Scars

Chapter 3✨

"If I could make three wishes, I would wish never to Love. I would wish I didn't have a heart. I would wish not to be so Forgiving."
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'hey Christian! I've you done the dishes?? My clothes are in the machine, make sure you get them sorted out when you're done with the dishes' She hit his head on her way out 'And yes, before I forget, my assignments are on the reading table, make sure you complete those ones also. If you're too slow with your work, I will report you to mum when she returns. Do you understand me Chris?' she glared at him and pulled his ears.
Christian, went about with his work with evident fear all over his face. 'I don't' want Ma. to meet me here, she won't be happy' he kept repeating the words like a mantra while he goes about his task.
'CHRISTIAN!' she shouted, where are you? stupid boy, are you deaf or something?'
'Ma. I was ironing Gina's Uniform in the laundry room. Gina was playing loud music from her room, I couldn't hear you call over the noise'
'Are you stupid?' she slapped him hard across the face, 'what rights do you have to complain about my daughter?? Oh! You want to kill her like you killed your parents?? You useless boy. I will deal with you tonight and put you in your place. She dragged him by his ear to the laundry room, he kept shouting and begging but she refused to bulge.
'next time, you will know your place in this house and learn to respect everyone. If your dead mother refused to train you, I will be glad to set you right' she plugged the iron and increased the power volt.
'Ma. Please! I promise to always do whatever you ask me, please ma! Please!' he kept pleading with tears streaming down his eyes but she refused to heed to him.
She picked the hot iron and placed it on his back, while cursing him. He screeched with pain and hot tears trickled down his eyes.
She dropped the iron and left him lying chest down on the floor panting.
Gina came to the room, mocking him 'didn't I tell you to be fast with your work? Well you got what you deserved, stupid boy.' She left him and shouted from the corridor 'and yes! Get up and make me a cup of hot chocolate and get me the strawberry cake from the fridge, I have a movie to watch don't keep me waiting'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What are you doing here Gina?"
"that's no way to welcome your long-lost Niece, Christian" she moved closer to him "a warm hug would be better"
"can you stop the act and tell me what brought you here?"
"why so bitter brother? Don't you miss me?
"I don't have time for all this nonsense'' he got into his car and drove off.
"oh! You really want to play the hide and seek Game with me Christian. . . will shall see then" she got into her ride and drove off.

#
Christian parked at the middle of nowhere and switched off the headlights.
'why is everything going wrong all of sudden?? Why can't I break free of this hold they have against me?? I'm a grown up already. They can't hurt me. they can't come near me. I can bring them down and every damn thing they hold dear. I can destroy them if I want to.'
His phone rang.
'guy! you just went AWOL, is everything okay?'
'yeah Chris. I'm good. Are you alright? You sound off.'
'sure, everything is cool. Let's meet up today at club 360'
'no worries gee. See you soon.'
He hung up the call and drove off.

#

'hey mum! Yeah, I saw him today. He looked scared when he saw me' she grinned 'he did not wait for me to talk; he just drove in a fit of anger. I know right, there's nothing he can do about this. Not to worry mum I have everything mapped out. He definitely won't see it coming. I can assure you 'she smiled and stepped out of the car 'I'm at the hotel mum, I need to go lodge, I will put a call through to you when I'm fully settled in. Alright mum. She hung up and wheeled her bag into the hotel lobby.
"Good evening miss"
'evening ma'am. Welcome to Jades' Palace. How can I help you?'
'I placed a reservation for the royal suites. Please confirm'
She checked the system to confirm Gina's reservation. 'miss Gina Alfred?'
'yes please'
She stretched her key card to her 'Enjoy your stay ma'am and if there's anything else you need. Just put a call through. You will be attended to immediately.
'thanks.' She smiled and the valet guy helped her with her luggage to her room.

