6| DARASIMI

Dark Skies: 6

6| Darasimi

Tears flowed down her eyes as she drove home, she had just seen her daughter after six months and it had to end this way. It had to make her cry on her drive back home. She wiped her face with a tissue in one hand as she controlled the steering with the other hand.

She remembered Gbemiga and how they had lived as a family, it wasn't every day that she thought about him but the events made his image appear in her memory, and she couldn't get it off.

" I failed you Gbemiii" she yelled as she stamped her fist on the steering, she was in a lonely and quiet street with few cars driving past. She cried loudly as her eyes were brimming with tears, he nostril blocked with mucus.

"Argh," she wheezed. 

She had been taught that money ruled the world, and so she had believed. All she wanted was money, the bags, the shoes, and the expensive things she could get. 

At the time she met Gbemiga, he had, everything she wanted. The looks, the charisma, the intellectuals, and well the money, mostly the money. He was so freaking rich, until two years before his death. His company had been implicated in a government fraud, he had to pay for his freedom as the government was ready to send him to jail.

She secured a job some months after the scandal, but it no longer satisfied Darasimi. She wanted more, more and more of more. She started having fights with Gbemiga, which gradually and broke him. Along the line, she met her friend Sharon, a very young girl who was the fourth wife of one of the ministers at that time.

She started going to parties, meeting with the high, and rich in the state. She had extramarital affairs, just for small cash, she went all wild and was distant from her husband and daughters. Zoe was always like her Dad inquisitive and smart, Gbemiga at some point always questioned her movements, but after different lash outs, he gave up. But Zoe never did, she always asked her each night she came home late and drunk, she always asked questions. Questions she never answered.

It all became worse when Gbemiga lost his job as a manager in one of the oil companies in the country. They were not back to square one, they were back to square zero. Darasimi made life a living hell for him, pestering him to get involved in fraudulent deals like the people she now moved with, but Gbemiga would not hear of it.

On the day of his death, she had nagged and complained in the early morning. His last impression of her was terrible, and her daughter saw it. She teared up at the thought of this.

Months after Gbemiga's death, she had met Gabriel. Gabriel was the only son of one of the biggest businessmen in the country, they had met at a party organized by Sharon's husband. He had just lost his wife too, so they connected well, be needed a companion and she was there for him. He proposed marriage to her upon thinking she had just one child, he had told his dad and friends that he couldn't marry a woman with more than a child.

Darasimi couldn't let go of the wealth her hands had just landed, he knew he didn't live here as much, and that he only wanted a companion and a mother for his son, so she was replaceable if she told him she had another daughter.

Sharon had introduced her to the Owolabi's and they seemed perfect to take care of Zoe. She indeed had let Gbemiga down, she hadet go of his precious daughter while seeking the vain things of this world. Yes, she had earned all she ever wanted, all she ever dreamed of, she had experienced the happiness money brought.  She had traveled the cities of the world, she had driven a rolls Royce and traveled in a private jet. But the life she believed she had built for herself was built by a foundation of lies. One day, one day the results of lies will come glaring her in the face, this she knew was definite. And the time was ticking.

Darasimi drives into the mansion and packed in the garage, she checked for the car Gabriel had driven out that day to see if he was home. Scanning her eyes through the garage that housed many cars, she said the car packed in its usual spot. Her heart skipped a bit as she started thinking of the lies she was going to tell her husband.

She got down from the car as she wiped her face thoroughly with a napkin. Walking head high like always into the mansion, she saw her family having dinner already. She walked to the dining and greeted, walking straight to Gabriel and landing a kiss on his cheek.

"Welcome darling" Gabriel greeted. "Where have you been," he asked.

"I was at Sharon's place". She lied as she stroke her hair gently. Sharon was the one person that could cover for her in situations like this, so it was okay to lie with her name.

"Oh okay," Gabriel said as he poured water from the jug into his cup.

"How have my babies been all day, what have you been up to," Darasimi said, serving herself, as she settled to eat.

" They've been up to cartoons and sleeping" Gabriel joked. Darasimi laughed lightly as she started eating.

"And Zion". Darasimi asked as she raised her eyebrows and looked at Zion.

"Nothing much". He said.

