EIGHT~

DERA.

"The Doctor said you have Peptic Ulcer. Have you not been eating well?"

That's the first thing Damilayo says to me when I woke up few hours later.

At dawn as he promised he took us home and let me sleep for awhile before breakfast.

"Ulcer isn't a big deal. Right?" I ask letting out a yawn. I place my palm over my mouth as I yawn.

What does it matter to him if I've been eating well or not.

"Don't answer my question with another question." He says staring down at me with a stern look on his face. I slowly brought myself to sit upright.

"How many times do you eat in a day?"

"I don't know." I utter.

There was an itch on my head and I tried but failed to not scratch it. I let out a sigh as I keep running a finger up and down a particular parting between my braided hair.

"Fine. Let's go have breakfast. I ordered us something Since Ini still hasn't resolved her issues." He tells me and I frown flopping back down on the bed.

"I'm not hungry. Besides i don't eat Breakfast." I tell him squeezing my eyes shut.

I hear him snort. "You haven't eaten anything since last night. C'mon."

He urges pulling the duvet off me. I let out a groan of protest as the cold air hit my bare legs. I'm one of those people who like to leave the air conditioner on even though I'm cold then flop on my bed and bury myself under the thick Duvet.

"C'mon, I'm hungry too and I need to get to work soon. Unlike you some people need to work to stay Wealthy. You don't have to work at all." He urges.

"You won't let me work. Remember?" I remark.

"You're not-" he sighs stopping himself from saying whatever he was about to utter.

"Look, I'm not getting into an argument with you about that. Dera. So just get up and come downstairs with me and stop acting like a child."

Anyone could tell he was few seconds away from losing his temper.

I shake my head keeping my eyes shut. "I don't eat Breakfast so just Go ahead and eat, I'll eat later. I really Just want to sleep right now." I tell him truthfully.

"I won't eat if you don't eat. Nor will I let you sleep in peace. So c'mon get up." He says releasing a groan of frustration. I huff finally caving in to his request. I slowly and carefully took myself out of bed placing my weight on my good leg.

  I feel Damilayo's hand on the small of my back and I flinch.

"Hey. Relax. I just want to assist you." He utters and I eye him Uncertainly but eventually gave in letting Him wrap his arm around my body and instead of giving me support like I expected him to, He picks me up easily into his arms. Carrying me bridal style.

  Once downstairs in the dining room, Damilayo carefully places me down on my feets and I settle on a chair.

  My mouth begins to water at the sight of Fried rice and Chicken. One of my Favourite dishes.

"No, this is yours." He says and I frown when he exchanged our plates.

"Yours has Salad." He states like I can't see the difference between the two dishes.

"You don't like Salad?" I ask and he shrugs.

"I do like Salad but without the dressing." He admits and I nod slowly taking in the new information.

"Well, I like Everything. Except Fish." I tell him not that he asked. I just wanted to keep the conversation going. I hate to eat in Silence it reminded me of the years I spent with Aunty Yetunde.

  Uncle Onyeka wasn't around all the time so I was left alone with His Wife and kids.

  I remember how much I hated to wait for them to finish eating and if there was any leftover I had to continue from there. Sometimes in the Morning, I end up doing all the house chore and Aunt Yetunde didn't fail to send me irrelevant errands. I wouldn't be able to finish them on time and still have time to eat breakfast and get ready for school. So instead I'd just skip breakfast to manage my time.

It was part of reason I don't have breakfast. I guess I'm just used to it.

"Fish? Why Fish? I mean I don't really eat fish but still." He says and I shrug. I have never been the Closed off type. I just don't start talking unless I'm asked about a particular subject. Like now.

I pick up my spoon not caring that it wasn't the right cutlery to eat Rice. But who really cares?

"I was Ten when I started cooking. My Aunt Yetunde made sure that as a growing child, I knew the necessary things. You get?" I ask meeting his unnoticeable brown eyes and they watch me intently.

