Chapter 6: Aftermath

Evening reach, I drag leg downstairs go chop. Body still dey weak, but I force myself—no wan give dem new gist.

Lin Xi still dey Pei house, never commot. She sit for big sofa like owner, hair pack neat, dey act like nothing happen.

She sit near Pei Yan, laugh for wetin him talk, dey arrange hair, pretend say she no dey see me.

No be like her first day again. Confidence return, dey shine for eye.

I find seat far from them, bend head chop pap. The pap warm for my throat, sweet and smooth, like Mama own for village.

Pei Yan notice, look me small, no talk. He fix eye for phone, dey pretend dey read message.

Lin Xi greet me like say nothing spoil, eye round, voice sweet but e dey vex me.

She ask, "Tao Mian, you dey better now?" Concern dey her tone, but e be like play.

"Make I check your forehead, abeg, to see if fever still dey." She stretch hand, finger hover for my skin.

As she reach, I try no flinch. Hold breath, let her touch, memory of rain dey crawl my skin.

After this rain, I sabi Lin Xi place for Pei Yan heart. She be center, we just dey orbit her.

If Lin Xi vex, Pei Yan go vex too. I accept am. Na safer way.

Rain wahala make me dey behave, shoulder hunch, no dey look anybody eye.

Lin Xi nod, siddon back.

"Okay, fever don go." She sound like nurse wey no want see patient again.

She rest chin for hand, look sad. Sigh loud so everybody hear.

"Tao Mian, I really sorry. Even though you don get your punishment, I still can't forgive you."

"Because you really hurt me too much." Her words heavy, drop for ground.

I grip spoon, nervous, look Pei Yan. Him eye flash, unreadable.

Not forgiving—wetin e mean? Dem go still lock me outside if wahala burst?

Strength never return. Spirit still dey weak from that night.

Aunty Kemi carry more food, act like nothing. She smile, give me eye of support.

"Then when Mianmian don strong, let her go stand for rain again." Aunty Kemi sarcasm loud. She drop bowl with small gbam.

"She too weak now, fit die outside." She look Lin Xi sharp, challenge am.

Pei Yan no even raise head. He reach for salt, voice flat.

"Nobody go make her stand for rain again." That settle am.

Lin Xi smile freeze. "Yes, yes..." She sound offended, eye dey run Aunty Kemi.

"I no talk anything, Aunty. You get wahala with me?" She try form play, but voice brittle.

Housekeeper now become target for talking for me. I wan talk, but throat tight.

I try defend her, but pap choke me, I start cough. Tears come, both for cough and shame.

Aunty Kemi say, "Make I bring water for you." She waka go, dey mutter about stubborn children.

Next thing, slim hand drop water for me. Na Pei Yan. Him hand linger, like e wan talk.

Pei Yan pat my head, voice still cold. E dey mechanical, no be old days.

"Why you dey panic?" Him finger light, almost shy.

"E don finish. You think say I fit really make you stand outside rain again?" Him eye dey search my face.

"You see me as wicked like that?" For small second, voice get pain.

But just after one night, I no fit trust gentle touch. Cold memory still fresh, I dodge him hand, go take water myself.

Pei Yan no notice, just ask,

"You don finish food?" He sound bored.

I nod, push bowl away, appetite disappear.

He raise brow, bend like e wan carry me. Arm slide under my knee.

I shrink, heart skip. Why e dey nice now?

"Wetyn you dey do?" I whisper, unsure.

"I wan carry you go your room." Voice soft, but sure.

I press him arm, stand quick. Leg wobble, but I no gree.

"No need, I fit walk." I try form strong, but voice shake.

Pei Yan hiss, carry me before I fit protest. Strength surprise me.

"You still dey sick, abeg rest." No argument. I surrender.

Over him shoulder, I see Lin Xi dey bite lip, dey eye me. Her eye hard, dey burn.

I stiff, awkward. Face hot with shame, body weak with tiredness.

I no understand why Pei Yan dey do all this. Na pity? Guilt? Or wetin?