His Ascension

Betrayed by love

Ken tossed from one edge of his small bed to the other. The tiny square bed like the ones used in dormitories squeezed itself by the left corner of the small room. Underneath the bed was his luggage bag, the few shoes he owns, and some stuff. A small wooden table accommodated his books, a loaf of bread, and a can of soda. The only stool in the room held up his dirty clothes and an old school bag. The only space he had was by the right. He usually pulls his stool and table to that corner to study. His abode was a tiny single apartment, a few meters away from his high school.

Ken adjusted the heart-shaped brown pillow that supported his neck and faced the white ceiling with a sigh. He pulled the strand of his jet black hair making its way to his face and placed it behind his ear. He rolled his forest green eyes around and blinked repeatedly. The waves of anxiety were enveloping him.

He darted his gaze to the left and caught the ugly opening on the glass window glaring at him. The rag had slipped out. The window broke a few days ago and fixing it will cost him a fortune so he stuffed the rag to seal the opening.

The phone resting on the table beside his bed vibrated. Ken abruptly sat up. He grabbed the phone with trembling hands and checked the notification. 

"Damn it!"

He heaved a deep sigh of frustration and positioned the phone on the bed beside him after deleting the message. At that point, Ken felt that fate was playing games with him. His colleagues from high school started receiving their college offers two days back but he was yet to receive any offer. He had been checking his phone countless times but the messages and emails he was receiving weren't what he needed now. 

Ken rested his back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. What does life have in store for him? he wondered and instantly slipped into deep thoughts. Were his applications rejected? He discarded the thought by shaking his head in disapproval. His classmates will kill to get his grades and if he couldn't boast about the quality of his life, he could at least boast about his excellent grades.

Ken's gaze shifted to the table and a glorious smile stretched the corners of his mouth. He picked the round-shaped portrait on the table and caressed it with two fingers. 

He couldn't wait for his college admission. He can't wait to get to college and work hard toward giving Miranda the life she deserves. No matter what happens, he was going to get to college, study medicine, become a doctor, and get married to his sweet Miranda. They'll finally have the three kids they've always talked about and then tour around the world together.

Ken smiled as he imagined the life he had envisioned with the love of his life. He loves Miranda more than words could announce. He cared about her more than any damn thing in the world and he will give her the world if he could. 

Orphaned at a young age Ken had told Miranda countless times that she was the family he wanted. He revered her and her smile was enough to keep him going for a long while.

He lowered the portrait from his chest and fixed his gaze on her beautiful face. He loved that photo of her so much that he had it framed. The way her hazel eyes shone in the photograph and her beautiful smile warmed his heart at every glance.

Ken's phone gave a buzz and when he swiped down the phone screen, he jumped out of the bed with a scream, flinging Miranda's portrait to a corner.

"Yes! Yes!" he screamed and slapped the bed repeatedly. He knelt by the bed and gave a victorious outcry.

His admission offer finally came and it was from the prestigious Harvard. Ken took another glance at the phone and smiled as the feeling of euphoria took over every corner of his skin. Was he really going to Harvard? he shook his head in disbelief and rose to his feet.

"Miranda. I must show this to Miranda." he declared and quickly pulled out the luggage bag underneath his bed.

He slipped into a gas blue gean trousers and wore a loose black tee shirt. He jumped into his favorite leather shoes and grabbed his phone from the bed. Ken was panting heavily while he was shutting the door. He ran out to the street while tucking his faded brown wallet into the back pocket of his trousers.

Ken hailed a cab and jumped into the back seat. "TRINITY STREET," he told the middle-aged driver and rested his back against the car seat.

The driver adjusted the front mirror with his left hand, and his right hand on the speedometer. He caught Ken smiling like a sheep at the sight of grass.

"You are one happy boy I guess ." the driver asserted and took off.

Ken pressed his eyes against each other and opened them with a smile. "I'm the happiest man in the world right now," he replied.

"Oh, I see! You won a lottery?" the driver took a sharp turn.

"It's more than a lottery," Ken replied with a smile.

"What could be more than winning a lottery boy?" 

There was no reply from Ken. He smiled and gazed up. He was still basking in the euphoria of his latest achievement. Harvard was all he could think about.

"Can you please drive a bit faster?"

"I'm driving the way I should." the driver fired back.

Ken stamped his legs slightly. He couldn't wait for the cab to pull off in TRINITY STREET and come to a halt. He imagined how excited Miranda will be when she finally learns that he was going to Harvard. 

When she turned nineteen last month, he couldn't get her a proper gift. He both her just a towel and a pair of sandals from the peanut he earned from his job as a bartender. He would have done more. Things will finally fall in place. When he graduates from Harvard, he will get a decent job and gift her all she ever wanted

"Harvard" he mumbled and reckoned on the narrative people have of the institution.

It is said that the best are made from Harvard and he will soon be part of that clique. He will balance his schedule and juggle between work and study as he did in high school. Maybe, he might take up a job as a bartender again to finance his pursuit.

"We are here." the diver announced.

Ken opened his eyes and sat up. He was so lost in thoughts that he didn't realize the car came to a stand at the junction. He settled the fair and stepped out of the cab smiling brightly.

He turned left and began hurrying toward Miranda's apartment. When he got to the door, he noticed that it was barely shut.

Ken pushed the door open in excitement and was shocked at the spectacle before him. His jaw dropped and the ground seem to disappear below his feet.

Miranda's back was pinned to the wall by a boy whose face Ken couldn't see b. The boy had long blonde hair, he was standing, legs apart while Miranda's elegant legs were wrapped around him. Her hands were swapping positions from his blonde hair down to his back while he held her butt with both hands. Miranda and the blonde haired were taking each other's tongues, in a passionate kiss.

"Mi..ran