COMPLICATED – Episode 8

Complicated 

 

Written by princess Juliet 

 

 

Episode 8

 

His weakness

 

Within seconds, the news about Jayden’s research discovery had gone viral and many were beginning to praise and commend him for his excellent work and courage.

 

But all of this didn’t seem to move him. He sat there in a taxi, not listening, but deep in thought on his way home from the airport, thinking about his life, his future and about the career path he had chosen.

 

‘Was the stress really worth it?’ His chest heaved, and he let out a deep breath as he diverted his thoughts to the beautiful,but annoying filipino girl.

 

Strange as it may seem, he found himself smiling inside and out. But why?……

 

“We are here.” Announced the taxi driver, suddenly cutting into his thoughts and he looked up to see that they were parked right in front of the mansion’s gate.

 

‘Wow! So fast!’ He alighted after paying the driver and walked through the gate and straight into the sitting room where his parents sat, watching the news headlines with what appeared to be a keen interest.

 

“Hi there.”He drawled lazily and only then did they notice him.

 

“Jayden,”Mary called out his name, “How..How…in the world…did you do it?” The news came as a complete shock to her.

 

Jayden had no ready answers to her question. He merely glanced at her and smirked when he saw her expression, it looked so funny to him.

 

“I’m exhausted guys, I need to go freshen up.”He simply said and started walking towards the staircase

 

 

“It’s all because of her, right?” His dad’s question brought him to a standstill and he slowly clenched his fist as vague memories of his childhood flooded his mind.

 

“You still can’t forget her right?”Trent continued, his voice was so low and the atmosphere in the room so tense. “Why Jayden, why? It’s been over ten years now, Why is it so hard for you to move on?”

 

Jayden stood without a word or gesture, his hands was stiffened and his gaze fixed straight ahead, like a man frozen into silence.

 

 

“……She is already dead, for crying out loud!”

 

 

“That’s enough, dad.”He suddenly shouted in a loud, angry voice and turned abruptly to face his father,

 

“What do you know? Why’re you acting like you know me, like you care?”His blue eyes was glowing red with anger, His face livid, and the veins was standing out his neck.

 

For once, Trent was confused on what to do or say, he was completely taken aback. He looked at his wife helplessly, expecting her to say something, just anything but Mary was lost in a world of her own.

 

 

“Forget her, you say.”Jayden snorted in derision. “I’m sorry dad but that may never happen. She took a part of me along with her to the grave and…and……”His voice caught in his throat mid sentence, weakening him and that triggered his anxiety attack. He began gasping for breathe and clutching his chest. “My…drugs, my……drugs pleaaasse.” He staggered forward on trembling legs, nearly falling, but Mary was quick to catch him.

 

“Go get his drugs, Trent.”She screamed piercingly.

 

Trent was too scared to move, he stood still staring at his son with wide open- eyes.

 

“Now.” Mary began to cry. She wrapped her arms around Jayden and drew him close to her bosom.

 

Jayden tried to pull away, but he was just too weak. “Get…me…my…drugs,please.” Hearing the pain in his son’s voice brought Trent to his senses.

He hastily ran up the stairs to Jayden’s room and frantically began to search his drawer, all the while cursing the ungrateful family who had made his son this way.

 

He found the pill bottle hidden in some dark corner, retrieved it and ran back down to the sitting room.

 

“Here, son! This is the drugs.” He took out two pills from the bottle and forced it into Jayden’s mouth.

 

 

Jayden coughed at first, and then began chewing slowly. “Water, mum.”He gasped, holding Mary tightly and she immediately gave him a glass of water which he drank too quickly.

 

He instantly felt like himself again and very slowly, and with a little difficulty rose to his feet.

 

“You need to rest a little, Jayden.”Mary tried to stop him, but he completely ignored her and trotted up the stairs to the sound proof study room—Greg’s favourite place.

 

“Greg.” He called out his name and opened the door, looking around but Greg wasn’t in there, he wasn’t anywhere in the house either.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~Hobsons hospital~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Greg Hobsons sat comfortably behind a low desk, with a few jottings on slips of paper before him, and was watching the news from the television hung on the wall in front of him, his curly blonde hair was covering his left eyes as always.

