THE BOYS AROUND US.

chapter 5 mythical pigs.

EVENING.

BASEMENT. Morse and Bliss were talking when Rex walked in. Keffy and Jonah had their heads on the table as they fiddled with their phones underneath.

" Hey guys." Rex greeted.

" Hey Rex." They replied with different levels of absentmindedness.

Keffy and Jonah lifted their heads and before you knew it; Rex , Jonah and Morse had plunged deep into a heated conversation concerning football. Leaving Keffy to fall back to her phone fiddling and distracted reading while Bliss took selfies she planned to post on i********:.

After some hours of heated argument and picking of sides between the guys, Keffy cut in.

" Guys!"

" What?" They chorused, obviously angry at the interruption.

" Could we talk about something else, please? I'm bored."

" Like what?" They asked in unison.

" I don't know, something interesting." Keffy shrugged, surprised to have the ball tossed into her court.

" Any ideas?" Rex demanded, getting impatient.

" I don't know, but nothing if football and what rapper is better than what are the only options in the list."

" Pardon us if shopping, nail painting and so help us God, pillow fights don't interest us but, we have more important things to discuss." Rex spat out infuriatingly.

Jesus! What was the matter with this guy. It wasn't her fault he was losing the argument, so why the hell did he have to take it out on her. All she asked for was a mutually interesting topic for the entire group, not that the others were complain though but the raised voices and continuous swearing from the guys was making keffys head ache incessantly. She thought, frowning.

" Spare me if those are the things that interest your girlfriend, but there are some of us with larger brain size than our waistline." Keffy retorted angrily.

" All evidence to the contrary."

Keffy stood up angrily, charged forward and had Jonah holding her back as Morse put Rex in check with a stern stare.

The nerve of the guy! But, Phew! That was a close call, had Jonah not held her Keffy wasn't sure what the hell she planned to do except the fact that she wanted to gouge out his eyes and spit in the space they left behind.

" Keffy I'm sorry." Rex said as he managed to calm himself.

" Go to hell!" She snapped and began packing up her books. " Goodnight guys."

" I'll walk with you." Rex said in an effort to reconcile.

" No thank you, I'll go with Jonah." Keffy refused.

" Hmm, wait what?" Jonah wondered why he always seemed to get caught up in the crossfire between this two. He sluggishly picked up his bag, smiled apologetically at Rex and went to catch up with Keffy as she stormed towards the large doors.

" Keffy slow down." Jonah yelled irritably, and keffy stopped completely. " Sorry Rex is an assignment at times." Jonah smiled apologetically at Keffy this time.

" What was that about?"

" Sorry."

" Thanks and sorry I dragged you into it."

" It's okay. Anytime."

" He has crazy mood swings that i sometimes don't get... To be honest i never do."

" He doesn't like losing."

" What was he losing now?"

" The argument we we're having and then you came with your feminine desires."

Yippee! I was right. Keffy did a mental jig.

" Ugh! Excuse me for preferring more civilised topics."

" Okay, okay don't take it out on me." Jonah said raising his hands in surrender.

" Sorry. It's just that I'm trying to understand him, yet every time I believe I'm close he goes mad."

" Do you like him?" Jonah smirked.

" What does that have to do with anything?"

" You see, Rex has serious walls. He finds it very hard to trust anyone."

" Oh, God! He's not the first person to have dead parents."

" How can you say that? Do you know anyone who's parents were butchered in front of their eyes. Horrible things done to them, and he watched them watch each other staring themselves in the face, agony printed on their expression, hurt, fear and unbearable pain reflecting in their eyes as they were tortured and killed, knowing they could both do nothing to help the other. This images run around in his mind and do you know the worst part? Huh, Keffy? Do you want to know the worst part? It was a trusted friend of theirs who was like a second father to him who did this. He was only seventeen a few years off from obtaining his trust fund and yet...that day he lost it all. And how do you think you have a right to judge his trust issues. Infact he's doing very well psychologically for someone with such a horrible experience. His father..."

