It was Monday morning. It was still early into the first semester but the college was already buzzing with students.
Macpherson University was an esteemed and large private university situated in the heart of Lagos, with several faculties and departments. The students were mostly children or relatives of the upper and middle class of the society and it reflected in their lifestyle. One could easily see the pride and self assuredness with which they walked with their heads held high. That is, for the ones who walked to school. One could see that the most expensive cars in the school premises were ridden not by the lecturers but by the students.
Jason was given a white Mercedes Benz CLK350 2017 version by his father as a birthday present in his first year at the institution and four months later he had wrecked the car, smashing it headlong into a concrete electric pole as a result of overspeeding, it was a miracle he survived with only a broken arm and a few scratches.
Mr. Murvelli had vowed never to get Jason another car until he gets his own life and make his own money.
"I won't be the cause of your death!" Mr. Murvelli had scolded his son. "If you would be so wreckless with something so valuable I gave to you as a gift, you will get nothing else from me until you earn it."
Jason meandered slowly through the departmental block and out of the faculty. There was a lecture due within the next fifteen minutes but clearly he had had enough lecture at the professor's office for one morning, he thought. As he slowly made his way towards the school gate, a sparkling blue sedan coming from the gate pulled up beside him. The windscreen was wound down and Jason looked in.
"Gabriel," Jason muttered under his breath in a depressed manner.
Gabriel And Jason were coursemates and often hung out together at parties. He was the third child and first son of Dr. Charles Morrison, a member of the state house of assembly.
"Are you leaving the campus already?" asked Gabriel.
"Well, I don't feel up for any more lectures today. I'm just returning from Professor Ignatus's office."
Gabriel thought for a while and said: "Come on man, hop in."
Jason opened the car and entered. There was a slim light skinned girl sitting in front with Gabriel so Jason sat behind.
"This is my beautiful girlfriend, Anne who I've been telling you about," said Gabriel. "Anne, meet my buddy, Jason."
Jason winked and they said their pleasantries.
"I'm going to drop her at her department," Gabriel continued as he drove on, "while you and I are going somewhere nice. We need to shake off this mood I can see all over you."
"Whatever," Jason acquiesced, looking out the window.
Forty-five munites later the pair were seated at a bar at the middle of the town. A few empty bottles laid before them on the table. Gabriel was looking into his phone and tapping away while Jason was lost in thought.
By far, Jason was thinking, my dad has more wealth than these other kids around. Why should he be so hard on me? The other kids have all they want at their fingertips and get whatever they so desire. I know a lot of them do not bother about their grades and their parents do not give them hell about it too, I presume. Like, who cares about school and grades when one already has all the money and power one could ever want?
"I can see your mood hasn't gotten any better," remarked Gabriel, breaking Jason out of his reverie. "Can you tell me what all this is really about, bro?"
Jason removed the hand he had to his jaw and placed it on the table. He looked at Gabriel, then at the bottles, then he looked into the distance, shrugged and said, "well, as you can see, I really have a lot on my mind. For starters, I'm really in need of money, Gabe. I mean a huge sum."
Gabriel observed him keenly. "what for?"
"I am in a mess. I mean my life is in a mess. My grades are bad, I can never graduate in walking colors talk more of flying, with the kind of grades I'm having, I am in such huge debts at the casino and I can't call my dad as it is. I think all I ever do is squander his money."
"What else do you think you should be doing?" Gabriel asked with a slight chuckle.
"Making him proud, I guess. Following in his footsteps, being what he wants me to be."
"As far as I can see, good loving parents should leave legacies for their children." Gabriel uncrossed his legs, dropped the stub of cigarette he had been smoking and marched it with his foot.
He leant forward towards who was looking at him from the corner of the eye in anxiety.
"What I mean is," Gabriel continued, "good fathers should strive to give their children the best, no matter the cost. Is your father not the owner of one of the largest firms in the country? Those who have half your kind of privilege are sent abroad to school. What stops your dad from doing the same? What stops him from giving you whatever you ask since he can afford it? Do you mean to tell me you're not his true son?"
"I am, Gabe. I don't just understand my father. He says he wants me to be responsible, to know the value of hardwork and shit like that."
"And what about your mum? Does she not help you out?"
"My step-mom, you mean. We barely see eye to eye. I rather not talk about her."
"Well, What else do you really have to work hard for? Are you not the sole heir to his whole business enterprise?" If I were you, I wouldn't care less."
Jason was silent. Gabriel's words were sinking in. His dad was actually making a fuss about things that weren't important. Gabriel was right. There was really no need to care for school and hardwork. He could just wait until the old man passes away and he'll step up and manage the corporation.
He took the empty glass on the table and filled it with the remaining content of liquor from the bottle. He emptied the content into his stomach.
His eyes glowed.
"As a matter of fact I think you're right," said Jason. "For what it's worth there's really no need to worry and I got a bright future ahead of me as far as I can see."
"That's more like it," Gabriel replied with a satisfied smile.
"Thanks Gabe. And on to better things, that girl-what's her name again-I've never seen her with you before. Your new catch, aye?" Jason winked.
"Yeah, Anne. Just another slayqueen looking for a big fish to slay. Well, I for one slayed her well last night if you know what I mean."
They both laughed. You have always been the girl's favourite."
"And you got the looks. Do not limit yourself because you wanna be daddy's boy."
"Of course not," Jason retorted. "I still catch a lot of fun, just not with girls, you see. At least not until I met Michelle. She's completely swept me off my feet."
"The Commisioner's daughter? Yes I remember you mentioning her. You never told me you guys were dating then.
"We were just getting to know each other then but she has agreed to be my girlfriend. Michelle's really fun to be with, supportive, beauty and brains, that one. You wouldn't know she's an animal in bed."
They laughed again and drank some more.
That evening Jason was in his best of moods and in high spirits he went to the casino to gamble a little before going to see his girlfriend, Michelle.
I'm just going to play once, he thought, and no matter the outcome, I'll leave the place.
He played and won the first round. Feeling lucky, He decided to play once more. He won again. His confidence was back. He played again but this time he lost. He had to win back his money. He staked another sum and won this time. Played and he lost again. Then again, and again and again. He had to win it all back. He reached into his pocket for some more money. There was none. Realization dawned on him. He checked all over but there was nothing. He had emptied his account balance without knowing it. He Couldn't leave just like that.
He saw a game which he felt sure he was going to win. He was so sure, and for that he approached the casino manager and asked for some loan.
Being very familiar with the man, he was granted N30,000. He lost everything again within the twinkle of an eye. That evening he had to escape through the back door.
Outside, Jason checked his phone to see nine missed calls from Michelle. It was already past 10pm. He quickly dialed her number.
"God, Jason where have you been?" cried a sweet feminine voice from the other end of the line.
"I'm so sorry, baby, but I can't come over to see you anymore tonight."
"You got me so worried, Jason, I thought something bad must have happened."
"No, my love I'm fine. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Jason ended the call. He couldn't tell the sweet hearted damsel what had just happened. It would break her heart as she had always warned him to quit gambling or it would one day be the end of him.
What would his own Father say if he(Jason) called to ask for more money? He couldn't bare to face him. But what's the use of having a rich dad and still living like the less privileged? Jason cursed with gritted teeth and resolved to go home to face his father the very next day.
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Thank you for reading up to this point and yes i know,No murder yet. I'm kinda Still setting the stage. Kindly support me with your votes and comments let me know I got someone out there reading. ✌