I gave a half smile as I kept aside three CD plates having images and soundtracks of Brian. When I fondled further into the cupboard I could find a sizable diary, which had Brian's name scribbled on it. Upon seeing the diary, I was puzzled and took it out
"Welcome To My… Little Secret…"
I read the first note on the dairy, and raised a brow when I flipped through pages to realize the uncountable secret he had written down.
I am Scribbling down these little secrets in explicit sentences;
"If I don't win the Best Music Award I may lose my sanity. I better win," I read another note and swallowed hard as I read that particular secret repeatedly, as though I was daring to extract more messages than it had.
I blinked anxiously, murmuring, "Music must have made him mad. Oh my God! Why?" I felt pity for him for the first time as I touched my heart to read yet further:
"I was robbed of the award. I am supposed to win. I win and will always win. If I don't win, I will kill. I will kill somebody and I will go mad," I read another secret that said, "I love you best mom on earth."
I shook my head in loss and felt the tears that almost lined my eyes now.
Now I knew the reason, he often shouted "I win! I will kill you!" I touched my chest and whispered "I am sorry Brian. This is you, cute, talented looking Brian and not a mad man," I pointed at the CD plate with his image where he was all smiles.
Quietly, I appeared at the CD player and slotted in one of his tracks, sat back to listen to the soft, sonorous voice of a mad man I looked down on. I shut my eyes and tossed my head as I enjoyed his voice. He was into continental blues and I almost doubted if he sang that song.
I took out my pen and paper and started writing down his lyrics, so that I could sing it by heart. He was so good in lyrics that my heart melted at the recess that accompanied his rhythm.
My heart melts whenever you grip me.
And I suddenly realize I am immortal.
When I lock eyes with you
Can we kiss till the sun goes by?
May this love never say goodbye!
I was able to note down the major lyrics that engulfed my heart. I put the tracks on replay and enjoyed it into the night until I heard a heavy banging on my door.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
"Melissa! Turn of the CD player and go to bed now!" that was the voice of Opula. It was obvious she was acting angry and transferring her aggression because her husband didn't last long in bed. Salsa had told me the other day that was how she often behaved. Otherwise, I wondered what concerned her with the music I was playing in my chamber. My chamber for chrissake!
When I turned off the CD player, I peeped at Brian to notice he had repositioned himself properly for me to shave his unkempt, irritating mustache and long hair. The only man whose hair and beard I had shaved was my late father. I never knew someday someone like Brian would be in dire need of my help to survive and be taken care of.
With the shave blade handy, I was all ready to make him look better than he was. But I was scared to my bones. I hadn't established any form of contact with him and I wouldn't want to risk being lynched by a mad man who was tagged violent and bound from cohabiting with human beings.
As I advanced to him, a thought came on my mind to get the padlock and chain him hands and feet just to be safe when I will be shaving his hair.
Each step I threw made him shake either his legs or his hands and I argued if he was really asleep.
"Oh Lord!" I whispered within myself and swallowed hard as my heart beat thudded within me.
I suddenly realized I was sweating profusely on my face and neck. "What if he wakes up and grabs my hands in retaliation? What if I get injured by him? Gush! This is a blade! He could use it on me and I may not survive it," I thought within myself and abandoned myself to caution.
But I needed to shave him. He would look more approachable and accommodating than he was now. It was obvious that the Fanny's were not taking care of Brian, because he attacked them violently whenever they tried to do that. This was my fate and if I woke up some day to find myself in the land of the dead, so be it!
My mother never appreciated the sacrifice I made for her. Nobody saw good in what I did, so what was I living for? It would be my pleasure to die pursuing my course than die idly.
I became dauntless and determined to face the worse, as I grabbed his thick hair strand and cut. I grinned and seized my breath. There was no reaction from him. I grabbed another and cut….
At dawn, I was able to recite the lyrics of his song I was even humming it when I woke up. When I got at the door I saw Brian had woken up looking fresh and clean. The shaving had lasted almost all night and by the time I was done, I was actually grateful I did.
He didn't notice what happened to his hair and would never know.
Indeed, insanity was evil. When my gaze came upon him, I courted after his freshness and handsomeness, and I decided hence forth he would never keep a mustache and hair again.
At the time, he was smiling within himself and scratching his new low-cut hair. He only started shouting when Salsa knocked on the door and said from outside, "Melissa, get your husband ready for dinner with his father!"