Song: Plantain Chips ­­­— R2bees

*Unedited* (I made a mistake in the last chapter. Edinam is Elorm's cousin, but I kept calling her Etornam. In case you got confused, Etornam is the girl who Elorm's father got pregnant. Sorry ❤)

"Why did they just do that?" Kofi asked, pointing at my brothers.

I shrugged. "Atsu, Tsey, what was that?"

"Oh Elorm," Atsu sighed. "Everyone hates us even more after they found out that you killed the chief."

"I already told you that I didn't do that."

"You didn't tell me anything," Atsu retorted.

"She told me," Tsey replied. "The chief had a heart attack."

A frown was wedged between his eyebrows when he replied. "Then why did the chief tell us that you killed his father?"

"Michael," my fists clenched, "told the village that I killed the deceased chief?"

"Right after he allowed us to come back to our house. You were banished, actually. Supposed to be executed on sight if you ever returned," Atsu frowned even deeper. "Which is why I was surprised when I saw you here."

"Executed by who?" I asked, my calm voice masking the fury that was bubbling within me.

"I don't know, the executioner? If there is one. Maybe the palace guards."

"But the palace guards... didn't do anything to me," I looked to Kofi as if he had the answers, but he was just looking at my brothers, his face packed with confusion or concentration.

"You met the guards? Wait, Elorm, you never told us how you got here. And who is he?" He pointed at Kofi.

Kofi stood up a little straighter on seeing the attention fixed on him. "What?"

"They want to know who you are. How do I say that you're my captor?"

"You're not my captive," he frowned. "Tell them I'm your boyfriend. Isn't that the lie you told your ex-fiancé?"

"They're my brothers."

"And?"

I gave him a blank stare. "Never mind," I said. "It doesn't matter who he is. He's helping us," I told my brothers.

"Still, they won't care if he's with you. You can't go outside. They beat us up one day for just showing our faces, imagine what they'll do to you, who is to be executed on sight."

"I'll be fine," I said in a clipped tone. I went over to Kofi and grabbed his hand. "The food and mattresses. Let's go and get them now."

"You don't have to touch me," he replied, pulling away from my reach.

I rolled my eyes but I followed him outside. Atsu and Tsey were watching us, looking almost horrified as they saw me walking into the open space. "I'll be fine, don't worry. Lock the door and only open it when you hear my voice. Okay?"

They nodded.

"Good." I waited for them to lock the door before going to enter Kofi's car. Like I expected there were so many eyes on me, following my every move. These people were out for my blood. I had to be careful. "Michael told them to kill me on sight."

"What?" Kofi asked, bringing the car to life. The sound attracted more eyes and even I had to admit that it was disturbing the peace.

"He banished me without even letting me know. Who does that? Is that even legal? He said I was to be executed on sight."

"This is the man you're in love with?" Kofi scoffed.

"I'm not in love with him. Not anymore."

"Really?" He asked, his tone mocking.

I inhaled and exhaled deeply. "I'm sure."

"You can get rid of feelings that easily?"

"It took a while and a lot of eye–opening."

"I don't believe you."

"I don't care."

I spotted the twitch at the corner of his lips before his expression settled again. "Where are we going to get food and mattresses from? Where are you even going?"

"GPS, remember?"

"What?"

He took his eyes off me to show me the taunting smile etched onto his stupid face. "You don't know what a GPS is, do you?"

I turned to look out the window. "I don't."

He laughed and muttered something about villagers.

I didn't talk to him for the rest of the drive, even when we stopped at a chopbar and he asked me what I wanted. He rolled his eyes and left, coming back with polythene bags carrying a lot of soup.

"We don't have a fridge," I said.

"You should've told me that before I bought the food."

"You shouldn't make fun of people for not being as privileged as you are."

"What?"

"Stop making fun of me for not knowing things."

"Where is this coming from?"

"I've never heard a school bell in my life. I've never had to do homework. I've never had teachers punishing me for going to school late. You have had that, but it doesn't make it right for you to make fun of me because I haven't."

He stared at me. "I was never late to school."

I scoffed, folding my arms and putting my forehead on my window. Letting out an exasperated breath, I said, "You're unbelievable."

