut down... "There you go,"...after the last step. "Fuck!"

Nora's body went limp in his arms. Next he realized was her body shaking on the tarr. "Nora," he removed his his shirt, balled it and settled her head on it.
"Help! Somebody, please call an ambulance,"

He held her on her side as she convulsed; her pupils almost non-existent as they trudged in head. "You gonn' be okay. You gonn' be fucking okay," he repeated, pannick gracing his physique until her body stilled. Then, he slightly patted her cheek. "Nora. Please wake up."

"Mister, you'll have to give way," a brunette ran towards him with a stretcher and other medics in tow.

Once her body was set on it, he followed them into the ambulance where he sat by her side at the back of it.

He placed her right hand on his forehead as he cried while she was being attached to drips and an oxygen mask.

"She's gonn' be fine, right?" Ace semi-scolded the man who took care of her connections causing him to nodd in fear.
"She's always ended up fine in the first place." He sniffed. "Today ain't gonn' be different. God plea..." He trailed as he broke into a hysterical whimper.

Why did the journey to the hospital seem too distant?

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