𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

~~ 57. ~~

She is his. Officially.

"I love you." He said as he patted her hair gently before placing a kiss on her head.

"I love you." She wrapped her hands tighter around his neck.

§§§§§

Two hours later, Demilade and Lola sat up curled together on the bed. Demilade sat leaning on the headrest while Lola lay on her back with her head resting on his thigh. She started by talking about his tattoo.

".... I had my first tattoo when I was seventeen. It wasn't a real tattoo. Just this temporary tattoo with homemade materials. But mom had scrapped it off my arms with anger. She was so mad when she saw it. I have never seen her get angry at anything I do. So I guessed she hated it but it didn't change my own thoughts. I always love tattoos. And I wanted to have one." He explained.

"I want to have a piece of something that symbolizes something to me. So when I was twenty-five, when I went to Washington, I met this guy who had a friend who was so good at drawing tattoos. He hooked me up with him and decided to have my first real tattoo. I had to contemplate where to draw it. So I decided to draw it at my back despite I won't be able to admire it myself. "

"Uh! So does your mom knows?"

"I guess she does. But it was quite long before she knew. She knew that I am an adult and I can do whatever to please myself. Maybe that's why she never says anything." He shrugged.

"The eagle is beautiful. But why eagle? Why not something like a serpent, cross or someone? Or does the eagle have any specific meaning?"

He chuckled. "You seem to like fantasy." She just smiled in reply. And he continued. "It doesn't really have any specific importance. I just love eagles. It symbolizes a lot to me. It's powerful... Strong,..... quiet with focus. It's like the king over his own species and it's got to the highest point. It symbolizes my faith and dreams. I had a clear vision of what I wanted. And I was determined. I wanted to get to the top. Be king in my own world and soar so high, be powerful and become proud of myself. I visualize the eagle."

"That's incredible." She commented. "I'm glad you could make it." She told him sincerely. And it was the truth because if he hadn't grown to become a multimillionaire, she wouldn't have met him. There wouldn't have been a deal.

They talked about other things for a while. Although Lola did most of the talking and Demilade just listen, pinpoint his point and give his suggestions. And he answered a few questions from Lola.

Later on, he asked. "Lola, you never talk about your mother? Is she late?"

Her countenance changes a little. And he noticed it.

"It's alright if you don't want to talk about it." He said.

She shakes her head in disagreement. "It's not that. I just don't want to remember her right now. Any time there is a mention of her name, it just brings back old memories." Like the pain of missing a mother, a mother's love, care and attention. And the face of her father when he knew she left them. Those are the things she remembered when her name is been mentioned.

"She is not dead. She is alive and well, not just with us. She has a new family now. She left us when I was eight. She couldn't bear the suffering because her dad didn't have a job and she was used to being given everything. Dad had spoilt her with attention and material things when he still had a good job. But when he lost his job before my brother was born, everything changes. As a kid, I know something was different about my family. Mom is always nagging and complaining. She always yells and insults dad complaining about their predicament. She began to work after Daniel was born. And I guess she met the man who she is now married to where she had been working. She left when Dan was four and I was eight." She explained sadly.