Chapter 24: Truth or Dare
"What do you want me to say, Mr. Ekoh-Yagazie? I am sorry, talk to Naya Reese"
Naya dragged the big basket filled clothes with her. It was a tad too heavy than she had expected but it would save another trip to the backyard where she hung Nolani, Anna and her own clothes. She missed the washing machines back home and even the public laundries one could use as an alternative. Here, she has to wash her clothes by hand or give them to the hired help that washes the children's clothes.
Naya made a mental note to put in a request for a washing machine or ask Jason to provide it out of pocket. She dragged the basket down the hallway almost bumping in on John and Nolani. She had recently started learning how to make local Malawian hair braids and she was using Nolani's long thick hair as a practice run. The hair looked awful and Naya knew it but Nolani won't let her lose it. Who could blame the child after enduring hours of sitting still with an inexperienced hair braider?
She spared a smile at them without uttering many words. She was too tired to do so. Naya prayed John would take mercy on her and take the basket to her room on her behalf.
"Where are you guys going?" Naya was breathless.
"Uncle Jason wants to see Nolani. Ms Veronica says he is in your room"
"What is Jason doing in my room?"
John shrugged, he had no clue why or why Naya thought he knew. Nolani was already stretching forth her arms for Naya to lift her up. John took the basket from him and they walked together to Naya's bedroom.
When Naya opened her room, the whole room was a mess. Jason had given himself permission to search the entire room in her absent. Her wardrobe was open and most of her clothes were on the floor. The cabinets and drawers looked like they have being rummaged through by a mad person. Naya had no idea why Jason would do that to her.
Jason had his back to her and he had no idea that someone other than Naya entered the room.
When Naya opened her room, the whole room was a mess. Jason had given himself permission to search the entire room in her absent. Her wardrobe was open and most of her clothes were on the floor. The cabinets and drawers looked like they have being rummaged through by a mad person. Naya had no idea why Jason would do that to her.
Jason had his back to her and he had no idea that someone other than Naya entered the room.
"Dada"
When he heard Nolani's voice, he was taken aback. He tried to wipe off the angry demeanor he had before turning around to face his kid.
"Hey, Bean"
Ever since they stayed together in the hotel after their accident, he had nicknamed her bean. The nick name came from the fact that Nolani was introduced to beans pudding by his mother and for three days she refused to eat any other thing.
Jason took her from Naya and kissed her cheek. Naya was too shocked to protest.
"How is my baby doing?" Jason asked in funny tone even though he was fuming inside.
"I missed Dada" She hugged him tightly. She was in more ways than one matured than her age.
"He misses you, more. I am working on it, okay. But now can you go with John, so Dada and Naya can talk. Okay, princess"
Jason handed the child over to John who had the same look Naya has on her face. Jason pushed them outside even though Nolani was already protesting. She wanted to stay with him. He could hear her cry but he had a mission, he intends to finish.
"Have you gone mad? H-have you…what the hell is wrong with you?" Naya yelled as she started picking up her clothes from the floor.
"Have a seat" Jason said in between his clenched teeth.
The room felt smaller to Jason like it was closing in on him. The more Naya picked up her dresses without obeying his demand the larger Jason expanded with rage. If he didn't do something faster, to get himself under control, Jason feared he might explode and take out everything and everyone with him.
He saw a glass cup on the table near the window and his first thought was to throw it on the floor or smash it on the window but he knew if he did that he wouldn't stop until the whole room was destroyed. It wouldn't solve anything. It just won't.
"I should have known sooner. I mean, it was staring me right in the face. I should have known" Jason saw from the look on Naya's face that she had a hint of what he was saying but she didn't what to give it up. Pretense was a way to go with her.
"What are you talking about, Jason? You can't just trash my whole room at a whim" Naya placed the clothes she picked on from the floor on the bed and turned to face him.
"What is your name?" Jason asked her.
"You know my name, Jason. It is Naya…Naya Reese"
"You want to keep up that charade. Think hard before you answer again because if you lie to me again, I won't stop until I have utterly destroyed your belongings starting with that glass figurine that has inscription on it"
Jason made his ways across the room to pick up the glass figurine on top of the wooden cabinet with his eyes shooting lasers.
"I should have known. You know I called the orphanage's account officer and I couldn't for the life of me find anyone with the name Naya Reese on payroll. Then it finally hit, you have been lying to me all along…right to my face"