MY MOTHER’S SECRET WITH OUR GATEMAN (CHAPTER 2)
MY MOTHER’S SECRET WITH OUR GATEMAN (CHAPTER 1)
One day, I finally gathered courage to ask my dad a question that had been troubling my heart for a long time.
It was early in the morning. He was around that day, and I was happy because it felt like a miracle seeing him at home.
We were eating breakfast together, just the three of us. My mom was quiet as usual. I kept looking at my dad’s face, studying him carefully.
“Daddy,” I said softly, “why are you not always around?”
He smiled lightly and touched my head.
“My angel,” he said, “you know Daddy needs to work and bring back money so that we won’t starve.”
I wanted to say more. I wanted to tell him that we were already rich. That money was not the problem. That what I needed was him.
“But dad—” I tried to continue.
He quickly cut me off.
“Don’t say anything else,” he said firmly.
My heart sank.
“Don’t complain,” he continued. “Soon, I will be permanently back home.”
Those words sounded sweet, but somehow they felt empty.
“Daddy,” I said again, my voice shaking, “I want to tell you something.”
But he didn’t even wait to hear me out.
He stood up immediately, carried his bag, and headed for the door. Just like that. No explanation. No goodbye hug. Nothing.
He didn’t even spend up to two days with his own family.
I stood there, watching him leave, feeling something break inside me.
I kept asking myself why my mother even agreed with all his terms. Why she allowed him to stay away for so long. The worst part was that she was not even complaining at all.
She acted like everything was normal.
And that was what bothered me the most.
Days later, I went to school with a heavy heart. In school, there is this friend of mine I always tell my worries to. His name is Daniel. He is a very brilliant student in our class. Calm, intelligent, and kind.
That morning during break time, Daniel walked up to me.
“Rachel,” he said, “why are you so sad today? You were quiet throughout the class.”
“I wasn’t sad,” I replied quickly. “I was concentrating.”
He looked at me and smiled slightly.
“That’s a lié,” he said. “I was observing. Have you started lyiñg to me? I thought we were friends?”
I sighed deeply. “Daniel, I’m sorry,” I said. “But you won’t understand. It’s about my family.”
He became serious immediately.
“What about your family?” he asked. “Any problem?”
I hesitated for a moment, then asked him a question instead.
“Are your parents together at home?” I asked. “Or does any of them go for work and come back after months?”
He laughed softly.
“Not at all,” Daniel said. “My dad doesn’t even go to work every day. He has people working for him.”
Exactly my point. “That’s a different case in my family,” Rachel said sadly. “My father is never around, and my mom is not even complaining.”
Daniel looked at her with sympathy.
“I’m so sorry about that,” he said. “But have you tried talking to him?”
“I have,” Rachel replied. “Countless times. But he hardly listens to me.”
“Don’t get worked up,” Daniel said gently. “Just calm down. Everything will be fine.”
I shook my head slowly.
“I don’t know what to do,” Rachel said. “That house is always so boring. It’s just me and my phone.”
“I’m always here for you,” Daniel said.
I looked at him.
“Then what happens after school?” I asked quietly.
He smiled.
“Hmm,” he said, “don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine. It’s just a matter of time.”
Then he added jokingly, “Come here, you big head.”
He pūlled me into a light hug, and for the first time that day, Rachel smiled a little.
When school was over, the driver came and took Rachel back home.
As soon as I entered the house, something felt strange.
The gateman. He was sitting at the dining table eating with my mom and
My heart skipped a beàt.
I stood there, frozen, staring at them.
My mind went blank because this was the first time I saw this.
And at that moment, I knew something serious was going on between them.
To be continued…...
