SURVIVOR: Ghost – Bodyguard Series (S01 • E07) 🩸🔞
By:- Adewole Kelvin
CHANCES 2
Abushe’s Pov
“Do not catch a leopard by its tail, but if you do, then don’t let go”.
It is one of the popular quotes in ethiopia that conveys – Tackling fears head-on can be very risky, but once you start, see it through to the end. Especially, the fear of death, also known as thanatophobia or mortality salience. Many people considers death the ultimate fear because it represent the end of one’s existence and identity, it irreversible and permanently, it is unpredictable and occurs at any moment, and It can be accompanied by pain, suffering or loss of loved ones.
Ultimately, fear is a personal and subjective experience, what scares someone the most can depend on their unique experiences, beliefs and values. However, fear is a natural part of human and it Isn’t a reflection of weakness or strength. How one responds to fear is what matters.
Hours later in the evening after the encounter, here I’m, sitting on the bed with my back leaning against the wooden board of the bed, and replaying what happened moments ago at the bar while I toss the earring each minutes it drops. I’ve been baffled since I came back from the bar, there is nothing that baffles a real man more than trying to lose his loved ones, especially the one he cares for the most.
For months, I missed the one I adore despite us having nothing in common, and I met her by coincidence at a bar, where I discovered that some gangster could be planning to harm her. Hearing about it sent a cold chill down my spine especially the part, where the street lady involves the relatives, who will also suffer for the crime they don’t know, which was even more terrifying.
I’ve been baffled by a lot of things, but after the discovery of the perilous gangsters, I tend to be haunted by the horrific imagination of watching the one I adore so much die in a pool of her own blood, which I can’tt let it happen. Even if she is an empowered lady.
After being slammed to the ground by her, back at the bar, there is no way I could deny the fact that she is a strong and bold lady. Up to the present moment, my body still aches. If a lady like her could defeat two perilous guys at a time, who I am to confront her? That’s a free ticket to afterlife.
Besides, I won’t judge the poor lady for dealing with the gangsters. They got what they deserved for testing the wrong person, the outcome of busting up with them is just the biggest problem, which I fear a lot. Regardless, I couldn’t help but to fall in love with her the more for her bravery.
Despite us having nothing in common, I can’t continue be daydreaming while I watch her fall into the den of those lions. I won’t forgive myself if that happens, after being aware. Also, this could be a better chance to win her all for myself this time. To makes things worst, I couldn’t trail her when I had the chance to do so, which is the biggest mistake I have ever made. Afaani!(God!), how do I find her!?
I sigh and took a glance at the wall clock, it is 7pm. I doffed my clothes and arrange them squarely. In the process of doing it, I could perceive the subtle scent of her perfume lingering on my clothes, a reminder of our collision.
For minutes, I couldn’t stop sniffing the subtle scent, and beaming like a person who won a visa lottery. it was as if my life depends on it and I couldn’t help to be turned on by the scent. Her subtle scent of perfume alone can drive a man skeleton out of his body.
After a couple times of burying my face on the clothes and sniffing it, I eventually dropped the clothes and headed to the wardrobe. I opened the wardrobe and gazed through the clothes hanging inside. I picked out a new polo milk shirt by the hook and fine skintight crazy jeans with pairs of expensive snickers which I’m planning to wear to the club concert. In that moment, I thought about billie. I wondered what he is really up to, just then, I recalled the moment I wanted to call him, regarding the huge amount of money sent from him, if it wasn’t a mistake.
As soon as I recall that, I took my phone and phone him up, for about three times, he didn’t answer the call. So, I gave up and went ahead into the loo. Recalling what happened earlier, between me and sandra, I ran out of the loo to lock the door of my room, before getting into the loo to have a cold shower for few minutes.
Next, I got dressed and felt sharp in my clothes, with my hair styled sleek and sleekly in place. I took a round fashion eye glasses from my drawer and wore it, looking more sharp in my clothes. After the admirations of my reflection in the mirror, I walked out of my room briskly, scrolling through my phone intently.
On getting to the door, I felt startled by a sudden familiar voice of someone. As I turned around, I saw my master emerging from the kitchen, sipping from his teacup he was holding, to sit on one of the couch in the parlor facing my direction with his leg crossed a king. When did he arrive without me knowing?
Anderson Brandt is the name of my master. Unlike other masters, he is different. He is cool, aside from that, he is a generous white man with bristling mustaches. I would have said he was faking his attitudes to attract love and attention, but it isn’t true. That’s the kind of man he is; it is his nature.
Tragically, the poor man lost his spouse and only son in a pool of their own blood. He lamented he and his spouse had an altercation one night due to his lack of finance. As a result, his wife was driven to move out of the apartment they once shared with their only son, Elon. The next day, he received a devastating news that his spouse and only son were murdered in their car. I felt saddened after discovering the demise of his spouse and son.
