MOLTDOWN
The Unexpected
The room was quiet. The only sound was the slow hum of an old ceiling fan, lazily spinning above him. It creaked every few seconds — a tired groan that seemed to echo the weight in his chest. He lay flat on his back, hands folded on his stomach, staring blankly upward as if the answers to all his questions were hidden in the faded cracks of the ceiling.
He was thirty-three, back in his father’s house. Again.
he could remember saying to himself, "I can never get to thirty years and be broke, I would just die or disappear from the face of the earth, either way, I wouldn't be alive"
David
💭 Hold on to your center, hold on... what is actually there to hold on to
He was 33, back in his father’s house. Again.
Once, this same ceiling watched him grow. As a boy, he used to imagine constellations in its rough texture, dream of cities he’d live in, people he’d meet, greatness he’d build. But now… now, it only reminded him of how far he’d fallen.
He thought of the jobs — all of them. Retail. A call center. Dishwasher. Salesman. Construction. Security guard. Driver. Fired. Fired. Quit. Fired. Fired. It became a pattern. Something would go wrong. He’d show up late. Or not at all. Sometimes he just… couldn’t. Couldn’t find the strength to explain why he moved slower than others. Why some days his own name felt like a weight.
The voice of his elder brother ringing again and again in his head.
"A man is valued where he creates value"
David
I wish I could just die in my sleep, ugh.
Ubong
U wan die?
no die yet oh, come collect your food gimme fess. na rice and stew dem cook
Now here he was. The man who promised his mother he’d make her proud. Who told his friends he just needed one break. The same man now counting how many times he thought of ending it all.
Three times.
He didn’t write a note. He didn’t cry. He just felt tired — so deeply tired — and wanted it all to stop. Once, it was pills. Another time, the bridge. And once… just a long stare at a train track that didn’t see a train for hours. Each time, something pulled him back. A call. A thought. A whisper of a reason he hadn’t even named yet.
Now, he lay in that room, with no job, no money, no direction. Just him, the ceiling, and the weight of everything he wasn’t. But as heavy as it all was, he was still breathing. Still staring. Still here.
And maybe — just maybe — that meant something.
Even if he didn’t know what yet.
David
Ub, bring my food here. Let's eat.
Ubong
Let's eat?
Ah, you lost appetite?
David
Not really, but it will help me. I don't want to waste food.
Ubong immediately comes back, but without the food
David
Bring rice nau?!!
wetin?!!
Ubong
them deylook for you outside.
your momsi.
David hurries out and sees his mum, dad, and a young lady sitting with them.
A black SUV is parked outfront, and a little girl is standing beside it
Mrs. Aniebiet
I want you to tell me the truth.
David, do you know her??
Mrs. Aniebiet
Young lady, can you repeat what you just told me?
Lavender
Ok, the little girl over there is David's daughter
The Party
David
[looking at his laptop screen in his room]
Area 51?, hehe. I wish I could just find a good job to apply for, even if it's selling drugs for gain.
let's see what's on the woke community page. [clicks]
Ubong
pursuing ghosts again?
David
not ghosts, please. It's a conspiracy theory. and most of these things are real and connected to the truths that we can't even see. the very things that exist, right under our noses.
Ubong
wait, I just saw something. something just popped up, like a mail.
David
it's a mail from that secret site! 😳
David
said I should get ready in 3 months.
Ubong
and how is that even possible? You barely even have money to feed, and you just got a job abroad.
David
It might be scam, shaa.
they will just be pulling my legs and dragging me into their site every time.
Ubong
[drops 2 bottles of soft drinks and bread 🍞 on the table]
𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚙 𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚜 don't know what you are even thinking.
Ubong
my school mother just invited me to a party. hope you are coming, cos I don't wanna go there alone.
David
I could run mental from staying home bored.
of course 𝚒 𝚍𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎.
David
will there be food at the party?
Ubong
𝚞 𝚗𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚎𝚜 𝚐𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚢
Come 𝚝𝚘𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚗𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚞 𝚐𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚏𝚎, 𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗
David
𝚒 𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚙𝚊?
𝚗𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚎
don't worry, I will toast your babe [smiles wickedly]
Ubong
don't carry that cassava near my babe, 𝚊𝚋𝚎𝚐
David
𝚘𝚢𝚊 𝚗𝚊𝚞, let's be going.
David is unperturbed and just sitting with his phone and observing people around the place subtly.
When Ubong walks up to him ..
Ubong
yo bro, I just met this girl, and she wants to drag me to the other room. I'll see you later cos some shii is about to go down. hehehe
moments later, this girl walks up to David and sits beside him...
David
[looks at her with a blank face]
hi
Random girl
why are u still on your phone?
loosen up a bit
David
my life crisis is too serious for me to hook unto some temporary distraction that will not make anything better
Random girl
And still staying in the same place won't make it better.
U gotta live, explore new things, maybe u could find something new that would change your life, who knows?
David
maybe coming here was such a bad idea, I need to think. [steps outside]
Random girl
[comes outside with two cups of alcoholic drink and meets David, hands one to David]
look, if I have to regret everything that has happened to you, just don't sit in the regret, keep moving, keep living, dint just stay stuck in a time loop.
David
I would say that's the best thing I've heard since I came to this party. [collects the drink and sips]
abandon hope.
