Chapter 6 December Rush 6

DECEMBER RUSH

CHAPTER 6

Rose and I were now at our love nest. I am sure you still remember the place, under the mango tree beside the church house. I got there before her and waited for some minutes before she arrived. When she got there, she tried to kiss me, but I refused. I wanted explanations first.

"So, Rosy, here we are. Would you be so kind as to tell me what happened on New Year Day?" I asked.

"Yes, the truth is that I met Naked on the way to the village. He helped me when I was in a tight corner, and later asked me out. I didn't give him a definite response. In his mind, he thinks we are dating, but I know we are not."

"So, why are you leading him? Why don't you just tell him that you have a boyfriend, me?"

"It is not as easy as you think. Remember he helped me once. So, it is like I am indebted to him. In fact, that is how he sees it. So, I need to get rid of him, but I don't know how."

"What do you mean you don't know how? Are you a kid? Tell him you don't want him, and he will be on his way out of your life forever."

"You talk as if it is easy. I am trapped, Ebuka. He said he was going to deal with me if I ever break up with him."

"Do you love him?"

"God forbids, I don't."

"I hope he has never forced you to have sex with him?"

"He tried once but I refused."

"Have you kissed him?"

"I have to be honest with you, I have. But it was against my wish. Please, help me." She was almost in tears.

I felt pity for her and pulled her close to me. That Naked was an animal. I had always suspected that all was not well. It wasn't natural. None of it was. It all made sense to me now. How on earth could Rosy choose someone like that over me? I decided that I was going to see Naked first thing the following day and deal with him.

"Don't cry, okay?" I spoke gently to her, rubbing her back affectionately. "I will see him tomorrow and warn him to stay away from you or face trouble."

She raised her head and looked into my eyes.

"Ebuka, you will do that for me?" She asked.

"Yes, Rosy."

"Do you love me that much?"

"Rosy, have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror?"

"Yes, why?"

"Then, you ought to understand why I love you so much. You are very beautiful. In fact, God made you on a Sunday. Who do you resemble? You father or your mother?"

"My father." She replied.

"Then your father must be a very handsome man. You are beauty personified. You are beauty itself. In fact, from today, I rename you beauty. Your new name is Ifunanya."

"Oh my gosh, Ebuka. I am so lucky to have you. Please, forgive me for the way I treated you that day at the club. But you too, I was even expecting that you would fight for me. You just abandoned me like that."

"Don't worry, babe. It is all now in the past. I have forgiven you. My focus now is to teach that Naked a lesson. Let's go, it is getting late."

"Please, babe. I need some money oh. That money that you said we were going to spend on New Year Day. Where is it? I hope it is still intact?" She asked.

"Of course, it is. How much do you need?"

"Thirty thousand."

"Alright, I will give you."

Luckily for me or so I thought, I still had the fifty thousand Cominash had given me. I hadn't spent a dime from it. When Cominash and I went outing on that New Year Day, she was the one who paid all the bills. I counted thirty thousand and handed to Rose. She was very happy.

"Thank you so much, sweetheart." She spoke happily, hugging me. "You are the best, not that stingy Naked."

"Don't worry, babe. Anything for you. I will take very good care of you. Can I kiss you?"

"Yes, Ebuka. Kiss me."

She brought her mouth to mine and we kissed briefly. In fact, I had barely begun when she pulled her lips away and told me that we should get going because it was getting late. However, I wasn't satisfied.

"What is the meaning of that?" I asked. "That kiss was too brief. I want more."

"Why are you in a hurry, this thing belongs to you. My whole body belongs to you. Calm down and go do what you promised to do. I will give you enough in the coming days. There is no need to hurry." She spoke, running her hand on my chest.

"But is has gotten dark now, why can't you just bend so that I can do sharp-sharp?" I asked, thinking that she was Cominash that loved me enough to give me whenever and wherever I demanded.

"Ebuka, you want to finish all your energy? What if you attack Naked tomorrow and a fight ensues? Okay, I promise you that in two days' time, I will give you with all my heart."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure."

"Alright, let us go."

The next day, I woke up in the morning and saw two missed calls from Cominash. I texted her on WhatsApp and asked her what the problem was. She said she wanted to see me. I told her that I was busy and was going to get back to her when I was less busy. After I had finished all my house chores, I freshened up and was about to go hunt Naked down when my uncle stopped me and told me to help get him a bike. He was traveling out of town and didn't want to use his car.

After I had fulfilled my uncle's wishes, I went to Naked's house. When I got there, I met his younger sister, Maria at the front of the house.

"Good morning, uncle." She greeted.

"There is nothing good about the morning, Maria. Go in there and get me that idiot you call your brother."

"Who are you talking about, uncle?"

"Naked Wire, I mean Van. Get him for me."

Before she could go inside the house to get her brother, Mr. Naked himself showed up at the front door. I seemed to have disturbed him from his sleep because he looked angry.

"What is wrong with you, Ebuka. Why are you disturbing the peace of this house?" He asked rudely.

"Van, Van, I have come to tell you to leave my girlfriend alone." I warned.

