~Alisa~

_ Our wounds take time to heal. Sometimes, they're deeper than they seem _

*A/N: This chapter is dedicated to all the innocent protesters that were killed at Lagos Toll Gate. May their souls rest in perfect peace, Amen❤️*
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Much later, into the wee hours of the night, did Kamsi finally return on his own accord. He looked worn out, dejected, miserable and most importantly, he looked pained... And sad. He hadn't gotten rid of the gun in his possession, he still held it in his hands as he staggered into the house and came falling to the floor, with a loud grunt escaping his lips.

Mr. Ekwegh still wasn't home, and we all had grown worried of both their absence. Up until Kamsi staggered into the house once again. He clutched a bottle of brandy in his hands, and his eyes were bloodshot. He stank of alcohol and weed. My God! This boy was killing himself with his own hands! He didn't need a gun to take away his life. His over excessive in take of alcohol and weed - at such a young age - was enough to kill him. They'd rot his insides, and he'd die. Slowly.

Kamsi grumbled and muttered words incoherently, almost like a madman would. He wasn't himself. The dejected-looking boy right there on the floor, wasn't ice-faced Kamsi anymore. He had his walls crumbling down, and his inner bitterness and sorrows were now on full display. Clear enough for everyone to see. For everyone to judge.

I watched as Kambili ran over to his side. He couldn't get up, he didn't even seem to want to get up, rather, he lay helplessly on the floor.

"Kamsi! Kamsi, why are you doing this to yourself?!" She yelled as she took the bottle of brandy away from his grip - forcefully - and glared at him, her tears smeared on her face.

Dub and Christian had long gone to their respective houses, and it was just me, Kambili, and Mrs. Ekwegh left at home. Mr. Ekwegh was still out, looking for Kamsi - who was right here, now.

"You... You want to die? Are you mad, Kamsi?! Are you?!" She yelled and he chuckled. A pained, miserable chuckle. He stared blankly at her, his bloodshot eyes were barely able to stay open, and he just couldn't process actual comprehensive words.

"Yes... Ye- Yes! That's what I... F**king want!" He yelled, aggressively shoving her aside - not bothered if she got hurt in the process.

Kambili whimpered as she collided with the floor and I instantly rushed over to her side, trying so hard to calm her down.

"Kamsi!" And to our greatest surprise, she slapped him. She slapped her own twin. It was a resonating slap, one that was given out of hurt and helplessness. The pain in her eyes, marked and carved a hole in my heart. The sadness withheld in both their orbs, left a scar in my heart and dug a hole in my chest. I wept inwardly this family. For them.

Kamsi laughed. A hurt, bitter laugh. One devoid of humor, and rather sad. A laugh that held pity and sadness in it. One that was enough to get one trembling with sheer wonder.
"Why don't you slap me again, Kambili? Do it! Freaking slap me! That's ... That's... Argh!" And he gripped his hair in frustration. He screamed out his pain, loud enough for us all to hear. He tugged at his hair, and his lips quivered. He sobbed.

"You don't even understand! You... You... Y'all don't understand sh*t!" He yelled, and mumbled words incoherently.

Kambili shivered, as she watched her brother in pity. She cried so hard, and I felt my heart burden.

"Sla- slap me, Kambili! Do it!" He yelled as he picked her hand, and forcefully collided it with his face - repeatedly slapping himself with her hand.

"Stop! Stop! St- stop, Kamsi" she cried. "Please..." She cried out once more, as she forcefully pulled her hand away from his grip, a small whimper escaping her lips as the tears spilled out of her eyes.

Kamsi scoffed, and shakily tried to pick himself off the floor. Mrs. Ekwegh - who'd been afraid to intervene in their matter - hurriedly walked to his side and tried helping him, but that turned out to be the worse of all ideas. He sparked.

"Freaking leave me alone, b**ch! You... You caused all this. You bloody, money-thirsty whore! F**k you! I hate... You! You! You sicken me! B**—" I lost my cool, at this point.

I walked over to him, with tremendous speed, and before I could firmly register my own actions, I slapped him. Twice.

* * *

Yesterday's drama still left everyone in the house shaken. It rubbed a harsh palm to our minds, and we all couldn't fully digest it all. Not even now.
The awkwardness in the air wasn't one to go unnoticed, and I was well-aware that they all felt that too.

I, on the other hand, was dying in my own regret. I shouldn't have slapped him. I mean, I just got here and I dared to slap their son? What was I thinking? Didn't I think of what that must've caused me? No! I didn't think about it, I just did what came to mind. I was trying to experiment how cooking my own demise would taste like. And to my sheer dismay, it tasted bitter. Sour even.

Kambili was mad at me for slapping her brother 'cause of Mrs. Ekwegh. She told me that I was wrong, and Kamsi had every right to speak to her that way. To her, Mrs. Ekwegh had indeed caused all their problems. And she reprimanded me for my actions, and made me promise to apologise to Kamsi. For slapping him. For trying to shun him for insulting his aunt, his step-mother.

So I agreed to what she'd said. And agreed to apologise to Kamsi. But unfortunately, he wouldn't let me. He didn't even come out of his room. He refused going to school and wanted to be all alone. No one bothered him, instead, we all tried to act like nothing had happened last night.

Mr. Ekwegh, on the other hand, was furious by the time he returned last night. He was ready to hit Kamsi for his unwise actions, but luckily, Mrs. Ekwegh had intervened.

