TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE THIRTY TWO

"What happened now, why would you go punching the wall like this? "

I asked taking his hand to take a look at his fist but he pulled it back and continued to roll hos wheelchair towards the bed. He didn't respond to me and I didn't bother asking alot pf questions. I went back to the bathroom, got some water in a basin, came back with a face towel and without asking i took his hand and started wiping it. He watched me gently wipe the blood off his hand and when i looked up at him, our eyes met and no one looked away from the other. His eyes were watery almost like he was on the verge of tearing up but he was being a man about whatever was bothering him.

Richard: why are you doing this?.

He asked still looking straight into my eyes and when i looked down to focus on his fist again he raised my face to his again.

Richard: why?.

Me: I can't just watch your fist bleed and do nothing about it. Why did you do this to yourself?.

Richard: its not a big deal.

Me: it kind of is. What if whatever made you puch the wall like that make you see me as a punching bag and you end up hitting me instead.

Richard: i would never do that.

Mr: you don't know that for sure. You seem like a man with a lot of temper.

Richard: yeah.. but I would never hit you.

He looked into my eyes and for some reason I was certain he was saying the truth.

Me: let me get some salt for the wound. It will prevent it from bleeding.

Richard: you sound like my mum with the salt thing.

Me: not just your mum, mine too was an expert in putting salt to wounds. My father experienced that the most because he was too clumsy.

I left the room and went to the kitchen to get the salt.

Richard got a call from Tosh. He was asking if it was okay for him to visit his girlfriend so that he could attend her sister's graduation. He convinced Richard that it was important he did so..

Richard: are you able to walk really, i don't think you are fit enough to go anywhere.

Tosh: you know Zoe bro, she will kill me if i miss her sister's graduation plus she can handle me in this state.

Richard: what's the narrative going to be?.

Tosh: got into a bad motorcycle accident. That should pass all the scrutinization. Don't worry about your secret.. I made a decision..

Richard: happy to hear that. I have crutches in the store. I used the previously when i thought i could walk. You can help yourself with one and support yourself with it. It should make it easier to move around.

Tosh: thank you. Can you call off Santos on me. He has been on my case..

Richard: i will give him a call. You do what you have to do.

I walked into the room and he ended the call and put the phone on the bed.

Richard: that was Tosh. He told me he got on a motorbike accident and so he won't be coming for me tomorrow.

Me: he has a bike?

I asked sitting down and taking his fist into my hand and generously applying salt on it.

He made sound and i thought he was exaggerating the pain.

Me: come on, its not that bad.

Richard: i know ... Just that sympathy looks good on you. Sometimes you are really sweet you know..

Me: and sometimes I'm the devil huh?..

I asked smiling and tying a gauze bandage on his fist to keep the salt from spilling. I took away the basin of water then came back and helped him change into his pajamas for bed.

Richard: you are not a devil Robby, just that at times we don't just understand each other.

Me: I know.. and most of the times it's because this human being am carrying inside of me gives me all sort of emotions.

He smiled then got to the far end of the bed. I for some reason was nervous about sleeping in the same bed with him despite him being my husband or maybe i was just guilty because of having slept with Mark whom by the way i had not heard from in a day.

Robert couldn't fall asleep inside the car. He kept getting up and checking around to make sure he was safe. Cleopatra had never locked him out before, not when he was cheating and certainly not when he came home drunk a few times after a frustrating day at the office. What had gotten over her.

Cleopatra lay in bed that night but she was very afraid that Robert could somehow found his way in and it would be the end pf her. She remembered this time her own mother was beaten up and was too close to her grave just because she confronted a cheating husband. Cleopatra's mother Lavender was a strong woman. She managed to stay alive in a home that she was barely wanted because she gave birth to five daughter's and all of them died during their early ages except for Cleopatra. She was called a witch and shamelessly matched through the village with the elders claiming that she was not fit to be a wife in that community. Lavender's father Josiah was overwhelmed with everything that was going on that he sunk into alcohol with men he drunk with telling him to marry a wife that was not a witch otherwise he would die. He was afraid of his wife and following what everyone was saying, he brought home another woman and he wanted her to sleep on Lavender's side of the bed. He ordered Lavender to serve them food and when Lavender refused and started to fight for her rightful place sending the woman away, Josiah beat her up. It was kicks and blows for her until she passed out with blood in her face and she was not able to move a muscle..