He put the food at the back seat and began driving further from my house. I didn't bother asking where he was going before he laughed at me again. Soon enough, he found a furniture shop, purchased mattresses with bed frames and had them following us in their truck to deliver it to my house.

"Elorm," he said, once we had reached our destination.

I ignored him, hurriedly getting out to get my brothers to open the door. I knocked. "Atsu, Tsey, it's me, Elorm." They opened the door within an instant, and I knew they'd been waiting behind it. "There's food in the backseat, go and get it."

They passed beside me and ran to the car, almost tripping one of the men bringing pieces of the bedframe to assemble it. I went inside to make sure that there was nothing blocking the men's paths.

Watching them assemble two medium sized beds, my mind went back to Michael and order to have me killed on sight. I found it hard to believe that he was so consumed by his grief that he would've had me killed. I wondered why he didn't do it himself, why he changed his mind and decided to have me tried instead.

"Elorm," Kofi touched my arm, sending an unpleasant shiver through me.

I tore my arm away. "If I can't touch you, what makes you think you can touch me?"

He came closer still, his body heat enveloping me. "I want to take a shower. Where can I do that?"

"Really?" I smiled mischievously. "Take a bucket, go to the borehole and fetch some water. See that tiny slender stall kind of behind the house and a little bit to the right of the kitchen space? Take the bucket there, get a pail and do your thing."

"What? What the heck are you talking about?"

I laughed, the mirth bubbling deep within me. "There are no taps here and even if you want some installed, it will take some time and a lot of money. If you want to shower tonight, you have to fetch water."

He grabbed my arm and turned me around. "I'm not playing."

"Neither am I."

He frowned. "You're really serious about this?"

"You can't just not shower for the rest of your stay in the village," I suggested, laughing gratifyingly when he gave me an irritated look.

"What will it take for you to get me some water?"

I laughed, knowing that it was annoying him. I even clapped loudly for the extra annoying effect. "Me? Get you water? You think I'll actually go and fetch water for you?"

"I'll pay you."

"What am I going to do with your money?"

"Buy some pretty clothes or something," he suggested almost desperately.

I had to lean back on the wall in order not to fall over from laughing.

"There's nothing funny."

I wiped an imaginary tear away with my finger. "No this is actually very funny."

"I'll just pay someone else," he rolled his eyes.

"Good luck communicating."

He groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "You're so infuriating!"

"I guess you're now a villager too," I smiled deviously.

"Don't you have to shower too?"

"I'll fetch my bucket later."

"Why can't you just get one for me too? I'll come with you to protect you from the people."

I glared at him. "I don't need your protection."

"You'll be carrying two buckets of water."

"I'm not fetching water for you. You're strong, you exercise, how can you find carrying a simple bucket of water so daunting?"

"I don't. It's... just stupid. How can a man like me fetch water and carry it on my head?"

"You're so sexist," I frowned.

"No, it's not because I'm male. It's just stupid. I've never had to do that in my life. I don't—"

"Then you'll learn. I'm not fetching water for you."

I smiled, walking away from him even though he was calling my name repeatedly. My brothers were sitting crossed legged in the living room, eating so fast that they were in danger of choking. "Hey will you guys slow down?"

"Sorry, it's been long since we've eaten fufu."

"Did he get some for me?" I asked.

"Yes, he bought three balls. We plated it for you, here," Atsu pushed my bowl nearer to my feet using his foot.

I eyed the delicious food. "Three?"

Atsu nodded.

"And you didn't think of dividing them so that he could get some?"

Both of them stopped to look me.

I couldn't really blame them. They'd been starved for so long. They were just sacks of bones at that point.

I was angry with Kofi instead, because for all I knew, I was the one who wasn't going to get any food. I went back to where he was. He was standing in front of my parents' room, watching the bare mattress in the assembled bedframe.

"Why did you buy only three balls?" I asked.

He turned around, eyed me up and down, rolled his eyes, and turned back.

"And why didn't you buy any sheets?" I pointed at the bare mattress angrily.

I spotted how his shoulders tensed. He was getting angry. "For your information, I'm not made of money. I have credit cards, but they're useless in this stupid primitive place. I don't have enough physical cash to meet all your demands."

"What? Really? So you're out of money?" I asked, going to stand directly behind him.

"No, not yet, but I decided to save some for tomorrow so that I can get us more food."

