Against All Odds

Chapter fifty five :The tears didn't come

Minutes after Benjamin was moved into the Emergency room, Obi came out looking even more distraught than she had been at first.
For a moment Obiefune thought something had happened to his cousin. As Obi approached him and Funmi he could tell that she was not herself. She staggered like someone who was losing balance and swayed like a flag. Obiefune became terrified with what he saw and rushed to her side.

He held her steady and wrapped his hands around Obi, while she wept uncontrollably. She told him amidst her sniffing that she wanted air. Obiefune guided her out of the hospital while Funmi patted her back and promised to continue praying for her husband.

Obiefune led her to a part of the hospital where flowers were planted while Obi took in gulps of air like someone who could not breathe fine. Her eyes were swollen and she had already turned red. He rubbed her back while she sniffed. At first when Obi wanted to speak the lump in her throat became so heavy that all she did was to make crying sounds.
Obiefune pulled her to his chest again and patted her back. When the tears stopped flowing Obi slowly raised her head. She had been so emotional that she didn't know when it started drizzling. The goosebumps crept up her body but she was hesitant to leave. Obiefune stared at her face before wiping it with his hand.

"O zugo, he'll be fine"

Obi nodded still tongue tied, the rain splattered over them but Obiefune held her still. Obi couldn't help but remember a similar scenario that had happened with Obiefune. Somehow he had always been her shoulder to cry on.

Obiefune patted her some more and encouraged with his words. "You know for a girl with a boy's name, I actually thought you had risen above certain stereotypes, I never pegged you as the emotional type at first"
Obi chuckled upon hearing that, he was teasing her on purpose. "Ch.. Chioma sent you, didn't she?"

Obiefune looked down at her face and nodded. "Well you're fine, but I'm not" Obi replied looking at the ground.

Obiefune pulled her face gently so that she could look at him" No.. cry baby, this time, neither one of us is actually fine" he hesitated for a moment before asking Obi another question.

"What happened? Tell me the truth"
Obi wanted to explain things to him but saw how his demeanor changed in matter of minutes. What did he mean by the truth? Obiefune pushed her hair aside and observed her bruised face. Obi's hair had initially covered that portion but as she looked at him they fell aside and he saw clearly what it was. He caressed her cheek while Obi gasped out of pain.
Obiefune's face hardened instantly and Obi realized what he had seen. Benjamin had hit her and the mark was probably still visible on her face

"Obiukwu what happened back there?" Obiefune enquired with a staid expression.

Obi swallowed before opening her mouth to speak "Nothing, we were..." Obi cleared her throat before continuing with her speech "We were Ummm making love before he started bleeding and I.. I.. think it was when he fell that he must have accidentally hit me"

Obi replied turning her gaze away from Obiefune. Obi waited for his reaction but heard nothing. When her shoulders relaxed he finally spoke.

"Obi you were never good at lying. If you're saying the truth why are you stuttering? Why can't you look me in the eyes. Did Benjamin?"

Obi knew she was failing at conceding what actually happened to her. And somehow the reason for everything was standing right in front of her. What was his aim? Why was he there for her?

Obi fixed her eyes on Obiefune and spoke out of anger" Are you insinuating that my husband raped me? Why would you think that? What is wrong with you? "Obi yelled as she shoved Obiefune's chest