Chapter Twenty-Six
Damian searched for Angela everywhere but couldn't find her. So, he unhappily dragged himself to the next class where Xavion was already waiting for him.
"Did you find them?" He asked curiously.
"Nope." He answered, and slumped onto the seat next to him.
"Oh, there they are," pointed out Xavion. Damian looked towards the door to find a haggard looking Angela and a tired Juliette walking into the class. "What happened to them?" Asked Xavion, puzzled.
"I don't know," he answered with concern etched on his face as he looked at his Angela.
Angela sat down quietly. After throwing up continuously, she just didn't have the energy to sit through in the class. But she wouldn't go home. She would attend all her classes.
She quietly attended all her classes and rushed out of the building to the parking lot. She drove off immediately. She wasn't feeling well and didn't have any wish to face anyone. She was too upset and had skipped lunch, which made her violently sick.
Going home, she took medicines and ate a light soup and went to sleep.
Damian waited for her to emerge the whole time, but she didn't. Neither did she open her window or balcony door.
The next morning Angela reached college late. Damian had given up all hopes of seeing her and the classes had already started when she came in. She didn't look very well and Damian's heart went out to her. Juliette too was quiet. They hardly talked apart from the absolute necessary stuff. Gone was Angela's smile and the happiness from her face. She hardly looked at Damian and didn't acknowledge his existence either.
During lunchtime, Juliette ate alone at the cafeteria with her back towards them. Angela stayed in the library. She didn't eat anything, Damian noticed. He didn't take Virginia's help anymore. What was the use? Angela wasn't there to see him. He tried his best to get her alone and talk to her but failed.
She emerged from the library after the classes started and left as soon as they were over. Before Damian could go to her, she had disappeared. Frustrated with her, Damian tried to pick out an opportunity to talk to her but couldn't. The whole day passed by and the classes were over for the day and Damian was ready to catch hold of Angela.
However he was called to the administrative office after Freddie had reported him. When he returned from the administrative office, Angela had left. He dragged his feet to his car and sped off home. He had never thought that Angela would stop acknowledging his very existence completely.
At home also he didn't get his peace of mind. He noticed that his dad hadn't returned home for a whole week continuous. He was worried. His dad stayed away for a night or two and always returned home. He tried calling his hospital but couldn't get through. After the fifth attempt he left trying.
The next day also Angela followed the same pattern and left for home after the first half. Damian waited and waited for her at the cafeteria but neither she nor Juliette appeared.
"This is so frustrating bro. I'm going to find Juliette," said Xavion.
Damian nodded and they both left with each other. They found Juliette alone in the next class, busy on her mobile phone.
"Hi Julie, Where's your friend?" Asked Xavion, sitting beside her.
Juliette frowned at both of them. "Why are you so interested?" She asked suspiciously.
"Just asking. You didn't come to eat lunch?" He asked.
"As if you care. Drop it please. Angela's gone home. Happy? Now please leave me alone," hissed a pissed off Juliette.
Damian left them and walked away to the parking lot. He drove home. He had nothing to do at college when Angela wasn't there for him.
He drove home and saw Angela's car in her garage. But her windows and her balcony door were closed much to his frustration.
He tossed and turned in bed not able to sleep a wink. Tomorrow was Friday and he had to get her to talk. He heard his dad come in late at night and felt relief that he was alive. The next morning, he waited in front of his house for Angela to pass. He would follow her and catch her at the parking lot to talk.
When she didn't emerge even at the last minute, he drove to college. He rushed to class just on time. Angela came in fifteen minutes late. She quietly sat with Juliette and attended the class. He was excited. He would talk to her and clear all misunderstandings and patch up with her like before. He was determined.
However, they were formed into groups in their back to back studio classes and given assignments to complete and submit. The whole day they were too busy with the assignments. He was teamed with a guy called Stephen and they somehow managed to complete their assignment five minutes after the classes were over. They rushed to the staff room to submit their work.
By the time he returned, Angela had already left the campus and gone home. Damian punched the table and the wall in frustration.
