Chapter Five

The door to the car opened and a familiar person came out.his Jade green eyes lingered on Ivy as he wondered why she was out in the streets in the middle of the night.

Janet heaved a sigh of relief when she realized who it was.

"Raymond"she muttered out.

"Can you explain what you are doing here in the middle of the night?"he questioned.

"It's a long story,"she replied.

"It's not safe here, we will talk about this later"he said, opening the door for her and she entered into the car still holding her bed.

He closed the door for her before going to the other side of the car.he opened the door and entered closing the door.

His gaze went to Ivy who was looking through the window.that was when he noticed the big bag she was holding.

Meanwhile Ivy was uneasy,she didn't know how to explain to Raymond about her situation.he was the last person she wanted to see her in this condition.he has already helped her a lot.

"What are you doing with a bag and why are you out here alone in the middle of the night?"his voice interrupted her thoughts and she sighed.

"Like I told you before, this is a long story,you won't understand"she replied hoping that he would stop asking her more questions.

"Then make me understand,"he said to her.

"Please Raymond,I don't have strength to start explaining to you"she said to him.

"Okay,I will take you home then"he said to her as he inserted his car key in the ignition.

"No!"she shouted and Raymond stared at her with a surprise look on his face.

"What's actually the Matter with you?"he asked.

Ivy knew that there was no need hiding what happened from him.he was the only one who would be able to help her out tonight.she had no option but to tell him everything that happened.

"You were chased out of the house in the middle of the night and you didn't see the need to tell me,instead you preferred wandering around in the streets so that something bad would happen to you,do you really consider me as your friend?"Raymond asked her when she was done narrating her ordeal to him.

"I didn't want to be a liability to you because you have done a lot of things for me,"she said to him.

"I never complained about helping you,you are my friend and you are not a liability to Me"he said to her before driving away.

They didn't talk to each other till he arrived in his house.he parked his car in the garage and they stepped out.Ivy was uncomfortable with the silence.

"I am sorry"she said to him.

"I have heard you but don't try that again"he replied and she smiled before they walked into his house.

Ivy looked around the house, everything was still the same.she has been here countless times when she was still a kid.

"You can sleep in that room,"he said, pointing to a room which she recognized as his little sister's room.

"But that is Alice's room"she said to him.

"She is not around, infact my whole family is not around,they all traveled to city A for a vacation and they are not coming back anytime soon so you can stay here for the meantime"he replied.

"Woww,so we are all alone in this house"

"Yes,"Raymond replied.

"You can freshen up,I will be in my room"he said before going upstairs.

IVY'S POV.

After bathing,I changed into my night wear and lay on the bed.I needed this sleep more than ever because tomorrow would be a stressful day for me.

I will work hard so I can raise enough money before my dad is discharged.

I have decided to keep him in the house of old where old people are taken care of.i am tired of working day and night and at the end of the day,the money I make will not be enough.there is no way my life will continue this way.i am educated and I need a nice job that pays well and for me to achieve that,I need to leave this city.

Soon I fell asleep.

*****

*****

Five days later.

Ivy's father has been discharged from the hospital and she took him to the house of the old.she also deposited money for his needs.

"You are taking a huge step in your life now,I am happy for you and I also want you to forgive me because I can't provide your needs for you"her father said to her.

"Dad, don't say that,you already did a lot for me,I should be the one apologizing because I haven't paid you back for all you did for me"she said to her father.

"I pray you achieve your dreams"he said to her.

Ivy held his hand and smiled at him.

"I promise you that I will and when I do,I will come back for you"she said to him and they hugged each other.

"Dad,if you are not feeling well, remember to call me on the phone,I will come back immediately"she said to him.

"Don't worry about your father,I will take care of him"Raymond said to her.

"Thank you so much Ray"she said to Raymond who smiled at her.

"Bye dad,I will call you on the phone"she said to him before leaving with Raymond.

As soon as she was in Raymond's car,the tears she was trying to hold rolled down her cheeks.

"If you are going to cry like this,then don't leave"Raymond said to her and she wiped her tears with her handkerchief.

"I was not joking when I said that I would take care of your father,you don't have to worry about him besides you are going to call each other on the phone"he said to her.

"Thank you so much for everything"she said to Raymond.

"You don't have to thank me,it's nothing,"he replied.

"Where will you stay when you get there?"he asked.

"I contacted my friend who is living there and she agreed to take me in until I find an apartment,"she replied.

"Okay, that's good,take this money"he said handing over some dollar notes to her.Ivy was surprised,she wasn't expecting that .

