I pressed her face to my chest and slowly pulled out. I zipped up my trousers. "Don't speak," I whispered to her. "Don't move." She would be at a big disadvantage as she was a girl. Though people would speak about me, with time it would fade. "Stay calm, I'll handle this."

"Isong. Ebenezer?" I looked back to meet the director's shocked face. He looked disappointed. In me. I really didn't care. "Why? You? In the school?" He frowned at my lack of response. "Meet me in my office. The both of you."

There was pin-drop silence in the assembly. I could not even hear the sound of breathing. I avoided the teachers' eyes. They all looked very disappointed. Very very disappointed. The juniors were still curious, probably wondering why they were here. Why their Head Boy was the centre of attention. The seniors... those SS1 and SS2 students were sending signals amongst themselves. My set mates...

"Ebenezer Edikan Isong, I am very disappointed in you. I've been getting reports from teachers, and students. Bullying? Disrespect? What got into you this term? You were never this way. " He paused. "I least expected such behaviour from you." I know.  "But, sexual misconduct in school?" Now, there were murmurs. And they became louder each second. I was so glad Tiana wasn't in school today.

My classmates were so calm and quiet. Of course, they knew and understood. None of them spoke. "After our discussion yesterday and meeting with your parents I decided on a three days suspension for the both of you. And a three weeks suspension from your post." I sighed in relief. I could survive. He wasn't at home. "But your father specially requested that your suspension be extended."

"What?" Wait, what the fuck? Why?

"To 10 days."

I was dead. So so dead.

~

"Mom, just leave me alone. Please." I didn't have her time. I went to my room and locked myself up.

"Ebenezer open this door." I paid her no heed. I fucked up. Dad wouldn't be back for a few days. My suspension should have ended before he returned. But now...

"EDIKAN!!!"

He was back already?  "OPEN THAT FUCKING DOOR BEFORE I TAKE MY NEXT BREATH!" I knew better than to be sluggish. The moment the door was opened, I was met face to face with dad who looked like a rabid wolf. He grabbed me by my collar, dragging me out the door.

"Dad."

"I'M NOT YOUR FUCKING DAD YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A HUMAN!"

"Aaron, Aaron, please don't hurt him. Please." Mom should know better than to stand in dad's way when he was like this. She should know that he had no reasoning at this moment. I shook my head at her but she did not move.

"Get lost." He growled. "Emerald, I will hurt you. Get out of my way." She was stubborn. He let me go and dragged her away instead.

"Dad don't-" hurt her.

"Shut your fucking mouth." In three minutes, he was back with more anger. He grabbed me by my hair to his office. "Kneel." He had already removed his belt. I obeyed waiting for the first strike but it never came. When it came, it felt like my body was on fire. It fucking hurt.

He wasn't using his belt but a whip. A koboko. The strikes came endlessly. I wished I could cry, but he never allowed it. It fueled his anger more. I was already curled up on the ground, letting him design my body as he wished. My lip was bleeding from how much I was biting it. I couldn't even see anymore. My tears had made it blurry.  "Dad, I'm sorry. Please stop. Please." He hadn't said a word, just hitting. I couldn't bear it anymore. "Dad!" He kicked my stomach.

It hurt so much. I felt like throwing up when he kicked me again. I heard him call someone. It was only when I was held on both sides by two bodyguards that I realised he wasn't stopping soon. From kicks to punches. I couldn't hold my voice back anymore. His hands hurt like hell. My glasses were somewhere on the ground, broken. "Dad. Dad, please. Please, I'm sorry." I heard him laugh. His laughter was a sound from the depths of hell. It made me feel cold and scared.

"Why are you being punished, Edikan?" His voice was eerily calm. I dreaded this question.

"Because I had sex in school?" A slap to my face. I was wrong.

"I did worse when I was younger. Why are you being punished, Edikan?" If it wasn't that, then what? I couldn't give a wrong answer or else I'd be dead. I thought hard but he was impatient. "Why are you being punished, Edikan?"

"I don't know, Dad. I'm sorry." A punch to my face.

"You don't know, Edikan?" The whip again. I could smell blood. "You don't know what a disgrace you are to me? You don't know how you tainted your perfect record? You don't know that you let your fucking feelings for that girl ruin you. You don't know?"

"I'm sorry." I was tired of crying. "I'm sorry sir."

"Sorry for your damned self." Multiple hits. I was too weak to cry. "Is this how you'll take everything I've worked for? By letting a girl control your emotions? By letting your urges control your actions? Davis is more level-headed than you are. And I won't hesitate to give everything to him. As long as my hard work doesn't waste."

"I'm sorry dad. I'm sorry. " I would never bear it if my inheritance was given away. It was mine.

"You're not yet sorry. I just started you fool." My father was the devil incarnate.

***

"Ebenezer, you're up." I could not see. But I knew it was my mom.

"Mom." When did she get here? I could only remember the excruciating pain as he whipped me. Then everything turned black.

"Your dad did you pretty bad. You're a sight to behold."

"Are you hurt?" I remembered her being dragged away.

"No. He just locked me up." I could tell she was smiling.  "Your glasses are ruined and I don't know where you keep your spares. So, I brought your contacts." She helped me put them on. My eyes adjusted to the lighting. We were in a hospital. "I brought you food. You've been out for two days."

"You're kidding." She was serious.

"I hope you forgive your dad." I didn't hold a grudge against him. It was for my good.

"He was correcting me. I was wrong. I embarrassed him. And you. I'm sorry Mom."

"It's okay. He won't lose control on you again. I assure you. He went overboard." She caressed my face with her warm hands. I kissed her fingers. "My baby. My precious baby."  She smiled. I loved her. I loved my parents.

EDIKAN!!!!! 😅

But, tbh, Aaron Isong was too cruel. He hit him till he fainted. With koboko sef.

Ebenezer, sorry oo. I'm very sorry.

Thank you for the reads and votes. I'm grateful.