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 small 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 take you there now," Maureen said to Jason, and he smiled sweetly at her.

"Thanks, Aunt," he replied.

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

"Maureen, you can't 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 a part-time business training class 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 well off 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 with her. She didn't need to know about her grandchild. I am 22 years old now, and I don't need such parents as grandparents for 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 had similar complexions.

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 and take her off to the city.

While her marriage was still pending, her groom had arrived with his family, and I watched with tearful eyes as 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 relocated, and none of their neighbors knew where the affluent family had gone.

"You shouldn't worry, Amaka. Jason is my son too, as I was there on the day he was born and have watched 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 have 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 prepared to take him to his new school.

I knew my son wanted to go to school. He saw other kids going to school, but I just wanted him to grow up a little smarter first before enrolling him.

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

I donned a red top and black skirt, knowing that the company doesn't approve of trousers.

While I didn't want to discuss my son's dad with her, I knew that Joseph would meet him one day, as long as he was still alive and living in the city. It wasn't far from where Maureen's mother lived.

After I was sent away from my parents' home, I called Maureen, knowing that she was the last friend I had before her family relocated to the city. The billionaires lived on one side of the city, while the working class like us lived in another busy area, which is 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 name. My father had said that the child wasn't his, so I should take my baby to his real father. But since Joseph had blocked me online, and even though I had his younger brother's profile, we hadn't chatted since I last introduced myself to him as Joseph's girlfriend.

I didn't want to ask him about Joseph. I was heartbroken that he had 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 as she stripped off Jason's clothes to help him have his bath.

"Fine. Just name him whatever you want as his surname, but know that I don't have anything to do with his dad anymore," 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 chances of securing a job with them. It will help with your studies and online job too."

"Fine," I said, putting on my black shoes beside the bed and waving 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 also 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 take a bus to get 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 you should 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 join 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, and 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 didn't know if Maureen would want to take my son with her.