" Yeah, the young man is prepping for school on Monday. He's got his books, uniforms, and all he needs already" Gabriel expatiated. " We even went to have a haircut" his words made Dara cough, she hoped he didn't notice her at the salon.

"Take some water, are you okay," Gabriel asked stretching her glass of water to her.

Darasimi had some and dropped the glass. "Thank you" she muttered.

" So Zion, are you excited?" Dara asked.

"Sort of" Zion mumbled.

"You'll enjoy the place, Zion, EIC is the best" Gabriel commented.

EIC???

"EIC?" Darasimi asked cluelessly.

"Yes, Excellers international college" Gabriel enunciated, his voice seemed to echo as Darasimi's eyes peeled open. What did Gabriel just say? 

Excellers international college was the school Zoe attended, and Gabriel just mentioned the same school.

" But you said he would be attending George Derek College". She said trying her best not to believe the obvious.

"Yes, I did. But I changed my mind".

"Why didn't you tell me!" Dara yelled, stamping the table with her clenched fist. The dining went silent as everyone stared at her in disbelief. She had overreacted.

"Are you okay?" Gabriel asked in wonder.

"I'm sorry darling, I overreacted". Dara said smiling weirdly as she tried to comport herself.

" I was informed that the school was the best in the state at the moment. And you know I always want the best for my children". Gabriel explained.

"Oh okay. But you should have informed me. I had thought it was GDC". Dara whined. 

"I'm sorry my dear". Gabriel apologized.

After the meal, Dara rushed to her room and slammed the door behind her. She paced the room as she was confused, she knew she would reap the seeds of lies she had sown. But she didn't expect it to be that quick and in that way.

She shivered at the thought and possibility of the Zion and Zoe meeting. She assumed a lot of things that made her shriek. She sat in the bed as her weak had grown weak from the pacing and nervousness. What was she to do?

After minutes of thinking and thinking, she decided what she would do.

Nothing!

She would do not and she would hope Zion and Zoe never meet. She was feeling tensed already as her breathing was unstable, she stood up again as she walked towards the other side of the room. She lent on the wall as she inhaled heavily, she was already sweating under the Air condition. Perplexed was the exact word for her state right now.

Will doing nothing work?

She asked herself. There was nothing she could do, any move she made had this point would seem suspicious. She really couldn't do anything.

The end was near, she knew that. It was only today she realized all her wrongdoings, it was only today she accepted that she was wrong. It was only today she cried genuinely over Gbemiga. It was only today she lost the respect her daughter had for her.

She knew she had to pay for all her dress, but could it happen a little slower?

As she was engrossed and immersed in her thoughts, she didn't notice her husband walk in.

"Darasimi" he called out startling her.

"Oh babe", she responded as she walks up to him. They both sat on the bed as Gabriel held her hand.

"My love", he said staring at her with a smile plastered on his face.

"Yes, darling" Darasimi replied.

"I need a favor from you". 

"Anything for you my darling" Dara said in her sweet voice. Gabriel smiled as he leaned closer to her.

"I'll be quite busy in the next couple of days. I just acquired a major deal I need to pay extra attention to. So I need you to look after Zion" he paused. "I know he can be very stubborn and rude, but Dara, he needs a mother now more than ever. I want you to come down to his level, maybe he would be more comfortable around you". Zion added.

"I understand all you say, Gabriel" Dara started. " I just want you to know, that I love Zion like he was mine. So I would do everything in my power to take good care of him, huh". 

"It's just that he troubles me, I can't my son would be involved in drugs and alcohol at his age". Gabriel complained, his face giving that he was frustrated and all worked out.

" You have to take it easy with him, Gabriel. All Zion needs now is love and attention. I just hope he gets to mix with good friends in this new school". Dara said 

"You are right Dara, you are right!" Gabriel said. He stood up and started to walk out of the room. "Freshen up darling, and let's watch movies together". Gabriel hollered as he walked out of the room.

Dara sighed as Gabriel left the room, she felt a bit relieved that Gabriel didn't question her over her weird attitudes lately. She rubbed her temples as she thought if Zion, was a difficult one. He had never accepted her as his mother since his father married her. And she didn't care one bit, so far he wasn't giving her any problems.

She prayed it remained that way because she was still tensed and worried about the school he was about to attend.