ENIOLA: Beauty For Ashes

Chapter Two

"ENIOLA!"

The sudden sound was a rude awakening to the fact that she wasn't far away in some exotic country, living life and making money.
She'd been sitting in the living room, daydreaming about the beautiful man she kissed at Tunde's birthday party.

He arrived the party with three other guys but looked out of place, shifty and uncomfortable, as if he didn't want to be there.
His companions tried to get him to drink and when he refused, they ignored him for the rest of the night.
She was dancing with Oge and some other ladies when she noticed him stealing glances at her. They weren't lustful, like the ones she'd been getting since she entered the lounge. He looked at her with some sort of inquisitive admiration that both amused her and made her a little self-conscious.
Oge noticed the off and on eye contact, walked up to him, dragged him to the dance floor, pushed him towards her and vanished.

I go soon beat this girl! 

"I'm so sorryyy" he said.

The club lights illuminated his features so she could take it in. He had an appealing face, a beautiful one. His sharp black eyes stood out even though they were hidden behind what looked like medicated glasses. Not too fair, not too dark, his skin was nice and smooth, the type you'd see on all those Instagram men that used to shine anyhow. He looked embarrassed by what Oge did.

"It's alright. Don't mind her" she said.
5 seconds of awkward silence passed.

"Em...I'm going to get a drink. You want any?" she asked. He shook his head and smiled.

"May I walk you though? I really don't know anyone here apart from the celebrant" he said.

"Sure. You don't drink yeah? I saw the way you were acting when your guys were trying to give you whiskey" she said.

"Yeah, I don't"

She ordered a martini and they sat down.
He was so good looking, and for the first time Eni allowed herself imagine what it would feel like to spend the night with another man, I mean, if Kunle could play around, she could too.
Refusing to think, she reached out, grabbed his shirt and pulled him into a rough kiss. He grew stiff and pushed her away gently, taking care not to get noticed.

"Please...don't"

Eni felt a couple of things, embarrassment and anger being the most dominant. He tried to play the whole thing off but that just made her feel worse. She grabbed her purse and keys with fidgeting fingers and took off.
She'd been wondering what would have happened if he didn't push her away.

Now she was running up the stairs to get to Kunle in time before he'd lose his temper. When she entered the room, what she saw made her blood run cold.
He stood in the center of their bedroom with a murderous look on his face. A box filled with medications lay scattered at his feet. It was the box where she hid all her contraceptives.

"K-Kunle I can explain..."

"Soooooo, this is why after four years of marriage, you've not been able to get pregnant"

"No Kunle I-"

"My fren will you SHUT UP! SHUT YOUR DIRTY MOUTH!"

Fear shot through her body, paralyzing her from head to toe.
"You know I thought it was a health issue, maybe you were barren because there is no way I would not be able to impregnate a woman. I was just patient with you, pitying you sef. You think I haven't been observant?
You think I'm STUPID?! I knew you were hiding something from me. Imagine my surprise knowing that you are the reason why this marriage is childless till now! Ah! By the time I am done with you today eh, all the children you should have had, you will have them"

He charged at her like a bull.
The fear gave way to a desire to live and adrenaline kicked in. She rushed out of the door, locked him inside, and sprinted down the stairs in a flash.

"EMEKA!"

Emeka was out running errands.
She was on her own.

She heard a loud crash and nearly peed her pants when she saw Kunle jump down the staircase. Before she could move, he grabbed her by the throat and slapped her so hard that she buckled and fell.

"You think you will leave me childless? Me?! Kunle Adewunmi! You useless prostitute!"
Every word was followed by slaps, punches and kicks. She could taste blood.
From experience, she'd found that it helped to end the torture faster if she didn't move, but that was not to be the case this time. After what felt like an eternity of beatings, he suddenly stopped and stared at her.

"Oh...so you have someone outside you'd rather have children for? Is that it?"

He'd never shown her love, but right now he looked like he wanted her dead.
"Eniola are you cheating on me? He he heeeeee! You are cheating on me Eniola! Okay, I will show you how to cheat, since that is what you know how to do"

He towered over her bleeding, bruised body with an expression on his face that made her heart drop. She knew that look all too well, confirmation mocking her as he began to undo his belt and zip.
Like magic, all the pain she felt vanished. Strength from nowhere filled her to the brim as she bent her knee and hit him right between the legs. A sound of pain and shock erupted from his throat and he crashed like a pack of cards, clutching his manhood.
Now was her chance.

She jumped up and ran into the kitchen, not to escape.
No.
She was going to teach him a lesson.
She grabbed the long pestle used to pound yam from a corner, swung it over her swollen shoulder and marched to the parlour where he lay, writhing in pain. He saw the pestle and raised his hands to protest.

"Eni wait. Babe wai-"

She swung hard and hit his left knee.
His scream was a catalyst to the rage that took over her mind.
"Soooo you can feel pain! That's fantastic! I never would've thought you knew what pain was Kunle. This is amazing!"

She landed another hit on his hip and was sure she heard something crack. He was screaming, begging her to stop. She dropped the pestle and turned to walk away when a fresh bout of pain shot through her body from her right ankle.
He'd bitten her hard, so hard that she was starting to bleed.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" she wailed, pounding his head with her fists till he let go. The blood from the open wounds on her head seeped into her eyes, blinding her as she ran out through the front door. Few steps to the gate, all the energy supplied by adrenaline disappeared, giving way to agonizing, bone melting pain.
Her knees gave out and she fell, feeling the darkness close in.
The last thing she saw was the gate open and Emeka dropping the grocery bags in his hand out of shock.