Mark, who was tired from the day's journey, slept immediately when he got on the bed. He slept off and did not bother himself much with the fact that he is to get married to someone else.
That would be something to be worried about some other time. And he even tried not to think about it because he knows how impossible it is to change his master's opinion. Except if Mr. Dandelion will one day wake up and revoke his statement, but as of now, he has to accept reality. In the morning of the next day, he woke up later than usual. He heard someone's voice in the room. And after a few moments, he realised it was Anna's voice. It's not something he is used to yet. "Yes sir. I am almost done preparing for school… I should wake him? Father, are you serious about this?... I am sorry," he heard her talk over the phone. He knew it was Mr. Dandelion. Mark wished they would allow him to sleep more. He stayed in bed and listened more to Anna talking with her father. She was being less rebellious than yesterday."It seems she has accepted this is how things will be," he convinced himself. She dropped the phone loudly. It's not her mobile phone. She did not move for a while, and after a few minutes, she walked close to him. He felt her sink into the bed beside him, and she tapped him almost immediately. He felt how cold her palm was. She must have just left the bathroom. It felt good knowing she was touching him. Even if he is not cool with the marriage aspect, a lady touching him is something that will always excite him. He stretched so it would seem he is just waking up. He turned towards her, and he saw a metallic ruler with her. She woke him up with that. "Eh?" He was surprised and annoyed. But he hid both of them. "Good morning?" He greeted. "Father said you should get ready. Be fast, we are already kate for school!" She barked the orders at him. She pulled away from the bed immediately. He felt embarrassed at how she treated him. Both of them are victims of their fathers's decision. She has as much to lose as him. He would not allow her to treat him as trash. But he could not talk to her. He could not raise his voice against her. He knew he would give her enough time to grieve. Mark entered the bathroom. It was way bigger than the one he was in, in the guest room, but he did not have enough time to admire it. He hurriedly took his bath. It was after that, that he realized he didn't have any clothes to wear. He came out of the bathroom with the towel tied around his waist. "Please, could you help me call Henry? I don't have any clothes to wear," he begged her. "It's in the drawer…" she replied without looking up. *Which?" "That one over…" she looked up in frustration but could not finish what he was saying. She realised she had not seen him well yesterday. His muscles are well defined and he does not have a hairy chest. He has the perfect jawline she had always seen in movies. And his wet hair was drawn back. It was nicely shaped. Even though it's not pitch perfect black, it was still an admirable colour. And the quantity too. She did not smile. She felt it would be cheating on her boyfriend if she admires his body. Even though he is the exact opposite of her boyfriend. The big boy whose muscles are not as well toned as Mark's own. She looked at Mark again, and she could swear that in a battle of strength, he would be on equal par with her boyfriend. "Where is the drawer?" He asked again. "It's that one," she pointed to a drawer right under her make up kit. "Thank you," he appreciated her, picked up the clothes and rushed back to the bathroom. He dressed up quick and came out. He saw that she was already done. "Father asked us to join him in the mansion," she said without waiting for him. She walked towards the door. Opened it and left almost immediately. Mark shrugged. He picked up a perfume that he saw on the table, and used it. He realised it had a feminine scent but he did not care. It would be better than not having a good scent at all. He went outside too. He saw Henry waiting for him. Anna already entered the car that is supposed to take them to school. "Sorry, Master Dandelion had some emergency. He already left. He told me to take you guys to school," Henry bowed before Mark. "Oh thank you. You shouldn't be doing that too," Mark corrected him. "Doing what?" "Bowing before me. I should be doing that," he smiled. "But you are my master," Henry argued. "But you are my elder. And I am merely in this position by chance, but you are there by right," Mark said. He walked towards the car. He went directly to the front seat. "Master, you are to sit beside her," Henry told him. "It doesn't matter where I sit. Let's just move," Mark replied. Henry entered the car and started the car. They drove off. Mark saw the two gatemen that were disturbing him yesterday, he smiled at them. They felt embarrassed. "Can you teach me how to drive?" Mark asked Henry immediately they got out of the compound. "That's not a decision I can make. I would have to ask Master Dandelion. Whatever he says would determine," Henry replied. "Does he have to know?" Mark said. Henry turned at him. Theirs met for a brief moment. "He will know eventually. We can't hide anything from him," Henry cautioned him. Anna hissed at the same time. Mark turned to look at her, he thought she hissed at him. But he realised it must be at what she is doing on her phone. "It's not you she is hissing at. She can't hear us. Her ears are plugged," Mark defended her. "Hmmm… I see."Fifteen minutes after they left home, Henry came to a stop in front of a building. A very large building almost as majestic as Mr. Dadnelion's home. It's painted in a unique colour. It has the colour of the short he is wearing. "Is this the school?" He asked. "Yes," Henry answered. "So should I get down here or you will take us inside.""You will walk inside," Henry answered. Mark came out immediately. He looked at the school once again. It has two gigantic buildings by the side. And looking through the gate, Mark saw lots of students dressed like him, hanging around the school. Some were in pairs, and some alone. He liked the atmosphere, but he tried hiding it. It would be the first time he will be around so many people of his age range. He felt like it would be an interesting adventure. An exhilarating experience. One he is looking forward to. "By the way, Mark, before you find out or you know places, you would have to stick with Anna for at least few weeks. You got that Anna?