Sometimes, the poor man blames himself for the death of his own family, because if there hadn’t been any altercation between them regarding his lack of finances, they wouldn’t have been murdered. Honestly, I can’t blame the man, there is nothing than makes a marriage last longer where there is understanding between spouses.
Understanding is a vital component of a healthy and long lasting marriage. No one expects you to understand each other completely, but making an efforts to understand and be understood can work wonders in marriage. Someone doesn’t need to have money to have an understanding spouse. A successful relationship is built on the qualities and efforts of the individuals involved, not on their bank accounts.
Since the incident happened, he’s been a single man. Two month ago, he met sandra and how they both met is unknown to me. One day, I was home alone playing games in the living room when he brought sandra home after his trip to Kenya, where he had been traveling as a tourist. From that day on, I knew sandra was nothing but a gold digger who was just after my master money; He is enough to be her uncle if not father. When it comes to sandra, age is just a number, where there is money involved.
However, my encounter with my master, Anderson Brandt, happened back in my country, Ethiopia. It was an encounter that changed my life forever. Back in Ethiopia, I lived in a town called Jinka, located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR). Jinka is situated in the Debub Omo Zone, one of the five zones of the SNNPR. It’s a small town with a population of over 30,000 people, known for its rich cultural heritage and traditional tribes, including the Mursi, Ari, and Banna people. Jinks is also a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors who cane to experience the unique cultural practices and traditions of the local tribes, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
I was born into a poor family, where we worked hard for survival. Sadly, I grew up knowing only my grandmother, Abeba. According to my grandmother, my father, Ajani, was killed by a big Simien Fox; he was a hunter before I was born. As for my mother, she passed away after giving birth to me. My grandmother was the only relative I had, and she was a very hardworking mother figure to me. She did her best to sponsor me to school. However, I was constantly bullied by my male classmates. The reason for their bullying was simply the color of my eyes.
I was gifted with startling blue eyes. Some called me a monster, and others used derogatory names. Some people even avoided me, fleeing whenever they saw me. They failed to understand that my eye color was a gift from God. However, things became even more challenging when my grandmother passed away. Since she was the one sponsoring my education, I had to stop attending classes. I was forced to beg on the streets for survival, alongside my childhood friend Abebe. She was a 5-year-old orphan, just like me, but two years younger. It went on for months.
One afternoon, Abebe and I were famished and thirsty, with no money on us. So, we slithered through the streets of Jinka, panhandling, but it was as if we didn’t exist in the eyes of the people. No one showed us any sympathy; they ignored us completely. Feeling disappointed and famished, we sat on a big wood log and watched as people walked by. But then, hope emerged when we saw a car pulling over at the side of the road. Abebe and I ran towards the car to beg for spare change. To our utmost surprise, we met three foreigners – two men and one woman. In Ethiopia, the term “ferenji” is often used to refer to foreigners, especially in urban areas, and can have a neutral or even positive connotation.
Moreover, the foreigners’ faces were etched with shock and surprise as soon as they saw Abebe and me. Especially mine – their jaws dropped as they gazed deep into my blue eyes. I had expected them to unleash the same hatred that some people in Jinka had directed towards me. But to my surprise, they didn’t. Instead, they stepped out of their car truck and snapped pictures of me, their curiosity a stark contrast to the hostility I’d faced in Jinka. Anderson Brandt was among the foreigners, and he happened to be the eldest among them.
As a kid, I couldn’t help but watch as the foreigners acted kindly towards me, taking numerous pictures and interviewing me in the process, while the people walking by stood and watched. Anderson and his friends showed compassion towards Abebe and me after learning about our parents’ demise and our solitariness. They took us along in their car, an unexpected act of kindness, and toured around Jinka’s town, experiencing our unique cultural practices and traditions. Anderson and his friends spent a month in Ethiopia. During that month, they showed genuine sympathy towards Abebe and me, taking good care of us as if we were their own kids. Unbeknownst to us, they had plans ahead, but Anderson was especially kind to me.
As for Abebe, she was taken under the wing of Anderson’s female colleague. A day before the month ended, Anderson and his colleagues took Abebe and me to a nice boutique to get us some new clothes. We had already obtained international passports two weeks prior. The next day, Anderson and his colleagues graciously took Abebe and me out of Ethiopia. As if that wasn’t enough, they secured permanent residency in Canada for us, allowing us to work and live there permanently. Abebe and I were sponsored to attend the same school; life was good to us. However, three years later, Abebe and her guardian, who happened to be Anderson’s female colleague, moved out of Canada to another country, only known to God.
Subsequently, I didn’t hear from them anymore. So, I was left with Anderson Brandt and always put smiles on his face by working extremely hard for him. In return, he sponsored my education. All I had to do was take care of the house while he was away. Whenever he was around, I would clean his car as well, and he treated me heartily, like a son. He would urge me to come to him whenever I needed something, which I did without hesitation, but I never went beyond my limits. I wasn’t just good at home; I was also studious in my academics. Gone were the days when he would buy me toys and present them to me for doing well in my studies.
