Chapter 2

**Amaka's POV**

"Maureen, you know that I cannot put Jason in school now. He is only a baby, and I don't want to force books into his head," I said, looking back at my friend and her small husband in her arms.

"Don't mind your mother; I will put you in school, okay? My aunt owns a small children's school here. So I will go there with you now," Maureen said to Jason, and he smiled sweetly at her.

"Thanks, Aunt," he said.

"You're welcome, sweetie," she replied to him and told him to wait while she prepared his bath and dressed him up for his new school.

"Maureen, you cannot be so serious. Jason is my son, and I get to decide for him," I told her. While her mother had another room, Maureen and I shared her room. Although I could move out and get an apartment of my own, I didn't want to be selfish.

I was able to attend part-time business training classes with Maureen's mother's help. She looked after Jason for me until he was able to walk. My family didn't want to have anything to do with me. Well, maybe now that they see that I am doing well on my own, my mother phoned me last week and claimed she wanted to know how I was and if I still had the baby.

Unbelievable. I gritted my teeth and ended the call on her. She didn't need to know about her grandchild. I am 22 years old now, and I don't need such parents to be grandparents to Jason. They would never welcome him or love him like Maureen's mother does. Although she encouraged Maureen not to fall pregnant like I did, Maureen and I were the same age and fair in complexion.

Good heavens, Maureen is in a relationship with a good man from around here. He owns a small business that has gained global recognition, and now he is set to marry Maureen this weekend and take her off to the city.

While her marriage was still pending as her groom arrived with his family, I watched with teary eyes how my best friend got engaged to the love of her life. But I remembered Joseph Ericson and the silly promises he made to me. After that night he slept with me, he never contacted me again. I searched for his home address after my parents threw me out. But the harsh reality hit me hard.

Joseph and his family had truly packed up and moved, and none of their neighbors knew where the affluent family had gone.

"You shouldn't worry, Amaka. Jason is my son as I was there the day he was born and I am also watching him grow up. So I am his big aunt, and Mommy too, while my mom is his godmother," she smiled.

"Fine. I have to hurry up for this business interview I told you about. You know I want to find another job to support us now that you will be getting married. I plan to move out too and get a new apartment so that you can go to your new house with your mom," I told Maureen. She was done folding Jason's clothes as she intended to take him to his new school.

I knew my son wanted to go to school. He saw other kids around him going to school, but I just wanted him to grow up smarter before taking him to school.

"My mom wouldn't send you away, even if I go with my husband tomorrow, Amaka. Why do you seem to worry about irrelevant things? Ugh. Anyway, you're running late, and Jason will be late for school. I have to hurry up and take him. You know as a new student, he will need to do a lot of registration. What name should I file for him?" Maureen asked me as I was finishing applying a little pink gloss on my lips.

I donned a red top and a black skirt, understanding that the company doesn't approve of trousers. While I didn't want to discuss my son's dad with him, I knew that Joseph would get to meet him one day, as long as he was still alive and in the city. It wasn't far from where Maureen's mother lived. 

After I was sent away from my parents' home, I had called Maureen on the phone, knowing that she was the last friend I had before her mother relocated to the city. They had the billionaires living on one side of the city, while the working-class people like us lived in another busy area. That was why I wanted my son to grow up before putting him in school.

It was so busy around here.

"Just his name, Jason," I said, not wanting to mention my father's surname. My father said that the child wasn't his, so I should take my baby to his father. But since Joseph has blocked me online, even though I have his younger brother's profile page, we hadn't chatted since the last time I introduced myself to him as Joseph's girlfriend.

I didn't want to ask him about Joseph. I was heartbroken that he blocked me and told me to get rid of his seed. It was so traumatic.

"You must be joking, Amaka. While you're Amaka Richard, I think your son has a full birth name. That reminds me: Jason Ericson. So deal with the fact that you got pregnant by someone and your child has to bear his father's name in case of tomorrow," Maureen said while she stripped off Jason's clothes to help him have his bath.

"Fine... just give him whatever surname you want, but know that I don't have anything to do with his dad again," I said. Maureen replied, "I know. You should get going, as I heard that the new company, J.E. Global, is very strict. You shouldn't be late and miss your chance to secure a job with them. It will help with your studies and online job too."

"Fine," I said as I wore my black shoes beside the bed and waved goodbye to my son as I clutched my bag.

Once I got out of the room, I came across Mrs. Ann. She was a good woman and Maureen's mother.

"Good morning, ma," I greeted her, and she smiled at me.

"Morning, my dear! Are you going out?" 

"Yes, ma," I replied, and she asked, "Wouldn't you have breakfast first? There is still time. Or is it not school that you're going to?"

"No, ma. I am going for a new job interview, but it’s quite far from here. So I have to get a bus to take me to the area."

"Will you get on the Island?" she asked.

"No, I'm not going there. Still on this mainland. It's a new branch office," I said.

"Okay. But still, have your breakfast so that you appear smart at work," she said.

"Okay, ma," I agreed and went to prepare my tea in the kitchen. 

"What about Maureen? Has she left the house too?" she asked me, walking into the kitchen to meet me.

"No, ma. She's in her room, preparing Jason for school."

"Oh!" She smiled, understanding, and nodded her head. "She loves him so much. Now she will soon be going to her husband's house. I wonder how she will cope. Maybe she will take Jason along with her."

I smiled and drank my tea. "Maybe," I said. I didn't know. Maureen might want to take my son with her.