RAMSEY
We arrived at the estate and I paid the tricycle man and carried Gem.I passed to their back entrance since I knew they always left a spare key there. With Gem still leaning by my side I checked where they usually left the key and opened the door, locking it behind myself and assisted her to the parlor and I laid her on the couch. I dropped our bags and started fussing again while running her forehead as I wanted to remove invincible creases.
"Are you cold? Should I turn the AC off?" I asked bombarding her with questions.
"Urghhh Ramsey I'm tired joor. I just want to sleep." She replied in a scratchy voice.
"No, don't sleep. The nurse prescribed some drugs so you'll have to take them before sleeping." I informed her still rubbing her forehead softly.
"Babygirl,just wait up a bit and I'll prepare dinner. What do you want to eat?" I continued.
"Noodles or tea would do."
"Ok just wait up. I'll make noodles." I replied and rushed to the kitchen to prepare the noodles.
I hurriedly boiled the noodles and fried eggs alongside,served everything on a plate and rushed out to make sure she ate before she slept off. I dropped the plate on the parlor table and moved towards the couch to wake her.
"Hey,wake up and eat." I said and gently tapped her.
"Ohhhh I want to sleep." She replied still sleepy. Seems whatever injection they had given her was still making her sleepy and drowsy.
"Baby." I softly tried to coerce her to eat and strangely enjoyed how nice calling her baby sounded.
"I won't disturb you again once you eat and take your drugs." I continued.
She sat up and I carried the plate to her. I insisted on feeding her even when she protested that she could eat herself,I was still high on adrenaline and need to protect her so I declined and continued to feed her,I just wanted to make sure she was perfectly fine. She didn't finish but I was thankful that she at least ate some. I took water from their water dispenser and opened the drugs for her,she swallowed and relaxed her back on the couch. She tried to lay down back but I protested for her to let her food digest before anything else to which she grudgingly complied. I returned the plate to the kitchen and reminded myself to call Mr Micheal to update him on everything. I walked back to the parlor and she was half way asleep.I almost decided to leave her seeing as she was exhausted but I couldn't let her sleep on the couch because she would definitely wake up with body pains. I approached her and shook her awake again.
"Ramsey." She complained.
"The last time baby girl,just let me help u upstairs so you can freshen up and sleep afterwards." I said sweetly to hopefully convince her.
"Ok." She replied in a soft voice and stood up to walk.
I helped her up the stairs even as she seemed to be getting better. I led her to her room and she sat on her bed.I entered her bathroom to make sure the water heater was on and even went through her drawers to get pajamas,which I set on the bed. I bent down to her legs and removed her shoe and socks and told her I would wait downstairs while she freshened up.
I sat on the couch exhausted,hungry and in pain myself,my knuckles were still raw from the punches I gave Dave but I didn't care about that,all I wanted was for Gem to be settled and alright. I searched through her bag and dialed Mt Michael's number from her phone.
"Good evening sir." I greeted the moment he picked up.
"Yes son. How's Gem?." He replied.
"She's fine. We got home earlier and she had eaten and taken her drugs. She is currently upstairs in her bedroom showering." I supplied.
"But I'm downstairs waiting for her." I added it for his sake. I didn't want him thinking I was a pervert or that Gem wasn't safe around me.
"Ok thanks alot for everything you've done. I really appreciate it." He earnestly replied.
"I should be in town by 12pm tomorrow. Thanks again young man." He continued.
"It's no bother sir. We're friends." I stated.
We bade good night and I ended the call just as Gem began to descend down in her up and down pajamas. If not for the draining events of today,I would've definitely taken out time to check her out but alas I was too occupied with worries to do so.
"How're you feeling? Does your head still ache?." I hurriedly asked as I stood up and walked towards her.
"I'm feeling better." She quietly replied as I brought my hand to her head to feeling her temperature. Her complexion did look better than it did when we came in.
"Ok. I just got off a call with your dad and he said he'll be in town tomorrow." I informed her and saw her eyes widen.
"Really? My dad said that?" She asked in surprise.
"Yes. Seems he's extremely worried." I replied as I took her hands and led her to sit down.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright? Would you like to sleep? Aren't your exhausted?." I continue to ask in worry.
The surprise look she had on her face wasn't invincible to me. I could only guess how surprised she must be feeling at my actions. I've always had feelings for her but I've never been this caring and doting. I've never made my feelings obvious for fear of rejection but all that was going to change now. I didn't care if she rejected. Life was too short to live without expressing ones feelings to those we love.
"I'm fine o and I'm not sleepy yet." She stubbornly replied.
"Hmmmmm ok." I replied tiredly while rubbing my forehead with her eyes shut. I could feel an headache coming up. I could feel her eyes on me but I refused to turn my eyes to meet hers. Never in a million years would I have expected but she reached forward and removed my hands from where I was massaging my head and replaced them with hers.
"Shhhhhhhhhhh." She shushed me when I made a move to interrupt her and she continued in silence.
As I feel adrenaline deep out of my pores I began to relax. Several thoughts ran through my head, Gem was fine,she wasn't severely injured and I hadn't lost my chance to show her how much I cared. In-between the rush and everything,I had seemed to forget that Dave's well being as well as mine was compromised. I should've been more worried about Dave's than mine seeing how my dad had hurriedly rushed him without checking on me too. I would definitely be hearing a lot from him tonight or tomorrow for sure. I had injured his golden boy,if he could,he'd definitely have my head.
"Do you want to talk about what happened?." I asked softly even though I knew I should be heading home to dance to the tune of the music I started when I hit David. But I couldn't find a single urge in me to go home,I felt more at home here than in my own house.
"Not really." She replied
"It wasn't really a big deal. Ada littered dirt allover my desk and was calling me names. She has been doing this for a while now and I've been choosing to ignore,but I don't know what happened today. I just simply couldn't ignore,I post my temper and lashed out. That's where your brother comes in,he tried defending his girlfriend obviously by removing me from her and that was where you met us." She stated giving a breakdown of what had happened. She sounded and acted nonchalantly,like she didn't care or that what happened didn't get to her,bit I knew better.
I could feel myself getting angry again at all that I had happened,my anger increased with the realization that this wasn't the first time the insidence of her being bullied had happened. I don't care what anybody called it nowadays, but a simply act to make a fellow human being uncomfortable or feel worthless with words was bullying. Knowing Dave was witness to such treatment dished out to Gem and not defending her even against his girlfriend made me nausea. And for once since I got back,I was glad I was back. This incident should definitely instill fear in those that have been involved in bullying her. I was back and I was going to ensure everybody understood that she was untouchable,one way or the other.
"Thanks for today. You didn't have to but you did. I'm grateful for it." Replied seemingly emotional.
"It's fine." I replied stiffly. I looked into her eyes and saw vulnerability. The look in her eyes broke me,it broke me that she wasn't used to being defended and that I wasn't around all these years protect her and shield her from those bullies.
"I should go home now. It's pretty late." I stated and stood up to leave.
She walked me to the door and locked up behind me. I walked home slowly all the while thinking of creative ways to make a loud statement tomorrow in school.
"Whoever crosses Gem,crosses me."
And they all knew better than to cross me.