The class went by slowly for Anna, and a bit averagely for Mark. Everything he learnt on class where things he already knew. But for the sake of revision, he was glad he attended. Also, there were some stuff that his master didn't hint on. Mark believe either they are completely useless or the biology teacher is just adding fillers to make her notes comprehensive. He could not imagine his master to be wrong when it comes to science. But he enjoyed how conversational the class was. And when the lecturer left, a mathematics teacher came in. Even though Mark isn't bad in the course, his lack of interest for the course makes him a bad student. The teacher left almost an hour later, and the bell rang for break. Mark stood up immediately and went to Anna. "Hey Anna," he called her. He knelt down before her. "What?" She replied with a little bit of hostility. "Ever since we got in here, I have been hungry. I need food. Can you take me to the canteen?" He asked her. Anna sighed. She look
Hiroshi came to school earlier than usual. It was time that he surprised his girlfriend. He had not seen her over the weekend, his father had made sure that he did not leave. He made mention of things like everywhere not being safe. Hiroshi understood his father even though he doesn't want his father's lifestyle to judge him. When he got to school, he went straight to the boy's dorm and met with his friends."Is it the end of the world?" Daniel asked with a smile on his face. "I bet it is," Manny replied. "Stop it," Hiroshi defended himself. He shook and hugged both of them. "Yeah, but why are you in school this early?""Nothing. I just had nothing to do at home, so there was no reason for me to come late," he lied. "You never had anything to do, yet you still come late.""Man's changed, I guess," Hiroshi replied. "Hmm. More of this," Daniel replied. Hiroshi could not tell them the reason he chose to come early. For the whole week, they would call him lover boy and all sorts o
Hiroshi came to school earlier than usual. It was time that he surprised his girlfriend. He had not seen her over the weekend, his father had made sure that he did not leave. He made mention of things like everywhere not being safe. Hiroshi understood his father even though he doesn't want this father's lifestyle to judge him. When he got to school, he went straight to the boy's dorm, and met with his friends."Is it the end of the world?" Daniel asked with a smile over his face. "I bet it is," Manny replied. "Stop it," Hiroshi defended himself. He shook and hugged both of them. "Yeah, but why are you in school this early?""Nothing. I just had nothing to do at home, so there was no reason for me to come late," he lied. "You never had anything to do, yet you still come late.""Man's changed, I guess," Hiroshi replied. "Hmm. More of this," Daniel replied. Hiroshi could not tell them the reason he chose to come early. For the whole week, they would call him lover boy and all sor
People stood all around the train's platform, expecting the train to arrive. Few were seated. Others were just standing around pressing their mobile phones. Despite being a place where few people were interested in talking to each other, it was still a very noisy place. A mother held her child close to her waist, he was wandering far from her. He would jump around, but she did not want him to hurt himself. They were standing close to the ends of the rail line, and she would not want her son to jump on to the rail track by either mistake or his curiosity, or whatever reason makes people fall into rail tracks. Also, she did not want him to step on others. It would be weird if he is the reason she would have to talk to people. She wanted to leave the train station as soon as possible. And far into the rail tracks, she saw a figure approaching her. Instead of it being the figure of an oncoming train, it appeared to be that of a man walking slowly towards her. She moved back a bit, scare
Dad?" A male voice from beyond the crowd called. John stretched himself to look at where the voice came from. The young man rushed down on his knees beside his father. "Dad, what's wrong?" "Is there any doctor here on the train? Please help me," he asked. No one answered him. He crawled to a man's knee. The man moved back. "Anyone at all? Please my father will reward you," the young man assured them. John wanted to move forward. But he wasn't sure who the man was. He was just escaping something, and he is not ready to plunge himself into the middle of another crisis. He looked back at the lady he sat down beside. She was still engrossed in her music, and the creepy man was still staring at her. It was when their eyes met, that the man seemed interested in what was going on. "What's happening?" The man asked loudly. He got the attention of the lady that had been ignoring him. She stood up and knelt on her chair. She turned and looked at the crowd. She removed her earpiece. "I am
