Rugged To The Core

Chapter 46

Song for chapter: What About Us By Pink

Abel

     A sudden breeze came in through the open door and wafted the mouth-watering aroma of Jollof rice into his nostrils, compelling him to open his eyes and sit up like in the cartoons. Abel felt his stomach growl and his arm involuntarily reached for it, he stared at the notebook before him and tried not to be swayed by the aroma even as he salivated, desperately wanting to at least stare at the food.

     Two minutes was all it took for him to push his chair backwards and spring up as if the chair had burned him. Abel contemplated going downstairs, putting up with his uncle's shrew of a wife. He had always tried as much as he could to avoid her, all he did was offer his greetings, and eat in his room.

Then do that...

      Abel slowly made his way out of the room, descending the stairs. He found his uncle's wife and his cousin eating on the dinning table, the woman didn't even spare him a look; Victor, however briefly stared at him before driving his spoon into his mouth.

     Abel greeted like he always did, even though he despised the woman, he always greeted her, he was a guest in her house, the least he could do was show her respect by greeting.
    
     As usual, Miriam ignored, not even sparing him a look. Abel sighed, turned and advanced to the kitchen. He strode to pot, opened it and found it empty, devoid of a single grain of rice.

Of course, this is her idea of a joke.

But what did you expect? For her to serve it on a silver platter for you with roses adorning the tray?

     Abel cursed himself mentally, It wasn't the first time his uncle's wife had pulled the stunt, Abel had gotten so used to it, he began making his own meal whenever he was hungry but sometimes he ate out when he felt too lazy to cook. Abel felt stupid and so infuriated when his stomach growled again. He had to eat something and fast or he would scream and cry.

Manchild...

     In a matter of minutes, Abel had turned on the cooker, ripped four sachet of Indomie Noodles and dumped them in the pot. He didn't bother with vegetables or eggs, he settled for the rudimentary. He sat on the stool before the counter, propping his elbow on the counter, cupping his chin.

     As he waited, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, he swiftly scrolled through his contact till he landed on the one he was searching for — My Everything.

~*~*~*~

"Why does he hate us?" Abel asked, weaving their fingers together, he sat nestled against his mother, leaning on her chest.

Maria Grace reached up to cup his forehead. "Your temperature is stable, does your head still hurt?"

"Yes, Mummy... " The thirteen year old replied.

He felt a lingering kiss at the back of his head and his mother's hand caressing his temple. "We'll go see the doctor tomorrow."

"Why does dad hate us, Mummy?" Abel reiterated the question.

"He doesn't hate us." Maria Grace promised her son.

"But I hate him, he makes you cry all the time. He doesn't care that I'm sick, he hates us. You said God protects us from the devil, but the devil is in this house, living with us. Why wouldn't God protect us now?"