"You can have the last ball of fufu."

He turned around. "No. I bought that for you."

"I'm not hungry."

"Neither am I."

I eyed him suspiciously. "Really? You didn't even eat when we went to the polo club. You haven't eaten all day, stop lying."

"I never said I ate. I said I wasn't hungry."

"You must be."

"I've gone longer without food. Now leave me alone please."

I hated what I was about to say, but he needed to eat. He couldn't let the hunger make him weak. "If you agree to share the food with me, I'll fetch you a bucket of water. Deal?"

The way he smiled, I suspected that this was his plan all along. "Deal."

It was safe to say that sharing a bowl of food with him was very awkward. I didn't even have the freedom to eat any of the meat because I felt that he'd complain. The soup was filled with meat though, just the way I liked it. He ended up eating ninety-five percent of the meat, and by the time it was finished, I felt so stupid.

"You're not a gentleman at all," I said, when he snatched the bowl from me and drank the rest of the soup.

"I never claimed to be one. My water please."

We sat on the bare mattress while we ate. I had warned him that it would get stained but he claimed that only I would be stupid enough to do that. He wasn't wrong. He was laughing at me while I took him to the storeroom to get a bucket.

"It would help if you just took one too."

"No."

I sighed. I had the boys lock the door and go to bed, now that both beds had already been assembled. They wouldn't shower this evening.

The trudge to the borehole was familiar. As usual, people were looking at me, having nothing better to do with their lives.

Some things just don't change.

Kofi was very tense behind me. He was walking so close that I suspected that he was just trying to grind me. "This is not comfortable at all. I feel like someone is going to shoot you out of nowhere," he complained.

"It's nothing new," I laughed.

"You've really been through so much," he said, his tone changing to one of awe, like he just realised that I was much stronger than he gave me credit for.

"Tell me about it."

"Elorm," he touched my wrist, causing me to halt. He blinked, his eyes closing for a longer period than they normal would. "I'm sorry," he breathed.

I smirked. "There's so much you have to be sorry for. Whatever are you talking about?"

I could see how much it pained him to hold back that bored expression and the epic eyeroll.

"For what I said about you being a villager. I mean, I'm sorry for saying that in an insulting way."

"This is not the time or the place. We have to get back inside quickly," I tried walking away but he held me back.

"Wait," he licked his lips, biting and pulling in the corner of his lower lip into his mouth. "I'm sorry for everything else too."

"Kofi—"

"I'm in that remorseful mood okay? It will fade, I won't be able to do this another time. I'm sorry for every bad thing I ever did to you. I'm sorry for locking you in Fluffy's stable, I'm sorry for leaving you outside, I'm sorry for forcing you to take those pills," I came closer to him, the back of my hand pressing against his chest. "I'm sorry for pressuring you to lose your virginity."

I swallowed, not daring to look at his face. My eyes were focused on his chest. It housed his heart which was beating so much faster than it should. It was beating fast. It was beating too fast. "Kofi? Do you remember the time you did that stupid 'experiment' on me?"

"What experiment? I don't remember," he stepped closer to me.

"I think that was one of the first times we shared a bed. You said I was lusting after you, whatever that was supposed to mean. You had me against the wall and you... you kissed me. Not on the lips, but, um, a little bit on my neck and... other places."

His silence was proof that he remembered.

"Did... do you..." My heart began racing almost as fast as his was, but only because of nervousness and disbelief. "do you—"

"We should hurry. It's getting late," he cut me off, walking away before I could finish.

I eyed him, feeling the tendrils of fear and uncertainty coiling around me. That scene just replayed itself in my mind the minute I felt his rapidly beating heart. It reminded me of that fine detail that escaped my memory. His heart was beating just as quickly that night, maybe even faster.

"Kofi!" I called after him. He gave no indication that he heard me. He kept walking. My heart sunk. He didn't want to talk about it, so that meant that I had to be right. How? Why? Kofi of all people. I had to be deceiving myself. It wasn't possible. He couldn't.

"Wait for me at least," I rushed to catch up with him.

"You realise that if you'd just taken two buckets, you wouldn't have to make multiple trips to the borehole. Right?"

