A World I Never Knew Existed

Jasper rests his back on the headboard of the king-sized bed in his bedroom staring intently at the figure laying beside him. He shook his head and sighed heavily thinking about his fate and life generally.

The lady beside him was supposed to be the coolness of his eyes to make him feel good, achieved, and happy. But no! it was the other way round. Instead, she seemed to be the babe of his life. Ever since they got married, he has not been at all happy. Not even for a minute, especially when she's around him.

Rather than leaving him to contend with her irresponsible attitude, she adds salt to his wound by crossing his path and doing whatever she likes without regard for him. All she knows was making trouble without answering for her atrocious actions.

“Till when will I have to tolerate her and endure her excesses?” Jasper asked no one but himself deeply in thought about his situation. Who was he to blame for his marriage's unluckiness?.

He attempted to stand up, and the door of the room flung open. It was his five-year-old daughter. She ran straight into her father's arms snuggling her face on his broad chest and her body in his embrace before looking up at him.

“Good morning daddy,” she greeted in her babyish accent.

“Good morning baby. Hope you slept well?”Jasper sat her on his lap and ruffled her hair with his strong manly hand.

“Yes daddy, I slept well,” she muttered word for word.

“What about you dad?. Your eyes look big” she reached out and touched his face using her small, soft thumb to rub the dark eye circles underneath his eyes.

“Hey sweetie, you just hurt daddy with your words. Are you telling me my eyes looks like that of an owl?” Jasper joked over his daughter's statement.

“I'm sorry daddy, I didn't mean to say that. But I'm not lying. You can check the mirror" Jasmine directed her face to where the large standing mirror was positioned.

“It's alright baby, let's go freshen up. Dad's eye will not be big anymore after a cool bath,” he said looking deep into his daughter's eyes only to realize that she was not listening to what he said.

Her attention had been diverted to the figure on the bed. While she looked at the laying figure, a possibility had crossed her mind.

“Daddy, did she make you angry again?.” Jasmine asked with a bit of anxiety.

”No baby, she didn't. Dad didn't give her the chance to.”

Ever since Jasmine was born, the only person she's close to was her father. Her mother had ceased to act like her mother since she began to sit and suddenly went to the bad. All Jasmine knew was that she has a mother, but doesn't know how it feels to be cared for by one.

“Really?” she asked cupping her father's face in her little hands and Jasper nodded affirming her question.

“You're not lying to me?” she asked with doubt.

“Of course not. Daddy does not dare lie to you.” he pinched her cheek lightly with a beatific smile.

They left the room for Jasmine's room where Jasper bathed her quickly and dressed her in her school uniform after which he entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He served Jasmine's food and packed her lunch in her lunch bag.

“Delicious” Jasmine complimented raising her thumb to her dad.

”As usual” Jasper replied curtly with a wink and returned to his room to dress.

Minutes later, the two were set for their day's activities. They entered Jasper's car and zoom, they're gone. Jasper dropped her in her school compound and bade her goodbye.

“Take care of yourself daddy!” she smiled at her father and pecked his cheeks.

“Sure. You too darling, be obedient as usual and don't fight anyone”.

Satisfied that his daughter entered her class safely, he drove straight to his workplace.

*

*

“Good morning boss,” one of the employees bowed her head as the CEO of the company entered the company's building.

“Morning Celine. Where are the rest?” the CEO asked referring to the other employees.

“They are at the meeting hall waiting for you sir,” Celine answered directing her hand towards the direction of the hall.

“Good, let's go,” he said and walked briskly down to the hall.

“Good morning everyone” he greeted them raising his voice to accentuate his presence and immediately, they all stood up and greeted him.