#
"Guy! Drink up now, no dey dull my spirit, you brought us here oh"
Christian held his glass of spirit, barely taking a sip of the content. His mind seems far off from his environ.
George had to tap his shoulder. "Chris is everything okay?"
"everything is fine guy!''
"Mr. Man don't test my patience. Its written all over you Chris. Fess up already. "
'' It's a crazy story George, don't get bored by me. just enjoy the night.''
''I can see you really need me to hit you hard ugh"
"I should know you will be like a dog to a bone. Come on, lets head home, we will discuss the rest at home"
George pat his back and smiled "Good guy"
All through the ride home. George noticed his friend was miles apart. The stereo played Katie Perry "Human" in the background.
George wondered what could be happening to Christian. He has not been the type to be this expressive about his feelings. Since they've become friends. He has bagged the nickname "Cold" for himself. You would think he doesn't have a heart. Since they've been friends Christian had been a better judge than George because he thinks with his head.
'I can't wait to get home to know whatever his wrong with him' George thought 'perhaps is he dying?' he gasped and took a glance at his friend who was looking out the window.
'I can't afford to lose a good friend; Christian is more than a friend he is family. The kind of relationship they share is beyond blood relations.'
'I will have to stand by him through this trying times. Regardless of his health conditions we are in this together.'
Christian is in another world entirely. Oblivious of the fact that his friend is thinking otherwise of his present state of mind.
'how did my past catch up with me so soon. I should have killed them when I had the chance. What nonsense is this? What rights do they have to barge in on my future? After all the damage they've done. This time around, I won't let them off easily. I will let them know I'm different from the past. Then I was young, helpless and vulnerable, but now, I'm powerful, wealthy, strong and heartless.

#
"I was twelve years old when my parents died in a plane crash. Even before their deaths, they were never available to look after me. I had a different nanny every year. My parents were busy amassing wealth. They could care less if I was happy or sad. They thought buying me material things made me happy.
After I got the news of their death, my father's younger brother was the only surviving relative he had. I knew little about him and his kind of person, he rarely comes over to our place.
Moving in with them was the biggest mistake of my life. It shaped the man I became."
"Aunt Nora'' Chris had a distant and cold look while he continued the story of his life. "she is the devil incarnate. She made me realize that there's hell on earth. After moving in with them, I realized so many things George. My dad and his brother loved the same woman. The shock of my parents' death especially my mother put my uncle into a comma"
"George, Life was very difficult for young Christian" his eyes were void of emotions and his stance were cold and aloof "Aunt Nora and mum were friends. She hated mum for stealing my dad from her cause apparently, she loved him first but he never looked at her side. She was glad my mum died but hated her for taking my dad along with her. She should have died alone 'are exact words'.
"Uncle's health kept deteriorating and I felt bad for bringing so much pain to the family. I thought I could relate with Gina, Aunt's only daughter, but likewise, she hated me. Cursed me for bringing bad luck to her happy home. She said I killed my parents now I want to kill hers. She said no one deserves to love a beast like me. she called me bad names and I hated myself."
George noticed his friend was shaken up, he tried to get him to stop but Chris won't bulge.
"A month after, uncle died. Then my hell began."
'you bastard, you killed my father, just like you killed your parents. I will never forgive you Christian. I curse the day I met you. I wish you were not born. Die idiot, just die!" Gina screamed at Christian.
Christian felt remorseful, he has never felt rejected and alone. Even when his parents were busy travelling the world, he had his video games and toys to keep him busy and loved.
'I don't want to cause more damage than necessary.'
He went to the kitchen. Opened the cabinet beside the fridge and took different kind of drugs. 'I don't know and I don't think I want to know what types of drugs. I just need to end this and make peace reign again' he took a handful of all kinds of medicines he could get his hands on and swallowed them all.
Gina made her way to the kitchen to feed her cravings for a hot chocolate drink and found Christian slumped on the kitchen floor.
"Mum! 'Gina screamed' Mum! Mum! Mum! Christian is dead!
Aunt Nora rushed down the stairs to the kitchen.
Gina called the emergency number and the ambulance arrived in record time. Christian was rushed to the hospital and Aunt Nora followed suit.
"Can't this boy just stop causing trouble, 'She Lamented 'Ever since he arrived, he has been causing nothing but trouble. I just wished he would truly die and let us have peace''
Gina knelt down in the living room weeping her eyes out.
Christian was rushed to the ICU for immediate surgery. After few hours, the surgeon stepped out. "Ma'am, your son will be fine. He swallowed too much drugs and if you had been any minutes later, he might not have survived it. The combination of the drugs he took was too powerful for his system'"
"thank you, doctor; can I see him now"
"yes, you can but he is resting right now, just don't disturb him."
"I promise I won't, I just need to be sure he's fine"
"Of course, ma'am, please, go ahead"
"Thank you, doctor,"
She went to his room to see him, he looked peaceful while resting
"Joel, dear Joel' she looked fondly at him 'it took me years to make you notice me and even when you eventually did you had a liking for my best friend instead. It really broke me to see you belong to another. Now that I have you back, I won't let you leave me again. 'she caressed Christian's cheeks and fondled his hair and ears lovingly. ''It's finally our chance to be together baby, I've always and will always love you' she leaned closer and pecked his lips. The action woke Christian up from sleep. He looked skeptical and completely baffled at the actions.
"aunt Nora, what are you doing?''
"oh! Christian, you're awake. . . thank goodness, I can't afford to lose you too. I love you baby' she pulled him close and hugged him tightly.
Christian was totally uncomfortable by the actions of his aunt, he looked up at her bewildered. "Can we go home already" he slightly pushed her off of him.
"of course, baby, but not tonight, you need to rest and recuperate. I need to see the doctor''
Aunt Nora left the ward to go see the doctor. Christian couldn't shake of the feeling enveloping him.
"why is Aunt Nora referring to me as JOEL?? That's dad name.' he seemed skeptical about her actions 'I must have been mistaking' he shrugged the feelings of and thought nothing of it anymore.
A couple of hours later, Aunt Nora went back to his ward to see him but Christian was fast asleep. She tucked him in properly and kissed his forehead. 'he looked so at peace' she smiled and thought to herself. She pulled the recliner next to his bed expanded it and laid down beside him. She dozed off when staring at him.

