Life Can Be Beautiful – Chapter 1 by ShadyX

Life Can Be Beautiful – Chapter 1Living in a developing country in Africa is such a huge pain in the ass. You’re most likely to be always angry because of all the hardship, even for a graduate. I finished university with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. My girlfriend at the time was lucky to be employed right after her first interview, or so I thought. A year later I found out she’s been fucking her boss since her interview. I had gone to visit her at work when her boss’s wife stormed into the office and made a scene. She never apologized, she told me she’s glad she had not ended up like me and that she got to do what she got to do to survive. A week later her boss had bought her a house and moved in with her. That, till now, is the worst week of my life. I thought I was going to die, I’d known her for four years, I’d not considered being with anyone else whiles I was with her, I was in love. The next year was even worst. I was still living with my parents at age 23 and they fed me. My parents never complained, I ran errands, chores, and did all I could to help them. They told me they wish I stay with them forever and they’re going to miss me if I ever move out. I was still not okay, I wish my life was getting somewhere. A friend advised me to take a computer programming course and I was reluctant about it. Taking a course means being a student again, and being a student hasn’t been useful yet. I talked to my dad about it, and he encouraged me to. He funded me for the six months course and that is when I discovered my potential. It was so easy for me and the lecturer was so impressed with me. He insisted I become his assistant to which I agreed. Very soon I could make and modify apps.

I was lecturing a class one day when I got a call from my ex-girlfriend, and I declined the call. After the session, I called back and she was surprisingly polite talking to me. She told me she was sorry to disturb me and she misses me and all that. She told me she has a baby now and she was very unhappy. Her boss is seeing another lady, but still gives her whatever she wants. She was about to bring up our memory but I firmly told her to cut it out. Then she told me how I always wanted to visit the USA and that her brother had completed school in California and going for graduation. Her brother became my best friend when I started dating her sister. When he found out what his sister had done to me, he called sobbed, and apologized. He tried talking to her sister several times but to no avail. Out of shame, our friendship fell out. My ex-girlfriend told me her brother insists I go to his graduation and that he’d buy my ticket. I told her I’d think about it and hang up. Soon after getting home, I got a call from a foreign number. I picked up and it was my ex’s brother. He pleaded I come to his graduation since he has no friend coming and he doesn’t want the slot to go to waste. I was convinced, after all, I’d always wanted to travel. I knew my parents wouldn’t agree to it so I had to lie I’m visiting my aunt in the city. I told them I’d come back in two weeks and they didn’t complain.

I’ve arrived at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. Good lord here’s cold. It’s never gotten cold anywhere near this back home. I’ve checked out and it didn’t take long, I only brought my backpack with a few clothes. I can see Noah sitting and smiling right at me. I wave back and walk towards him. He hugs me tight and thanked me for coming, I was rather thanking him in my head. Geez, it’s cold. He hands me an iPhone 7 with a Verizon sim card and tells me to use that. I didn’t bother taking my Samsung Galaxy 5 out. He orders an Uber and we head to the hotel he’d booked for me. I’m spending one week in the USA, wow, not bad. I get to see all the places I’d only seen in movies. I call my mom, she freaks out, she shouts where I am and my aunt said I never came. I tell her the whole story and that I’m in the US. She is on loudspeaker, my dad is furious. He doesn’t like that I’ve traveled without telling the family. My three sisters are happy and excited for me. They tell me to send pictures. My elder sister switches the call to video and they’re beaming with excitement. The younger ones tell me to stand on the balcony so they can see the city. I tell them I’ll send them a lot of pictures and that they’ll see me in a week.

It’s Thursday and I’ll leave on Monday, I’m already worried. We’d gone out every single day to roam the city and I was realying my stay. Noah tells me he’d leave with me and that he can’t until after a year. That’s the arrangement, a graduate goes back to his country for a year before he can return. After the graduation on Saturday, we park all our stuff and prepare for our departure on Monday. Noah does plumbing services for a company and a customer calls on Sunday. Noah lets me tag along and we rode the company van to a suburb. It is one of the nicest neighborhoods I’ve seen and the address leads us to a beautiful two-story building. A Mercedes S-Class and a Nissan 370z were parked in the driveway. I couldn’t take my eyes off, who the hell lives here. Noah knocks on the door and a woman opens the door. Holy fuck, she is very pretty. She’s obviously in her late forties, but wow. She’s a tall white woman, with dark hair, pale skin, and average weight. Her boobs are the right size (as far as I could tell) and her ass is just a sweet sight. We follow her inside and she offers us a seat in the living room. I kept looking around the house, wow, huge and beautiful. The walls are painted white everywhere, and their 85 inches television is the biggest I’ve seen. I realized I may be embarrassing myself, lol. Noah heads to the kitchen and I stay in my seat. I hear the woman on a phone, she seems to be angry at someone. I hear her shouting about hackers breaking through her firewall and spying on their company records. I wait for her to finish her call.

