C7 Bruises or Wounds

“I’m sorry.”

Ify glanced at Naeto. They had not spoken since the incident earlier in the day. The incident that left him with a broken nose; Aisha with bruises on her face; Philip with a black eye and split lip and Jide with minor bruises.

She wasn’t even sure how the fight had started. One moment Philip's shoe was flying over Aisha’s head, the next he and Aisha were engaged in a physical combat with Naeto the mediator.

And then later trying to solve the problem, Philip and Jide ended up in another fight.

How could they even fight when she was feeling so weak due to insufficient food?!

And then during the course of the fight when she had tried to help Naeto who was pushed down, he had rudely brushed her off; hence the apology.

She did not reply.

He sighed, covering the distance she had kept between them.

“I’m sorry. I was…I was angry.” he apologized as she fiddled with the torn edges of her blouse.

“It’s fine.” she replied, still not looking at him.

“Ify…” he drawled innocently, his voice dropping a notch.

She raised a brow, looking at him. How many girls did he use that on? He blinked his eyes innocently at her and she shook her head, looking away. His face was comical.

He laughed despite her frown.

“I knew that would not work on you." he chuckled.

“Aisha.” he called out to Aisha who was dozing off on the floor beside her.

“What?” Aisha murmured sleepily.

Naeto rolled his eyes, "You’re always sleeping.”

“And you’re never sleeping." Aisha retorted sharply, opening her eyes to shoot him a sleepy glare before shutting it back.

Naeto burst out laughing.

After seconds of hearty laughter that Ify couldn’t help but admire, he spoke, ”I knew you would respond. You just don’t know how to let things go.”

Aisha made a grunting noise, ”Your business.”

Naeto rolled his eyes a second time, ”I’m serious. That’s exactly what happened today, Philip could have beaten you up.”

Aisha sneered, ”He wouldn’t even dare. Is he not the one with the damaged face now?”

“From Jide.” Naeto responded, his smile gone,”Your blow barely did anything to him and you’re the one with the bruised face now."

Ify shifted uncomfortably as the tension in the air thickened. It seemed like the both of them had forgotten her presence and she felt like an alien sitting between them.

“Minor bruises." Aisha corrected, turning to her other side, signalling end of conversation.

“Still bruises." Naeto continued regardless, ”He could still revenge anytime and who knows if there would be anyone to help you.”

“Let him come.”

“All bark and no bite."

Aisha did not respond for a few seconds.

“Naeto or whatever you call yourself.” Aisha finally spoke, her back still to them, ”Mind your business.”

Naeto scoffed, sitting up; his look turning angry.

“Or whatever I call myself?” he asked in a sarcastic tone, ”It had come to that? I'm …”

“I don’t care.” Aisha interrupted angrily, her voice rising as she sat up, glaring daggers at Naeto, "Mind your business, please!”

“I’m not.” Naeto growled. His look became stoic but his voice betrayed his anger.

“If you don’t like what I said, tell me. I'm telling you what you did was wrong. Causing a fight is wrong!Not to talk of causing a fight you did not know how to handle with someone bigger and stronger than you! How wise…”

“So you’re the wise one, eh?” Aisha cut in, her eyes wide with mockery, ”You’re the wise one. Mr know-it-all.” she ended, eyeing him up and down.

Naeto nodded, a look of disbelief on his face, ”Wow. One argument and I can barely even recognize you. What kind of person are you?”

Aisha sneered, “You searched for my trouble, I gave it to you. Now you’re complaining. All bark and no bite is biting you hard.”

Aisha hissed, lying back down on the floor. They had the attention of their mates now, all ears were listening to their quarrel.

Ify had always known Aisha to be outspoken and open but seeing this part of Aisha was surprising. How she could change from being the best of friends to an enemy in a short time was alarming.

“Just don’t get into fights again, especially with Philip.” Naeto finally said quietly.

Aisha didn’t respond.

“Aisha.” he called.

“Aisha.”

“Aisha…”

“What?!” Aisha erupted, springing to her feet, "What is it!? Mind your business or you want another black eye?!”

An irony since Naeto had gotten the black eye while defending her from Philip.

Naeto got up too, boiling with anger.

“Seriously!” he shouted,”I’m trying to make peace here and you can’t even cooperate!”

“Keep. Your. Peace. To. Yourself.” Aisha spoke, accentuating each word.

“You know how to insult,abi?” she continued,”Insult! Insult ,let me hear!”

Naeto raised a brown challengingly.

“All bark and no bite.” he whispered mockingly,” That’s what you want to hear..."

He had barely finished speaking before Aisha swung her fist and landed a punch on his face.

Naeto staggered back, his right hand moving automatically to cover his wounded eye. Ify sprang up immediately as gasps erupted from the room, looking at Aisha in shock.