To Live For Once (Set Me Free II) - Episode 14

 

Rory:

"Yeah, I'm not eating this." I push the plate of food away from my front towards Amaya.
"But you've not eaten since this morning as well. Come on, just try it. It's delicious." She says. I shake my head to the idea.
"It looks gross." I say truthfully.
"It's not!"
"Whatever. I'm not even hungry." I fold my arms and look away . The traffic's letting off gradually.
"Come on. Say ah." She push her fork and cut off part of the banana looking thing and deep in what looks like beans then stretch it to me. What's with her and feeding me? Just to stop her from getting all cosy again, I grab the fork from her hand.
"I can feed myself." I mumble as I slowly put it inside my mouth. Amaya's eyes follow the food till I shut my mouth.
"Delicious right?" She asks. I shrug before biting down into the food in my mouth. My eyes widen at the surprisingly delicious food. I chew more slowly to savor the taste.
"I knew you'll like it! It's written all over your face." Amaya squeal and I stop to swallow down the food then shut my expression.
"It's manageable." I mumble.
"Here. Eat this." She picks up the fish in the plate with her bare hand and breaks off a sizeable chunk

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/to-live-for-once-set-me-free-ii

. She place it on the plate of beans and hand me a spoon.
"You should eat this with the roasted fish." She says before I can scold her for using her dirty hands on my food. I take the spoon from her with a sudden hit of nostalgia. A blurry memory of my mother doing just this for me when my life was just okay flash through my mind's eyes and my eyes snaps up to Amaya's. She's smiling so sweetly at me. I thought I'd forgotten about what my own mother looked like but this woman I'm supposed to hate brought back a memory.
"Go on. Eat." Amaya cuts into my thought and I shovel a spoonful of the food into my mouth. My throat feels constricted but I shovel more food into my mouth.
"Eat slowly." Amaya's voice ring in my head. I focus on the plate of food, noticing that Amaya isn't eating much but keeps making sure she places chunks of fish on my plate and some bread.
"You should eat more." I grunt out without looking up from the plate. I slide the bread towards her before coming back to the plate of beans. What's this raw feeling gnawing deep inside my chest?

Amaya:

"The traffic's flowing freely now." I inform Rory who's been silent since he started eating. He looks up at the road then at his wristwatch.
"Shit!" He bolts out of the wooden chair with wide eyes.
"What?" I stand up as well.
"I'm going to be late if we don't leave now. Get in the car." He commands and hurry up to the car. I jog to catch up with him.
"Seatbelt." He grunts at me before flying out unto the highway. I'm beginning to think that's all he does with me. Grunt or mumble. I sigh and relax my head against the headrest, my eyes not leaving his side profile as I watch him navigate the car. He's all concentration and precision.
"Hey, are you okay?" I ask after some minutes of driving silently. Sweat bead on his upper lip and forehead and I sit up a little to study him. Now that I look at him from this angle, his lips are pressed into a tight line likes he's in pain or discomfort.
"I'm fine." He grunts but grimace.
"You're sweating." My hand goes up to feel his forehead.
"Don't touch me!" He pushes my hand away from his head. His sudden movement startles me and I jump in my seat, my hand flying out and hitting his brow. He steps on the brake and I push forward in the car's seat as the car halts.
"F*ck." I hear him mutter as he pushes his door open and gets out of the car like his ass is on fire. I remove my seatbelt and follow after him.
"What's wrong?!"
"You! You've ruined everything!" He spits out while pacing to and fro. I'm confused about everything that's going on.
"What did I ruin? What's going on?" I ramble. He stops pacing and stops in front of me, mutter somethings I can't quite hear.
"What?" I ask. His stomach growls in response and both our eyes snap down to it. It growls violently again and I gasp. My eyes goes back to his face, it's contorted in discomfort.
"You need the toilet." I connect the dots.
Rory hiss and walks past me, his shoulder bumping into me as he pass.
"That damn food." He mutters. He keeps pacing. I look from his back to the road then the bushes around us.
"You should go in the bushes!" I yell to his back. His face is pure anger when he turns around to face me.
"You are joking." He spits. He eyes the bushes then me.
"This is all your fault." He points his finger at me. I bow my head. I didn't know his system would react to that.
"This is so your-- arrghhh." He clutches his stomach and double over. Is it that bad?
"The bushes. You don't have a choice." I tell him. He mutters some expletives, check his wrist watch and swear some more.
"It's not as bad as it sounds." I say quietly.
"Shut up." He grinds out. I shut my mouth up and fidget with my hands. He's going to miss his meeting if he doesn't get it over with in the bushes.
 Rory must have read my mind because he looks at his wristwatch again and grimace.
"Lead the way." He says. I'm confused for a while before I catch on. I quickly get to action.
"This way." I turn and walk into the bushes, making sure Rory's footfalls are behind me I walk till we are completely covered by the overgrown bushes.
"Here looks good." I point to the patch of grasses. Rory grimaces again.
"Take ten steps away then turn around." He instructs. I do so without a word and remain silent till Rory speaks again.
"I'm done." I've never heard his voice so quiet.
"Use my handkerchief for--" I can't help the laugh bubbling up inside me at the uncomfortable look on his face.
"It's good that you can still laugh after ruining my day!" He snaps and takes my handkerchief.
"I'm sorry." I mutter, my smile falling off my face.
"Just turn around." He says and I do so.

Read " To Hate Emmanuel Johnsons " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. When he's taking so long and it goes silent, I turn around to see he's already walking away without me.
"Hey! Wait for me!" I yell and hurry after him. He doesn't stop until he gets to the driver's side of the car. He stops and turns around to face me. I pause.
"You drive." He throws his keys at me and march on to the passenger side and gets into the car. I let out a little giggle before straightening my expression and getting in behind the steering wheel. I start the engine.
"It's no big deal, you know?" I try to make him feel better.
"Not a word of this ever!" Rory spits out to me. I clamp my mouth shut and nod.
"Now drive. If I'm late. You are going to get it from me." He snaps. I step on the accelerator to try and cover the distance in shorter time. I guess my husband can't be late or I'm done for.