Worth Of Wrath

Worth

[Scene four]

Night falls as Victor continues his journey to his house with a broad smile in his face. Suddenly, Victor heard some harsh voices from a dark cornered area as it caught his attention to what might cause the commotion.

VOICE1: I told you that was all I have… So, let me go!

VOICE2: Is like you think we were born yesterday, abi. Where is the remaining one or we deal with you so badly.

VOICE3: This boy no won talk. Let’s show him some lessons, jor! (Victor tries ignoring the distress events until he heard some fist landing sounds from the dark cornered area while the voice1 groans and mourn in discomfort)

VOICE3: (Holding the cloth of the small teenage boy [voice1] while hitting his face with his palm) Where is it?! Tell me now! (Throws him to the ground)

VOICE1: (Rumbling on the ground) I… I won’t give it up.

VICTOR: (Appears to the scene) Why don’t you guys pick on me, instead.

VOICE2: Who be dis?

VOICE3: Someone who won die (Victor smile in a manic way as he charged to voice2 and intact a powerful blow to his stomach making him fall to the ground while attracting a surprise of strange reaction to voice3) Eh?! Is like you’re really ready for this… (Voice3 rushed to Victor trying to blow his face as he weaves it and kicked him to the ground. The young teenager watched Victor’s fight in surprises as Victor seats on voice3 belly and starts to land some multiple blows on his face while making a horrific smile. Suddenly, voice2 hit a wooden plank on Victor’s back as it got shattered in pieces)

VICTOR: (Sighting voice2 with immersing rage) It would take more than that to put me down. (Walking to voice2 while smiling continuously in a manic way) Come on! (Yells so loudly as voice2 charged to Victor with a ranging fist. Victor caught the fist and breaks voice2 leg with his while he screams in pain as Victor pushed him to the ground and begins to punch him in the face. Voice2 face becomes bruited with blood along with Victor’s knuckle as the teenage boy [voice1] watches him in awe) You. You think… I could fall? You…think so?! (Stops the punching as he immediately comes back to his senses) Huh...? (Turns to the teenage boy sitting on the ground with fear in his eyes) I… I didn’t mean to…

VOICE1: (Stands up) They were my brothers! (Sobbing)

VICTOR: (Trying to calm the situation) I didn’t mean to come here or to fight…, I just… (Voic1 immediately brings out a blade cutter from his back pocket to threaten Victor)

VOICE1: Get back! Get back or I use this on you! (Victor takes some steps backward and picked up his race off the area)

While finally reaching home at around 8 pm in the night, Victor sneaks in to the living room and watches left and right for his mother’s sign anywhere around the room as he quietly takes off his shoes, holds it tight in the hand and tipped toe to the staircase. On trying to rush higher on the stair steps, Victor’s mother called out to his attention from behind.

VICTOR’S MUM: Victor! (Victor stops while feeling he had been caught by the bull) Where were you, all these while and why were you not picking my calls?

VICTOR: (Turns to his mum) I forgot my phone in bed before going to school this morning…

VICTOR’S MUM: (Looking at victor from head to toe) Then, where is your school uniform and why are you this dirty?

VICTOR: I… I was playing football with my friends in the school field. And my school uniform is in my bag… I didn’t want my uniform to get stained so that is why I decided to put it in my bag… (Victor’s mum continually feeling suspicious) Uhm…mum. I’m really sorry I came late. I…promise I won’t do that again.

VICTOR’S MUM: I hope to see you putting those statements of yours, into practice.

VICTOR: Alright, mum. (Victor turns around to go upstairs as his mum sighted his injured back and his torn shirt)

VICTOR’S MUM: (Soliloquizing) What kind of football match made my son have those injuries at his back…

Victor’s mother left the living room after the confusing thought while Victor rushes to his room, shut the door and pulls off his clothes as he immediately went to the bathroom and got the tap running. Victor washed his blood stained knuckles as his hands vibrate in distresses of fear to the way he had been punching the two unknown boys back at the dark cornered area. Few minute later, Victor took his bath while washing off the blood flow bruises from his back as he makes a slight sound of groaning due to the pains. Meanwhile, Victor’s mum stayed in the kitchen and made a phone call with uncle Laide.