"I can't carry two buckets at a time," I complained. I hated how he changed the topic, clearing the air between us like we didn't need to talk about it. In all honesty, I wished I hadn't remembered. I wished I hadn't felt his beating heart.

He scoffed.

I decided to fill the barrel in front of our house instead of just fetching two buckets for us to bathe with. I would need to cook instead of letting Kofi waste money buying us food. We made about ten trips to fill the barrel, then an additional two to fetch water for our respective showers.

I was exhausted by the time we got back. Dropping the bucket on the ground in my house, I leaned against the wall to relax my heart that was racing, but only due to all that hard work.

"You've been doing this for eighteen years?" He asked me.

"I didn't start until I was eight," I laughed. "I'm so out of shape. Living in the city has made me lazy."

"Enjoying pipe-borne water isn't lazy. Heck, suffering like this isn't hard work. It's a waste of time and hard-earned energy."

I eyed him blankly, then closed my eyes. "Go and shower first."

"No, you go. The earlier you can get to bed, the better. Your clothes are in a bag in the car."

"Thank you," I nodded. "Please try and get the stain out of the mattress, maybe get a cloth too? It's cold."

"Is the barrel safe out there? Won't someone steal or poison the water, maybe?"

"Now that you mention that, we should bring it in."

"One more thing. Isn't there a bank I can withdraw some cash from? We really need it."

"Why don't you ask your GPS?" I frowned.

I was surprised when he barked out a laugh. "I will. Hey, um, your ribs are fine, right?"

I touched my side, having forgotten about them since they hadn't caused me any pain during the last few hours. "They're fine. The cuts around my body are healing too."

"The one on your forehead is making you look ugly."

I smiled. "Okay."

We brought the barrel inside before I took my bucket to the bathroom. I was busily having my shower and hating the sting of my wounds at the touch of the cold water when I heard some suspicious sounds coming from outside the stall.

"Kofi?" If it was him, he didn't reply.

I went back to cleaning myself, but keeping my ears wide open. I locked the door for extra protection. We had to get a bathroom inside the house. Bathing in this outdoor stall was too dangerous. Same for the kitchen too.

I wore a bathing robe and wrapped my hair up in a towel. Grabbing my bucket, I pushed the door open and shivered as a result of the cool air. The walk back to the door and into the house where Kofi was waiting behind the door to let me in wasn't long at all, perhaps a few seconds. However, it did provide ample time for two male youth to tackle me to the ground.

I should've seen it coming.

Dividing my weight between them, they carried me and dumped me in one of the nearby bushes. I struggled against them, but they were muscular, lean men. I didn't even stand a chance.

"You have a lot of nerve showing up here," one of them said, holding me down by my neck.

"Attacking defenceless women straight out of the shower. How manly," I spat.

"Defenceless? How dare you, you murderer!" He bellowed, eyes burning with rage.

"What are you going to do?" I grabbed onto his wrist, ready to twist it as soon as he loosened his grip. It would slow him down.

"Return the favour, of course," his friend said. "We're going to kill you like you killed our chief."

"Your chief is stealing your own siblings and children, selling them into prostitution and harvesting their organs. He's stealing your village's mineral resources and smuggling them out of the country. That is the chief whose death you want to avenge?"

"You're stupid if you think we're going to fall for your lies. Ah, to think I used to fantasise about this girl," the man holding my neck spat.

"I did not need to know that."

"The knife. Hurry," he held his hand out to his friend, who placed a small knife in his hand. It was the kind of penknife that would take seventy stabs to kill you.

Looking back, thinking about my life, I had faced such situations almost inhumanely, never really thinking about them when they were over. I never knew that I was simply killing myself mentally. In that moment, I didn't think that it registered that they were going to stab me multiple times until I bled out. It felt like a dream. It felt unrealistic.

His grip on my neck wasn't loosening, so I knew I had to come up with something else. He directed the first stab at my stomach, but I quickly brought my arm up. I winced when the sharp blade sunk into my flesh.

While the man was shocked, watching me bewilderedly, I took that opportunity to turn myself over and throw him off. His partner backed away from me as I took the knife out of my arm, my eyes brimming with tears.

Before I could threaten him, he lunged for me, and I didn't have the heart to stab him. I moved out of his way, letting him fall. I hurriedly turned him over and stepped on that area hard, mushing it under my foot. He cried out in pain and his friend rose in alarm and punched the back of my head.

