She Got the Name of her Father

Chapter 14

Emerald’s heart was racing rapidly like it will come out of her chest anytime. She heaves in a deep breath trying to clam down her nerves. Bullets of sweats on her forehead and her palms are sweating as well. She was really nervous.

“Just pull over, here Uncle.” Emerald handed the money to the driver before getting out of the cab.

She was dropped by a slummy area. Emerald used to live in such neighborhood so she was not afraid. People looked at her and it was not new to her. Everywhere she goes, people will really take time to take a second look at her.

Her appearance was different. She looks like a foreigner and she was sure that she got her looks from his father. Her face is different from her mother, she got green eyes same as the color of the gem which she believes that’s what she got her name from.

“Excuse me, Aunty. Can you please tell me the way to Linda Shawl’s home?” Emerald asks the old woman who just descended from a cab, she has grocery stuff on both hands.

“Sure, beautiful young lady. Follow me, her house is just next to mine.” She hospitably said.

“Wow, thank you so much, Aunty.” Emerald thought that today is her lucky day.

“No problem.” The woman said.

“Let me help you with that, Aunty. As a token of gratitude for helping me.” Emerald offer.

The lady did not hesitate and nodded. “Thank you, my child. You are not just beautiful on the outside but also on the inside.”

“Thank you, Aunty.” Emerald then took dome of the baskets from her.

“By the way, my name is Mary.” She introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you, Aunty Mary. I am Emerald.” She said to the old woman named Mary.

“Your name suits you. Your eyes do have the same color with the emerald stone.” She commented.

“I think so too, Aunty. That’s why Mom gives me that name.” Emerald said.

“Here we are, this is my house. That is Linda’s house. That poor woman is suffering from rheumatism for a day but for her she feels like it’s been a year.” She shakes her head.

“All right, aunty. Thank you so much.” Emerald said as she handed the bags to Mary.

“Thank you for helping with these as well. I’m sure Linda will be glad to see you. I’m sure she’s really bored.” She said before she went inside her home.

Emerald then knocked on the door and a young man opened it. “Yes?”

“Hi, I’m looking for Aunty Linda. She’s expecting me today. My name is Emerald.” She said to the young lad.

He nodded and opened the door widely to let her in. “Okay, come in.”

“Thank you.” She smiled at him.

The man flustered and blushed. “Please have a seat. I will call my mom.”

He knocked to one of the doors which she assumes that it is Aunty Linda’s bedroom. After a while, the door opened and a woman on a can came out. Her face brightened up when she saw her. Amusement was written all over her eyes.

“Emerald, I am so glad to see you.” Aunty Linda said.

“Good morning, Aunty. I hope that I didn’t disturb you.” Emerald said to her as she stands up to greet her.

“Of course not. I have been on house arrest for two days now and I am really bored.” She cracked a joke which made Emerald laughed. “Have a seat, darling.”

“Mom, I’ll head off first.” The man informed his mother.

“Wow, you will leave me just like that, just because I have a visitor now.” She confronted her son.

“Mom, I will come back immediately.” He said while scratching his head.

“Fine, go ahead. I know you are also as bored as me.” She waved her hand at him.

After her son left, she then turned to Emerald. “I’m sorry about that. Have you eaten? Let me grab something to eat for you.”

“Don’t bother, Aunty. I already ate before coming here.”

She looked at her with amusement again and said, “You look exactly like Gerald. So, the rumors back then weren’t true at all.”

“Aunty, please tell me everything. My mom doesn’t want to tell me anything about my father. You are my only hope to find him.” Emerald held the old woman’s hand as she begged her.

“If that’s the case, then your mother would hate me if I tell you things that she doesn’t want you to know.” She said sadly.

“But Aunty please. I would never tell her about this. She will never find out.” Emerald tried to convince Aunty Linda.

The old woman sighed. “My child I don’t want our friendship to be ruined. I want to see Emilia. Can you take me to her?”

“I will take you to my mom, if you tell me about my father. Even just his name. I just need a full name, Aunty. You said his name is Gerald, what’s his last name?” Emerald negotiated.

Her father’s name was Gerald. When she thought of it, her name was a combination of her father and mother’s name. Emerald is combined Emilia and Gerald. If she finds out her father’s full name, it will be easier for her to find him.

“His name is Gerald Clayton. He is the son of the owner of the famous university Clayton University. Emilia used to be a student there, she was a scholar. Emilia and I grows up together. We were neighbors and friends since we were on our diapers.” Aunty Linda started to tell Emerald about the past.

She was taken aback. Now she knows why her mom looks like her world crashed when she told her that she will study in Clayton University. Was she afraid that Emerald will bump into her father?

“We were from a poor family but that doesn’t stop Emilia from pursuing her dreams. She was able to obtain a scholarship in that university because of her excellent academics. Your mom is a very intelligent woman. The only heir of the Claytons fell in love with her and his parents did not like it. They thought Emilia was a gold digger that wants to be an instant millionaire by coveting to their son’s wealth. Then, a rumor spread that Emilia was cheating on Gerald, she really just got into a relationship with him for money. They said that she was caught red handed by Gerald’s mother. Out of kindness she did not do anything to Emilia but instead ask her to stay away from her son in exchange of money. Emilia took the money and run away with her lover, Samuel. That is the last I heard about her. I miss my best friend so much. I know that the rumors they spread is not true. I know Emilia since childhood and she is not the kind of woman.” Aunty Linda said.

“How dare they slander my mother like that. They have no idea how much she suffered in all those years.” Emerald curled her fist into a ball.

Flames of hatred surged inside her. She hated her father for abandoning them. But it turns out that there are more hateful things that he did to her. She was certain that he did that just to get away from his responsibility to her and his evil mother even tolerated his son’s irresponsible behavior.

Her own grandmother become an accomplice just to get rid of her and her mother. Emerald swore to herself that they will pay. She will let them pay for all of her mother’s suffering and hardships.

So, he was the owner of the university where she studies. Emerald felt excited that she might bump into him one of these days. He was near to reach then. She swore she will tear him into pieces. “GERALD CLAYTON” she carved that name into her heart but not with love but with so much disdain and loathness.

=Sarsi=