33 A wolf in a sheep’s clothing (1/2)
She opened her eyes to find the rapist still working tirelessly to undress her further, at first it was all blurry, she couldn't make out the face. Could it be Obioma, one of Nnadozie's top farmers; he has a suspicious look and has been staying with them since she arrived. He was fond of giving her compliments, calling her fancy and beautiful names. He seemed to like her, though she personally doesn't like him but always reply his compliments with a smile. Was he here tonight when everyone must be exhausted as a result of the ceremony to have his with her, she wondered?
Definitely, she won't allow him to pull this off, she screamed ”Help!” on top her voice almost bringing down the roof.
He hurriedly covered her mouth with his hand before she could complete the word, terminating further words from escaping; knowing that if she succeeds in calling for help and he is caught, he would be made to walk naked around the whole village with little children raining down insults and abuses of all manners on him. She continued struggling to break free from his grip but he was just too big and heavy.
He then whispered into her ears ”Please don't shout, Ego please don't shout”. Immediately she heard the voice, she went still with shock. All traces of fatigue and blurriness faded away for her. To her utter amazement, it was Nnadozie who was on top of her, sweating profusely in the cold harmattan, trying to **** her.
”Stop! Please stop!” he said a little louder, raining saliva all over her face.
”I promise to let go if you just stop” he further said as the smell of fermented palm-wine mixed with tobacco streamed from his nostrils.
She nodded in agreement to gain back her freedom and not to smear his reputation. On seeing her reaction, he freed her. She swiftly dashed away from him to the far edge of the bed. Still numb with shock and disappointment at this man she previously held in high esteem. Sounding like a broken record, she managed to ask a rhetorical question
”Nna, what are you doing?”
Replying her filled with shame and remorse; he struggled to murmur
”I'm really sorry Ego. I don't know how it came to this”. He paused, took few seconds, wisely choosing his words he continued ”Though I have been harbouring some feelings of affection for you; even before you married my younger brother. This night I just could no longer control it”
Angered at what he just said, she had to cut in ”And this is how you wanted to make this feeling known to me? By forcing yourself on me while I was asleep? She asked.
Sounding tongued tied ”No… Ego” he said pulling closer to her while she pulled further away from the rapist.
”Don't come any closer or I will scream down this roof”.
”I won't come any closer, please just bring down your voice; I don't want to wake up people sleeping”. He said, pulling backwards away from her.
”You should have thought of that before coming to force yourself on a poor widow”. Heating up she continued ”did you think I was going to keep quiet and allow you to have your way, so you can continue to provide for me? No, maybe I wanted it because I've been celibate since your brother passed away?” She asked him not taking his advice of keeping her voice down.