Gusty strolled quietly towards the building when he heard it. He stopped, listening for the second time. He heard it again, this time the girl screamed with so much fervour.
"Rony go check what the problem is, looks like someone is in danger" Gusty said as Rony moved into the building while Zana stayed behind with Gusty. After a while, Rony came out.
"It's Tasha" he said panting.
"What" Gusty exclaimed his eyes in shock "what's wrong" he asked. Before Rony could answer, he ran into the building.
"Please...he.....l....p....me" Tasha said struggling to breathe as she drowned. Sharon and her friends laughed loudly as they pushed her deeper into the water.
"Get your damned hands off her" Gusty's icy voice sliced across the pool like a whip.
They spun away from her startled. Gusty walked dangerously towards them, his face was harsh, his eyes chips of ice as he looked at Sharon with obvious distaste.
"What did you do to her?" He dropped the question with icy menance.
"Zana carry her out, take her to my room and Rony get Mrs Favour immediately" Gusty ordered as Zana carried an unconscious Tasha out of the pool.
"I ask again. What did you do to her?" He asked angrily his eyes glittered dangerously.
"I pushed her into the pool" Sharon said aggressively.
"How dare you" Gusty said and moved towards her. He dragged her roughly and she fell, surprised, they were all shocked. They couldn't even say a word, he looked so angry and it was as if a single word spoken by any of them will get their neck snapped in a sec.
" The next time you raise your filthy hands on her, I'll break your beautiful neck in three different places" he said in a clipped voice.
"How dare you raise your voice at me cause of that wretched poor brat" Sharon whispered surprised.
"Pray nothing happens to her. If anything should happen to her, I'll kill you" Gusty said and walked away.
"No" Sharon whispered as he left, she couldn't believe it. She burst into tears as her friends hugged her tightly.
"I've checked on her. She's not really stable at all right now. She needs good medical treatment. I've done the best I can" Mrs Favour said closing the door behind them as they came out of Gusty's room.
"I thought you're a Nurse" Gusty snapped "don't you know your job " he added.
"I have to take her to the hospital" Mrs Favour said ignoring his question
"No"
"Excuse me"
"She goes no where, she stays with me and me alone" he said angrily
"And who do you think you are to make orders." Mrs favour said angrily "she's not stable, her life can be at stake" she added
"Try to move her out of here, I promise, you'll get sacked" Gusty said and entered his room, slamming the door in her face.
They entered Gusty's room and settled down. Everybody kept quiet staring at an unconscious Tasha on the bed, stripped with some medications. Her breath was light, it looked really serious.
"Why are we bullying Tasha?" Zuba asked suddenly and all eyes turned to him. Hot eyes.
"Are you being serious right now?" Miles asked shaking his head while Gusty sat quiet staring daggers at him.
"Yes. Seriously, I don't know the reason" Zuba said
"You must be joking" Gusty spat as he stood up angry.
"Chill man, he asked a question" Munchy said as he stood up too. Gusty stared at them and shook his head.
"Gusty's mom had a twin sister, not just a twin but an identical one. They were really close, really close but her twin wasn't married" Bose said
"Then one day, Gusty's mom got a call from the hospital that her sister was being admitted and declared dead. She didn't believe until she got to the hospital and saw the lifeless body of her sister soaked in blood." Miles added spiteful.
"Fuck. So where does Tasha come in all this?" Zuba asked confused
"Are you that dumb?" Munchy said "her dad is the one responsible for her death. He killed her" he added sadly.
"Damn" Zuba said shocked. "I'm sorry man, that's really tragic" he said to Gusty.
"Exactly " Gusty laughed bitterly " I can't wait to see what Tasha would do if she finds out her precious dad is a murderer" he added.
"Her dad killed my aunt which made my mom traumatized till now. I have a lunatic mom cause of Mr Adele. Do you know what it means to wake up to the screams of your mother?, screaming in anguish and there's no way to help her?. Tasha has to suffer since he has gone into hiding, she'll suffer the sins of her father " Gusty spat bitterly.
"Wait....she doesn't know?" Zuba asked surprised.
"She doesn't " Munchy said shaking his head.
"But you love her" Bose said suddenly and Gusty turned to him startled.
"What" Miles exclaimed
"Yeah, what" Zuba added
"I hate her" Gusty said heatedly shocked at the question.
"You kissed her" Munchy said
"That doesn't mean I love her. How slow can you guys be" Gusty said exparated.
Their eyes strayed to her still body and they sighed. Bose stood up and left quietly, followed by munchy and Zuba.
"Won't you follow them"Gusty said to miles sarcastically as he opened a bottle of wine and poured in a cup.
"Do you feel something for her?" Miles asked and Gusty turned and stared at him coldly.
"Are you sick?, I thought I've answered this already" Gusty said
"That doesn't answer my question " Miles said as he stood up and walked to him.
"I can't, I don't, how is that even possible, you know she's my worst enemy " Gusty said quietly as his eyes strayed to her body lying on his bed.
"I'm beginning to think otherwise" Miles said. As he said this, Gusty choked on his wine.
"I only said I thought " miles said rolling his eyes.
"Well, you thought wrong " Gusty said and left the room leaving Miles staring after him.
Days passed, weeks passed and Tasha was still the same. No movement, not a word, not even a blink of an eye.
Gusty looked at her for the third time and continued pacing. Just then his friends came in.
"Has there been any improvement?" Munchy asked
"No, no fucking improvement and I am sick and tired of waiting " Gusty said angrily
"Jeez man, calm down. Why are you so bothered?" Zuba asked narrowing his eyes.
"None of your business" Gusty said staring daggers at him.
"What is this I heard about you threatening Sharon and her friends" Bose said
"And also you threatened to sack Mrs favour " Miles said "can you please explain why you're doing all this?" he added.
"I don't know what came over me" Gusty said shrugging his shoulders.
"Indeed" Miles murmured and Gusty stared at him heatedly.
"What?, why are you staring at me that way?" Miles asked standing up hotly "I haven't seen you this restless about any one in this life apart from your mom. Seeing you restless about her is surprising and annoying " Miles said shaking his head.
Everybody kept quiet. They all knew Miles was right. What the heck was wrong with their friend?
"I want to be left alone"Gusty said suddenly.
"What?" They chorused
"You heard me"
They stared at him for a while, shook their head and left.
He punched the air angrily as if in doing so would make the pain vanish. Just then he heard a knock. He waited to be sure it was his door, it came again and he sighed tiredly. How he wished Zana and Rony were both around.
"Who's that?" He asked
"It's Lily"
He looked at himself in the mirror and hissed loudly. He looked unkempt, his hair was in disarray. He raked his hands through it. On opening the door, her friends looked worse, they looked like they hadn't bathed in weeks.
"We want to see Tasha, we won't waste your time. Please" Lily pleaded.
Gusty shifted out of the door and they went in. When Lily got to Tasha, she burst into tears covering her mouth as the tears spilled down her cheeks. Nora and Success hugged each other tightly. It was worse than they thought, she looked lifeless, her breath was in gasps. Lily couldn't control herself and she ran outside. Success followed suit choking with tears.
"You caused this" Nora said pointing her fingers at Gusty as she left.
Gusty was speechless, he knew she was right. He always bullied her, that's what gave Sharon and her friends the privilege.
"Fuck" he said as he closed the door. "Tasha, please wake up" he said as a tear slipped his eyes.