"You do realise that we just saw a quack doctor try to heal your father. Won't you just wait till we get to the station and real doctors attend to your father?" A man advised the boy. "I agree with him. Especially this one that looks dirty and God knows where he came from," a woman supported the man. "But we don't know what's wrong with him and if it's an emergency," the boy defended John. "That's more reason why you should just be calm. Don't let them touch your father as they please," another replied. "Are you sure you can take care of him?" "With the little things I have here, I should be able to bring him back to consciousness. It's only normal that I givs him first aid, then…""He is only interested in the reward. You will be sorry when this man kills your father," someone else interrupted John. John looked into the boy's eyes. It was as if he was asking the boy his choice. The boy's eyes got red, and tears began dropping. John felt he must either be eighteen years or some l
Mr. Dandelion grabbed Mark's hand with a smile on his face. "Welcome boy," he shook Mark's hand. Mark bow to the man before him. He looked at Mr. Dandelion clearly and he questioned all he had been told about Dandelion. Right beside Mr. Dandelion is his grandson. His grandson looks strong and healthy but still could not be compared to his grandfather's shape. Mr. Dandelion was tall enough that Mark had to raise his head slightly up to see the man's facial features. Since he got to Merrydam, he had not been afraid of anyone or surprised by anything. Not even the way he was treated by the security guards. But he is rather surprised and a bit scared by Dandelion. Dandelion has the facial features of what he had always classified as a real man. Just the perfect body. And a very big smile on his face. A smile that intimidates Mark"Thank you sir!" He replied and returned his smile. "Glad you made it. Let's go inside," Dandelion walked towards his car. Mark didn't follow immediately. D
Hiroshi came to school earlier than usual. It was time that he surprised his girlfriend. He had not seen her over the weekend, his father had made sure that he did not leave. He made mention of things like everywhere not being safe. Hiroshi understood his father even though he doesn't want this father's lifestyle to judge him. When he got to school, he went straight to the boy's dorm, and met with his friends."Is it the end of the world?" Daniel asked with a smile over his face. "I bet it is," Manny replied. "Stop it," Hiroshi defended himself. He shook and hugged both of them. "Yeah, but why are you in school this early?""Nothing. I just had nothing to do at home, so there was no reason for me to come late," he lied. "You never had anything to do, yet you still come late.""Man's changed, I guess," Hiroshi replied. "Hmm. More of this," Daniel replied. Hiroshi could not tell them the reason he chose to come early. For the whole week, they would call him lover boy and all sor
Hiroshi came to school earlier than usual. It was time that he surprised his girlfriend. He had not seen her over the weekend, his father had made sure that he did not leave. He made mention of things like everywhere not being safe. Hiroshi understood his father even though he doesn't want his father's lifestyle to judge him. When he got to school, he went straight to the boy's dorm and met with his friends."Is it the end of the world?" Daniel asked with a smile on his face. "I bet it is," Manny replied. "Stop it," Hiroshi defended himself. He shook and hugged both of them. "Yeah, but why are you in school this early?""Nothing. I just had nothing to do at home, so there was no reason for me to come late," he lied. "You never had anything to do, yet you still come late.""Man's changed, I guess," Hiroshi replied. "Hmm. More of this," Daniel replied. Hiroshi could not tell them the reason he chose to come early. For the whole week, they would call him lover boy and all sorts o
The class went by slowly for Anna, and a bit averagely for Mark. Everything he learnt on class where things he already knew. But for the sake of revision, he was glad he attended. Also, there were some stuff that his master didn't hint on. Mark believe either they are completely useless or the biology teacher is just adding fillers to make her notes comprehensive. He could not imagine his master to be wrong when it comes to science. But he enjoyed how conversational the class was. And when the lecturer left, a mathematics teacher came in. Even though Mark isn't bad in the course, his lack of interest for the course makes him a bad student. The teacher left almost an hour later, and the bell rang for break. Mark stood up immediately and went to Anna. "Hey Anna," he called her. He knelt down before her. "What?" She replied with a little bit of hostility. "Ever since we got in here, I have been hungry. I need food. Can you take me to the canteen?" He asked her. Anna sighed. She look
Fifteen minutes after they left home, Henry came to a stop in front of a building. A very large building almost as majestic as Mr. Dadnelion's home. It's painted in a unique colour. It has the colour of the short he is wearing. "Is this the school?" He asked. "Yes," Henry answered. "So should I get down here or you will take us inside.""You will walk inside," Henry answered. Mark came out immediately. He looked at the school once again. It has two gigantic buildings by the side. And looking through the gate, Mark saw lots of students dressed like him, hanging around the school. Some were in pairs, and some alone. He liked the atmosphere, but he tried hiding it. It would be the first time he will be around so many people of his age range. He felt like it would be an interesting adventure. An exhilarating experience. One he is looking forward to. "By the way, Mark, before you find out or you know places, you would have to stick with Anna for at least few weeks. You got that Anna?