" Stop, stop, stop! Please stop. Jesus I never knew...that's so horrible. " Keffy exhaled sharply, her breath coming out ragged.

" Sorry, I think I said too much." Jonah snapped out of his haze.

" I'm so sorry. To be honest I never knew."

" It's okay, it's okay, I shouldn't have said so much. Im sorry." Jonah pulled Keffy closer and she leaned against his chest as he stroked her head gently.

From that point on, they walked on in silence till they reached the main gate and keffy boarded a bus. Jonah took the next as hers was already filled.

On getting to her junction, Keffy was surprised to see Rex waiting for her, he leaned against the fence of one of the brightly lit mansions that occupied the area.

Keffy walked passed him like she didn't see him, she just wasn't in the mood right now. She groaned inwardly.

" Keffy, I'm sorry okay?"

" Okay." She replied as Rex picked up her pace and fell into step beside her.

" Wait, what? Just like that." Rex was obviously not buying it.

" What do you want to hear?"

" Nothing. Thanks."

" Your pleasure." Rex raisex one eyebrow but decided to refrain from any sarcastic comeback.

" Can I walk with you?" He asked instead. Not like he wasn't already.

" Okay."

" Okay?"

Keffy and Rex walked for a while before he spoke again.

" I know you spoke to Jonah about how I acted yesterday."

" I didn't mean to invade your privacy."

" But you did so now you know about me."

" Sorry." Keffy said calmly.

" But you don't know all. If you'd like to hear more, I'm willing to share."

" I'm willing to hear." She said halfheartedly as she was scared of hearing more horrific details about his past life.

" Be warned. It's not a nice story." Rex smirked.

" Thanks for the heads-up. I think I'll survive."

" okay here comes. I hope you don't have nightmares though." Rex psyched himself, exhaling sharply.

" I'll survive." She repeated.

" Okay, well...it was her birthday." Rex said and wiped his face, nervous to revive old memories. " We were expecting her husband from work and we're making certain preparations for a little celebration, when we heard a loud noise outside... At the front door." Rex sniffed, and swiped his sleeve under his nose rapidly. " I was eager to see who was at the door, but she got there before me and when I heard the harshness of the conversation she was having with the person at the door I got scared. They were whispering loudly and their tones were vicious. I cursed myself for not asking her to stay, and all the bile and fear in my stomach rose to my throat when I saw the man pull her down the short flight of steps that led to our doorstep by her hair. His figure was intimidating, but I came out anyway when I heard the voice of a very trusted friend of my parents." He turned and stared at Keffy intently before looking forward, walking slowly and resuming narrating his traumatic experience. " Surprise, surprise it was Ben. And when he saw me he smiled sourly and ordered a grumpy muscle hound to pick me up. I was in shock, when the burly man grabbed my shirt and pulled me roughly, he took me to the garage where my mom was on her knees, and my dad..." Rex laughed sadly as he relived the moment clear as crystal. " My dad was held by two men. The last one... The last one was... Jesus, Keffy the last one was r****g the s**t out of him. I watched all that and they won't even let me close my eyes as they moved to my mother. They also made him watch, like what had been done wasn't enough. They made him watch. Even with my clouded thoughts, I heard the burly man say.

"Next time Johnny remember not to f**k with the wrong crowd." He was clearly and Yoruba man from his accent. Johnny's her husband. I don't know who called the police but that was what saved me. John was a powerful man, but he pissed off the wrong group of people and got killed. Only I don't know why I had to watch though." He laughed again, just as sad and heartbreaking as the first, only this time he looked as if he wanted to kill someone.

Some people have too much history behind them to live normal lives. Keffy thought.

" I'm so sorry, Rex."

" Why? Did you kill my mum?"

" Jesus, Rex I'm just trying to offer some comfort stop always acting like I'm the cause of your problems." Keffy knew she was being harsh but to be honest she was trying to process all the information without bursting out in tears, which of course she knew he wouldn't appreciate.