I stumbled forward, wincing in pain. I turned around before he could deliver another blow. My knee came up, turning the tide of the battle.

Men and their silly weakness.

His hands came together to clutch the area as I made a run for it, holding the knife steadily. My hands were shaking so badly that I was afraid I was going to drop it. There were people there, but of course, they didn't care once I was the one who was getting attacked.

Nearing the door, I began shouting for Kofi to open it, since one of the goons had gotten up and was chasing me like a zombie would. I expected to bang on the door, but it came open quicker than I expected, causing me to fall straight into Kofi's arms.

"Lock it," I panted.

He did. "What happened to you?" He lifted my arm, inspecting the small wound made by the penknife.

"I got attacked by two of the villagers," I drew away from him, shaking with every step. "It's not safe here. They're going to kill me eventually."

"Not on my watch," he said firmly.

"I'm going to go to bed," I clasped my hands together to hide their shaking from him.

"I didn't get a cloth. Put on something to ward off the cold."

"I'm not going to go outside again," I said. My voice shook with every syllable. I tried steadying my breathing. It didn't work.

"I'll go," he said, not wasting a moment after. He came back with the bag, making sure to lock the door behind him. He threw the bag at me, then plopped onto the ground, staring at the door.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm keeping watch to make sure this doesn't happen again."

"They can't come in through the locked door."

"People thirsty for blood are capable of anything."

"Come to bed," I ordered.

"I didn't get one for myself. Not enough money, remember?"

"Oh come on. We've shared a bed so many times, I don't see how this is any different."

"I'm not comfortable sleeping with you," he said.

"That's your problem. Come, now," I repeated.

"Will you leave me alone? What's with you, forcing me to eat, now sleep?"

"It's cold."

"And?"

"You're warm. You always are."

"So you want to use me as a human heater?"

"Exactly."

"I'll pass."

"You don't have a choice."

"I think I do."

"Look, I've had three murder attempts on my life in one day, one by my own father. I found out that my mother is missing, the man I loved is married to another woman, my cousin's parents are criminals, and I am to be executed for coming back to my home. I don't have the strength to be arguing with you right now. Come, I won't say it again."

He turned around slowly, looking at my feet. He slowly lifted his eyes. They came to stop at my face, then went back down to my arm. The blood over the knife wound was just a little trickle since the knife was too small to do any serious damage. "You're lucky that you didn't cut through an artery."

I held out a hand.

He stood up, but ignored my extended limb and went into the bedroom, throwing himself on the small bed. It was too small for us to put any space between us but I didn't mind because I was craving his heat.

I lay close to him, not daring to make the first move to share warmth. He closed his eyes, but I knew he wasn't asleep. He wasn't that tired. A little smile flitted on his face when I drew a little bit closer.

"I hate you," I said.

He laughed, throwing his arms around me. He was like a thermostat, emitting that much warmth. I snuggled closer to him bunching my arms around my chest so that our chests weren't touching.

I didn't want to feel his heart beating that quickly against my own slow heart.

* * *

We were awoken to the sound of loud banging. I forgot to change out of my bathing robe the night before so I hurried to put on some clothes while Kofi went to check who was knocking that loudly. I came out, finding both my brothers in front of the door behind Kofi.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"It's me. Michael."

I recognised his voice before he even said his name. Kofi rolled his eyes and left without opening the door, going back into the room. Atsu and Tsey were obviously very nervous, having the chief visit their home.

"Is he coming to arrest you?" Tsey asked me.

Knowing that boy, that didn't seem farfetched. "I don't know. Go to your room and don't come out for anything," I waited until they left and locked their door behind them before opening the door.

"Thank God you're safe," Michael stepped inside without invitation with his guards, encaging me in an intrusive hug.

"Leave me alone," I struggled with him and managed to push him off. I took several steps away from him and Kofi came up behind me, holding onto my shoulders. "What are you doing here? You're not welcome."

He looked at Kofi, then me. "I heard what happened yesternight."

"And? Have you come to make sure that they did their job?" I asked.

"What are you talking about? I'm searching for those men and I came to take you to the station to identify the suspects so that perpetrators can be arrested."

"When were you going to tell me that I was to be executed on sight?" I crossed my arms.