"Let's go to Kellan. He'll help you find a way to get Angela back. We could do with a drink, I guess," suggested Xavion and he agreed. So they left for Xavion's house. They deposited their stuff and walked over to Kellan's house.
Kellan heard everything and shook his head with disapproval,"You're doing it all wrong, man," he pointed out.
"What wrong?" Asked Damian in surprise.
"You're driving her away," Kellan said and Damian stared at him.
"Yes, I too wanted to point that out to him but he wouldn't listen," said Xavion, flinging his arms, helplessly.
"Oh then what do I do?" Asked Damian, massaging his temples.
"Nothing, don't do anything. Stop all interactions with other women. Just try to charm her. Make her feel special. Tell her you love her, whenever you meet her. Prove her that you love only her. She's sensitive and hurting. The more you show her how special she is, the more she'd realize her love for you, " Kellan suggested and Damian just listened to him intently.
"Yes, I too think so, dude. Kellan's right," said Xavion.
Damian looked down at his hands,"She isn't acknowledging my existence at all," he complained unhappily.
"You've driven her towards it," said Kellan. "She'll come around. Give her time and do as I suggested," he told Damian.
"Thanks bro. I will do that," Damian said. They shared a drink or two and then Damian went home. He saw an unknown car in front of Angela's house. It seemed they had guests over. He went up to his room and picked up his binoculars. It seemed that uncle Gerry's brother and his son had come over to their house. He saw Angela serving them drinks.
They left in the evening. Adam went with them, dragging his luggage with him. He sighed, unable to comprehend what was happening. His dad returned home early and he decided to ask him if he was ok.
Trudging up to his dad's room, he peeped inside. His dad sat slumped on his bed. "Are you ok?" He asked with concern.
His dad looked up at him in surprise. He nodded his head slowly."Yes. Are you?" He asked. Damian noticed that he wasn't drunk for the first time.
"Yes dad," he said quietly.
"Serve dinner. I'm coming down in a minute," he said and Damian nodded and left. He was surprised by his dad's attitude. His dad had never answered him or acknowledged his existence in the last few years. What happened to him? What changed suddenly? He was always drunk when he returned home.
Perplexed, he went downstairs to serve dinner. His dad joined him in ten minutes. "So how's your college going on?" He asked Damian.
"Fine dad," said Damian looking down on his plate.
"Why didn't you take up what you love?" He asked suddenly and Damian simply gaped at his dad.
"I...," he didn't know what to say. He was at a loss for words.
"You should always follow your dream, son. If you love agriculture, go for it. For whatever reason you're pursuing architecture, once it's fulfilled, try to concentrate upon what you're passionate about. Why don't you check out the online agricultural courses? Then you wouldn't waste time. You could simply switch when the time's right," advised his dad.
"Yes dad, I'll do that," he agreed. His dad smiled.
"Tomorrow is your birthday, Damian. You will receive all the inheritance money your grandpa's left for you along with this house," he informed him.
"Yes dad, " said Damian. He was perplexed that his dad was talking so much with him.
"I know you don't want any material gifts on your birthday Damian. So my gift to you is my permission to connect to your mom. Here's her phone number, if you want, you can connect with her and be with her. I wouldn't object anymore. Are you happy with your gift?" Asked his dad forwarding him his phone with his mom's phone number.
"Yes dad, very happy. Thank you so much, " he said with a grin, saving his mom's number.
"I'm glad. How's your farm, Grass Roots going?" His dad asked.
"I haven't been able to go and oversee with college starting," he admitted.
"What about weekends? It's not very far off. You can always check up on it during weekends. If you're so passionate about it, you should pursue it with your whole heart and soul, son. Always be focused. I want you to succeed and start many such sustainable farming projects all over our country," said his dad.
Damian nodded, "Yes dad, I will go there from tomorrow onward. I will surely make you proud," he said.
"I'm already proud," said his dad with a smile. They finished dinner and his dad went up to his room.