And why did he act like Johnny, John, and ' my dad' weren't the same person? Or were they? She wondered going deeper into her thoughts.

" Sorry I didn't mean it like that. Thanks anyways."

" You're welcome. But seriously I'm sorry, I really haven't been the sort of friend you need."

" You can't just start now because you know my ugly past."

" I can try." Keffy offered.

" No don't do that please. I wouldn't want you to."

" Don't want me to what?"

" Change. I don't want you to change. Not because of my sad past, not because of anything."

" But I'm a really annoying friend?"

" You are, but it's one of the reasons you still are."

" Awwn. Thanks." Keffy giggled.

" Yeah bye. I should head back now." Rex stopped when they got to keffys gate and stared longingly at her.

" You're not staying?" She asked, a little bit disappointed.

" No, not tonight. Goodnight Keffy. And goodbye."

" Dude you're really creeping me out with the good bye. Hope you're not planning anything stupid.

Rex laughed and walked up to keffy making her to take a step back and get cornered by her fence and Rex's body. He placed a hand on her jaw and tilted her head till his lips found hers, then he kissed her slowly letting her throw her hands around his neck hungrily before he pulled back.

" Bye now." Rex said and walked away with a smirk that grew into a satisfied grin as he turned his back to her.

" Jesus, how the heck do you know how to mess with my brain so much?" Keffy thought aloud and walked into her compound to stop herself from turning into mush where people could see her. She blew out a ragged breath and walked to her door, grinning like a psycho and lost in thoughts.

MORNING.

TWO DAYS TO VALENTINE.

BLISS' HOUSE.

" I like this one but it's too conversative while the other is too skimpy. I mean, well I like skimpy but I still prefer some decency." Bliss complained, pouting from her position in front out of the mirror.

Keffy say on the edge of the bed and stared at her bestie.

" What's wrong with the one we bought?" She wondered as she stared at Bliss in confusion. Woman, pick a dress she thought.

" It's very pink."

" Which is the color code." Keffy gave Bliss a withering look and raised on of her brows, expecting some more explanation from Bliss.

" Why didn't you give us the red and white?"

" Why didn't you grow a p***s in your mother's womb?" Keffy retorted.

" That's sexist." Bliss accuser and had Keffy rolling her eyes. She really couldn't figure out how that was sexist but, whatever.

" look, the guys can't wear pink. Someone has to." Keffy said in a tone that demanded a reasonable reply from the person listening.

" Not us! I mean gee! It's not prom night." Bliss whined like a spoiled child.

" Oh, please! Spare me. You chose the most not prom night attire I have ever seen." Keffy massaged the spot between her brows and stared at the bright pink gown that was hung on a nail on keffys wardrobe door. The gown had a sharp v-neckline that exposed a little more than just cleavage. Leaving very little to imagination since it stopped right in the middle of Bliss' thighs, hugging her curves suggestively all the way.

The blouse part of the gown was joined to the skirt part by crisscrossed cotton bands revealing the navel of the wearer.

The choker and matching purse she had purchased along with the gown made her look like some... Underwater goddess when she wore it. Keffy thought, almost jealous.

" I know that, but...so you think it's okay?" Bliss' eyes lit up with excitement.

" Yes it's seductive. I mean that's what you are aiminng for right? And I don't want to be intimidated because my best friend is out here looking like she just finished acting marvel Wonder woman."

" Awwn. That is so sweet."

" Yes it is, now can you pick a dress."

" So should I wear it?"

" Not if you're not interested in getting proposed to. Because someone's gonna fall in love. Geez, girl!"

" Not quite what I'm aiming for but, it suits me all the same." Bliss clicked her tongue and looked thoughtful for a moment. But knowing Bliss for a long time Keffy understood that that rarely happened.

" Good. Now can we go to school?" Keffy was getting restless as time went by. She wasn't about to be made late to class by some indecisive friend of hers.

