Wrong Injection

CHAPTER 7

I'd been feeling off for a while, plagued by on-again, off-again feverish spells that left me lethargic and disconnected from the things I loved. Even simple pleasures like playing basketball, something I was usually passionate about, had lost its appeal. Max, ever the supportive friend, tried his best to lift my spirits, but I just couldn't shake off the feeling of malaise.

"What's going on Lani? You're not yourself anymore," Max said, concern etched on his face as he handed me a steaming cup of tea and sat down beside me.

I took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through my chest, but it did little to ease the sadness that had settled in. "I don't know, Max. I just feel...weird," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. It was devastating to feel so lost and disconnected from myself.

"Hey, you have tears in your eyes." Max's gently voice cut through my emotional turmoil. I quickly looked away, trying to hide my vulnerability, but it was too late. The dam broke, and I burst into tears. As Max's comforting hands rubbed my back as I sobbed softly into my palms. "Just let it all out," he whispered.

As I finally composed myself, Max asked, "Feeling better now?" I nodded, still sniffling.

"Kind of."

"Do you want to see a doctor or something?" I shook my head.

"No, that's not necessary. I'm not ill. I just feel...heavy and weird. It's like my emotions are all over the place. I used to think it was just a yeast infection, but now I'm not so sure." I chuckled weakly.

"Don't worry too much, okay? Just give yourself some time, and you'll feel better again." He stood up, reaching for our backpacks. "Come on, let's get to class." As he spoke, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and waited for me to do the same.

"We still have about twenty minutes before lectures begin, can we sit for a while? You know I don't play basketball anymore, sitting here kinda makes me feel a little better," I said to Max, not wanting to leave the basketball court so soon. And Max looked at me with a mock-serious expression.

"Lani, don't tell me you're planning on skipping lectures today." He joked, trying to lighten the mood, and I smiled weakly.

"Silly," I said, taking a sip of my tea.

Later that day, after lectures ended, Max and I sat under one of the trees on campus, catching up on what I had missed in class. I had dozed off during the lecture, and Max was kind enough to fill me in. As we sat there, our friends Mike and Prince approached us, with coffees in hand. "Hey, what's up guys?" they chimed in unison, and I winced at the sight of their coffee. Normally, I loved coffee, but today the smell was making me feel nauseous.

"Hey guys," I replied, trying to sound cheerful, and they sat down next to us under the tree.

"I barely see you two around," Mike said, turning to us. "What have you guys been up to?"
~~~

The excitement was still buzzing in my veins as I walked into my room, dropping my backpack onto my bed. I had just received the news that our school would be going on an excursion to Ghana, Africa in just three days' time. As a half-Ghanaian, with my dad hailing from the beautiful West African country, I felt an instant connection to the place. It had been 21 long years since I last set foot in Ghana, and I was beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to revisit my ancestral homeland.

I immediately called my mom to share the news, and she was equally ecstatic. Despite the short notice, I wasn't about to let this chance slip away. As I settled into my room, my phone rang, breaking the silence. I quickly fished it out of my pocket and answered with a smile, seeing Bella's name on the screen. "Hey Bella, what's up?" I asked, happy to hear from my friend.

We met at the hospital three weeks ago, and despite not seeing each other often, we kept in touch through regular phone calls and online chats. I always looked forward to our conversations, and I was glad she had called to catch up.

"I'm good, how are you?"

"I'm okay, just trying to find my way out of my weakness as usual," I admitted, hoping that Bella, with her medical expertise, might be able to offer some insight or advice. I had been experiencing sudden bouts of tiredness and weakness, and despite Bella's previous suggestions and prescribed medicines, I hadn't seen much improvement.

Bella's reassuring voice came through the line. "You will be fine, Milani, just keep taking your vitamins and you shall be fine." I exhaled, feeling a small sense of relief at her words.

"Alright," I agreed, trying to sound more positive. Then, Bella dropped a surprise request. "Uh, I want you to come over to my place. I hope that wouldn't be a problem?" she asked, her tone a little hesitant. Even though I was taken aback, but happy to oblige.

"Of course, that wouldn't be a problem," I said, excitement building up inside me. "Send me your address and I'll be there shortly."
~~~
I pulled up to Bella's mansion in about thirty minutes, and my eyes widened as I took in the grandeur of the estate. The mansion was even more beautiful than I imagined, with lush greenery and a sprawling lawn. But what caught my attention was the tight security surrounding the property. There were bodyguards stationed at every corner, and I wondered why it was necessary.

As I stepped out of the car, one of the bodyguards approached me and asked me to follow him into the mansion. I did as I was told, but my curiosity piqued.

As I entered the living room, my jaw dropped in awe. The room was huge and spectacular, with high ceilings and lavish furnishings. "Wow," I whispered, my eyes scanning the room in wonder.

Just then, a voice came from behind me. "Hi." I turned to see a tall, handsome guy sitting at the far end of the room, sipping a drink.

"Hi," I replied, smiling, and wondering who he was.

"You must be Milani." I was surprised he knew my name.

"Yes, I am," I replied, "and you are?" I asked and he tilted his head, a smile still playing on his lips.

"I'm Dante," he said, his voice low and smooth.

Just then, Bella came running down the stairs, with a big smile on her face. "Lani!" she exclaimed, and I ran to give her a hug. It was great to see her again after three weeks. As we pulled back, Bella said, "Thanks for coming." I smiled, happy to be there.

But then I turned to her and asked, "Uh, you never told me you had a brother." I nodded towards Dante, who was watching us with interest and Bella giggled.

"Dante is like a brother to me," she said. "He's one of my dad's...Mafia friends." My eyes widened in shock as I processed her words.

"M...Mafia," I stuttered, my mind racing with negative thoughts. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized I was in a Mafia household. Then Bella nodded, seemingly oblivious to my fear.

"Yeah, my dad is a Mafia...come, let's sit," she said, pulling me towards a seat. I sat down, my heart racing with anxiety. What had I gotten myself into?