8 8 LITTLE SECRET

The sound in the bedroom frightened Dralex, who turned seven a fortnight ago.

It was some sort of sound she knew she heard at first and as soon as it became noisy her heart skipped.

She stood by the door trying to know what the shouting was all about.

Has Dad found out yet?

Did he know what Mum has been doing?

She stood nervous for a while and as the noise translated into meaning. She quickly placed her left ear at the door.

"You can't go out dressed like this—never, not in this house." Eric Travis was on top of his voice now as he glared at Prislla. "I see you now take delight in putting on miniskirts and dresses that expose your breasts and other sexual areas of your body. Are you insane or what a hell is happening to you?" Eric Travis eyed her angrily and then hissed.

Prislla sat on a chair in front of the mirror as if rooted to a spot.

Eric Travis words seemed meaningless to her as she continued her makeup treat. This time, Eric was furious. He walked up to her. "I see you have suddenly developed blocked ears. I ask again, where are you going, dress like this?"

Prislla noticed Eric Travis jaw tightened as he spoke. His voice now dangerously low and his eyes reddened—no doubt he needed an explanation, she pondered.

She glared at him and spoke angrily. "I am going to visit Roselin." She turned to the mirror once more. "She is expecting me and—"

"Roselin is expecting you? But she's no more in Lagos with her family, didn't you say so?" Eric Travis flared. Are you telling me the truth or—"

"I can't remember telling you that. Well, never mind. I just want to go see her, that's all." Prislla eyes narrowed in anger.

Eric Travis ran his eyes through her again and became disgusted. "Dress like this in Lagos? I think you have gone mad. Just tell me you got a date somewhere with someone—you know what? I can't imagine you doing that—my goodness, you weren't like this couple of months ago!" Eric Travis eyes widened again as he expresses shock over Prislla promiscuous attitude.

As he placed his right hand on Prislla's shoulder, she waved his hand off as if chasing a fly.

"Don't Eric; time is not on my side now. I talk to you when I come back."

She stood up and started for the door with her high heels shoe making an unusual sound on the floor.

Eric Travis held her back and hit her hard across her face. "What nonsense, I am talking to you and you are walking out on me—your husband! I see you've lost your manners lately and I am surprised."

He watched Prislla screamed with her hands to her face and that got Dralex more scared behind the closed door.

But even then, she refused to walk away from the closed door. Daddy has never hit Mum before perhaps he is becoming suspicious, her thought ran wild.

She pitched her ears again to hear more.

"You slapped me?" She sobbed.

Eric Travis watched her on the floor for a while and then sat down.

Minutes later, when it seemed as if silence have engulfed the bedroom. Eric Travis spoke, but this time he was struggling to select his words, "Prislla my wife, you aren't dressed well. You looked like a street whore on this dress exposing everything and I know that's not you. For God sake, you are married—married to me—Eric, yes to pastor Eric Travis. Now tell me what's the meaning of this sexy dressing? Tell me now—" He shouted and that send a chill right through the nerves of Dralex who have been standing behind the closed door.

Prislla stood up angrily with her hands still on her face. She glared at him and hurried out of the bedroom but not without uttering a word. "I am never a whore but I could be one if it is necessary to have another child—"

It sounded like a whisper but it crept right through the eardrums of Eric Travis. As her words resounded around him after she walked out the door. The weight of her words pressed down on him. He felt so much cold within his stomach as his eyes caught the closed door again.

Could this be a dream or a reality?

This thought came but he quickly shut it out.

Prislla had caught Dralex eavesdropping but wasn't bothered to ask her anything but instead picked her handbag and seconds later, Dralex saw her drove away with her Dad's super X Jeep.

As seconds' counts into minutes, Dralex noticed Eric hadn't come out of the bedroom yet. She tapped the door gently and the moment she heard his voice, she opened it and walked inside quietly.

"Dralex are you up already? Hope I didn't disturb your sleep—I earlier checked on you when I came in this afternoon and you were sleeping."

Eric Travis was still seated on the chair he had watched Prislla walked out on him. He has since calmed down but his mind has been unusually busy.

"Sit Dralex—come closer to me. Did we wake you up?"

Dralex nods her head but quickly followed up with few words. "Not exactly Dad, but I heard the shouts." Dralex's face picked up a sad look and Eric Travis knew he has never seen her this way. He knew he got some work to do now.

"Dad and Mum love you. It seems we woke you up—our shouts. I am sorry, not to worry, it was nothing but just a little misunderstanding. It is alright and please don't give me that look, it isn't good on you."

Dralex noticed his eyes shifted and she can tell the little misunderstanding may soon develop bigger from the way Mum walked out of the house earlier.

Are Mum and Dad going to have a divorce?

What will become of her?

Who will I choose over the other to live with?"

Her thought burst into flames as tears dropped down from the corner of her eyes.

"Please don't cry, come closer." Eric Travis watched her drew closer reluctantly. "Sit and please don't cry. Mum will soon be home." He brushed his hand through her hair for a while as silence took its feast above them.