Her Flaws, His Bliss

April “You really think he can just die and leave my baby girl to suffer? Hell no! My child has as much right to his property as your children. Give her what is hers, or I will drag you to court. My child can’t be struggling to get her tuition paid while your children enjoy what her father owned.” Fuck! I can’t believe this woman is here again. I had not slept in the last twenty-four hours and just when I thought I had befriended sleep, she’s here to fight again. Today wasn’t her day. She ought to have chosen a day I was less cranky. Maybe a day I didn’t have to watch mom all night or the one I wasn't compelled to have an extra shift to fill in for my absence at work. “This isn’t how this works!” I shouted, hurting my throat. I didn’t know what my dad did to have such a beautiful woman as his sidepiece, but whatever it was… it was a lie. He owned literally nothing to his name, not to talk of leaving anything behind. Maybe one of the puppies. Mom gave us all each when her dog became a mother. “You can’t just show up here, demanding what you think you’re owed. Your daughter is struggling, thanks to your choice.” As if we aren’t struggling too. Only if mom had listened to me and considered a divorce. Maybe dad wouldn’t have sold off her properties, leaving her with heart disease. Sophia couldn’t even return to school because I couldn’t afford her bill with mom’s at the same time. The way she turned swiftly to face me, I knew she was prepared to make me the scapegoat. This was her third time showing up since dad’s death and mum had never said a word to her, neither did I. We can’t afford a lawyer should the matter escalate. Mom was hoping she would give up eventually. “Oh, you think I made the wrong choice, and so did your mama,” she snapped. Oooops! That’s no news. Even my dad knew my mom was too good for him. “At least she wasn’t a whore.” I responded. “What did you say?” I knew the question was not for me to repeat what I said. It was to prepare her for war. Tell me who had already started a war the moment she stepped out of bed. “You heard me. I just told you what a woman who sleeps with another woman’s husband is called. Whooore!” I hadn’t even finished what I had in mind, she grabbed my hair unexpectedly. Thanks to Zina, street fights aren't strange anymore. I was even nicknamed “Crazy Queen” in our final year in college. “You don’t dare call me a w***e. If your mama forgot to train you, I’m here to teach you some manners.” I wasn’t focused on her yell. Instead, I managed to turn around with my hair strands in her hand and jumped on her back. She fell to the ground immediately. I didn’t miss the opportunity, I began to pounce on her. See who is being taught some manners now? Even though mum was crying to let her go, it was too late. I knew very well where this was going to end. If I was going to get arrested for beating her up anyway, I had better do it to my satisfaction. *********************************** “Just spit it out already,” I snapped at Zina. “I wasn’t even looking at you.” She protested. I cast a stern look at her. “Fine, I was looking. I was just wondering. What happened to no fist throwing?” Yeah, I promised never to go physical on anyone the day I signed off from college. I made Zina make the promise too. I believe we were already adults and that would affect our femininity. But we weren’t told there were other things that could rob us of her natural state. I looked at Zina, even though she’s been my friend since high school, she couldn’t really understand my situation. Born into a rich family, she’s got all she’s ever wanted with ease. I didn’t want to be that kind of friend that relies on her friend. “Thank you for letting me out of here.” I responded, trying to change the topic. “No..what? If you’re going to say anything to me, it should be why you beat up that woman. It was terrible, Apy.” My legs were already shaking from the stress I had gone through in the last hours. If I stayed another minute, I might just lose it. “See, Zee, we can always…” I was interrupted by a throaty voice. “Excuse me.” Without hesitation, I responded, “You’re excused.” “You’re in…” the voice continued. “f**k! Leave, please. Just go. Go away.” I yelled, allowing my frustration to overshadow me. The silence didn’t bring me back to reality until I saw Zina’s expression. She looked like she had seen a ghost. I was compelled to take a look. My breath was caught in my throat. “I…I..mean…” I stuttered, the words faltering. What the actual hell? He was covered in tattoos right from his lower neck to…I don’t know. I could only see the parts of his body revealed with the armless hood and pants he was putting on. Tattoos had never been attractive to me until now, other than the fact that his presence emitted fear. Zina dragged me out of the way. I didn’t even know I was standing in his way. “We’re sorry…sir.” My soul leaped out of my body as he took a step closer. His face looked familiar. I’m sure I’ve seen the face, not the body, before. Zina must have been scared too. Her grip on my arm tightened. “Thank your stars, I have urgent business here. But I promise, if I ever set my eyes on you again, I will make you pay.” What the heck. His words sent shivers to my body. I watched as he walked away in fear. “Jeez! What just happened?” Zina lamented. Whatever that was, I had less than thirty minutes to resume work. “See you later, Zee.” “What? You haven’t even told me what happened? Where are you going?” she questioned, surprised. “To do what I hate doing the most.” *****************************************************************************