I took a deep breath and looked at Lisa who was still staring at me, I felt pity for her, she is stuck with a stranger whom she knows little about, and refuses to cut her some slack. A stranger who is determined to either die or erase her memories, a stranger who doesn't want to open her heart. I then decided that before I take any step further at least I should grant her the favor to know what she is so eager to know. What she will do after that will be her business, but she had to prove if she is worth it.
(Supporting my head with my hand, looking at Lisa) "You stayed with a stranger that you know little about and used to beat you sometimes, what are you up to exactly?"
"Huh?"
"You heard me."
"Tasha, why do you have trust issues, do I look like someone who has got bad intentions towards you?"
(Smirking) "Heh, you talk about trust but you just drugged me to sleep a few hours ago."
(Caught unaware) "Well, I…I…it's like…"
"Hahaha since when did you become a stammer? Anyway, I understand, you have never seen that side of me so I forgive you. I once went insane in the past, and though I seem to be okay truth is, that I never fully recovered because I have always been careless with my health. That's why you couldn't control me, I am kind of mental but to a certain extent, aren't you scared?"
"I am…"
"So why don't you move out for the sake of your safety?"
"Because I know you will never do anything to harm me, if you had any ill intentions, you wouldn't have waited until now, as much as you act tough and stubborn, I know you have a heart of gold that you are trying to protect at all cost."
(Leaning on the chair sitting straight) "Looks like you did perfect research. You haven't answered my question, what exactly are you up to Lisa?"
"I am not up to anything bad; all I want is for you to open your heart to me…"
"The fact that you have been staying in my house all this while means that my heart is open for you. You know I have never brought anyone home or stayed with anyone except Aunty, Anne and you what more do you want?"
"I am still in the strangers' zone remember."
"Yeah, I know and that is for the best. I do not like attachments, the more you get attached to people the more they will hurt you. The condition I am in right now wasn't my doing at all but thanks to those that I was once attached to, do you get it now?"
"I do but I thought by now you would just give me the benefit of doubt…"
"You just mentioned it earlier, I have trust issues, so I do not trust you…"
(Placing her hand on her chest) "Ouch, that hurts."
"Hahaha, sorry about that, but that is the truth."
"You know some days ago Ayanda asked me to try by all means to put myself into your shoes, which I did and I got to understand why you behave the way you do. She also told me to ask myself why I never thought of leaving you all this while and I figured out the reason is that I love you…"
(Stunned) "Huh!"
"Yeah, you…"
(Raising my hand) "Hold it right there, (pointing at myself, raising my eyebrow) I am straight you know that right, simply because I fight with those idiots that call themselves man doesn't mean I like girls."
(Flicking my forehead with her finger) "Idiot, what are you talking about, that wasn't a confession. I love you just the way I love my friend and sister."
(Rubbing my forehead) "Ouch, why did you do that. Well, because of the way you are always trying to know more about me, I am beginning to suspect that you are falling for me."
"Seriously Tasha?"
"Heh, okay alright I am so sorry about that, I was just pulling your leg. Anyway, to compensate you let me tell you a story, will that do?" (That is because I was also tired of hiding from the past and reality)
"Yeah, go ahead."
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(THE PAST)
I once had a best friend; her name is Marble and I knew her from primary school. I befriended her because no one wanted to be close to her, she was always unkempt, her school uniform was even a bit torn, she couldn't afford to bring a box of food to school and her self-esteem was very low. Other students avoided her like a plague and teachers would even scold her for no reason just because of the way she looked. I felt pity for the poor girl and I never cared about how she looked or any other thing, though she looked dirty and timid, I could tell she was intelligent. We became besties and I introduced her to my mum, she liked her and she treated Marble like her own daughter.
Her life changed because my mum bought her all the necessities and the once dirty, timid girl, was now clean and always cheerful even her self-esteem had increased, she even began to score high marks and I had found myself a sister. Though I was never allowed to visit her house, she would always come and sleep over at my house a couple of times. One day she came to school limping and even refused to play with me, from that day onwards she would come to school with wounds, and although she tried to cover them, I could tell because we were deskmates. That broke my heart I even told my mum and asked her to help Marble but she couldn't because she stopped coming to my place, she became withdrawn and never accepted my help.
After some days, she stopped coming to school, I tried to look for her, but unfortunately, I was never at her place and no one knew where she stayed, and no one also knew where she had gone, it was like she had disappeared into thin air. I was heartbroken but with time I got over it. Years later in high school, that friend appeared again, we were in the same class in form four. I asked why she had to just leave me the way she did, and that is when she told me that, her mum decided to run away from her abusive father. He used to beat her mum as he pleased and also thought that Marble's mum was sleeping around that's why she could afford to buy Marble new things as well as send her to school. He was just a good-for-nothing piece of trash that couldn't take care of his family but just drink, and beat his wife and child. I felt so sorry for her, and I was also happy that my lost sister was found. With time certain news began to circulate in school and that's when I learned that Marble and her mum were leading a wayward life. I asked her and she did not deny the accusations, she said after her mum ran away with her from home, they ended up living in the street of city Z for a month because she couldn't afford to go to her maternal home due to family issues. She then met a man who took them to his place, he gave them food, clothes, and shelter. However, that didn't come for free, her mum was forced to sell her body working under that man and he would give her 30% and he would take 70% of the earnings. She had no option because they had gotten into the lion's den and as much as they wanted to run away it was to no avail. As time progressed, Marble grew into a beautiful lady, at 16 heads were already turning. Her mum wanted to protect her jewel but she failed, the man had other plans, and he forced himself on her which became a regular thing. Her mum could not take it anymore and she found another way to liberate them.
"How did she do that?"
"What do you think?"
"So, she killed him?"
"Yeah, people like him don't deserve to live do they?"