Mark, who was tired from the day's journey, slept immediately when he got on the bed. He slept off and did not bother himself much with the fact that he is to get married to someone else. That would be something to be worried about some other time. And he even tried not to think about it because he knows how impossible it is to change his master's opinion. Except if Mr. Dandelion will one day wake up and revoke his statement, but as of now, he has to accept reality. In the morning of the next day, he woke up later than usual. He heard someone's voice in the room. And after a few moments, he realised it was Anna's voice. It's not something he is used to yet. "Yes sir. I am almost done preparing for school… I should wake him? Father, are you serious about this?... I am sorry," he heard her talk over the phone. He knew it was Mr. Dandelion. Mark wished they would allow him to sleep more. He stayed in bed and listened more to Anna talking with her father. She was being less rebellious
"So now that both of you know this, you will be staying together in this room for the main time. Get to know each other better okay?" Mr. Dandelion said. Mark nodded. Anna didn't give a response and he walked out of the room. Mark did not move from where he was sitted. He understands the amount of hatred Anna probably has towards him. And he understands if she would not talk to him at all. So he didn't say anything to her. She was sobbing now. "Hey," he greeted her. She ignored him. "Can I say something?" He asked her. Anna did not respond. She did not even look towards him. "Truth is I am as surprised as you are right now. I never thought this is what I came here to do. I thought it would be a simple bodyguard mission, and all I would have to do was protect Me. Dandelion or someone in his family. I am from Port Harcourt," she said. She gasped. He knew he got her attention. "I was an adventurer and all I ever did was either make researches about new things or protect people. I do
Mark sat alone in his room. Wondering how things turned this way. His master didn't tell him this was what he would be coming to face. His master did not give him any information at all. All he knew was that he would come to see Mr. Dandelion and stay for a while. He never knew he would be getting married. The only thing that excites him is the thought of having to stay in this beautiful apartment. There was nothing more perfect than that. The home he had admired immediately he saw it, will be a place he will be living in. And to top it off, married to the daughter of the house. How unexpected luck did he get. He was still on the bed when he heard footsteps. They weren't fast. They were striding slowly towards him. He figured it must be Mr. Dandelion. But then underneath the large striding is a quick short one. Mark knew it must be his daughter's. He stood up and arranged himself. He sat at the edge of the bed, expecting a knock. But to his surprise, Mr. Dandelion opened the door
Mark coughed the food in his mouth out. It splashed just beside the one in the plate. "What?" Everyone on the table gasped. Mark looked up at Mr. Dandelion. "Uhm… sir, that's not why I am here," Mark protested. "It is," Dandelion handed him the letter that Mark brought from his boss. It read that Mark was sent there as per agreement between both of them. It was agreed after Mark was to marry Dandelion's youngest daughter. "Dad, that's not possible," a lady stood up and bangs the table before her. She shot an angry eye at her father. Her frown made her look fierce. A spitting image of Dandelion himself, except more feminine. Mark wondered if her smile would be as beautiful and reassuring as that of Dandelion. "Anna!" A woman responded. "What mother? Your husband has spoken and you can't go against him? Why would he pick such a barbaric boy for me? You saw him when he walked in this afternoon, didn't you? He was…""Anna!" A man screamed at her. He is the closest to Dandelion. His
Mr. Dandelion grabbed Mark's hand with a smile on his face. "Welcome boy," he shook Mark's hand. Mark bow to the man before him. He looked at Mr. Dandelion clearly and he questioned all he had been told about Dandelion. Right beside Mr. Dandelion is his grandson. His grandson looks strong and healthy but still could not be compared to his grandfather's shape. Mr. Dandelion was tall enough that Mark had to raise his head slightly up to see the man's facial features. Since he got to Merrydam, he had not been afraid of anyone or surprised by anything. Not even the way he was treated by the security guards. But he is rather surprised and a bit scared by Dandelion. Dandelion has the facial features of what he had always classified as a real man. Just the perfect body. And a very big smile on his face. A smile that intimidates Mark"Thank you sir!" He replied and returned his smile. "Glad you made it. Let's go inside," Dandelion walked towards his car. Mark didn't follow immediately. D