CHAPTER 4
After some minutes, we finally got to Anderson's, and Gloria began knocking. The door opened.
My lazy ass boyfriend stood there. He violently flossed his teeth, which was evident to me. He had just finished eating the food I kept for myself. The irritated sound he made from his flossing got to me, and I had to narrow my eyes around him.
"Sup lover", he winced at me. "To what do I owe this visit?" he asked carefree.
Gloria barked, "You owe us nothing, idiot. You can't even pay if I ask you to."
"Oh, hi, best friend, didn't see you standing there", my boyfriend said with a wide smile.
"Come on in", he added.
"Keep your wretched, stinking apartment to yourself. What did you do to my best friend?"
Anderson still saw us as a joke. He smiled at me, "How was work, lover?".
Gloria slammed her expensive sandals to the floor. "I am talking to you, Anderson", she shouted above her lungs.
My boyfriend lifted his chin and said to Gloria, "When you're ready, you will speak to me calmly, because obviously I'm not one of your boy toys you command around".
The words came out firm and dismissive, and before I could utter a word, Gloria released a loud slap on his face. She pounced on him, and they began exchanging blows. "How dare you lay your hands on my friend again, after I spoke to you calmly the other time? How dare you?".
They began fighting.
"Can you two stop this madness. You are embarrassing yourselves on the streets", I said, holding onto my best friend, but she didn't stop.
Anderson didn't resist. He fought with my best friend like a ring wrestler. Soon, neighbours came looking. They thought it was the usual time when he beat me, but seeing him fighting another person was new to them.
A few tried inferring, but these two meant business. I couldn't take it anymore, so I dialed the police. Who came by after a few minutes, they grabbed Anderson and threw him in the back seat of the van, while Gloria sat in the front. I took a cab and followed behind.
Gloria has never been arrested, and I knew I shouldn't have phoned the police. Also, I didn't get myself into a physical fight, except for my boyfriend, who constantly gets me involved in his. So, this was the only way to handle the conflict.
Gloria was questioned, and soon I was called by an officer to give a statement. I watched my boyfriend and saw how sorry he looked.
"She started the fight, my lover was only trying to defend himself", I said coldly.
"Hannah?" Gloria's authoritative voice called.
I didn't look at her, I couldn't.
The officer questioned me, "So, are you saying Mr Anderson is innocent and free of charge?"
I quickly glanced at my boyfriend. "Yes…yes, he is".
"And your best friend? Is she innocent as well?".
"She acted out of anger, but it was all a misunderstanding. She is soft and gentle". I looked at Gloria now, but her expression was still masked in disbelief.
The officer narrowed his eyes at us. "Just a minute."
All three of us sat quietly. Gloria bit her lips, and I knew what that meant; she was madly angry. My boyfriend still wore his innocent look, which got to my heart.
The officer soon came and gave some advice before uncuffing them.
"Thank you," I said to him.
"Let's go, Hannah," my boyfriend said firmly, leading the way.
I looked at my best friend, who had already started her car and zoomed off. "Why did she drive that fast?" I muttered under my breath.
Anderson didn't have the money to pay for a cab or get a train, so we took a long, quiet walk. I would stop halfway to gasp for air.
We finally got to his house. I walked in fearfully, not knowing what was about to happen. All I knew was that Anderson wasn't happy. He shut the door behind him and went straight to the dispenser. After drinking much water, he gestured to me, "Let's go upstairs".
I didn't argue. I followed behind him. His room still looked messy the way it did when I left. I glanced at his side table. There my plate was. He had honestly eaten my lunch.
Well, at least I ate at Gloria's, I thought to myself.
"Come", he called gently.
I hesitated before approaching him.
"You did well at the station, but what was that about?"
My hands began shaking, "What was that about?".
My boyfriend unbuckled his belt from his waist. "Are you questioning me? You mean to tell me you don't know what you've done?" he stroked my shoulder.
I shook painfully, "Please don't do this", my voice began shaking.
"You should have thought properly before bringing your slut best friend to fight and embarrass me in the neighbourhood", my boyfriend said and rereleased another stroke. This time, it came too painfully and fiercely.
I shouted and ran, seeking a place to hide.
"Where do you think you're running to? Stop stressing yourself, lover". He said, dragging me by my hair.
The pain ran through my spine. I cried, "You're hurting me".
"Well, is it the first time?"
I didn't respond.
My boyfriend's voice rang deep and loud. "Is it the first time?" he repeated.
"No!" I shouted.
"Then you should be used to it", he said as he dragged my hair even more.
"Please", I pleaded and shook painfully as I felt the thick belt land on my back, again and again and again and again. I cried until I couldn't hear myself, my body was weak.
Anderson steadied my stance; he didn't want me to fall to the ground. He wasn't done with me. I felt the strokes on my back even more before he finally freed me. I rolled painfully and cried harshly.
Everywhere my body touched, I felt pain. I didn't know how to explain what I felt.
It was a few minutes or hours since he let go of me, but my eyes were still teary.
He came out of the toilet dressed in the pajamas I had bought him. I watched him grab his phone to follow up on his football team, but he was soon distracted by my loud cry. "Stupid girl," he hissed as he dragged me.
"ouch…, ouch," I cried from the pain I felt from his tight grip.
He continued until he dragged me to the door and pushed me out of his house. "Go get yourself cleaned up", he said, closing the door behind him.
I stood helplessly, seeing nosy neighbours waiting by their window, already listening to us. I sat by the porch and released some sobs even more.
"I needed to go home, I need to see daddy".
I exclaimed and began walking to the train station.