Need You

CHAPTER O5

I was tossed off my bed onto the bare ground. The floor was cold and all that I wanted to do was climb back onto that hard mattress.

As usual, the cell was dark. A heavy arm pushed me back as I tried to return to the bed. I was sleepy and didn't care much for who it was at that moment.

Stubbornly and sleepily pushing back to get back onto my bed, my senses were awakened by the heavy hand that went across my cheek.

Involuntarily, my hand went up to my cheek in hopes of soothing the pain from the slap.

"Are you insane?!" He grabbed the collar of my shirt.

I shrieked as my back made impact with the metal rods that confined us. The light from the hallway poor illuminated his face but I could make out from the rough facial texture and defined cheekbones that it was the bully I unfortunately shared the cell with.

Leaving me with a strong warning, he took my mattress, layed it on his and slept.

The backache from sleeping on the sofa was a lot better compared with that from the impact with the rods.

I rubbed my hands against my forehead and a heavy sigh came out. I looked behind me when I heard a door opening.

"Good morning." She said sweetly.

"Good morning." My voice was just groggy.

"Did you sleep okay?"

"I did. Thank you." I smiled.

"Okay. I need you go get ready for work. It's almost 5:30. Shower and, there's a new toothbrush by the sink."

"Oh, thank you."

"When you're done, the dress shirt hanging on the door is yours. You can wear it to work."

"Oh you don't have to do that." Of course, I wanted to get out of these dirty clothes but I didn't feel okay accepting it so quickly. "I don't mind wearing what I have on right now."

"It's dirty. Leave it in the laundry basket." Ethel said. "Hurry up and go get ready. The bathroom is there." She pointed to the room next to the one she came out from.

When Ethel entered what I now presumed to be the kitchen, I went into the bathroom. It was very clean. The black and white patterned tiles on the floor and the white tiles on the walls matched well.

I saw the dress shirt she was talking about. It was a blue and white striped shirt. I wondered if it belonged to a husband or a son.

The sink was to the left, a few feet away from the door. I realized that there was another door that led into the bathroom — it was closer to the sink.

A wall behind the sink gave privacy to the toilet which was opposite to the spacious shower space.

I did as I was told and got ready. The shirt was nice. I was surprised to find Nikki in the dining room with Ethel when I came out of the bathroom.

"Auntie, can I take your car to work?" I heard her say.

"Why?"

"I'm late."

"Why?"

"Come on." She whined. "I need to take it or else  I'll be very late. They've already started working. I need to get there quickly Auntie."

"Okay." Ethel chuckled. "Let me go and get the keys."

"Thank you."

She came out of the dining area and asked on her way to her room, "Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"My niece can take you to the restaurant."

Nikki hadn't seen me coming and so her perplexed expression made sense.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Um..." What was I supposed to say?

"He's has a few problems with his accommodation so I decided to help him out."

"Oh." She gave me a pitiful look and then a sympathetic smile. That definitely made me shy.

"Here's the key." Ethel stretched it to Nikki. "Leave it in my office."

"Okay. Thank you Auntie." Nikki gave Ethel a brief hug and I said bye to her before leaving with her niece.

"Amanda, are you ready?"

"Yes." The lady who responded looked at us and I am sure that I mirrored the surprised look on her face.

"Amanda this is Harry. Harry, Amanda."

"Good morning." I said.

"Good morning." She said, clearly wondering why I came out of Ethel's house with Nikki.

Nikki and Amanda got into the front seats while I went to the back.

The music being played in the car kept me entertained while the two ladies continued with their conversation.