VICTOR’S MUM: Hello, brother Laide.

UNCLE LAIDE: Hello, sister. How are you doing?

VICTOR’S MUM: Am doing fine, thanks.

UNCLE LAIDE: How work na?

VICTOR’S MUM: Brother Laide, work is fine but ehm… Am having this call because of Victor, o.

UNCLE LAIDE: Eh, Victor. Did he get into a fight again? Did he break the wheel screen of that range rover sport?! I won’t take it easy if he really did that!

VICTOR’S MUM: He didn’t break anything but… (Checking for the signs of Victor)… But I think he somehow got into a fight.

UNCLE LAIDE: Yeahy! (Screaming through the phone) He has done it again o!

VICTOR’S MUM: You don’t need to shut now.

UNCLE LAIDE: I don’t need to do what? Should I save the shout till my nephew becomes a mad man? Tell me?!

VICTOR’S MUM: I… I don’t know what to do now, brother Laide. When Victor came home this late evening, he told me that he had a football match with his friends but I noticed some manmade scratches and bruises at his back and… and the funniest thing about Victor is that he doesn’t like playing anything called football. Please, brother. Help me out.

UNCLE LAIDE: I have already told you countless times that you should lock him up with the psychiatrist. Leaving him to the environment will definitely cause a lot of troubles for you.

VICTOR’S MUM: But… (Checking out for Victor’s presence) But I can’t leave him and besides…, he doesn’t like going to the psychiatrist. He told me they use to scare him.

UNCLE LAIDE: Ohh…okay. Even at the age of 40 the psychiatrist would still scare him. I get it now.

VICTOR’S MUM: (Troubled) Brother laide, now.

UNCLE LAIDE: You know what? I am still lodging at the Abuja hotel. Once my days are over there, I will come straight to meet your son. All these must stop.

VICTOR’S MUM: O… Okay. Thank you, brother.

UNCLE LAIDE: Don’t mention. What are families for? Heheh. (Laughs absurdly)

VICTOR’S MUM: Alright, goodnight. (Victor’s mother ends the call as Victor comes in to the kitchen while pushing her to the tip of fear) Victor?! (Panting silently) Are you ready…to have your dinner?

VICTOR: Yeah.

VICTOR’S MUM: (Arranging the dishes) Go wait in the dining table. I will personally bring your food.

VICTOR: No. (Walks to his mother’s side and starts to rinse the dishes) Let me help out with the dishing.

VICTOR’S MUM: (Looking at Victor with a faint smile in her face) Well…, thanks.

The next day at school, Victor went for the library while meeting with Kolade and some other students.

KOLADE: (Looking at Victor coming with a broad smile) Hm. Someone looks happy.

VICTOR: (Sits close to Kolade) what do you think made me happy?

KOLADE: Who else? Abigail, of course (Sits upright) so, how did it go?

VICTOR: Why are you asking like as if I called her for a blind date?

KOLADE: It looks like a date to me. Come on, tell me what happen.

VICTOR: We only had some few talks and…laughter, that’s all.

KOLADE: Hmm. That’s how it starts o.

VICTOR: Shut up. She was just being so friendly. Yea. I also had a pineapple flavored Zobo. Have you ever tasted it before? (Expressing a big grin smile)

KOLADE: Yes, countless times near my house. There is one iya selling it. Trust me; she is expert when it comes to choking people with peppery zobos.

VICTOR: Yeah. Mine too was quite peppery. But… (Feeling relaxed) I liked it.

KOLADE: So…, you have started liking her all because of pineapple zobo?

VICTOR: I have liked her since… (Covers his mouth) Oops!

KOLADE: (Burst into winning laughter) You shouldn’t have said that abi? I don catch you already!

VICTOR: Just…, Just forget it and shut up already. (kolade continuing his laughter) It’s okay, Kolade. You know we are in the library… (While Kolade continues his laughter, Victor suddenly sights Lola having a gist with her friends near the library window. Victor’s eyes went raged as he squeezed his fists so hard while looking at her for a few second. Kolade then, placed his hand on Victor’s knuckles making him at ease)

KOLADE: Are you okay? (Confused)

VICTOR: (Robbing his face) Yeah, yeah am okay. Uhm…let. Let me go get some books to read. I will be back soon. (Stands up to the library book keep as Kolade turns to Lola in confuses)

After school hour, Kolade and Victor head home while they both stopped at the church entrance.

