Another day of hell

~ TILDA'S POV ~

I looked up at him. He was silent, brows furrowed, and forehead creased.

There was something bothering him yet he wasn't willing to tell me. Maybe I was becoming too bothered about the things that concerned him...

  Soon, we reached the junction of my street. He knew that it would be risky to stop in front of my house so that was the suitable thing to do.

I stepped out of the car and waved.

"Bye and thanks," I said before turning my back to him and moving down the lane.

I only stopped when I heard him call out to me. I turned around. He was still sitting in his car, with his back arched so he could get a clear view of me outside the car.

"See you at school on Monday. I'm really sorry for how things ended today but I'll make it up to you, I promise," He said, his expression full of pleas.

I thinned out a smile. "Get out now. You have something important to do."

"Thanks," with that, he zoomed off and I continued my walk.

I couldn't help but wonder what was going on with him. This was the first time I had ever seen him act so nervous and uncomfortable. Had something bad happened?

When I returned home, My mum and Richard had gone shopping for their wedding anniversary which was to take place tomorrow and so I was left with Miriam and Sharon.

It was 2:30pm and I was quite hungry. I decided to eat noodles.

Miriam was already in the kitchen, washing the dishes.

"Small Madam, you don come back?" She asked, her voice full of excitement.

"Yes. I just went out to see a friend," I smiled and moved to the cabinet where pots were stored and took out one with which I was going to prepare my meal.

"Na indomie you wan still chop?" She poked her head forward in disbelief.

"Yes na," I laughed as I retrieved three small packs of indomie from another cabinet.

"You and this your indomie ehn," Her lips went upside down. "Every Saturday, indomie."

"It's my simple food to get away from the stress of everything. It just gives me peace that comes with the weekend," I replied, using my arms to demonstrate after turning on the gas cooker.

"Hmmm ok o. Nor con finish me with all this your oyinbo," She laughed, revealing the beautiful gap in her teeth.

  "Ehen there's this louis vuitton bag I've been seeing since o," I continued. "It's very fine. Don't worry I'll get it for the two of us. It's on Jumia so it will be pretty easy but I just hope they don't deliver nonsense to me."

"Ah you small small children and things of the world," Miriam shook her head in laughter. "Na so my senior daughter they tell me about luisi vuetton bag since o. She nor let me hear word."

I laughed at how she mispronounced "Louis Vuitton".

"Don't worry. I'll get one for me, you, and your daughter. In fact, bring her over some time," I said. "You've been working been for us for a very long time and I am yet to see your oldest daughter."

"She go come," Miriam simply nodded.

Just as we were both gisting since it was something we barely got the chance to whenever my mum was around, the peacock of the house stepped into the kitchen.

It wasn't that she cooked in the house or anything. I just knew she had come for trouble.

Holding her phone in one hand, she glared at Miriam.

"Ah ah you haven't washed the plates?" She asked, obviously annoyed.

"Remaining small, ma," Miriam quickly answered.

"Abeg finish up quickly and come and buy something for me. Since that I told you, you're still here doing tatafo as if that is what you're being paid for," Sharon sneered.

"And who are you to talk to her like that?" I looked away from the bubbling pot to her.

A prolonged hiss left her mouth before she answered me.

"And who are you to question me?" She smacked her lips and blew out a bubble from her gum.

"Somebody that is old enough to give birth to you three times!" I exclaimed. "Is it because you look like an agric fowl that you think you can now drag shoulders with her?"

"Small Madams, abeg make una nor fight," Miriam clasped her soapy hands to plead with me.

"No, ma. This is too much from this girl," I pushed on.

Sharon simply hissed. "Abeg Miriam, do as I have said and don't waste my time any longer."

"Yes ma," Miriam nodded.

With that, Sharon left to the confines of her room.

*.*.*.

~ MILES' POV ~

As soon as I parked my car, I rushed into the living room to meet my father and mum already seated. Another person whom I had no idea of his identity, was also present.

This person had a tool box with him and I could only guess right that he was one of those my father had called.

"What took you so long?" Mr. Wesley, my dad scowled as he glared at me.

"I went to pick up my car," I answered, keeping a straight face.

"Sit down," He motioned for me and I obeyed.

"So now that everyone is seated, I suggest I go into details and we begin," Mr. Wesley continued. "Miles, this man over here is Jude. Jude is a tattoo artist and also a tattoo remover, as such I have assigned him to take care of the job."

I immediately got on my feet, surprise written all over.

"Dad, I thought we were done with this," I was stunned.

"Young man, who asked for your opinion?" His hoarse voice came. "Sit down, my friend."

I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came forth so I surrendered to defeat and sat down.

"So as I was saying, Samuel here will do what he is here to do," Mr. Wesley simply said.

He couldn't be serious.

"Miles, I shouldn't tell you what to do," He added.

I sighed and stood up to take off my shirt.

After which, I moved to sit on a glass stool.

"Honey, do you really think we should be doing this?" I heard my mum say. "We'll only be putting our child in pain. Please call this off, I beg you."

"He called it upon himself so he must suffer it," My dad remained unbending.

Samuel came over to stand behind him with his tool box. It wasn't until after a minute had passed before I started feeling the laser burns on my lower back.

I bit my lower lip, enduring the pain that I felt. My breath heaved and beads of sweat popped up on my forehead.

"Sir, it isn't coming off," Samuel suddenly said after ten painful minutes of using his laser on me.

"What do you mean? Isn't it just a tattoo?" My dad scoffed. "Remove the seventh one immediately. Try harder or you don't know your job again?"

Samuel simply sighed and proceeded to try again, causing me another round of pain.

"Sir, I don't know what kind of tattoo this is. It isn't coming off. Where did you get this tattoo drawn?" Samuel was curious.

"That is none of your business," My dad snapped. "Just try again."

"Honey it's ok. You're hurting him," My mum held his arm, trying hard not to shed tears.

"Sir, I can't do anything again o. It's no use," Samuel gave up and returned the laser into his tool box before closing it up.

Mr. Wesley sighed and fiddled with his beard.

"You may leave," He said and Samuel was immediately on his way out.

I remained where I sat, still trying to get over the burning sensation that coursed through my lower back.

That was when I saw my dad get on his feet and my mum instinctively followed suit. She was scared that my dad was going to hurt me further.

"To the room," He said to me.

I slowly got up and headed up the stairs to the place he referred to as "the room". The room was the place that had shaped me into the obedient child I was to my father and till this day, the memories I had from that room were ones that could never be forgotten.

"Michael don't do this please," I heard my mum finally burst into tears as I made my way up the stairs.

"Before the consequences take place, that boy must learn," I could feel the urge my dad had in him to shout. "Now see what he has cost us, all because of his disobedience."