Between The Brackets

THREE

Their smiles were taunting. The way they looked at me with glee as if laughing at the pieces they left me in. As if they new I didn't have enough Nigerian blood in me to execute the perfect revenge plan. 

Their moans filled the air, leaving me pained. They looked like snakes tangled in a snake pit and I, on the other hand, felt like hell. Betrayal felt like hell. 

"Why?" I sobbed, not being able to hold the tears back any longer.

In the blink of an eye, Korede appeared fully clothed and on his knees. His eyes mimicked regret and his hands were clasped around my feet. I felt irritated...I felt angry. He begged but he didn't give me what I wanted.

"Why!?" I cried.

I wanted a valid answer. I wanted something that my brain could feed on and be okay with. I want an answer that will justify his actions, not his apologies.

"Why?" I turned to the source of the voice. I couldn't find it. The voice kept getting louder and before I knew it, there were multiple voices. All saying the  same thing in different ways.

"You're not good enough."

"You don't give him enough sex."

"It's your fault."

"Your sister is more enticing. You're...you." 

"You should have let me pick a husband for you. You're too stubborn."

"Wake up already, you're the cause. Nobody else."

"Wake up."

Me... It's my fault. The voices were pinning the blame on me.

Korede was still at my feet begging me to listen but I couldn't hear anything he was saying. His lips moved wordlessly. 

I glared at him as I came to a conclusion. I shouldn't be blamed for something I didn't do. He's at fault. He's the cause, not me.

I dragged my leg away and kicked as he tried to grip it again. 

"Wake up..." That particular phrase kept getting louder. It became so deafening that even Korede could hear it. At least that's what he looked like. 

He made to protect me from the voices. His palms cupped my face fiercely. 

"Wake up!" The voice only got louder. It was odd. The rest of the voices faded in and faded out repeatedly but this one voice grew louder and steadily. It sounded like a cry. 

I tried to pull his hands away from my face but he started patting my cheek fast instead. I pushed his hands away and he didn't bother me anymore. It didn't stop the voice though.

Just when I thought  all I'd have to deal with was the voice, cold water hit my face like a bowling ball and my body jerked up. 

"Gah!" My eyes popped open and I hurriedly searched around as an instinctive reaction. 

Rotimi jumped on me, knocking me back to my lying position on the bed. My eyebrows furrowed as I pushed myself upwards with my elbows.

"What happened?" I murmured as he clung to me and wrapped his arms around me. "Are you okay?"

He ignored my questions and squeezed me closer. I threw my hands around him and patted him gently. "...You looked so...what were you dreaming about?" He whispered.

I shrugged. "I just had a really bad dream." I murmured. "Why are you here?"

He stiffened. 

I frowned. "Was I screaming?"