MY STRANGE ADDICTION

CHAPTER ONE

"Stop it!" I yelled and mom and dad stopped screaming at themselves for a moment. I'm tired of this! I'm tired! Why do they always have to argue every time? The last time they fought, Mom broke her arm. Previously, Dad had pushed her hard against the wall and she ended up in the emergency ward.

My parents marriage is the worst I've ever known in the whole city. Maybe they shouldn't have met each other in the first place. Dad treats mom so badly and sometimes, he beats her up. I stared at them with tears in my eyes. Hatred for boys filled my heart as I focused my eyes on dad intensely. "Don't give me that look Stacy, tell your mom to do as I say" he spat.

"Do as you say? After cheating on me?" she fired back. "Enough!" I yelled. I picked up my backpack and raced out of the house. They disgust me so much. I ran all the way to the gate. Yeah, I had to because  I need to calm down before I get to school. Dad ought to drop me off at school but he ruined everything. They ruined it! I flagged down a taxi. "West side international school" I said getting in. I furrowed my forehead. Frowning has become a normal thing for me because I've got no reason to smile. Nothing at all. I drew in a deep breathe. It's going to be ok Stacy, I comforted myself.

I got off the taxi and walked into the school gate. I showed the security man my ID card and he let me through.

"Thank goodness you're here Stacy" Tina breathed a sigh of relief as soon as I entered the class. "What going on?" I asked. "Over there" she gestured at my best friend, Candy. "What's wrong with her" I asked raising my eyebrow in confusion. Tina gestured me to come closer. "Her boyfriend broke up with her yesterday" She whispered in my ear. I sighed. I wasn't suprised. I had warned her not to date him but she wasn't ready to listen to the fact. The fact is that all Boys are the same and they will never change no matter what. They are like beasts. Yes, beasts. She must feel broken hearted right now.

"Hey" I tapped her back. She raised her head up. Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears dripped from her cheeks. Damn! She must have cried a lot. "Let's go talk outside" I pulled her along with me to avoid unnecessary attention. I led her straight to the restroom. "He deceived me" She cried. Didn't I warn you not to date him huh?" I stated. "Shut up! What do you know about dating?". I glared at her intensely. "You're a fool Candy, you're a fool for believing a boy" I blurted. "Shut the fuck up" she yelled at me with gritted teeth. I clenched my fist hard, she shouldn't have dated him in the first place. All my doubts are now cleared. All boys are the same. They are just as heartless and as ruthless as my dad.

"Hey, come here" I pulled Candy into a comforting hug. "I'm never going to date a boy again" she uttered still crying hard. I patted her back. I know for sure that Candy cannot stick to the resolution she just made. I've never dated a boy before, nor have I had any sort of feelings for any boy or maybe I had feelings but I didn't concentrate on it because of my dad. He's a beast. I just can't erase the memory of how he killed my mom. Yeah, my biological mother and now, he's maltreating my step mom. No, no, I shouldn't be thinking of this now. I blinked my eyes severally to hold back the tears already forming in my eyes. I pulled away from the hug. "It's ok now, now give me your sweet smile" I said. She faked a smile and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Make it more real" I urged. Well, Candy is the exact opposite of me. She smiles a lot while I always wear a frown. I don't smile or laugh unless I feel the need to.

Tina bursted into the restroom. "Hey, Mrs Rowland is on her way to the class". Oh shit! we'll get detention if we get late to her class. The three of us had eye contact and immediately, we broke into a run.

We bursted into the class panting heavily. That was close, I made my way to my seat. "Niyi is not in school today" Candy noted as soon as she sat down. "He's so unserious" I said nonchalantly. Mrs Rowland strolled into the class. Her eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her glasses. I turned to Candy who was trying hard to stifle her laughter. I would have laughed but I was afraid of getting detention.

"Bring out your assignment" she instructed.

"God! I forgot to do my assignment" Tina groaned. "Have you ever done any assignment" I teased and she chuckled. "Here are the answers, be smart" I handed my jotter over to her. Candy was surprisingly calm, I guess she has done her assignment.

"Where's Niyi?" asked Mrs Rowland.

"He's not in school" his friend, Victor replied. "That boy is not serious" Mrs Rowland muttered.

I scribbled the last point in my note as Mr Oliver walked out of the class. "At last! His lecture was so boring" Tina stretched herself. I closed my book and tossed it into my backpack. "Let's go have lunch, I'm famished" I stated. "You eat so much yet you don't get fat" Tina teased. I shot her a glare. "I'm just kidding" she laughed. "Come on Candy" I pulled her up. She looked so dull but that did not stop her from smiling.

After lunch, I went straight to the library. "Afternoon Mrs Nolan" I greeted the librarian casually and not waiting for her response, I picked a textbook from the shelf and settled down to read. I shut my eyes and the memory of dad arguing with mom flashed through my head. I shook my head continuously and opened my eyes. Forget about it Stacy, focus on what you wanna read, I sighed.

"Why are you always frowning?" Candy's friend, Kachi asked as we walked to the school gate . I rolled my eyes and walked faster. What is his business with my frown?

"Stacy, wait up" Candy ran to catch up with me. "I think you should smile often Stacy, it's not the end of the world" Candy persuaded. "I've got no reason to smile" tears welled up in my eyes as I ran off. I boarded a taxi before Candy could catch up with me. I just hope mom and dad aren't home because I need sometime alone.

Luckily, mom and dad weren't home yet so I headed straight to my room. I pulled off my uniform and stepped into the bathroom. I turned on the shower. I shut my eyes tightly as I scrubbed my body. I could hear my mother screaming loudly, her body jerking as blood oozed out of her broken skull. I let out a gasp as I opened my eyes. I could feel my heart beating fast. The fear I thought I overcame seemed to be surfacing again. What I fear most is love, yes, love. My mother loved to fault. Love led to her death. I don't ever wanna love. Never!