" Not yet. Just one more thing."

" Oh, God no. We'll be late." Keffy shouted out after Bliss who ran to the bathroom. " What are you doing?"

" Washing my face."

" But you just had your bath."

" I know right?"

" Look I'm not gonna ask you why you are washing your face because, I expected that to have followed when I reminded you that you just had your bath."

No reply.

" Why are you washing your face?" Keffy asked when she could not take the silence any longer.

" Because I want you to give me a quickie make-up."

" Now?"

" Why not?"

" Because we have classes to attend and we are running late." Keffy ran a hand over her face, settling on the spot between her brows and began massaging it softly.

" The quicker you are done with it the better for both of us." Bliss stated obviously content with being late.

Why didn't she just go without her? Keffy thought with a snarl.

Bliss walked out of the bathroom dabbing a towel on her face. " Now you may begin." Bliss drawled and dropped her make-up kit on Keffy lap before Bliss sat in front of her directly opposite her dressing mirror.

The next thirty minutes we're spent in a fruitful effort to finish Bliss' make- up.

" I must be powerful. " Keffy said, with a feeling of accomplishment evident in her tone.

" How?"

" To make you more beautiful than you already were."

" You are more beautiful than me."

" No, prettier not more beautiful."

" What's the difference?"

" The difference is, you got the combination of both the pretty face and athletic body, I on the other hand got a pretty face and an okay body."

" Who's deceiving you?"

" Rex."

" Thank God you know he's deceiving you."

" No I mean he was the one who pointed it out to me."

" Keffy, the only reason someone would be bold enough to spew such blatant crap from their mouth is because you don't dress to compliment the body you have. You dress like a nerd."

" There's nothing wrong with my fashion sense." Keffy protested.

" There isn't. It's just not for you."

" How? So what's for me then?"

" Okay to show you. I will pick out your outfit for you today and let's see how Rex reacts."

" He won't notice."

" Watch and see."

" So excited." Keffy mummered, her voice dripping with sarcasm

" Now is not the time to be sassy. So hurry up and finish with my make-up so we don't spend the whole day here. We have classes woman." Bliss scolded and had Keffy rolling her eyes.

It took about five minutes more to finish the make-up. When it was done, Bliss ran to look at her image in the mirror while she took of the cloth she had wrapped around her shoulders to protect her clothes.

Bliss was satisfied with the results so she decided to start her outfit scavenger hunt for Keffy. She walked to her wardrobe, pulling open the doors she pulled out a fitted grey turtleneck shirt with black bands around the hands and neck. There were gold ropes at the neck which were tied into a bow tie now, giving the shirt a sort of casual but sophisticated look. After dumping those on the bed, she stalked back to the wardrobe and picked out a pair of rugged black jeans that exposed glimpses of what was beneath from the torn strips across the laps.

Then moving to her shoe tacks she picked out a three inch glass heeled shoe with a low strap and net-like design. The shoe was black.

" There. Put these on, then we can go."

" Maybe tomorrow."

" Why?"

" I'm already wearing something."

" Then you take it off."

" Too stressful."

" I doubt you'd prefer I did it instead." Bliss raised a questioning brow.

" Bully." Keffy pouted.

" Yup." She smirked, popping the 'p' ."

Keffy shrugged out of the fitting plain black gown she wore, put on the clothes Bliss picked out and stared at herself in the mirror for a while before finally admitting to herself that she did look good.

" Okay now let's move." Keffy said already feeling more confident.

" Where are you going?"

" Bliss are you high?"

" I mean what the that backpack?"

" School."

" No, here." Bliss said and handed her a large black and grey handbag.

" I shall not lose my temper." Keffy inhaled deeply, collected the bag and began to transfer her books from her backpack into the handbag, before Bliss finally agreed that they could leave.

Coming to Bliss' house on a school morning was not a mistake she planned to make another day, although it did have it's up sides. Keffy thought smugly as she ran a hand over her belly and smiled.