KOLADE: Alright, man. (Exchanging handshakes) See you later.

VICTOR: Okay. Aren’t you going to come with me?

KOLADE: Na… I don’t want to spoil the kissy fun… I just want to head home to finish up some chores my crook mother left for me. Good luck. (Turning to leave as he remembers something) Oh. Take her out for a date or I will.

VICTOR: (Blushing in annoyance) Shut up and leave. (Both leave their separate ways after the whiny act as Victor walks straight to the church with excitement and anxiety while going in search of Abigail. To his surprise, Victor saw her with some groups of choir members and a tall, fair skinned teenager with a smooth wet pink lips; holding Abigail’s arms. Victor closely sighted his arms closer to her waists as the members comes out from the church)

ABIGAIL: (Sighted Victor afar) Victor! (Yell in excitement as she rushes to meet up with him)

VICTOR: Hi.

DANIEL (the fair skinned boy): Who is this?

ABIGAIL: Daniel, meet Victor. The friend I was talking to you about. (Gesturing her hands to the both of them as she introduce) Victor, meet Daniel. He is my senior choir college in church.

DANIEL: She meant senior boy friend…

ABIGAIL: Enough with the joke already, Daniel. (Turns to Victor) Hey. We were just taking a break from the choir practice before you came. So, how are you doing? Was school stressful...? (Victor remaining mute)

DANIEL: (Looking confuse) Is… Is your friend always like this?

ABIGAIL: Trust me, Daniel. He is lively.

DANIEL: Maybe he’s just feeling a little shy. (Looking at Victor) Hey, Victor. You are always free with Ussss… (Drawing the word while pointing at his manly breast chest) Okay?

VICTOR: No, no am good.

DANIEL: Wow. He talks.

ABIGAIL: Daniel. (Daniel looking pointless) I will be back for you later. (Leaves Daniel while she takes Victor by his hand and walks further away from the church compound) What is it Victor. Are you okay?

VICTOR: Am fine. Do not worry. (Looking down while pocketing)

ABIGAIL: No, you are not. Come on, tell me. You didn’t look so dull when I last saw you yesterday and those other time you’ve been stalking me. (Both smiling)

VICTOR: Is he… Is he really your…boy…friend...?

ABIGAIL: Pff… (Burst into laughter after trying to hold it) Am sorry… You said what?

VICTOR: (Feeling shy) Let’s just forget, Abigail.

ABIGAIL: I have told you earlier before, Victor. He’s just a senior choir in my grandma’s church. That’s all.

VICTOR: The…the way he was holding you…

ABIGAIL: Wow. (Feeling anxiety)

VICTOR: Let’s forget this, Abigail.

ABIGAIL: Wow. No, I mean… (Relaxed) You are jealous, right?

VICTOR: (Blushing in guilt) Abigail…

ABIGAIL: Answer me, Victor. You…you are already jealous of me with another guy...? (Victor keeping mute) You know what, Victor. We are just meeting each other. I might have seen your face so many times you’re stalking me but…, We are still new when it comes to who or what we really are. Let’s just be calm with the life we’re driving ourselves into. We can be friends now, but you don’t have to push yourself for my sake, okay?

VICTOR: (Keeping mute in upsets) Am…am really sorry. I shouldn’t have rushed in like that.

ABIGAIL: (Smiling) Alright, it’s okay.

VICTOR: (Maintains his pack bag) I should be taking my leave now. Since you’re busy…

ABIGAIL: No, wait a little longer. Our break for the church practice is about to end. Didn’t you want to…hear my musical voice, again? (Victor accepted the offer after looking at her for some seconds. While the practice was going on, Victor stood at the church exit looking at Abigail singing with the other choir members as Abigail also looked at Victor while putting in more Vocal aspiration in her music. After the practice, Abigail comes to bid Victor goodbye)

VICTOR: You were really amazing back there.

ABIGAIL: Well, I got my inspiration from those who look up to my talents.

VICTOR: You mean…, someone like me...? Oh, sorry. I think I am still pushing myself again.

