Chapter 9

I arrived a few minutes before the school closure for the day as I remained inside the car, scanning the environment with my eyes like I was expecting something to go wrong. And the few minutes felt like hours already as I was growing impatient already. I just couldn't wait to set my eyes on my two little adorable pups. "Hello, little angels." "No, hell no!" I shrugged as I marched the car brake aggressively. "That's boring." I said to myself as I started all over again. "Hey, Kanu and Kiana, you both look magnificent in your uniforms. How was school today?" I rehearsed again as I smiled. I repeated different lines as I looked at the mirror at the top of the car. "So, your mummy said I can drive you both home and from today, I will be your new driver." I went further. "Okay, this is weird now!" I cursed as I slapped my cheeks lightly and shook my head. "Is that how bad of a father you will be?" I shrugged disappointedly as I dragged my cheeks apart in frustration. "Okay, take a deep breath, in… and… out!!" I exhaled sharply as I arranged my hair again. I wanted to be perfect for them. No messy hair, no straight face, no deep eyes, just a good looking man. And finally, the school bell rang and I watched how the students rushed out. Few ran to meet their parents that drove down in their old cars, few entered taxis and a greater percentage entered the school coaster bus that could accommodate 40 students because they were still small. I stepped out of my car as I leaned on the car bonnet. It was impossible seeing them as everywhere was crowded but then, I could perceive their scents. But then, as I followed the scent, it died off halfway as my senses got filled with many other scents as well. "Chocolate friend?" I heard a familiar voice from behind as I turned back. "Mummy said stay away from strangers, Kiana." Kanu growled lightly as he pulled her hand. "But he said he is mummy's friend and he is nice too." She snapped at him. I could hear them from where I stood. For some reasons, I felt this sharp pain that she never told them who I was and on the other hand, I felt this blossoming happiness that she never did. "How could I have faced them today when all they would be interested in is knowing why I abandoned them 5 years ago?" I forced a smile as I hurriedly walked down to where they stood and I could tell Kanu was more of a mummy's boy and also protective. I smiled at the resemblance there too as I scrunched down a bit to their level. "How are you, my two beautiful friends?" I asked as I looked at Kanu. He showed little interest in talking to me today unlike Kiana who still had so much interest written all over face. "Mummy won't be here to pick you up today. So, I will be your driver for today." I muttered as I wore an effortless smile. "No. Thank you! Mummy said, "No talking to strangers after school hours and Mr. Heather is our school bus driver." He responded sharply. I grinned at how smart he was but then, I knew how to have my way. I walked up to Mr. Heather who was watching me throughout my short conversation with the kids. I showed him the last picture of me and Elena, "I am their uncle. I will be taking them home today." I said with a smile and handed him some bucks he couldn't say no to. "They speak so highly of you already. Thank you for being a good driver." I snapped before walking away. "Guess what I got for you too today?" I asked with a smile on my face as I look sideways as they were seated in the back seat of the car. "Snickers bar!!" I screamed lightly as I raised it up and Kiana giggled, covering her eyes partially with her hands as Kanu wore a long face. I couldn't just give up yet. No matter his attitude, I know he was probably trying to respect whatever Elena must have told them. I gave them each three Snickers bars and they both finished it before I could even get to the nearby fast-food. I placed an order for Vanilla ice cream and apple pie as I watched them pick at each other and around their mouth got stained with the ice cream. I sat back as I watched them eat and pick at each other, Kiana trying to eat from Kanu's and Kanu also being over protective of his vanilla ice cream as well. I couldn't stop laughing as I saw how they picked at each other. They were twins after all. I shrugged as I cleaned their mouth neatly with my towel. There were so many questions I had right now as I looked at them. "What did Elena tell them about their father?" "Did she tell them I abandoned them?" "Or did she tell them I left her when she was still pregnant for them to be with another woman?" "Or that I was long dead when she was pregnant and that was why they had to grow up without a father?" "Where exactly do I start from?" I groaned as I looked at how beautiful they had grown to be. And right now, all that really mattered to me was never leaving them alone. “We have to get going. I don't want my mummy to get worried.” Kanu mumbled as he stopped eating. “But why didn't mummy inform us that you were going to be picking us up today?” He asked again as we walked down to the car. I smiled as I looked at him. I loved how smart he was and couldn't wait to have him take over my company. I felt safe for the first time knowing that he could protect himself and my little girl, Kiana. I paused for a while as I saw a strange man standing directly opposite us and looking at them and before I could raise my head again to him, he was gone. “Who could he be?”