"You don't have to do this"she said to him trying to give him back the money but Raymond refused.

"Don't be stubborn, just accept it"he said to her and Ivy thanked him.

In a short time they arrived at the train station.Ivy bade Raymond goodbye before leaving to catch her train.

After a long wait,it was time for her train to leave,she looked back at the city where she grew up,the city that held all her good and bad memories.finally,she was leaving it.she was not happy leaving her dad behind but she had to leave to find a good job so that they can be comfortable in life.

Eight hours later,the train stopped at City A and Ivy got off.it was a long journey and her butts were hurting from sitting down for a long time.She didn't know that city A was this far.

She took time to admire the view of city A.she has heard many stories about city A and how beautiful the city was and the stories were not wrong.city A was really a very beautiful place.it was different from City B,her city.

She brought out her phone to check the address her friend Rose sent to her.she boarded a cab.

"Where are you headed?"the cab driver asked her.

"Zuma park"she replied and the cab man nodded.

Few minutes later,they arrived at the park and she paid the driver before alighting from the cab with her bag.

She sat down on a bench admiring the scenario.she smiled seeing some children playing happily.she remembered when she would go to the park with her father as a kid but now everything has changed.she was all grown up.

Her phone rang interrupting her thoughts.she checked the caller ID,it was her best friend Rose.she pressed the answer button immediately.

"Have you arrived?"came Rose's voice.

"Yes,I am in the park now,"she replied.

"Okay, which side are you?"Rose asked her and she described where she was for her.

Soon,she saw a young woman approaching her,a smile crossed her face on seeing the woman.it was her best friend Rose.

"Ivy"Rose called her,smiles all over her face.

"Rose"Ivy shouted and they hugged each other.

"You look so beautiful,"Ivy said to Rose.

"I guess my husband is taking good care of me,"Rose said to her, smiling.

"You look good too,"Rose said to her, accessing her with her eyes.

"Come on,I know you are trying to make me feel good,I know I look miserable now"Ivy said to her.

"I am not joking,you are beautiful,no matter the hardships you are passing through, you still look beautiful"Rose said to her.

"Whatever"came Ivy's reply.

"Let's go,"Rose said to her and the two friends left the park.

"So you own a car now,hmmm"Ivy said to Rose when they were in the car.

"Yes,my husband has been good to me,"Rose replied.

"What about you? Don't you think it's time for you to have your own family"Rose said to her.

"Having my own family now is not in my agenda,I have to build myself before thinking of having a family, come on Rose I am still twenty one"

"You are already ripe for marriage, at least your husband will take care of you and you won't have to suffer anymore"Rose said to her.

"I am more than capable of taking care of myself,I don't need a man to do that for me"Ivy replied to her Rose who didn't utter a word again.

Few hours later,they arrived at Rose's house,it was a well furnished three bedroom apartment.it was a stressful day for Ivy and all she wanted to do was rest.

Rose showed her the room she was going to stay in,Ivy felt so much joy in her.she was grateful to Rose for helping her.

"Thank you so much"she said to Rose who smiled at her.

"It's nothing Ivy besides you didn't fail to help me back then in school whenever I had problems,you are a good friend Ivy and I won't hesitate to help you whenever you need help"Rose replied.

"You can make yourself feel at home,I will go out for a while,if you feel hungry,you can go to the kitchen and find some food to eat"Rose said to her before leaving.

IVY'S POV.

My room was simple and comfortable.I dropped my bag at a corner of the room before going into the bathroom to take a bath.I spent a long time in the shower because the water helped to calm my nerves.

After taking my bath,I wrapped my towel around me and stepped into my room to see some clothes on my bed.I was surprised.

I walked towards my bed to check who it was from and I saw a letter on the bed.it was from Rose.I smiled,I was really lucky to have such a friend.

Rose had been my best friend since our high school days before she relocated with city A with her parents.I lost contact with her but after a long time,she reconnected with me sending me an invitation to her wedding.I was surprised but at the same time Happy for her but I couldn't attend her wedding then,she was mad at me but after my explanation to her,she forgave me and we have been talking since then.

I packed my hair into a bun and changed to the cloth she gave me.I was hungry so I decided to go to the kitchen and prepare something to eat.

I checked the refrigerator,it was filled to the brim that I became confused about what to eat. In the end,I decided to make Noodles since it was much faster.

I was slicing the vegetables humming my favorite song when I felt a strong hand around my waist.I became stiff immediately.