Some minutes after he left, Richard’s phone rang from the glass shelf where he had left it earlier. He was almost falling asleep on the couch and he shot up from his seat to get the phone from where it was.The caller ID showed “Master”He gasped under his breath.Why was his Master calling at past 9pm? He was almost hesitant in picking the call because he had a slight feeling that his Master wasn’t calling on good note. Perhaps, he called to caution it reprimand him on something.He drew in a deep breath and braced himself for whatever his Master had to say. He answered the call and the sharp voice of his master floated over to him.“Richard!”“Yes, Master. Good evening”“Where are you right now?”Richard scratched his bead, wondering what his Master was up to “I’m in my apartment. I returned from the competition today and I can’t go to the school’s hostel right now”“Okay, Boy. What is this news I hear about your company?”“My company?”“The fire incidence! Since yesterday, it’s bee

“No way!” Elise squealed as she read the content of the paper again, for the third time. “Dad! Are you for real?”Her father smiled and bobbed his head. Then, he stood up from where he was and walked towards her with his arms wide open“Give me a hug, My Baby” He urged.She dropped the envelope and paper on the couch before rushing into his arms in excitement.Her thoughts ran wild in her head. She felt like she was dreaming. How did her father know what she wanted and even did more for her? She wondered to herself.She held on to her father, tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of how much she had missed her father. He had been away from home for the last five days and now he returned with a letter that showed how he had bought an estate in her name and had rented an entire luxurious island all for her in celebration of her birthday. What better surprise did she need for her birthday?The envelope that she had dropped contained two papers. The first was an Evidence of payment o

“You shouldn’t say that Erica” Susan cautioned her younger sister, frowning. Both women had aprons tied around their necks and while Aunt Erica was chopping some vegetables at where she stood by the counter, While her sister, Susan, was stirring a sizzling pot of stew.Lines of sweat formed on Susan’s creased forehead. “There are so many eligible men out there. What exactly are you telling me about giving up on love?”Erica heaved a breath and dropped the kitchen knife on the tray. She could feel tears well up in her eyes and she held on to the edge of the counter, silently praying that her unnecessary tears should go away.Just a few minutes ago, Erica was all smiles and bubbly with the excitement of Elise’s birthday.She had been making plans with her elder sister , Susan, concerning the party and before both women could stop it, the conversation took a different turn and soon, Erica was almost crying about her failed love life.Susan observed her in silence, without saying a word.

Just like most days, as soon as Richard rolled over in bed in the mornings, the first thing he reached out for was his phone which he always leaves on his bed side table before he went to bed every night. This morning, as he pulled himself out of his Dreamland and tried to force himself to come awake, still with his eyes closed, he rolled over on his bed and began to grope for his phone.He couldn’t feel the bedside table and his eyes flung open. He was lying on his back and his eyes were trained on the ceiling overhead. The hidden air-conditioning unit in the room had made the whole place very cold. He tried to remember where he was. The room was unfamiliar and he couldn’t figure out how he managed to get into that strange bed. He blinked rapidly.Was he drunk the previous night to the point that he had ended up in a strange room? He asked himself in confusion.Where was he? The room had a stark difference to his regular hostel room where he slept every night with his two roommates. I

Elise sat in front of dressing mirror in her room, worried. She had just stepped out of the bathroom and her long hair was wrapped up in a thick towel. A bigger white towel was around her chest. Her heart hammered within her chest. She was now staring blankly at herShe picked up her phone and swiped through it. There was still no calls or messages from her friends from school. There was a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. What manner of disappointment was this? She wondered in half annoyance.She decided to call her boyfriend, David. He had promised her that he was going to spend time with her a day before her birthday. For over two weeks, their relationship had gone almost downhill as David had been two busy for her.He kept cancelling each appointment she made to meet up with him; most of the times, he provided only flimsy excuses as reasons he could not meet her. She was almost getting tired of his nonchalance but, she decided to just talk things out with him. The eve o