Throughout my academic journey, I made Anderson Brandt and my late parents proud by performing exceptionally well. Graduating as the second-best student wasn’t bad at all! As far as I’m concerned, I can confidently work in any company with my good certificate without any issues.
Anderson: Where is the handsome fella heading tonight?
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Abushe: Oh, Mr. Anderson! [Shoot! you almost gave me a heart attack, old man!] Err… I was…
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Anderson: ((interrupts) You look sharp in your drip by the way.. (sips his coffee)
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Abushe: (smiles) Thanks, Mr. Anderson. If I may, when did you arrive?
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Anderson: Not quite long. Is everything all right? You seem a bit taken aback
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Abushe: Er, I am just only surprised to see you here at home…
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Anderson: Don’t be surprised; I didn’t just want to bother you in your room. I guess I owed you that anyway. So, tell me something, young man. Is this a date?
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Abushe: (smile) Actually, it is a nightclub concert sir.
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Anderson: I presume you’re referring to the concert at the V estate, beginning at 7:30p.m?
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Abushe: Absolutely. But, how did you know? Are you going there too?
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Anderson: I was planning to, so “yes” is my initial answer. However, I’ve had a change of heart due to a high-priority commitment early tomorrow morning
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Abushe: Damn! I didn’t ask about your trip when you came back. My bad! How was your trip sir?
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Anderson: I — I know it slipped off your mind, but it was great. Thanks for asking, that’s so kind of you. Can I have a brief moment of your time, Aaron? (The names he calls Abushe)
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Abushe: Absolutely, Mr Andrew. Take your time sir.
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Anderson: Thank you. (gestures him) Please, have your seat!
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Without hesitation, I walked over to a sofa chair facing him and sat down. I removed my glasses and gave him my full attention as we started talking.
Anderson: It’s been 13 years since I brought you to Canada to live with me. I’ve known you to be a loyal young man since you were a kid. Even though I’m rarely home, as you know I’m very busy, but in the time you’ve been here, I’ve gotten to know you. I know what you’re capable of and what you’re not. Honestly, you always impress me with your behavior. I’m always proud of you, boy.
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Abushe: Thanks, Mr Anderson.
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Anderson: Sit closer to me, I’ve a question to ask you.
I stood and walked to sit beside him, giving him my full attention. I could see he was serious and anxious.
Abushe: Okay. Here I’m, Mr Andrew.
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Anderson: Firstly, I’d like to ask this question. How would you feel if our positions were reversed and you saw your woman sleeping with another man?
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Abushe: Pretty bad!
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Andrew: Indeed! And I’m sure you don’t want that to happen to me, considering my past before I met Sandra. (Abushe nods in agreement) You see, Aaeon, whatever decision someone makes in life, it’s their choice. If there was no reason for it, they wouldn’t have made that decision. After my spouse and son passed away, I was determined to stay single for the rest of my life. But after some thought, I changed my mind for a few reasons. One reason was that I wanted to be a father again. (giggles) It sounds funny, doesn’t it? Also, I don’t want to extinguish the family line, if you understand what I mean.
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Abushe: I understand better, like having a son to represent your name when you’re long gone
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Anderson: You get it. That’s why I decided to marry a younger woman like Sandra, to have a child and take care of me as I age. But she always makes excuses that she’s not ready to be a mom yet. Look, Aaron, we’re both men, and real men are always honest with each other. I have this feeling she’s cheating on me. So, be honest with me. Have you ever seen Sandra bring any man into this house?
As soon as I heard that, I shifted my gaze to look another direction and replay the infidelity of Sandra in my head, and look at my master. I could see he was really anxious. Seeing the look on his face is enough to make me let the cat out of the bag without thinking twice at all; It is innocent. As much as I’d like to say the truth, I didn’t want to break the vow I made to Sandra. Aside from that, I didn’t want their relationship to end all because of me. Also, I don’t want my master to be kept in the dark knowing how horrible is the outcome.
My master’s questions left me confused, and I didn’t know what to say. But I had to do something to avoid giving him a bad impression. So, I cleared my throat and tried to speak, just then, the living room door opened and Sandra walked in, looking like a model. She wore a skimpy gown that accentuated her curvy figure, and her confident stride highlighted her poise and grace.
I hate to admit it, but her sudden arrival had an instant effect on me. My master’s anxious expression vanished, replaced by a beaming smile. Who could resist her charms? The sly devil has a way of turning heads without even trying. Her presence gave me a chance to escape my master’s curious questions.As soon as Sandra walks in, she goes straight to my master, gives him a sensual kiss on the lips, and snuggles up on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. They start making out, totally forgetting I’m there. I slip out of the house, feeling relieved, and check my watch. It’s already 7:10p.m.