"if she was that nice and caring towards you, how is that hell? George asked Christian
"I'm getting there"
"A couple of weeks after my discharge and my surgery wounds had healed completely, Gina was on a school trip to France, then it happened"

'Christian! Christian! Where in God's name is this kid?' she kept on calling 'Christian'
'Yes, Aunt Nora' he ran into the living dripping with flakes of water, with his white towel wrapped around his shorts covering his lower abdomen while exposing his chest. It was obvious puberty was kicking in gradually.
Aunt Nora looked dazed for a second and looked at him fondly, he felt uncomfortable with her glaring openly at his chest, he kept shifting balance between his feet but decided to call her attention to his presence when it seemed she was still annoying drooling.
'you called for me aunt', he spoke a pitch higher to get her attention.
'yes! Yes, I did call for you' she looked like a child caught stealing jelly and smiled weirdly at him. 'where were you?? What have you been doing?'
'I was in the pool downstairs but I was just stepping out of the shower when I heard you calling, is there anything I can help you with?'
She raised a brow at his question and eye smiled at him 'so many things dear, so many things, but first things first, I need you to make me your signature fruits parfait.'
'alright ma'am, fruits parfait coming through'
She looked at him longingly as he strolled off to make her orders. 'he is growing to look just like his father, so handsome and smart' she had a scornful look on her face just suddenly, 'if that devil of a best friend wasn't so promiscuous and sly, he would have been mine instead.' Then it clicked, a bulb lights up on her head, 'what if this is nature's way of giving us a second chance?? Uhm, I won't let this pass me by'.
Right in the dead of the night, Aunt Nora decided to pay Christian a visit. She noticed the door was locked, she tried without fail but couldn't get in. she left feeling angry and pissed.
She consistently tried to gain entrance into his room for days but he seemed to be in the habit of locking up every night. She decided to confront him instead. On the fifth day, she knocked on the door severally and Christian woke up to open the day.
'Aunt Nora, is everything okay? What's wrong?? How can I help you??' he seemed perplexed.
'exactly the words I need to hear from you Christian, can I come in? she asked
'oh, of course!' He allowed her enter. He stood up while she sat at the edge of the bed, she bowed her head and seemed to be in deep thought.
'Please talk to me, you are scaring me. Did something happen to Gina?
'Gina is fine Christian, but I am not.' She stood up and moved closer to him, Christian took a step backward. She noticed the movement and moved couple steps forward, he moved few steps backward. She stopped 'why are running from me Christian?
'I can't seem to help it aunt, what do you want from me?'
She looked at him lustfully. 'first, I need you ... 'she moved to door, locked it and removed the key 'to make me happy' she turned around and pulled him by the hand to the bed.
'have I done anything wrong aunt??
'not yet Chris, but you wouldn't want to make me sad, right?
'yes aunt,
'good boy.' She was seated on the bed and pulled him on her laps. 'do you have a girlfriend?'
'No aunt! You warned me against such acts already."
'Good boy. I don't want to see you with any of those small girls they have nothing good to offer you, do you understand me?'
'Yes, I do'
'you are going to do something for me now Christian, and it has to stay between us. The day you decided to speak up is the end for you. I will gladly send you to your parents even if it will hurt me to see you go' she caressed him and she felt him shudder at her touch. 'now, be a good boy, get on the bed and undress'
