LYSANDER
I opened my eyes, lookin’ around me before catchin’ sight of her.
“Nyssa!” I jumped, lookin’ around before lookin’ at her. “My God, I can’t believe I dozed. When did you get here?” Again, I looked around, huggin’ her to myself.
“Did someone see you come into this place? You should know by now that I am takin’ a huge risk sneakin’ into an estate that isn’t mine.”
“Can you be calm for once?” She cried and I let go of her. “You’re scarin’ me enough.” She cried and moved back a little so that I could see her face.
“I came so you can take me home with you. I need to stay away from Kazmir in the meantime and don’t know if you don’t mind takin’ me in with you.”
What?
What was she sayin’?
What did the beast do this time?
I walked closer, lookin’ around her face and then askin’. “He didn’t hit you, did he?”
“N-no,” she said with a shake of her head and now asked. “Does he hit women also?”
Also?
Does it mean that she has seen a part of ‘im? I wondered but didn’t ask.
For all that I knew, this wasn’t the right place to ask such questions.
“Did you come with a bag of clothes or do we go shoppin’ from here?” I walked out of the small area with her and in moments, caught up with a small box. “Do you think this will be enough?”
With a questionin’ look, the woman looked at me. “I’m not supposed to pack all my stuff, am I?” She asked and without givin’ her an answer, I smiled and picked up the box, resumin’ movement after givin’ her a nod. She walked closely behind me and soon, we were standin’ by the gate side.
I dropped the box to lock the gate and while I did that, Nyssa asked. “Are we not supposed to pass through this gate, Lysander?” With confusion on her countenance, she asked when I was done.
“There is a small path I created in this garden. We can’t possibly pass here when your husband is returnin’ from work, can we? The other path is safe and that’s where we’ll be usin’.” I picked up the box and led the way.
“You know you don’t have to be scared of me ’cause I don’t bite, but will save you rather. Which is why you should follow me and be calm, Nyssa.”
She was calm, and I felt very much better. Soon, we were on the path I created and out of the garden entirely. Without hesitation, I snatched the key to the car from my pocket and commanded it open, commandin’ Nyssa this time. “Get in the car. Your husband must not see you.”
I calmly placed the box in the trunk before walkin’ to the driver’s seat where a seat was taken and now, the car started while I led it out of the area, leadin’ my way to the apartment I live in. It didn’t take long for us to catch up with the gate of the apartment and the man who worked at the gate, opened for me to drive in. Now that we were in my area, I turned to look at Nyssa whose gaze seemed to have been fixed on me since the beginnin’ of the journey.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “I can lodge you in a hotel if you don’t find it safe with me. But you honestly have nothin’ to be worried ’bout, just in case you don’t know but which would you prefer?”
She looked around us – the compound and then back at me. “I’ll stay here, Lysander.” She said and I continued the drive, meetin’ up with the lot and parkin’ in it. In moments, I hopped down from the car and led my way to the other side so I could open for her after which she jumped out with my help. “Thank you.” When she muttered, I gave a nod and led my way to the trunk so the box could be brought out.
Soon, the both of us were standin’ in front of my entrance. I looked at Nyssa before takin’ the key to the house from my pocket. “Let’s go in, you need all the rest you can get.” When I opened it, I said. We walked into the large livin’ room and a sigh ran out of my mouth.
“I’ll ne’er guess you’ll be in my house, you know?” I dragged the box with me to the door of a room, pushin’ it open and leadin’ my way into it.
The next time I came to the livin’ room, Nyssa was on her feet. “Come on!” I cried. “Take a seat and feel at home.” My legs led me to a couch and I made myself comfortable, hearin’ the sounds of her footsteps and watchin’ her take a seat on another couch. “Do you need somethin’? I could get you water. The dispatch rider will come with food soon, so please be patient.”
She chuckled. “Don’t you cook?”
I smiled, turnin’ to face her. “I cook, Nyssa. I’m not just cookin’ today. I would do that if it was just me but wouldn’t want to end up disappointin’ you. You know.” I looked at the screen of the television, picked up its remote, and turned it on. “You’ll eat in a jiffy, just wait. But in the meantime-” I pointed at the door of the room I walked out from a while ago. “-that’s your room. It’s the second best after mine and I’m sure you don’t want to spend the night with me, so I figured that would do. But if you don’t find it good enough, let me know so you can be lodged in a hotel.”
She shook her head. “That’s enough already. I’ll use the room, Lysander. Thank you so much for comin’ to my aid, but I’d love to stay in the room now. Can I?”
I jumped on my feet, leadin’ her to the door of the room. When she was inside, I shut the door and walked back to the couch, takin’ a seat on it. What really happened between Nyssa and her husband? I wondered, thinkin’ ’bout many things but at the same time not comin’ to a conclusion.
Do I ask her?
I got on my feet and walked to the door. My hand raised to knock but on second thought, I knew I would be tagged as pushy so I turned back around and left and returned to the livin’ room. Not now, I heaved and relaxed on the couch, listenin’ to the sounds of water comin’ from the bathroom. She must be takin’ a bath, I figured and the sound at the door snapped me out of my thoughts – causin’ me to jump on my feet also.
I snatched my purse from the table and caught up with the door soon. “Food?” I peeped and got a nod from the man before openin’ the door finally. “Here is your payment.” I took the package and handed ‘im the notes. “Thank you.” And walked to the kitchen so the meal could be dished.
It was later in the evenin’, after several hours that Nyssa walked out of the room. She was smilin’, unlike before she walked into it. “Thank you, Lysander. The room is great.” Sittin’ on the couch, she looked at me again and asked. “Is anythin’ the matter?”
I walked to the dinin’ table, grabbed her meal, and walked back with a shake of my head, handin’ it over. “No, not at all. I just wanted to know what you’ll say to Kazmir when he dials your number. Don’t you think you should switch off your phone?”
“I don’t even have a phone, so don’t worry ’bout that.”