Chapter Thirteen

He knocked gently on the door, and it was immediately opened as if they had been waiting for him to show up. Without bothering to respond to the greetings given to him, he rushed to the bed his father laid on, receiving IV drip, wearing nothing but shorts and breathing heavily. Chief Alade's face welcomed a broad smile on seeing his only offspring, Tade, walk into his hotel room where he was receiving treatment. 'You're finally here," He said, acknowledging his presence. Tade went over to his bed and touched his head and neck to measure his temperature. His temperature seemed to be normal, so, Tade guessed the issue was not all that serious. 'How are you feeling?" He asked, pulling a chair to his side. 'I'm feeling better, since I've seen you, but have you forgotten your manners?" His father responded, while throwing a question back at him. Tade prostrated on the floor, the cultural way for men to greet their elders in the Yoruba culture. 'É kàale, baba," ('Good evening, Father,") He said. 'É kàale, omo mi, è dide" (Good evening, my child, stand up), His father told him. Tade stood up, then dusted himself before sitting on the chair he had pulled out for himself. 'What happened?" He asked. Chief Alade heaved a deep sigh. 'Say something, dad. Why did your blood pressure suddenly shoot up? I thought you were doing better now. What's making you worried? I'm doing all the things you've always wanted me to do for the sake of your health, so, what is still bothering you?" Tade asked, looking really hurt. His father gave a small smile, pleased to know that in all, his son still loved and cared about him. 'You're not saying anything, why? Or did I make a mistake? Was the old man's son not found? Had my suggestion been wrong?" He asked, demanding an explanation for his father's condition. His father shook his head slowly. 'No, that's not it. As a matter of fact, I'm impressed with the suggestion you made. If not for you, those big-headed fools would have killed an old man for nothing. You were right: He knew where his son was hiding. Thanks to you, my boys have located his son, and his appointment has been fixed with my doctor. You know the drill, don't you?" His father asked, with a wink. Tade threw him a disgusted look. 'For someone who the doctor sounded so worried about, you're talking perfectly fine," He noted. 'I'll take that as a compliment," He said. 'Do whatever you please. I just want to know how you ended up receiving treatment when you seem delighted," Tade said. Chief Alade heaved a deep sigh again. Tade grew frustrated, and not wanting to become much more angry than he already was, stood up. 'Whatever it is, I'm glad you're fine now," He said, bowed his head, and turned his back, walking away. 'Do you remember your lesson teacher?" Chief Alade asked, after thinking for a moment on if he was to disclose what had happened to him or not. Tade stopped in his tracks and clenched his fists, as his father reminded him of Thomas Jibawo Ketu, the best thing that had ever happened to him. It was as though talking about him was a sacred topic in their home. After he had died, his father had tried cheering him up by badmouthing him, but he had stopped all sort of communications with him, and had rather found solace in reading Bukunmi's books. Those books were one of a kind; they had caused him guilt, hurt and peace at the same time, and he just couldn't fathom why. For almost six years, his relationship with his father had been strained, and it was only after his father had had a heart attack and was bedridden for months to the point that they all thought he was going to die, that he forgave him and tried to do his bidding in order to please him should he die. Ever since then, he had been scared of losing his father, and had lost his will to refuse his demands. They never spoke about Bukunmi's father, and had been living like nothing had happened; well, until today. 'Yes, why?" Tade asked, turning back around to face his father, with anger visible on his face. 'I...I..." 'You...you what?" Tade demanded in an almost loud voice, surprised at his own anger, which was rising against his will. 'I think I saw his daughter," His father said, finally letting the cat out of the bag. Tade's tightened fists loosened, as he knew that his father may have possibly been right. Bukunmi was the exact replica of her deceased father, and the resemblance was so striking that anyone could tell, even after a whole decade had passed since he left the world. 'She looked exactly like him. The eyes, the nose, the lips, even her height and the way she walked. I'd have said it was he if not that the face was young and belonged to a woman. When she spoke to me, it was as if he was talking through her..." 'Wait. She spoke to you?" He asked, interrupting Chief Alade's explanation. He nodded in the affirmative. 'What did she say?" He asked, curiosity swelling within him. 'She told me it was an honour to finally meet me," He responded, not mincing words. 'Is that all?" Tade asked, wondering what the fuss was all about if that's all Bukunmi had said. He nodded, then suddenly started breathing heavily. Tade rushed to his side and tried to calm him down, ordering one of his aides to get him a glass of water, which he assisted him in gulping down. 'You seem frightened. What's the matter?" He asked. 'She made a sign that she'll kill me," He replied, visibly shaken and afraid. 'That's not possible," He said. 'Please, stay and protect me from her," Chief pleaded, tears welling up in his eyes. At first, Tade thought his father had been overreacting, but looking at the vulnerable state he was in, he knew the man was actually in a terrible state. 'Listen to me, dad. You saw no one. All you saw was just a figment of your imagination," Tade said, knowing deep down that he was telling a lie. 