Christian looked bewildered by her request he might have never had sex but they've been taught about it in school and some of his friends derive great pleasures from talking about it. He finds the conversations uncomfortable. Whatever his aunt has just asked him to do seemed to be headed in that direction.
'Now, don't keep me waiting young man, you don't want see the opposite side of this sweet face' her voice thundered at him and he was obviously scared. He was shaken up as he took of his nightwear, undressed and laid on the bed.
"that's more like it' she pulled the belt off her nightie and stood in a naked glory before me. Christian was quick to close his eyes at the scene before him. She moved closer to him and dealt him a slap across the face, he moaned in pain. 'yes! Moan for me and don't you take your eyes away, you see all this' she licked her index finger and trailed it down her body' belongs to you so make good use of it.'
'Aunt Nora please,' Christian begged 'don't do this to me'
'Call me Nora!' she moaned in his ear and licked them' I want to hear you beg Christian, you belong to me and me alone, 'she hit me across the face again and he cried out in pain. 'yes baby! More please. . .. '
''Damn! Christian, you went through all that has a kid?' George looked at his friend sympathetically, any child shouldn't be subjected to that, and coming from a relative, that's another level of pain, 'he thought'.
He did not respond to his friend's question and continued his tale.
''after that night she warned me not to close my doors at night. She kept coming every two days. The following week Gina returned. I can't believe I would be happy at her arrival. Gina never missed an opportunity to torment me, but her arrival, I had hoped would make Aunt stop her vile acts'.
He chuckled, but it was filled with emptiness 'but I was wrong. To cut long story short. Aunt Nora, abused and molested me till I turned eighteen and then I ran away from home.' He got up, went to the bar, poured himself a cup of scotch and swallowed it all in a gulp, he welcomed the burning sensation in his throat. 'then you know the rest of it'
George was dumbstruck and the silence in the room was so thick and heavy it could be cut with a knife. '' this is really heartbreaking, I mean, no one can see you and think you've gone through something so huge growing up.'
''when I turned twenty three, I came across my dad lawyer, apparently, he was told that I became rebellious and ran away from home when I was caught trying to rape Gina' he smiled bitterly '' he gave me access to my inheritance and I decided to work on myself. At twenty-five, I seek therapy but it wasn't working, I just decided to focus on work instead.
"Guy! I apologize for been so insensitive, I should have noticed and probably asked, but I'm glad you decided to open up to me on your own accord''
''I saw Gina today, after so many years"
"what the heck!'' And you did not tear her eyes out of her socket??'' what did she come for and where did you see her"
"after I closed from the office today, I couldn't even lift a finger, it felt like the past was resurfacing''
''leave her to me. I know how to deal with their kinds, people like them plenty for dah my warri side, I go show them say, Jesus na nigerian'
Christian laughed and it seemed like the real Christian was back. George moved closer to him and hugged him with a pat on his back 'I have your back anytime bro, no too dey reason am, we gather day even after death''
Christian was at peace with himself for the first time in forever. He was glad he could open up and tell it to George. There's hope for him after all. Tonight's sleep would probably be different. Speaking out to real people is truly therapeutic.