David
Abandon hope, what monks would tell you. U just gotta work hard plan ahead.
Random girl
interesting. U would tell me more inside.
David
[starts feeling dizzy]
uurghh, I uh, [passes out].
Is The Kid Mine?
Present Day.
Back at David's home 🏡 ....
Ubong
When did you get someone pregnant? 🤰 🤔
David
Are you seriously asking me that? 😏
Ubong
You can't avoid drama to save your life, can you? 😂 What's the mess this time? Did you accidentally forget your seed inside someone?What's going on?
David
I got someone at my door who just confirmed that i got a 5 year old daughter I never knew. She is the mother, and I'm the father.😪
Ubong
😱👀 WHOAAAA, HOLD UP! 😲 You're tellin' me you've got a 5-year-old daughter and you didn't even know?! 😂🤣 Okay, okay, this is a new level of mess, even for you, "The Avoider"! 😅 What's the plan, man? Are you gonna step up and be a dad, or are you gonna... well, I don't know, avoid her too? 😂 What's going on with this lady, anyway? How did she just show up outta nowhere?
David
I gotta run DNA test, it can't be?
Ubong
but the lady seems to have money 😏😅 definitely your type. 🤪
Ubong
Lol, "run that deal test" 😂, you mean like, verify if you're actually the father? 😂👀 Okay, bruh, get a paternity test ASAP, 'cause this lady might be playing you like a fiddle 🎻. What's the vibe with her, though? Is she looking for a sugar daddy or something? 😂 cos u ain't even got money. You better get to the bottom of this, 'cause "Dad" ain't gonna be your new nickname just yet 🤣. What's the kid's name, anyway?
David
why are you talking like that? 😏😒
Ubong
cos I feel this is a movie. Someone might be filming this right now 🤡😅
Ubong
Yup! DNA test, yeah! 😂 You better get that test done. Don't wanna be stuck with child support for a kid that's not even yours, bruh 💸. So, what's the lady's story? How did she claim you were the father, and what's her angle? You better grill her like a BBQ, get all the details. And for real, what's the kid's name? You gotta know something about this little human you're supposedly connected to 😂.
David
child support?
this is Nigeria 🇳🇬 tho. And stop talking like that, and this is no movie. It's my life here! 😒
Ubong
but for real, try to stay calm.
Don't let her play your head like that.
David
Hmmm, she dropped a number and said she will be back in 2 days
Ubong
😂 She's playing it cool, huh? Droppin' a number and givin' you a deadline 📝. You better be ready for when she comes back, bruh. Get that DNA test scheduled ASAP, and don't let her dictate the pace 🚀. You need to take control of this situation, 'cause right now, she's the one callin' the shots 🤔. What's the number she dropped, anyway? Is it a Nigerian number or what?
Ubong
Lol, don't worry 'bout the number, bruh 😂. Focus on gettin' that DNA test done and gatherin' your thoughts. You can't let her dictate the pace, so chill and get your ducks in a row 🦆. When she comes back in 2 days, you'll be ready, or you'll at least have a plan 📅. What's your next move, though? You gonna try to reach out to her before she comes back, or you gonna play it cool and wait?
David
🤔 Ok , I guess I'll take the DNA test when she arrives, we will go together.
Ubong
👊 That's the spirit, bruh! You show up with her, get the test done, and get some answers 📊. Don't let her come at you with any more surprises, get the facts straight 🚫. You goin' into this calm and collected, or you gonna let her get under your skin? 🤔 Either way, you'll know the truth soon enough, and that's what's important 💯. You better be ready for whatever the results say, though 🤯.
Ubong
What if it says...
You're the father
Dave meets with Lavender in a sit out resort just a few blocks away from his home.
Aurica, the little girl is also present.
David
I would rather take a test.
to confirm all this.
Lavender
she is your daughter, believe me, I am not lying, and she needs you now more than ever. I can't keep her away from her father forever
David
whatchu mean forever? she is just five years old, miss whoever
Lavender
it's Lavender, just call me Lavender.
David
so you looking for a father who can babysit?
Lavender
See, we can go for the test now, ok?
But I won't let her grow without a father.
Back at David's home.... the results shocked him 😳
and Ubong isn't too surprised tho
Ubong
😱👀 WOOOOO! Congrats, bruh... I guess?! 🎉 You're officially a dad! 😂 Now what? You gonna step up and be a father to this little one, or is this gonna be a whole new level of drama? 🤔 You gotta figure out your next move, 'cause this changes everything 🤯. You ready to be a dad, or do you need some time to process?
car horns outside, and it's Lavender. David goes to meet her.
Aurica
Mommy said, you're my daddy. Are you my daddy?
Aurica
do you know you braid hair? 🤔
David
[squats to fit Aurica's height]
can you teach me?
Aurica
No, I can't, but I can teach you other stuffs tho.
David
oh, really? [now smiling]
like what??
Aurica
dance moves. I see people do dance moves with their dad on tik tok. there's one I would like us to try.
David
😅😅 yeah, I'm not a tik tok person. how about video games?
Ubong
[looking at David from the doorstep and smiling] heyy!!!
David
it's your uncle. you are gonna love him
David
[turns to Lavender].
you have a lot of explanation to do.
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