LOST WTHOUT MR GENIUS

Chapter three

I was shocked- shocked indeed because I had no inkling that all the while he was sitting behind me. He was looking doleful, guilty and helpless. I swear my heart sunk. "How, when, where…" I muttered in shock. I couldn't understand how he came about.

"Da…" My lips twitched as I screamed half his name, springing up, my chest heaving in anger and unrest. Maxwell was mercilessly raining blows on his face. He was a ruthless beast! A galore of pain slashed my heart as I gazed at Dave's helpless state. What else could I do? I was bound because I didn't want to be identified with him or else I would smack suspicion, and Maxwell would vent his anger on us both. Perhaps we would be taken to jail. Somehow, I had to save Dave. I folded my fists in anger and clenched one of them in my teeth while anxiety took the best of me, crackling my heart with tension. Then Milly tugged on my hand asking, "Do you know him?" Her eyebrows laced. She must have noticed the twist on my face. I quickly answered, sputtering nervously, "No...no…I hate seeing such...See how he's eating my...that guy alive. He is a beast!" My voice faltered. Nothing could cushion me from the anguish I felt in my heart. It was visible in my eyes. She chuckled,

"Baby girl, you had better get used to it. I see such scenarios almost every day; fights, thefts, murders, hoaxes, blah, blah, blah. Nobody cares. My dear, this is just a 'welcome to the city', ha! ha! ha!" She said ebulliently with a mysterious gesture. I was dying inside. How could I tell her that the person in question was my boyfriend? You cannot imagine how much I despised myself for denying Dave.

"I'm a coward, weakling!" I thought and thereon remorse leapt inside me. It hurt me- so much that I vented the anger at my hand. I could feel the sharp pain of the fingernails that shove into my palm every time a punch was launched on his charming face. Soon it would be distorted! My stomach suddenly lurched. I could barely take it anymore and limped to Maxwell to plead on Dave's behalf, trying to lure him with my fecundity of acting, cynical though it appeared to me.

"Hey, dear," I said, seizing his hand and squeezing it awkwardly. He jerked and grazed his reddish eyes on my curvaceous body. Yes, he was subdued under the duress of earthy l**t that blazed his eyes and I eased my grip on him.

"Ah-yes, what is it?"

His voice softened slightly. I didn't dawdle after seeing how dazed Dave was. Suppressing my anger, I masked my face with a friendly smile and pursued with my blandishments,

"Why waste time on such a crooked guy. Let him go, just toss him out. You don't want to ruin your reputation by acting silly." I squinted my eyes at him and spewed a demure on my face, rolling my eyes like a cute cat. Oh, how I loathed him! The sight of him made me feel grotty, but I didn't mind a little flirt as long as it would save Dave. I chucked him under the chin and whispered in his ear,

"Dude, you are making a scene." I gave him a domineering gaze.

Maxwell quickly withdrew his hand and smacked in his palm, scowling at Dave with disdain. I heard someone near me bolster my notion, and twisted to look at her. It was a caped lady with a cleft lip chomping at a bubble gum. I read her lips in amusement as she spoke,

"Yeah, she's right," she conceded, "Sir, forgive him. Drive him out instead. He has learnt his lesson- the hard way I would say." The backup was an easement for me that would have chivvied him to yield until the jerk ruined it for me. The lad was playing the victim. He was young, tall and handsome with a lean face, a goatee, and a straight nose, dressed in a fitting dawn shirt, black Jeans and brogues, who, because of him, Dave was made a punching bag. He spoke in a ridiculous voice, in a heavily accented English, his face contracting in a flame of irritation,

"Are you related to him? Is he your fu**in man? Why are you concerned?" He glared at me with mockery and intoned, "You must be one of those sluts." An inane grin flashed on his lips. Damn! I didn't like his guts. He was ghoulish. Just when I thought that Maxwell had yielded to my persuasion and Dave would be free, he was delaying everything!

"My efforts might not come to much." I guessed after noticing the anger in Maxwell's eyes. Shockingly, he grabbed him at the collar irate and erupted,

"Hold your tongue, man! I am the judge here. Don't vent your anger by laying guilt on the innocent lady." He spoke with a nerve of incurable arrogance that irked me the more. "Is he trying to defend me? Should I feel indebted to him?" I asked myself. I felt stifled having to pretend; the friendly gesture, the flirting and the anxiety were grossing me out! I was horror-stricken.

The young conceited dude twirled his goatee and scowled at me. I was pissed off, not by his insult but because his intrusion instantly upset Dave. Hearing the whoosh of murmurs around, he must have felt angry that perhaps they were ridiculing me and knowing his irascible nature, I was blenched and my prospects became bleak; he can't stand to see anyone insulting me! He bobbed his head in fury and I was scared he might lose it and spoil everything. If that happened, he wouldn't be spared. I could predict; a thorough beating plus jail. I could never let that happen to him. He was all I was left with, my Dave, my life. I winked at him with a signal, and bless him, he cooled down.

The guy had redeemed his ticket. Why did he find pleasure in seeing Dave being hurt brutally? Was he not satisfied or was he callous despite his clean-cut looks? As the saying goes, 'never judge a book by its cover'.

Naturally, I'm a feisty character, but this time I tried to control my temper. That's why I fended off his attack by keeping quiet or else I'd have fervidly blown up and pounced on him like a hungry leopard. I peeked at Dave, hankering to soothe him with a kiss. He looked horrid with a black eye. I almost cracked into tears, but I knew I had to be clear-headed;

"Control yourself, Joanna!" I told myself and quickly drew my edges to Maxwell. He was still sceptical. I didn't know how long I would tolerate him since I abhor him so much now. He was my enemy, but I needed to keep him close until I had saved Dave.

My flair seemed to clinch.

As chance would have it, he loosened up and gazed at me like he would devour me in c****s. With an intuition that all eyes were on me, I felt ashamed innately. I must have been perceived as a w***e. "Despise and judge me for all I care, I have to fight for my man- by fair means or foul." I thought and held up my head. My determination made me firm up.

I was sure that Dave was feeling jealous- jealous and hacked, seeing me flirt in public, but I had no choice.

With a light fondling of my hand, Maxwell said in a retort,

"Alright, for you, Maxwell will bend. As for this stupid fellow," He gestured to Dave with impudence, "count today your luckiest, otherwise, I'd have shattered your brains if not for this pretty babe." The angry lad sneered at me. Gosh! I shuddered to hear Maxwell's voice and quickly took to my seat. With my hand, I covered my face to conceal my tears.

The mon**er yelled at the driver,

"Sir, stop over there."

"Ah, why now?" The latter asked with annoyance, squaring his shoulder and giving the steering a firm grip.

"Go, go, go! i***t!" Maxwell hurled Dave forward. He looked at him defiantly without uttering a word. He was as defenceless as a lamb to be slain. Maxwell explained to the driver who slammed on the brakes along the roadside making the bus judder to a halt. He was fierce and glared at Dave with a measure of hatred and said sternly,

"What's your name?" Dave was dumb. The driver's face twisted colour and deep furrows emerged on his forehead while he slammed the steering in rage, "Who the heck are you? Speak up you thick head!" Jeez! I almost wetted my pants. This was no longer a game. Every fibre of my body was shaking. Dave too was visibly trembling and fumbling. Maxwell pulled his ears to a good stretch making him scream helpless.

"D...Darius, Sir, I'm Darius."

Maxwell cackled and was boisterous, "Sir, I know how to make such a delinquent speak."

"Call the Corps." He ordered.

"What?" I muttered my cheeks flushing with anger…