Revival of us

Chapter 8

ENZO

School was anything but pleasant. Most learners looked forward to breaktime,  most after-school. I was part of the latter group. Not becauss I missed home or anything but because I looked forward to my after-school walks with Malaika.

Malaika attended a private school half a kilometre away from mine. I always bunked school so I could arrive at her school premises a few minutes before her school ended.
Carrying my almost empty school bag and herr heavy one,  we'd walk along. Chatting away.

On this particular day,  I couldn't bunk school. I had detention. Some stupid soccer playing fool had falsely accused me of hiding 'my weed' in his bag. The coward hadn't expected me to retaliate. I barely spoke a word at this stupid school. He was relatively new to the concept, silence doesn't mean weakness. He learned though, after a busted lip and two swollen eyes.

The entire day the principal kept his eyes on me like a hawk. I would have bunked and skipped detention. However the last time I had done that I had gotten a warning. I was one offense away from getting expelled. To hell with my bursary,  to hell with my future architectural dreams and to hell with my escape plan!

The clock went slower than a sloth. When the clock struck 3, I all but ran out of there.  Almost knocking the teacher on detention duty down. I didn't bother going home. I headed straight for the corner of Villa Street,  where Malaika resided. I tried calling Malaika but the call wasn't going through. I tried again and again. On my way there,  I bumped into Landy.

"Hey!" She said cheerfully. It's been so long?" I saw her just yesterday. I didn't forget. "Are you headed towards Amara?"

"Yes,  is she there? She isn't answering her phone."

"Oh,  I know why. She forgot her phone. Here,  please give it to her for me." I nodded, taking the pink covered phone from her. Now I had an excuse to go to her house. The last time I went there her mother had studied me as if I was some zoo animal. Barely held the door open for me to enter.

"She is strict. It's nothing personal." Malaika had said. I doubt that was the reasom. She deemed me unworthy. She was prim and proper just like my father's wife. A prude.

Their neat one story house came into view. The grass was as well-kept as it was the last time I was here. Trimmed and lush green. Rose bushes planted in a row on both sides of the pavement that led to the large oak door. They were red. A 'welcome' sign was nailed to the door. I knocked. Malaika's mother ,  once again ,  was the one to open the door. I felt anything but welcome.

"Good afternoon mam." I said in my most charming voice, " decorating my face with a dazzling smile. Thay barely melted the cold demeanor of the woman clothed head to toe in black. A black turtleneck top,  with long sleeves. Black long tight skirt. A long black sheer mantle that ran all the way to her ankles. Almost touching their polished tile. Had it not been for her stilletos.

"Hello. How can I help you?" She said in a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I am looking for Malaika. She forgot her phone. Landy asked me to give it to her. I was starting to ramble. Who wouldn't be nervous beneath this woman's inquisitive gaze? She held the door for me. I sauntered in.

"She is in her room." She walked me to the hallway,  gesturing to the room in the far corner. It would be hard to miss it,  it was painted in pastel pink. The ONLY door room painted in pink in this house I noticed so far. "Thank you."

After two knocks,  she opened the door. Her eyes widened as she saw me. Suprised I had though,  however her chest was heaving up and down too fast. Her breaths were too fast. "Hi." She croaked. Not moving to let me in the room. "Hey, are you not going to let me in?" I smiled,  mischievously. I was so happy to see her. I had wrestled with myself ending the silent treatment.

"Malaika,  who is it?" A voice called from inside the room. Both Malaika and I stood still. Was it her father? Not waiting for any invitation,  I pushed my way into the room.

Rage. Red hot rage was what I felt when I saw the villian of my nightmares sitting on her bed. A book on his lap.

Max.

Malaika's head must have been heavy,  she barely picked it up to look at me. Gritted teeth I ignored the boy who attempted to greet me. Scraped up the little bit of pride I still had left,  cleared my throat,  did what Landy asked of me and with suppressed anger left the room.

Mom and Milandi were seated in our tiny kitchen when I got home. I stormed to my room avoiding any small talk with Milandi or mom. A fist connected with my tiny mirror. The only one I had.

Blood seeped from my knuckles. She held it in her hand and studied it. Left the room and came back with a first aid bag,  one that must have been in her car. As she cleaned me up,  she asked,  "Would you like to talk about it?" Wiping the blood with a cottom wool.

"No." Yes,  I wanted to talk about it. "Yes. Malaika is so stupid. She is so stupid,  Milandi. How dare she?! She thinks I'm a fool." A lump formed in my throat.

"But you are not a fool."

"Yes,  I am not a fool. I am no fool!" Milandi poured antiseptic on my cuts. I hissed,  it stung. I told her how I had found her and Max and cozy and jovial,  the boy she swore was just a friend.

"Why had she looked so distraught when I found them? Nothing had come from her lips,  no excuse. No apology. Nothing! I am going to get her - Milandi can you be a little gentle!"

"Sorry. Aren't you jumping to conclusions a little too fast,  you said they were nothing but friends."

"Milandi,  did you hear anything that I just told you? And they were never supposed to be friends in the first place!" Milandi frowned.

"Why?"

"She already has Landy and me. She only needs me."

Milandi gaped at me. "What do you mean by that?" She asked.

"Never mind. I am going to get her. Nami will help me. It worked the last time." Milandi wanted to know 'what' exactly worked meant. She was so full of questions today. What was shocking about not wanting to share Malaika?!
I told her about the other day at the cinema. Her mouth hung open afterwards.

"You didn't! That is,  that is sick. Unhealthy...What? That's abuse. Manipulative and abusive."

Now she was muttering nonsense. My plan was genuis. It had worked in my favour,  can't she see how much I needed Malaika. There is nothing I wouldn't do to keep her.

"Listen to me. You are abusing her."

"No,  I have never layed a hand on her. I will never be anything like my mother's exes. I only threaten her but it's only to instill fear. Fear of leaving me."

"Oh my goodness,  Enzo. It's a form of abuse,  don't you know? Emotional abuse. Next thing you know,  you'll be hitting her."

She was spewing nonsense. I would never lay a hand on Malaika. The day I do such may thunder strike me down!