ABIGAIL: No. You’re just definitely right about that. (Victor looking emotionally excited) I really loved singing. Apart from getting the church clean and tidy, my other hobby is to sing… It helps me think and also gives me relaxation. And when I get some cheers, it helps me get motivated too.

VICTOR: It’s called talent. (Both looking at each other’s faces in a relenting way) Uhm. I will be taking my leave, now.

ABIGAIL: Okay. (Hugs Victor in an act that blushes his feelings as he suddenly feels pains on his back after Abigail rests her arms on it while making Victor groan uncomfortably) What happened? (Frightened)

VICTOR: (Stretching his back) I was wounded there but, it’s alright, now.

ABIGAIL: Oh, am sorry.

VICTOR: Do not worry. I’m totally fine.

DANIEL: Abigail! (Calls Abigail from afar)

ABIGAIL: See you next time, Victor. I need to go meet with him before he starts to squeak (Abigail rushed to Daniel as Victor watches the both of them making fun to one another while he takes his leave)

Victor got home right before his mum and lays on the bed while looking at his room ceiling with his uniforms placed near him on the bed. Few hours later, Victor’s mother drove in to her house while she comes out of the car with her law suit worn as she feels quit exhausted .

VICTOR: (Coming to welcome his mum) Welcome back, mum.

VICTOR’S MUM: Hello, Victor. How was school?

VICTOR: Quite flamboyant as usual. But, you seem so tired. What’s the matter

VICTOR’S MUM: Yes, (Taking off her law suit) I really had a rough case today. Moreover, the case was about an embezzlement of half a million naira. And the worst part is that I was paid to defend the embezzler but it wasn’t that easy because my opponent had a reasonable evidence that would eventually put my client to jail.

VICTOR: (Whistled in surprise) It’s really rough after all. Did you…, win? (Victor’s mother looks closely at Victor’s eyes as she smiles faintly)

VICTOR’S MUM: (Robbing Victor’s head) That doesn’t matter now. I am starving.

VICTOR: (Victor’s mum walks away as Victor became anxious to know her answer) Did you win the case...? Why can’t you answer me?! (Follows his mum as they both entered the living room. While at night, Victor’s mum comes in to Victor’s room with her night gown worn as she sighted him reading and laying in his bed)

VICTOR’S MUM: May I come in?

VICTOR: Yea, sure.

VICTOR’S MUM: What are you reading there?

VICTOR: (Answers directly) Literary revision. Is anything bothering you?

VICTOR’S MUM: No. I mean, yes…because…the only thing bothering me is you, Victor.

VICTOR: (Drops his book aside) Me? What did I do wrong?

VICTOR’S MUM: A lot, Victor. (Holding Victor’s hands) I am your mother and you are my son. You are the only thing I had since your father’s broke up. When he tries to collect you from me, I fought with the very last breath to get you under my wing. I… I didn’t want those arguments and fights of ours be in vain by losing you.

VICTOR: You won’t lose me, mum. I know that.

VICTOR’S MUM: Yes, Victor. That statement can only be made possible if you have always listen to me and your uncle. (Victor looking upset) He want you save and complete because he loves you.

VICTOR: Uncle Laide is just interested in rewards and credits. He is not helping by telling me to stay locked up in the psychiatrist.

VICTOR’S MUM: Then, what is bothering you? What have always made you angry at yourself and everyone around you...? (Victor getting to a verge of anger) Tell me Victor! Why are you being so stubborn to me or my care for your! Or, are you still… guilty of your elder brother...?

VICTOR: (Stands up with a burst of anger) Do not bring that up, mother! Do not bring back any of those memory back! I am sick and tired of you and uncle Laide telling me I am becoming a lunatic! I’m tired! (Walks away from his mum and fall off his action figured toys placed on a collection shelf in and leaves his room as Victor’s mother starts to sob in silence. After a short while, Victor’s mum arranged the toys back to their spots as Victor comes back to his room) Mum. (Victor’s mother sighted Victor back in his room while crying as he rushes to hug her) I… I didn’t mean to, mum. Please do not make me do this to you again…please…

VICTOR’S MUM: I won’t bring that up again. And I sincerely promise I won’t push you… I promise.