Epiphany

Chapter 63~Denial

My legs bounced up and down, feeling my muscles tense with each button Hakeem was tapping on his phone as he was going to dial someone who knew whether my father made it to town or not.

I didn’t dare speak as I heard the phone ring.

Pick up, already.

I bit and bit on my bottom lip, tearing away any skin my teeth could get its hands on.

My shoulders squared and my legs stopped bouncing when I heard a voice on the other end speak.

“Hakeem, I’ve been calling you for ages. Is everything going alr—”

My ears perked as the voice felt very familiar to me. A voice I’ve lived most of my life hearing. But still couldn’t quite match it with a face.

“Did Alyssa’s father come back?”

“No. Why?”

And at this answer we both released a long, heavy sigh, feeling our whole body’s muscles relaxing again.

I clasped my heart, fingers curling tightly around the material of my sweatshirt.

I couldn’t explain the relief that was felt right now.

“Okay good.” One corner of his lips raised. “Thought that hell broke loose right there.”

“Now tell me, Hakeem. Is Alyssa alright? Is she with you? Is her mother also with you?”

Hakeem chuckled at the guy’s many questions.

“Easy there, Lotus.”

“Don't call me that and answer the damn question already!”

Hakeem’s head turned to me for a second, leaning the phone’s bottom to my side so I could hear his voice clearer, and leaned in a bit as he said, “Why don’t you tell Lucas how you’re feeling right now?”

My brain glitched for a moment as I asked myself, who in the world was Lucas?

Then it occurred to me.

I breathed out, “Lucas?”

The Lucas? Lucas as Luke?

“Alyssa?” the person on the other side exclaimed.

“Oh, and why don’t you also tell him how cool was I for saving everyone.”

“Hakeem zip your mouth for a second and give her the phone.” He then added, “Please.”

“Not now, kid. I need to make another call.”

A groan was released from the phone and I quickly said, “I’m alright, don’t worry. Everything is fine.”

“Thank God.” Lucas released a sigh and said, “You don’t know how much I’m glad to hear your—"

“Times up,” Hakeem chirped, retrieving the phone back to his ears and another groan could be heard but much father now before Hakeem spoke again, playfulness retreating from his voice again, “Lucas, hear me out. Be careful—don’t let anyone suspect you, okay? And figure out where the father is. Don’t let him set foot in this town.”

The next words that got uttered from the phone weren’t well heard but I got the hint that he’ll do exactly that.

“Yes, I’ll also inform them.”

And he ended the call.

“Don't worry everything is going to be fine, Alyssa. He isn’t here.”

“But we need to make sure. We can’t let him set foot here. We can’t.”