I walked quickly to the roadside and flagged down a taxi. It stopped, and I hopped in. Then, I told the driver my destination, and we hit the road right away. The ride wasn’t bad, thanks to the music playing – one of my favorite songs! As we drove, I couldn’t help but move my head to the beat while the taxi driver smiled and focused on the road. I could tell the driver was smiling at my reactions to the song by the look on his face. He’d glance at me in the rearview mirror every few minutes. He even turned up the volume a bit, making it louder for me to enjoy. I didn’t mind interacting with him, and we chatted until I reached my destination – right at the front of the concert.
However, I paid the driver, thanked him, and got out. He left, and I went into the nightclub concert area, wearing my cool glasses. Then, I walked on the red carpet that went through the club. As I walked on the red carpet, I saw bodyguards standing by the club entrance. They let two foxy ladies slithered inside without checking their tickets or ID, which surprised me a bit. But what caught my attention was the way the bodyguards kept their eyes fixed on the women until they disappeared from view.
As I approached the entrance, one of the bodyguards kept scratching his lower region until I reached the door. I thought I’d be let in without showing my ID or ticket, but one of them blocked my path and signaled me to back off. I obeyed, and he boomed in a loud, deep voice that could wake the dead.
Bodyguard 1: Sorry, folk! To get into the club, you’ll need to show us your ticket.
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Abushe: But, you allowed those…..
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Bodyguard 2: (Interrupts) No ticket, No entry, lad!
Seeing how serious he looked, I quickly showed him my ticket. He then let me into the club, which was buzzing with energy like a living thing. Everyone was engaged in different activities. I made my way through the crowd to the bar area and sat down quietly on a high chair, facing the bartenders as they served various drinks to the people who had arrived before me.
Before long, I was served my drink of choice. I got so absorbed in it that I didn’t realize when I started feeling tipsy. Although I was tipsy, I was still aware of my surroundings and wasn’t too drunk to lose my bearings. I was smiling and nodding my head to the music as I watched the crowd of dancers on the floor. With each sip, I’d glance at the dancers, who were shouting and dancing like there was no tomorrow. They were really captivating and energizing.
In that moment, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure sitting a few meters away from me, drinking and looking around with a gentle smile on her lips. I squinted my eyes to look at her intently, but the distance between us and the people roaming around made it hard to see her face properly. Then, our eyes met by chance. To my surprise, it was the same lady I saw back in the bar! I couldn’t believe my eyes – I thought I’d never see her again after what happened earlier. I had lost hope, but here she was.
She looked different from our previous encounter at the bar. Her usual dour expression was replaced with a cheerful one, and she had a calm smile on her red lips. I might be tipsy, but I’m not too drunk to recognize her. In fact, she looked sexier and prettier than before, with her crossed thighs glowing under the pulsing club lights. She wore a red leather jacket over a black sequin skirt and boots, and her thighs were a wonder to behold. I couldn’t understand why I always felt this way about her, but my heart was racing like I was in a marathon.
In that moment, she was also looking straight in my direction. I thought she’d look away, but her eyes stayed fixed on me, seeming to measure me up with her gaze as she sipped her drink. I couldn’t help but wonder if my outfit looked bad. Meanwhile, her partner sitting next to her was swaying excitedly from side to side, but our eyes remained locked on each other as if we wanted to devour each other. As much as I wanted to focus on my heart’s desire, I couldn’t help but notice that her partner looked hot too.
In that moment, I watched as a random guy approached them and asked her partner out. Everything happened quickly – her partner stood up with the guy’s help, and they exchanged a whisper. Her partner said something in her ear that made her look surprised. Whatever it was, my instincts told me it was about me, considering the way her partner whispered and looked in my direction. Then, the guy and her partner walked towards me. I thought she was heading elsewhere, but she came up to me and whispered softly in my ear. I have to admit, she smelled amazing – I couldn’t stop taking in her subtle scent.
Chloe: Just a head up, her name is sontee. I’m chloe by the way.
After that, she winked at me and left with the guy, holding hands. As soon as they were gone, I looked at Sontee, who was now gazing in another direction with a big smile on her face. Seeing that smile made my heart flutter – she looked even prettier when she smiled. A few years ago, I was eager to get to know her, but she wouldn’t give me the chance, not even telling me her name. But thanks to her friend, I finally learned her name.
After watching her friend, she adjusted her dark blonde hair and took a sip of her drink, glancing at me ravishingly. Sitting alone, doing nothing, I felt like a fool. I couldn’t believe I was sitting there, giving her love stares without making a move, knowing she could be wooed at that very moment since she was alone. It would be infuriating to see her taken by another guy. However, she may be wild, but I’m not losing her again.
Tbc….