"Ebuka, we all know I am not into chubby girls. What would I be doing with your sweetheart, Cominash?" He looked a little confused.

"I am not talking about Cominash, you fool. Stop pretending, you know who I am talking about."

"To be honest, I don't, but since you insist that I know, could you please refresh my memory?"

"I am talking about Rose. Van, I am talking about Rosy, my love. Stay away from her. If you ever threaten her again, I will deal with you."

Naked looked stunned for a few seconds, then he burst out in a raucous laughter. He laughed and clapped his hands, slapped his thighs and stamped his feet on the ground all at the same time. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"Wait, wait, wait, Ebuka. When you say Rose, are you talking of the Rose that you and I know, or is it someone else?" He asked, still looking amused.

"It is her, of course. Who else?"

"The same Rose who disgraced you the other day at the club? The same person who denied you three times?"

"Yes, and don't think that I don't know why she acted the way she did. She has explained everything to me, and I have understood. She has asked for forgiveness, and I have gladly forgiven her."

"Oh! Really? So, what did she say?"

"She said you have been threatening and blackmailing her because of the small money you used in paying her fare to the village. That is why I have come to warn you. Leave her alone. Leave my baby alone, Naked. Love is not by force. Tell me how much you spent on her, multiply it by five and I will pay you."

"Now I see you that you are a fool, a very big fool. In fact, you are a bigger fool than I had anticipated." He spoke in anger. He was no longer feeling amused.

"You talk to me like that, Naked?"

"Yes, and it is because you are a fool. Where did come from with these old wives' tales? Rose is my love. She is my baby. Stop dreaming. Nothing can change that."

"She is not your girl. Stop forcing her. She belongs to me. If you don't back off, I will deal with you in this village."

"Ebuka, you will deal with me? You seem to have forgotten why they call me Naked Wire. In fact, if not for the fact that I do not want to display bad behaviour in front of Maria, my younger sister, I would have dealt with you now. Now, get out of my compound." He ordered.

"I am not leaving and what are you going to do about it?" I asked, looking defiant.

"Ebuka, I said, leave."

"Come and make me leave, you weakling."

"You call me a weakling? Ebuka, you call me a weakling. Now, I will show you why I am that cable that does not have an insulator. I will show you why I am called Naked Wire." He spoke and gave me a solid punch in my stomach.

The force of the punch was so powerful that it almost knocked me down. I regained myself and gave him a hard punch too, but he moved his head just in time and my punch missed him. He tried to give me a kick in the tummy, but I sidestepped quickly, grabbed the leg he had used to kick me and 'sandalsed' the other leg which was on the ground. He lost his balance and fell heavily on the ground. I got on his body and rained down punches on him.

His younger sister, Maria, realizing that I had overpowered her brother, decided to join in the fray. She got behind me and grabbed my neck with her hands. In anger, I pushed her violently away me. The force of the push was so strong that the ten years old Maria staggered backwards out of control and hit her head on the wall of their house. She passed out. At that same moment, Naked's mother walked into the compound and saw us fighting. She also saw her daughter lying on the ground motionless.

"What is going on here?" She cried. "What have you done to my daughter?"

She was confused whether to try to revive her unconscious daughter on the ground, or to come to the rescue of her son, Naked.

"Mama, call the police. Call Sona, the inspector of police. I want this idiot arrested." Naked spoke from his vulnerable position on the ground.

"Leave my son alone, leave him alone." Mama Van spoke in anger and pulled me away from her son. Then, she went to where her daughter laid and picked her up. As she did, Maria regained her consciousness, saw her mum and started crying.

"You have not heard the last of me." I warned Naked.

"Be prepared to spend the rest of your days in jail." He threatened, still trying to catch his breath.

"That is never going to happen. My uncle is the commissioner of police, or have you forgotten that?" I laughed mockingly.

"Get away from my house." Mama Naked snapped. "Are you not ashamed to come and attack a man in his own house?"

"Mama, I don't want to be rude to you, but please, help me warn your son. Please, ask him, in fact, help me beg him to stay away from my girl."

"So, this is because of a woman?" Mama Naked was shocked and angry. "Wonders, why have you refused to end?"

I left Naked's house feeling triumphant. I had dealt with him. Good!! Now, he would know his place. I couldn't wait to call Rose and tell her everything. I had defended her honour. She would be so proud of me. I smiled at the thought of that. If that foolish Naked knew what was good for him, he should just stay away from Rose. I hope the punches I gave him were enough to reset his brain and bring him to the consciousness that I am a jealous god and I tolerate no rivals.

I got home, and thankfully, my aunt was not at home. I went inside, changed my clothes, had my bath, put on fresh clothes, got my phone and was about to text Rosy to intimate her about the recent developments when my cousin, Chike burst into my room looking like he had just seen an apparition.

"Now, what is the matter, Chike?" I asked.

"Ebuka, Naked and his mother are outside. They want to see you."

"Tell them I said they can go to hell."

"They are not alone."

"What do you mean by that? Who else is with them?"

"The police."

TO BE CONTINUED...