He frowned. "That was a very stupid, irresponsible decision on my part. I was angry. But I didn't ask any of them to kill you. I found my palace guards — those whose job it was to kill you — and withdrew my command."

"Yet you announced to your village of ignoramuses that I killed your father. Why?"

"Didn't you?"

Even Kofi made an exasperated sound. "Get out, boy, you're not welcome here."

"I'm the chief. I'm welcome everywhere in my village."

"You're a threat to democracy, you," I frowned.

"This is more of a monarchy, but whatever you say. Please come with me so that I can put those who did that to you behind bars," he said.

"No," Kofi replied, coming to stand before me, "there were witnesses. Question them."

"I wasn't talking to you."

"Yes, you were talking to my girlfriend and I took it upon me to answer for her."

"I won't ask you again. Step aside and let me talk to her myself."

"No," Kofi replied.

Michael clenched his fists, coming closer just to stand in front of Kofi, thinking he was intimidating or something like that. "She is not your girlfriend. She's mine, she has always been and she always will be. I don't know what stupid thing you're planning this time around. I will never believe that she will consent to being with you so you had better stop this charade."

The audacity of this boy.

I couldn't see Kofi's face but his tone was clearly mocking. "Yours, you say? Why are you married to someone else then? Why did you promise before God and man to be with her through good times and bad times? In sickness or in health? In poverty or in wealth? To top it all off, till death do you part? Where does my girlfriend fit in all this?"

Michael was thrown off for a second there, his expression faltering. He looked behind Kofi, at me, like he was expecting me to say something.

I crossed my arms and looked back at him.

"Get out. She wants nothing to do with you," Kofi repeated.

"Fine, let her tell me herself. Elorm, look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want me anymore," he said confidently.

I laughed softly, looking directly into his chocolate irises. "Get out. I don't love you and I don't want anything to do with you."

Kofi barked out a laugh, doubling over and placing his hands on his bent knees so that he wouldn't fall over. It was funny so I started laughing too mostly because Kofi's laughter was so infectious when he wasn't laughing at me.

Michael tensed. His face was a medley of hurt, embarrassment and rage. Suddenly, he shoved Kofi, making him fall. "You think this is funny?"

Kofi stood up slowly, his mirth long gone. "Have some respect for yourself, boy. Leave."

Michael shoved him again. "Stop telling me what to do, you stupid orphan."

"What did you just call me?" Kofi asked, his voice dropping octaves. "You must not know what an orphan is, you ignorant idiot."

"Wait, I was wrong. No, you're not an orphan. It's just your mother who is dead," Michael said maliciously, his lips curving into a sinister smile.

"You know nothing about me," Kofi spat.

"Oh, I actually do," Michael laughed. "I did some research on you, Kofi Faye. Did you know that your mother was murdered? She was murdered by your father because he didn't want you, but she wanted to have you."

"You're... you're lying!"

"You killed your mother," he said viciously.

Kofi shoved him.

He went back a few steps due to his force and his guards immediately came up behind him to protect him from the air. I grabbed onto Kofi's arms to stop him from doing anything foolish, but Michael rushed forward and punched Kofi.

That was when all hell broke loose.

Kofi was obviously much stronger than Michael, so he had him subdued in no time, but Michael's guards weren't having it. They immediately rushed to defend their boy. Kofi still ended up beating all of them while I sat back, smiling and wishing I was that strong.

"Arrest him!" Michael spat. "Draw your swords, guns, whatever, arrest him!"

One of the guards pulled his gun out and pointed it at Kofi. He wasn't made of steel so he had no choice but to drop the boy. He scrambled away from Kofi and stood behind his guard, adjusting his shirt. "Take him to jail."

"Wait, hold on. You can't do that! You threw the first punch, since when was self–defence a crime?" I tried to stop the guards from taking Kofi away but the one with the gun easily shoved me.

"Don't touch her!" Kofi spat, moving to do something to the guard who shoved me, but the other clubbed him on the head with his gun.

I flinched, seeing him wince and slump a little bit, dizzy. "Michael, stop this! He didn't do anything, you should be going to jail!"

"Maybe if you loved me, I could've listened to you," he said to me, his words spewing venom. He turned to his guards. "Take him away."

* * *

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