‘Hi, ma’am.’

‘Yes. You. You aren’t working in the sink together?

‘No, ma’am, I’m his friend. I just accompanied him here.’

‘Your accent is thick. Alright, you need something?’

‘Forgive my boldness ma’am but I overheard your conversation. I think I can help you.’

Her expression changed. She was furious. ‘Are you fucking kidding me? You come into my house and eavesdrop on me. Out! Get out! When your friend is done he’ll join you outside’

As I stand outside, I feel like dying. What the hell was I thinking? Wait, can I get into trouble. I feel my eyes watering from embarrassment. I hear the door open, she steps out. ‘Follow me.’ As I follow her inside, I’m thinking maybe she’s told her husband something, I mean if she has one.

‘You said you can help. How?’

‘I can track who has broken into your firewall’

‘How? I ran a company, I don’t know you. What makes you think I can trust you?’

‘Ma’am, I’m sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble. I’m good with computers, I just want to help’

She pulls her laptop out. She hands it over to me and I start work. She looks at me amazed, it’s like she’s surprised I can type something on a laptop. My African aura is definitely raising doubts. Noah comes out a looks in our direction surprised. The woman tells him to give me a little time and will pay for the time wasted. In forty minutes I tell her the system is hacked alright and if I had time I would write double encryption for her. She looks at me amazed, she told me a professional had taken a look and told her the system is fine. She takes my phone number, gives me her card and says she’ll think about it and decide if she’ll invite me again. I was about to tell her I’m leaving the country the next day but just held my tongue. She gives me $300 and gives Noah $80. ‘Thanks, ma’am.’ ‘Deborah, I’m Deborah. Now get out of my house.’ Her smiles as she says this melts my heart. I don’t think of her sexually, not at all, she’s just so sweet. I admire her. As we are on our way home I tease Noah for making more money. Noah is impressed with my programming skills. He drops me at my hotel and heads to his apartment.

It is 11:00 pm, our flight leaves at noon the next day and I can’t sleep. What am I going back home for? I take my phone and call Noah. ‘Noah, I’m not going back.’ ‘What do you mean, James?’ ‘I’m not going back home. I’m staying here in the US.’ ‘I understand, James, I understand. I’ll call my landlord early tomorrow morning and tell him my brother is moving in till I get back. I’ll pay for one year. Please you do not have a permanent residence. From tomorrow you are an illegal immigrant. My landlord is a good friend, he’ll help you get odd jobs to get by. Don’t get into trouble, you’ll be deported. As time moves on, we’ll see what god can do’. The next day I pack my stuff and check out of the hotel. I ordered an uber to Noah’s apartment and it is not bad at all. It is a one-bedroom and a small living room, one large sofa, 50 inches television and a PS4 console. We heard to the airport with an uber and he advises me not to get into trouble. Once his flight takes off I’m overcome with fear. In the uber back home, I start to question my decision. I call my family and tell them I’m not coming. I tell them I’ve decided to stay and we’ll talk every day so they don’t worry.

It is one week now and I’ve been taking odd jobs thanks to Uncle Roberts, my landlord. I ran a lot of errands for him too and we’ve become quick friends. I call home every two days and talk to the family. I occasionally talk to Noah too. It’s 8 pm and I get an unusual call, it might be another odd job. I picked up quickly identified the voice. A strong, intimidating but soothing feminine voice, it belongs to Deborah. She tells me she wants me to write the encryption I talked about and tells me to come by the house at 8 am the next day. I ask for the address again but she requested my address and told me a driver will be available at 7 am. I get up early morning and was ready by 6:50. I get a call from what seems to be an old man and he explains he’s here to pick me up. I looked across the street and spotted the S-Class. I’m really going to sit in an S-Class, I mean I’ve never sat in an E-Class. I get into the car and immediately read the astonished expression on the driver’s face. He can’t believe a scum from this apartment is going to see his mistress.