"Well um, Aunt Yetunde's Sister came to visit and brought a part of this big fresh fish. She got my cousins gifts and even bought me a toy too. It was a big teddybear.

Anyways Aunt Yetunde used some part of it to prepare Nsala soup for my Uncle. It was his Favourite." I add with a chuckle.

"Nepa took light and Aunt Yetunde told me to heat up the rest of the fish before I left for the school the next morning or it would spoil since we didn't heat it up the night before. The next morning, I was so busy that I forgot and that night she..." I trailed off reminiscing the dreadful memory.

"Wait. Lemme guess. She beat you up?" He scoffs dropping his cutlery.

"Don't tell me you stopped eating Fish because she beat you up?" He asked giving me a look of incredulity.

"You can't really blame her. It's your fault. She gave you an order and you forgot? That's irresponsible."

"I was Ten. What did i know about responsibilities-

"And even when you got back from school you still couldn't heat it up? What were you doing?"

I swallow dryly averting my eyes from him.

"I remember playing with my new Teddybear."

He scoffs leaning back into his chair. "Exactly. This is what I meant by irresponsible. You were given a task, that should have been the first thing you did then you can do your other chores. You make it sound like you were wronged. You always do that, act like the victim seeking sympathy from Every One. It's Pathetic."

An Unfamiliar feeling settles inside of me. Actually it was familiar only stronger. I was extremely hurt by his words but it could be the truth. Maybe that's what I've been doing all along without even realising it.

"Yes. She beat me up and she took my First toy away from me and made sure it was my last. After all of that she forced me down on a Stoll and made me eat all of the spoilt food." I stated down at my plate of food letting out a bitter laugh.

"I still remember how it tasted. The smell. And while I ate it I reminded myself that it was my fault. If only I had  done as I was asked."

It almost felt like I was reliving that moment again and I lift my head trying to blink away the unshed tears before meeting his eyes.

"You know, for a Minute I almost believed you because you have a way with words. You just know how to manipulate people with your words.

But let me tell you. Sure I act like the Victim but that's because I am the Victim. I'm the one that lost my family including my Uncle. The only other family I have hated and treated me badly.

  Y'know, when I was getting married to you I almost felt relieved because your Parents showered me with Affection. I thought I was finally going to be free. Maybe it could be the same with you." I add finally meeting his eyes.

"But it wasn't. You couldn't even look me in the eyes at the altar and you gave me a kiss on my cheek when the priest said; you may kiss the bride." I suck my teeth.

"I agree I'm pathetic but that's because I'm married to you. But I'm okay. I mean I was ok with it before you suddenly started caring what I do.

  So please Damilayo, Go back to ignoring me and acting like I don't exit. Go back to your Concubines." I snort out a laughter when I hear myself.

"It's not like you stopped anyways."

Why is it that every time there's Fried rice for breakfast Damilayo always somehow spoil it for me. Now I've lost my appetite.

  I carefully get on my feets shifting my weight to my uninjured left foot.

"Let me ask you something." I say gripping the edge of the table for support.

"At the Age of Ten, Did you really have 'responsibilities' or were you just like every other Carefree Child. Free to do as they pleased not caring the consequences? You never had to do the dishes nor make your bed right?"

He doesn't utter a word. I nod taking his silence as an Answer.

"Exactly. You had the opportunity to be like every other normal kid so you don't get to talk to me about Responsibilities when every thing was handed to you. Did you ever think where you would have been today if Your Father wasn't so filthy rich?"

  For the first time ever, I left him stunned and I was satisfied. I was proud of myself for leaving him speechless. I was proud of myself because I was actually trying to live for myself.

  Seyifunmi told me to stop giving Damilayo so much Potence over me and that's exactly what I'm doing.

  I'm living for me because I am not that Scared Fifteen years old. I am not her.

A/N: I normally preview the chapters twice before publishing but I only went through this once so My Apologies for any Grammatical error that I may have missed. I hope y'all are enjoying this book. Please Please please, give me an Honest review thank you!