When Cleopatra was called the hospital after her mother was rushed there by the few good hearted villagers who had her scream, she found her mother in a horrible state. Cleopatra was already married with Robina on the way..

Cleopatra: mother, why do you have to put up with this kind of animosity?.

Lavender slowly held out her hand to reach for Cleopatra's and she had tears in her eyes.

She tried go speak but she could not. Cleopatra tried to get her father arrested but no police cell could hold him for more than an hour. He was well connected. He mined gold and after Cleopatra's attempt to arrest him. He declared his home a no go zone for her.

She got up from the bed and lazily walked to the living room. She switched on the lights, slightly opened the window and peeped through it to see if Robert was okay out there and when Robert saw the lights he quickly got out pf the car and walked towards the window..

Robert: please open the door. I can't sleep out here.

Cleopatra: men your age in the military sleep in holes and cave watching out for possible threats in the country and you can't survive a night in a well secured compound. Where were you?

Robert: you can ask me that once I'm inside.

Cleopatra: i can smell a perfume on you Robert, you better tell me the truth or you better get used to sleeping outside.

Robert: i don't know what you are talking about.

Cleopatra: okay then, goodnight..

She started to walk away but he stopped her.

Robert: okay, fine. I was with some woman but it was entirely business. Its a shame you think in this old age I'd cheat on you... Not that you are so beautiful or that I wouldn't have women looking at me but I respect myself and the vows i med to you. You are my wife Cleopatra, no one can stand in the way of that.

She turned her back ro him and let out a brief smile before opening the door and running to the guest room..she locked herself there so that Robert would not get a hold of her. Not after wasting his 3 hours of his sleep. Robert got in cursing and calling Cleopatra but after there was no response, he went into their bedroom, locked the door, got to bed and slept.

Late into the early mornings say around 3: 00am, Diana turned and touched to her side to feel Mark but he was not there. She raised her head and looked around but there was no one in the room. She got her phone and looked at the time and it was slightly a few minutes past 3: 00am She got up, put on a robe and slowly walked out of the room. She tiptoed down the steps and when she was in the clear, she saw mark seated in the livingroom with his laptop opened in the table but he saw him stare at a picture in his phone. She had not said anything but stood there catching a glimpse of the photos he was scrolling untill he got to Robina's Photo that he stared at for a moment until Diana cleared her throat and he quickly put the phone away.

Diana: why are you staring at that woman's photo? Mark!..

Mark: it's not what you think. I mean Robina is beautiful but....

Diana: are you into my brother's wife Mark?..

She asked making her way to him and when she tried to reach for the phone, he slapped her hand and he out the phone away.

Mark: i think the wine you took is impairing your..

Diana: i know what I've seen Mark, I'm not stupid. So I was right in my accusations after all. I made it up that you and Robina slept together and with the way you were looking at her photo, now I'm convinced that I wasn't wrong.

She started to go back upstairs after asking Mark to call her a cap and he sprang off the chair and followed her.

Mark: you can't leave. It's 3:00am in the morning.

Diana: i know that. I can't wait to tell Richard my new findings. You two have been having an affair have you?. you have only managed to hide it so well that no one could even think about it. i knew I didn't hate her for no reason.. she is the reason you can not love me. it has been her all along.

Mark: stop making assumptions.

Diana: then why do you have her photos in your phone?..

Mark: drop it. Get back to bed and we will talk about this when you are sober. I have the photos because your brother kept asking me to take them when she was his prisoner. That is because he wanted to keep tabs on her, I don't know why and trust me I thought he was crazy too but that's Richard for you.

Diana: my brother is not crazy. that's a shitty explanation and you know it. supposing what you are saying is true, then to clear the air we just have to call and ask. He texted and told me that Robina was spending the night in his arms today, did you know that?..

Mark: calm down Diana. There's no need fo call him id they are together. They are asleep. You can ask him everything tomorrow.

Diana: no. Who knows if that witch is giving my brother some unknown diseases by now. Hasn't he suffered enough?.

She grabbed her phone from the bed and started dialing Richard when Mark grabbed her by the hair, took the phone from her abd when she came at him to try and reach the bed, he pushed her so hard that she hit her head on the wooden edge of the bed. She dropped and never moved an inch after that...