 

 

Jayden discovered the cure? Wow! He was completely blown away by the news. ‘But how did he do it? I mean that particular cure research was almost impossible, if not impossible to discover.’He absentmindedly began to tap his desk, his mind was jumbled up with different kinds of thoughts.

 

 

The sudden sound of his phone ringing snapped him out of it. He stared down at it to check out the caller and noticed it was his—-mum.

 

‘Jeez! Why is she calling by this time of the day? Doesn’t she know that I’d be busy?’ Reluctantly, he received it and held the phone to his ear.

 

“Speak.” He grunted and his mum, Mary sighed on the other end.

 

“I just called to tell you that your brother has returned.”

 

“Okay.” Greg was a bit disappointed, ‘is this the reason why she called?’He was at a loss as to what to think.

 

Mary sighed again before she continued. “He had a panic attack and……”

 

“Again?” Greg cut in abruptly,his whole body was now palpitating with fear. “How is he now? Is he alright? Have he made used of his drugs?”He rushed his questions.

 

 

“Yes.” Mary answered and he let out a sigh of relief. ‘Thanks goodness.’

 

“He is asleep now,” Mary told him, “he literally tore the house down searching for you,”She Joked and Greg gave a little chuckle.

 

“But did he really discover the drug to cure leukaemia?” He wanted to be sure.

 

“It’s all over the news, child.”Was Mary response.

 

Greg nodded slightly and his lips formed a thin smile. “I guess he is a better doctor than I am.”

 

“You are the elder one, Greg.” Mary retorted sharply. “You ought to be the better doctor.”His mother words bruised his ego a little but he said nothing.

 

“You should return home on time,” Mary went on,”We need to start making preparation for your engagement party with Nancy.”

 

“But I am not ready for that, mum.” Greg voiced out his mind. “Can’t we just hold on till I’m ready to tolerate her presence? I don’t even like her and the feeling is mutual, she is completely obsessed with Jayden.”

 

“Then I guess your little brother is a better lover than you are.” Mary mocked him.

 

“What?” Greg was surprised, did she just say that to me?

 

“Just come home, son.” Mary plainly said and ended the phone call before he could respond.

 

Greg was baffled. He stared blankly at his phone, not knowing what else to do.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Finally! After a really hectic day, Atarah arrived home.

 

She dragged her tired self into the house and kicked off her shoes before collapsing on the sofa.

 

“I’m home, mom.” She announced her presence and her mother came running from the kitchen.

 

“Welcome child.” Her face lit up with a smile at seeing her daughter and she happily walked up to her. “How was your journey back home? I hope it wasn’t stressful.”Her protective eyes was wandering over her daughter’s face and searching for only gods knows what.

 

Atarah stared at her mother and smiled affectionately as she remembered her grandma’s words.

 

“Just talk to her child, love her, that is what she needs right now.”

 

 

To her mother’s surprise, she got up from the sofa and hugged her tightly.

 

“I don’t know why you left me mum, and I don’t care to know the reason. I’m now ready to open up to you, let’s start all over again.”She whispered softly.

 

Stunned, her mother was speechless for a long moment. She gently disengaged herself from her daughter’s embrace and just stared at her face.

 

“Thanks anak,” She spoke after a few seconds and Atarah smiled warmly at her, encouraging her to continue.

 

“I will make up for all the lost years and be there for you always, I promise!” Her throat constricted and unshed tears stung her eyes. “I love you so much baby.”

 

 

“I love you too mum.” Atarah gave her a peck on the cheek and began walking towards her room, hesitated for a moment, and then turned to her mother again.

 

“I’ve gotten a part time job that pays well, mum.”

 

“Really?”Her mother was so delighted to hear that.”

 

“Yes, at a very big hospital. I’ll be working as a personal assistant to Jayden Hobsons,”She grinned from ear to ear, “you’ve heard about him right?”

 

 

Her mother paused, shocked and confused. No, you can’t work for the Hobsons,’ She almost yelled out, but then thought about it.

 

She would ruin her daughter’s mood this way and moreover, twelve years is a long time, it is enough for them to forget about everything right? She heaved a defeated sigh and walked across to the kitchen.

 

“Just be careful child.”she finally gave in but deep down inside, she was scared, very scared……

 

 

*

TBC