Chapter 4 A Broken Heart

Eddie blinked, unsure of how to respond. Why was this powerful man taking an interest in him?

"I will be very glad if I can be employed, Almighty. At Least, I wouldn't have to wash toilets again." Eddie prayed in his mind.

Damien reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out a neat bundle of cash, sliding it discreetly across the table to Eddie.

"Here," Damien said with a small smile, his tone still warm. "This is $1,000. Use it as you wish. Now, enjoy your meal in peace."

Eddie blinked in shock at the sight of the money. His hands trembled as he picked up the bundle, his mind racing.

"Thank you," he muttered, his voice hesitant and forced, the weight of gratitude and confusion making it hard for him to speak.

Damien gave him a reassuring nod, his sharp eyes studying Eddie for a moment longer.

Then, without another word, he rose to his feet, his imposing figure drawing the attention of the room as he moved toward the exit.

As Damien passed by, Skarr leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Sir, the bracelet on that boy's wrist," Skarr said urgently, his eyes narrowing. "It's identical to yours. But you once said only you had that design in the entire world."

Damien paused mid-stride, his expression flickering hard.

Then, with a stern glance at Skarr, he raised a hand to silence him.

"Watch, Skarr." Damien said quietly but firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Just watch."

Later in the night, Eddie trudged back to his hostel, his face etched with sorrow. Getting inside, he saw no one there, his roommate wasn't back yet.

He sighed deeply and threw himself onto his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Memories of shared moments with Eunice flooded his thoughts- laughter, shared meals, movie nights in his hostel- and each one felt like a fresh wound.

Fueled by a surge of annoyance. Eddie strode over to the wooden drawer where his poor-looking cell phone was kept.

He yanked out the hinges and opened his gallery, where images of Eunice and their shared experiences stared back at him.

"You cheat," he muttered bitterly. "I promise you, when I become rich, you'll regret doubting me." His eyes welled with tears, but he quickly wiped them away. In a go, he deleted the photos.

As he did, tears streamed down his face, unchecked by his efforts to hold them back.

Although he was trying to hold himself, he still couldn't. His heart was overwhelmed by grief and anger.

'Thud!'

Eddie buried his face in his bed with tears in his eyes.

He sobbed quietly into the mattress, his tears soaking into the worn fabric. His muffled cries carried a haunting echo in the silence of the small room.

"Mom... Dad..." he whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "If you were alive... none of this would've happened. People wouldn't talk to me like trash. They wouldn't call me a nobody."

He clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling with suppressed rage and sorrow.

"If you were alive, I wouldn't have been arrested and electrocuted in the neck for standing up for myself, for fighting for what's mine. I wouldn't be treated like dirt, like someone who doesn't belong."

His tears flowed more freely now as his voice faltered.

"And if you were alive, Eunice wouldn't have left me. She wouldn't have dumped me for someone richer, someone... better." He spat the last word, the bitterness laced with heartbreak.

For a long moment, Eddie lay there, letting the tears flow as years of pain, abandonment, and disappointment poured out of him.

Eventually, his sobs quieted, replaced by the deep, heavy breathing of someone utterly spent. His eyes burned, his chest ached, but the tears wouldn't come anymore.

He turned to lie on his back, staring at the cracked ceiling as exhaustion began to claim him.

"Almighty," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Help me prove them all wrong. Please..."

His eyes fluttered shut, and sleep began to take him, though it was uneasy and fitful.

*********

The sound of the door creaking open startled Eddie awake. He bolted upright, his heart pounding.

The silhouette of a figure filled the doorway, the light from the hallway casting a shadow into the room.

"Edd, you awake?"

The familiar voice of Phil, his roommate and closest friend, broke the tension.

Eddie sighed in relief and lay back down, his head hitting the pillow with a soft thud.

"You scared me," he muttered.

Phil stepped in, closing the door behind him. His usual cheerful expression was replaced with one of concern as he took in Eddie's tear-streaked face and disheveled appearance.

"Man, what happened?" Phil asked, setting down his bag and sitting on the edge of Eddie's bed.

Eddie hesitated, unsure where to begin.

Phil noticed Eddie's hesitation, his eyes narrowing as he tried to piece things together.

After a moment of silence, he sighed and leaned back slightly.

"Eddie... I heard something earlier," Phil began cautiously. "There's a rumor going around campus that Eunice agreed to Nat's proposal."

The words hit Eddie like a punch to the gut. He shut his eyes tightly, fighting back a fresh wave of tears.

Phil frowned at Eddie's reaction, confirming the truth of the rumor.

"Man," Phil said with a shake of his head. "I've told you from day one, Eunice was no good for you. She's not the type to stick around when things get tough. She only stuck with you because of all the nice things you did for her...because you treated her like a queen."

Eddie looked away, his throat tightening.

"She's been riding on your kindness all this time," Phil continued, his tone sharpening with frustration. "I know it's hard to hear, but it's the truth. You deserved better, Eddie. Way better than that gold digger."

Eddie's lips parted as though he wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.

Phil reached out, giving Eddie's shoulder a firm squeeze.

"Listen, bro," he said, softening his voice. "You'll bounce back from this. You're stronger than you think, and you're destined for something bigger. Eunice? She'll realize what she lost. But by then, you'll have moved on to better things."

Eddie nodded slowly, though his heart still felt like it was in pieces.

"I hope you're right, Phil.... because I don't think it would ever be better for me," Eddie murmured, his voice barely audible.

"I know I'm right and you have to believe in yourself also," Phil said firmly. "But you gotta promise me one thing."