"Kambili..." I started, and she sighed and looked at me. Her eyes looked like a hollow mass of sorry and worry. My heart clenched at the sight of those ghost-like orbs. I noticed the bags beneath her eyes and I knew she hadn't slept well last night. Who had anyways?

"What?" I didn't know if she intended to sound harsh, but she did.

"I- I'm sorry. I really hope you aren't mad at me. Please forgive me. I'm really really sorry" I said, hoping she'd at least  give me the assurance that we were cool.

"I'm not mad at you. I just don't want to talk to anyone. I hope you understand" she said, and with that, she walked away and left for school.

I huffed as I hurriedly gathered my plate and headed into the kitchen.

* * *

By afternoon, Mrs. Ekwegh had gone to get my school uniform. And to my surprise, I was told I'd start school tomorrow. That, so far, was the best news I'd gotten since I got here.

My uniform fit perfectly, although the skirt was a little too long. But I didn't seem to mind that.

After thanking both Mr. And Mrs. Ekwegh for everything. I headed into my room, sat down on my bed and thought about all that had happened yesterday.

Kamsi must hate me really much. If he hated me before, I'm sure he'll despise me now way more than he must've before. And honestly, that bothered me a lot. I was concerned about the obvious fact that if both twins hate me, my chances of leaving this house would be extremely high. All I wanted was to make peace, but I ended up creating chaos instead.

"You can't and will not leave this house!" I heard Mr. Ekwegh scream.

"So what? I'm caged or what?!" Kamsi yelled back.

"Get back in that room, and think about all you've done!"

"Make me!"

Hurriedly, I tip-toed to my bedroom door and slowly cracked the door open. I peered into the hallway, where Kamsi and his father stood - having a heated stare-down and a steaming argument. I suddenly wondered where Mrs. Ekwegh was.

"Dad, move!" Kamsi clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

"Are you mad?!" His father flared up. "Get back in that room, right this minute!" He yelled again.

Kamsi said nothing, but kept staring daggers at his father - with gritted teeth and clenched fists. Seconds past. And minutes arrived. Still, Kamsi kept staring at his father. Giving him a death glare. Father and son glared at each other. Eyeball-to-eyeball

Finally, Kamsi muttered a few cusses, and turned around and walked into his room in anger, and slammed the door shut.

"Stupid boy!" Mr. Ekwegh flared, grunted and walked away.

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Kamsi is always causing commotion. Altho, I feel like I've been writing so much about Kamsi... So for the next three chapters, he might not appear in them. It's high-time I scoop out more drama. I have it all planned out already, so don't worry.

Please stay safe, guys. This #ENDSARS protest has taken a lot of lives. I was in shock at the amount of people that died on the 20th of October, 2020 which was officially crowned Black Tuesday.

Innocent youths were killed for a crime which they did not commit. For wanting to speak up. For wanting to sleep at night without having to soak their pillows with their tears. For hoping and fighting for what's right. For PEACEFULLY protesting for a better tomorrow.

That sucks! Just a few months ago, everyone was screaming BLM! Now, now we NEED them to do same for us, and yet there's nothing happening.
And our "dear" president sits, watches and does ABSOLUTELY nothing!

Freakish politicians 're getting more and more robust and round-bellied each day, as they gorge down the country's funds. As they choke it down their greedy throats, not caring - not once - how others are able to cope.  And yet they come out, as such hypocrites, PRETENDING to ACTUALLY care!! That's disgusting, I must say.

I wonder how Mr. President sleeps at night, knowing that a parent, a father - just like him - just lost a child due to his incompetence and selfishly corrupt rulership. A country given to him to lead, not to our fall but to our rise. They're trying to mask up the overly overdosed and corrupt governmental system. Trying to make them seem as such "ANGELS" when they're in fact the devil in human form.

What was our offense?

They're killing us for trying to speak our minds. Unarmed citizens fighting for what's rightfully theirs. We want our peace and liberty and rest of mind, and they won't our silence, our lives and everything we own. And yet they dare say we shouldn't say anything. We should just sit at home and watch?? And watch how the Futures Of Tomorrow are being killed each day. Killed like animals... Even animals aren't killed with so much brutality. Was this a movie to them?? Lives are being wasted and bloods are being spilled... Heartbreaking, I tell you.

This makes me wonder if there's ever a place for us blacks. Overseas they mock us - and sometimes, kill us - for the color of our skin, and in our own land we're being killed for the sounds of our voices.

The world just recovered from the terrible COVID.

And yet Nigeria is dying of police brutality and an impartial governmental system. Dare they say we're practicing democracy? Dare they??? We're leaving in a monarchical system! Dictators everywhere!
Do we really have to move to moon, before they see that the so-called Giant of Africa is dying?! Nigeria is weeping. We're dying. Screaming. And calling out to other freaking Nations to help! Yet nothing, absolutely nothing is being done.

I know someone who lost a cousin just yesterday. I was down when I heard that news. No one is safe, it's slowly spreading across the nation.

And we can only hope on God to help us. Man has proved inhumane to their fellow man.

All I know, is that no matter what, we shall succumb. Mr. "President" MUST and WILL step down!

Sorry for the long Author's Note. I just had to air my views❤️
Stay safe, guys.

Next update: Saturday.
Bye, guys!❤️