Chapter 4

Joe didn't have a phone. Even after staying for a whole year in an apartment, he couldn't afford the lowest thing. He decided to make use of the street telephone. 

Joe walked briskly. He walked into the telephone center. He wanted to make a call, but he was reminded that he can't make a call unless he insert some coins into the telephone.

Joe was frustrated. He had no money on him. He hissed and he walked out of the telephone center. He sat on the ground in frustration.

That same moment, a young boy sighted him. He was passing by.

He looked at how wretched Joe was. He had compassion on him and he walked close to him.

"Hello, sir. What are you doing here alone?"

Joe raised his head. He shot a glare at him. "Boy. I am tired of everything. I want to make a call, but I don't even have a penny. I am just tired."

His voice was filled with frustration. The boy decided to put a smile on his face.

"Don't be tired. Take this to make your call. This is all I have." The little boy gave Joe some coins. That little boy was a lifesaver. He couldn't have expected such from that kind of person.

"Thank you so much." Joe was grateful. The boy went on his way. Joe stood on his feet hurriedly, he inserted the coins.

The call went through. She picked up.

"Hello, who is this?" Her voice was charming and alarmingly beautiful.

Joe swallowed the saliva in his mouth. "It's Joe. The guy from the restaurant." 

"Wow. How are you?"

The mistake Sophie made was to ask how Joe was. Joe poured out his frustration.

"I am tired of everything. It seemed the world had turned its back on me. Right now, I don't even have a place to lay my head." All Joe wanted was a place to pour his sad heart.

Joe got more than he bargained for. Sophie was moved with compassion.

"Where are you now?" Joe exhaled. "Line 6, Washington Street."

"Okay. Stay calm. I will come pick you up." Joe was taken aback. He couldn't believe what he just heard. That wasn't the reason he called in the first place. He hadn't asked for help before she volunteered.

Thirty minutes later, Joe was met with the shock of his life when a luxurious pink car parked in front of him. Sophie stepped out of the car.

"I am sorry Joe that it took me this long to come pick you up. The traffic was heavy. Get in the car and let's go." Joe felt it was a dream. He didn't expect she would show up at all. 

Without an utterance, he walked into the car. "Thank you so much, ma. I am really grateful."

Sophie smiled. She drove as fast as she could and it wasn't long when they arrived home. 

Sophie's father; Mr Ben, had been restless after he saw how his daughter stormed out of the house. He was earnestly waiting for her return so he could ask what was wrong. 

Joe and Sophie stepped out of the car. And when Sophie opened the door, Ben raised his head. He sighed intensely.

Before Ben could speak, Joe walked into the same mansion in his tattered clothings. Ben couldn't believe his eyes. It was shocking. He finds it very difficult to believe that his daughter would rush out of the house because of a poverty shrunken man.

He gave his daughter a benefit of doubt.

"Sophie. Why did you storm out of the house like that? And who In God's name is this mad man?"

Joe felt ridiculed, but he maintained his stand.

"Father. He is not mad. He is my friend. His name is Joe. He got into some mess and he doesn't have anywhere to stay. Can you let him stay here tonight?"

Ben couldn't believe his ear. He shrunk his face. "Wait… let me get this straight. Was it because of this man you rushed out like that?"

Sophie swallowed the saliva in her mouth. "Yes father. I can't let him sleep in the street."

Ben was disappointed in his daughter. "You are unbelievable. I can't expect that you would go out there to bring back a disgusting man to sleep in my mansion. You didn't even ask for my permission before you brought him in." Those words were mean and harsh. 

"I am sorry father. I should have asked you." "Please, let him stay for this night."

Ben grinded his teeth. "Okay, fine. Just tonight and tomorrow, I don't want to see him here again."

Sophie was happy. She nodded her head.

"Thank you." Joe's voice pierced Ben's ear and all he could do was to cover his nose due to the odor that oozed from Joe's mouth. Ben refrain himself from speaking. He walked away.

Joe wasn't concerned. At least, he would have a place to lay his head. He walked with Sophie until she brought him to the guest room. That was where Joe freshened up. Sophie gave him new clothings for that night.

The next day. Sophie was the first to appear in Joe's room. She wanted to know all about him. That was when Joe narrated everything he had passed through.

Sophie realized life had been unfair to him. "Don't worry. From now on, everything about you will change." 

Joe was happy. At last, good things are beginning to happen. Little did Joe know that his misery was just about to start. 

Sophie took Joe to a boutique. She bought him clothings and she elevated his status. 

It was all a bad idea for Sophie's father. In fact, he hated seeing them together. 

One day, he called his daughter to warn her about Joe.

"Sophie. I don't like your closeness with Joe. I want you to stop being his friend." Sophie sighed.

"Father. That man had gone through a lot. It would only be humane if I stand by him." 

Ben grinded his teeth. "You can be his friend, but don't you dare fall for him."

Sophie widened her eyes with displeasure. She had already fallen for him. Everything she was doing was out of love. It was impossible for her to reverse it.

Sophie rented an apartment for Joe. She took him out of the trenches and after so many days, Joe fell in love with her.

When Sophie realized this, she opened up her feelings to Joe.

They were at a coffee stand when this happened.

"Joe. I have been meaning to tell you this for a while…" Joe wondered what drama was about to play out.

"Okay." Joe was all ears. "I love you, Joe. I have been trying to hide these feelings. Believe me, but I can't fight it anymore."

Joe's face molded with a smile. He felt the same way. "You don't have to hide your feelings. I love you too."

That marked the beginning of their relationship. It was all rosy in the beginning until one precious day. Sophie was invited to a grand party by her friends. It was mandatory that she bring her man along. 

A lot of Sophie's friends had heard some background news about the status of Joe. They wanted to find out if it was true.

Sophie accepted the invite. She spoke to Joe about it and Joe agreed to it. The both of them arrived at the party stylishly, but on that day the universe dealt with Joe in an unbearable manner.

Sophie's friends reminded Joe of his status after Sophie introduced him as her boyfriend. They mocked Sophie to an extent that Sophie couldn't take it anymore.

"Joe. Let's go." They left the event that day in anger. Sophie was left to rethink her decision. But after a lot of thoughts, she arrived at one conclusion. She wants Joe to be her husband. 

It was an insane decision, but she felt that would be the only way to stop her friends from bullying her man.

Little did Sophie know that things were just about to get worse.