ABUSED.
Episode 5
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I got home few minutes past eight, mother was back I could tell, Reuben’s car was parked outside. I decided to take the back stair. The whole place is quite expect for the soft music I heard from the neighborhing flat. I opened the door quietly, I sighed as the creaked open. I went to my room through the kitchen. What a day! I fell on my bed carelessly, the soft mattress soothing my skin, then without knocking, my door open, I quickly turned to face mother but to my surprise, it was Reuben
” Hmm. Good evening sir”
” Ruth, I saw walked through the back door. Why didn’t you take the front stairs”
“I… I don’t want to bother mother. I thought you two would need no disturbance”
He smiled at me, I don’t know why I feel so small under his scrutiny. The way he looks at me makes me feel shy and uncomfortable. He walked towards me,
” Ruth! I like you. I don’t bite, so be free with me. Damilola and I are just friends nothing more”.
I don’t know why he was explaining his relationship with mother, I cared less. I don’t know where this is heading to but I smell a rat. Besides, where could she be? Why is he here in my room? As if reading my thoughts
” Your aunt travelled๐”
Travelled?”๐ณ
” Yes. I just dropped her at the airport some minutes ago. I thought to come and check on you, I got a spare key”
” She never mentioned it to me anyways”
” It’s an impromptu trip. ”
“Where to? ”
” Abuja. It’s work related”
“Ok ”
“Do you mind I take you out”
” I am fatigued. I need to rest”
” Ok. Need some massage?”
I was baffled with his question, massage?
“Hmm. No”
“Don’t mind me, I play a lot. I will be leaving, I thought to wait for you to get back. Since you back, I should leave now. Call me for anything”
” Ok. Thanks”
He smiled, turned and walked out; I exhaled, never knew I held in so much air. I stood up and followed him, I want to lock up as soon as he leaves.
” Ruth”
” Sir”
” You look beautiful in that dress, you made it?”
” Yes sir”
” Your hands are getting good”
I smiled at his compliment.
” I will get you all the sewing machines you need once you are done”
” Thanks you sir” I replied giggling, the thought of owning different sewing machines increased my serotonin level. I felt happy by his promise, I know Reuben keeps to his word.
Picking up his phone and car from the center table, he walked up to me, hugged and pecked me on the my forehead, I was puzzled with what he did, but he just smiled at me like someone who just seen his lover after a long time.
” Good night, angel”
” Hmm. Good night sir” I muttered still baffled by what he did. He left after starring at me for while. I bow my head lowly and only raised it up immediately he left. I locked the door, closing my eyes and replaying what just occurred in my head.
I don’t get what is going on, but one thing I know is that Reuben has other motives. Today is really eventful for me, Ade first, then mother travelled and now Reuben treating me like his lover.
I will just pretend nothing happened, probably he was only trying to be nice I said to myself. Ha! Ruth you take things too far. You have always felt empty and unloved; now things are being fair, Reuben has been nice to you, a father figure in your life and you want to spoil everything, not that he kissed you, just a peck.
To the other side, I have the whole house to myself. I can now do as I pleased. I’m now on my own, I thought of mother and I decided to call her and ask how her trip was. I rushed back to my room, retrieve my phone from my bag. I placed a call to her. It rang twice before she picked up
” Yes, what is it?” She bloated out before I could say anything.
” How was your trip?๐ฉ”
” Is that why you called or is there more?๐ ”
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” I learned you travelled, I called to check on. ”
” As per your daughter or what? I don’t blame, you, you now own a phone. There’s food in there, what more do you want? If you have nothing better to say, don’t call me. If you like turned my house to a brothel before I return.”
She hung up on me. I inhaled deeply, surely there’s no love lost between us. I truly yearn to have a good relationship with my mom like I see other people. Oluchi’s mother has come to our shop to see her daughters learning, and even others but no one came for me expect Ade who comes to see me.
Even in school, no one shows up for me when there’s something to do that needs parents to show up. During debates, parents show up to cheer their children but no one came to cheer me up. I have tried hard to make her like me and get close but I get each time is ridicule and insults. During our inter house sports, I see how my fellow classmates parents, brothers and friends come to make them happy but no one shows up for Ruth.
I wished grandma was alive, at least I leaved freely with her than my mother. She relates with my cousins well but not with me, I am an indelible scar she carries around that makes her irritated.๐ฅบ๐ฅบ๐คฆ
To be continued..