'I swear, you know I'll never make up something of this sort after so many years have gone by, but I saw her, and she is coming to kill me," Chief said, trembling like a leaf. For a second, Tade thought he had made a mistake in giving Bukunmi an appointment in the company, and telling her to come to the conference. He had known his father would be there, but his stupid self hadn't thought of the outcome of his father meeting with Bukunmi. Even if he hadn't ran into her that day, he was definitely going to see her the next day, when she mounted the podium and gave a presentation on behalf of Welling Fam Heights. One look at his father who was shivering, not out of cold, but from fear and anxiety, with tears falling from his eyes, told him that he wasn't pretending to be afraid, but in all sincerity, was truly afraid and was at a loss on what to do. Clearing his throat, he spoke up. 'I have things to do, father. You have a lot of people to take care of you and protect you. I have to go now, please," He told him, finally getting a hold of his tongue. His father held him by the hand, preventing him from leaving the room. An irritated look sprang up on Tade's face, as he eyed his father's hand which was clasped firmly around his. 'What is it?" He asked, clenching his teeth. 'You should stay here tonight. What if she comes for me? Who will protect me?" He asked, his teeth clattering in fear. 'You have a lot of bodyguards with you. How in the world would anyone be able to harm you?" Tade replied scornfully. 'Still...can you report this issue to the police? I think I'd feel much more better if you do that," He said. 'Report this to the police, and tell them what exactly?" He asked, slightly raising his voice. 'Tell them someone threatened my life," He yelled exasperatedly. Tade scoffed. 'Should I also tell them why this someone threatened your life?" He asked, in a rhetorical manner. Chief's hand which had grabbed unto his suddenly dropped as he looked around, knowing that they were at a dead end. If Tade made any report to the police, they'd want to find out what led to the incident and why he was so afraid, and he could not afford to tell them the whole truth. 'We...we can't..." He stuttered, trying to say something upon that realisation, but failed to come up with anything. 'Yes, we can't tell them anything," Tade agreed, knowing what his father had to say. 'What will then happen to me?" He asked, a crestfallen look hugging his face. 'Nothing will happen to you. With all the bad things you've done, you shouldn't even be scared of anything bad happening to you. What exactly are you afraid of? Death? Haven't you lived too long already?" He spat. 'Sir!" One of the guards called, trying to call him to order. Tade went on. 'You saw nothing. It's just your past that is haunting you, and I wonder why it took too long for karma to start Its job. You deserve this fear you're feeling, but for Christ's sake, stop it already. Someone who has done what you've done should be brave enough to not get scared. If what you told me is even true, I'm sure she's no match for your men. If she truly exists, they'll kill her before she even gets to you, so, please, stop acting this way. You're just overreacting," He said, as honestly as he could. His father bit his lip, knowing every word he had said was true, and that the girl he was so sure that he had seen was somewhere out there, but could not hurt him even if she yearned desperately for it. 'I forgot for a moment that I am Chief Alade Wellington. Thank you for reminding me of that," He said, throwing a pleasant smile at Tade, feeling less afraid than he had been a few seconds ago. Tade forced a smile, to reciprocate his. 'You may go now," His father said, as he reached out to the bedside table for his medication. 'Do me a favour," Tade said. 'Yes?" 'Stay in your room and rest, then you can travel back to Lagos when you're better. Don't come for tomorrow's event, please. I may not believe you saw who you said you did, but just in case your eyes didn't fail you, I don't want you to see her again and develop a panic attack; worst still, a heart attack," He said. 'But she can't hurt me, that's what you said," Chief argued. 'I know, but what if your body betrays you and you forget that just like you did today?" 'I won't..." 'You are the only family I have, I don't want to lose you," Tade said, not just because he didn't want him to see Bukunmi again, but also because he meant every word of it. That statement tugged at his father's heart, and he felt overwhelmed with joy. There was a time his only son despised him, and he thought he had no one in the world, but through it all, knowing he actually had someone was so soothing and comforting. Chief heaved a sigh. 'Well, I'll stay away from the conference, if that's what will make you happy," He said, with a shrug of his shoulders. 'It'll make me very much happy," Tade affirmed. 'I think it's high time I started letting you participate more in the company. You should stand in my place when needed in the remaining days of this conference. Make me proud," He said. 'Always," Tade responded. 'You should go now, and do those things you have to do. Have a nice rest," Chief said to him. 'And you too, father," Tade said, and with a light bow, turned away and began walking out. Questions flooded his mind as he opened the door, leaving the room. If there ever came a time to choose between his father and Bukunmi, who would he protect? He hadn't expected something like this to occur. In fact, he had thought he needed to protect Bukunmi if his father should ever see her, and not the other way round. Perhaps, she was still the one who needed his protection and not his father. The poor girl had grown up without a father by her side, and she had experienced what led to his death with her own two eyes. She had gone through an emotional trauma, and his father probably deserved what he had gotten today, but still, his father was his father.