13 TIKTOK- 1:10/2:00 (2/2)

I pulled up in front of the studio to a trembling Priscilla. She was shaking because she was all wet and the September wind was not helping. I locked the door as soon as she tried to opened it and boasted about it by revving the engine of her 1969 Chevrolet Impala. She started knocking on the glass, so I had to open the door.

The got in and said,” You are one heartless beast.”

I looked at her anger-wrinkled face and replied, ”Why, thank you.”

After a moment of giggle, I put the car in gear and started driving towards our villa.

I had one hand on the wheel, while other rested against the window. I thought about our journey and what it took for us to reach here.

After I had left Priscilla crying in her bathtub, I met with Mapalla. He took me to a bank and opened a new account for me. He deposited eight thousand dollars for the time, and promised to make quarterly deposits of the same amount. I rejected the offer for more money, and we parted ways for the time. I went on to buy a new cellphone with a new contact number, and immediately texted Priscilla that we would stay in touch. Then I went to the New York Corrections Facility for some information. I didn't get much, but I remained optimistic. Following that, I boarded a train towards California.

It took me three months and nineteen days to reach California because I made all those pit stops to discover any musical talent. I wanted one break to make it, and it was waiting for me on the opposite side of the United States. I met Cline in prison and found out he still had some pull in the industry, so I gave him a chance to break into the business again. I baited Priscilla and promised him we could make it work. When only one month was left for Cline's release, I called Priscilla numerous times and asked to sing over the phone. I sent her some hip-hop tracks and told her to copy the cadences and flows and rap over the cellphone again.

This went on for four months, and Cline was getting confident in Priscilla's talent. He produced six beats in three months and we overlaid Priscilla's rough vocals over them. Once we knew we were making something, we flew out to New York to meet up with her.

Almost a year after, I came back to the room where her and I had sex for the first time. I saw the

messed up sheets and nostalgia hit me hard. I jumped on the bed face first and sniffed the pillows, the sheets and the jacket lying close. I picked up the jacket and gave it a hug, but something was in the pockets which made a noise. I put my hands into them, and found white powder wrapped up in plastic bags. Immediately, my brain connected to the fact that Priscilla shook a lot of people's hands when we went for a walk that first night.

I was dealing with this fact that when she said her father helped her, he didn't send her money, but cocaine to earn pocket money.I was laying on the bed absorbing all this when the main door swung open and our eyes met. It was Priscilla, and she was dumbstruck to see me there. She took couple of steps towards me and saw me holding her jacket. I guess she connected the dots and was terrified I had discovered about her side business of drug dealing.

”It's not what you think it is.”, She was on the verge of crying.

”First off, welcome home. Secondly, you know this is an offense, right? Have you dropped your mind in a gutter that you are doing this for some coin? You are probably going to end up in the big house. Not to mention, your future will be done for.”

”Madonna, what is a big house?” she asked innocently in between of me being serious.

I rubbed my eyes in frustration over my morphed language, ”It's jail. You'll end up in jail if you keep on doing this.”

She dropped her head and said, ”Ah! I know that.”

I went over to her and grabbed her jersey's collar and screamed,” Don't give me that! What will I do without you? What do you think I have been grinding for all this time?”

”But- ”she took a pause, ”You left me alone.”

I let go of her collar and looked her in her eyes,” Just because I have whipped something up for you.”

She looked at me with a straight face when I explained what I had been doing for the last year. She was surprised what I had done with her singing and rough rapping. She seemed happy when I told that she had a label contract worth four million dollars for three albums based on the songs me and Cline had assembled. She was excited to step into her hobby more professionally.

”So, when can I step inside a studio?”

”Exactly nineteen days from now on. 10o' clock. We'll be doing some demos for the CEO of Max Fury Entertainment. He will also have some label talent and in-house producers there too. Ofcourse, I will be representing you.”

”Wait Madonna, I have my game coming up. It is also on the same day as you mentioned.”

”Well, drop it. Its only a game. One college game or millions of dollars. You won't have to ask your dad for any pocket money too.”

Priscilla took a defensive position and said,” It's not just a game. the whole team depends on me. I am their main setter. And this opportunity is not going to come again.”

”Well, the opportunity I am talking about is not going to come again either. So use your brain and think about what will make you money in the future. Bouncing your boobs in the air or going all over the world, discovering new things, and making millions?”

”This is my passion!”

I was getting impatient. ”I basically am serving you a career on a silver platter, and you are still talking about your passion which has a short shelf life to begin with! Have you gone crazy in the time I have been gone?”

Tears started forming in Priscilla's eyes as she said,” But, this is important to me!”

I looked away from her, ”Yeah, and this is important for me and you. Please don't be selfish.”

I dug in Priscilla's jersey and found pouches of cocaine.

I shoved the pouches in her face and made her realize the consequences which waited her once again.

I dropped all the pouches but one and pocketed one. ”I'll be taking this. I'll try it tonight. Ill see why people like it so much. But god knows what will happen if I get caught.”

Priscilla opened her eyes wide as tears rolled on her cheeks. She dropped on her knees while digging her face in her hands.

I opened the main door and said,” I'll wait for you in the studio.”

Nineteen days later, Priscilla showed up for recording.

I blinked, and the road was visible to me once more. The engine was humming in a rhythm and Priscilla was sleeping in the passenger's seat. It had been ten minutes since we left the studio. The path to this success had been a long one. Four years in the industry. Third album in the making. We were blessed that success knocked on our doors as conveniently as it did.

I took my cellphone out of my pocket and opened the call logs.

On the top stood the number I had received my last call from.

+977-332-####

I put the phone and stared at the cold road in front me.

Was all just a fleeting moment?