Silent Tears
By Adeyinka Oresanya
Copyright 2015 Adeyinka Oresanya
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Discussion Questions
About the Author
Discover other Titles by Adeyinka Oresanya
Connect with Me Online
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Excerpts from Adeyinka Oresanya's Other Books
1. Ring Rush
2. Behind the Dazzle
Chapter One
They were at his off-campus, single-room apartment. The smell of cigarette mixed with the mild fragrance of Airwick potpourri lingered in the air. He was staring at her, his eyes blazing like a pot of coal rekindled. Ireti's heart first turned cold and then hot until it became molten, threatening to erupt through her mouth, as goose pimples sprang up rapidly like weeds on her arms.
She knew what was coming.
At the speed of lightening his left hand collided with her right cheek, and her skin tingled. Burned. Her eyes first saw a flash of white light and then a spectrum of colours. She staggered a little but caught herself in time.
“Who was that guy holding your hands at your department?” His voice was dangerously low.
“He is my course mate, Yomi. He...he is just a course mate.” She stammered through her words, a big lump sitting determinedly in her throat. Her cheek still singed from the slap she'd just received.
“Your course mate, eh? What business does he have holding your hands? You think I didn't see the way he was looking at you and you grinning stupidly at what he was saying?”
“Please, Yomi, he is just a friend. He was just joking about something and I laughed, nothing more.”
“What was so funny, eh? Liar! You are just a liar and a whore.”
He unbuckled his belt. Ireti backed away, fear rising from the pit of her stomach. Unfortunately, the door was locked and the music booming from the home theatre was loud enough to drown her cries. No one would hear her. Even if they did, they wouldn't come to her rescue. It wasn't their business.
“Please, Yomi. Please...”
“If you think you can cheat on me, Yomi Johnson, you'll have to think twice. I won't be taken for a fool on this campus, not by you, not by any girl.” He landed the first blow on her, then another and then another until she crumbled on the floor. Satisfied, he stormed out of the room leaving her on the floor, weeping and moaning from the pain. Her world caved in and smashed into tiny pieces. Again.
This wasn't the Yomi she knew. This vicious beast was different from her Yomi whose warm cocoa-brown eyes had made her melt, whose smile had always sent a tingling sensation that started from her toes and ended up in tight curls in her stomach.
It had all begun at the backstage of the Obafemi Awolowo University Amphitheatre, during Resound 2010 organised by God's Love Fellowship. His popular dance group, The Recabites, her fellowship choir, and some other groups had been invited to perform.
The Recabites had just finished performing and receiving loud applause as usual when they stepped to the backstage where her group was waiting to be called. Tall with a molten chocolate skin, his lithe body moved with dexterity as he shook the hands of the guys hailing him, and she had stared. As if he sensed that someone was staring at him, he raised his head and his eyes found hers and stayed until she looked away. When he finished talking with some guy, he strode towards her.
“Hi.” His voice was as warm as his eyes.
“Hello,” she replied, looking about self-consciously. All the choristers' eyes, especially the ladies’, must be on her now.
He smiled. “My name is Yomi Johnson.”
“I know.”
He gave a grin that showed he expected her to know. “Can I have your room number?”
“W1 room 208, Akintola Hall,” she blurted.
“Thanks.” He smiled again and left.
And that was it. At nineteen and in her second year, she’d fallen in love and so hard that in the first month of their relationship, she’d tossed her faith aside and allowed him make passionate love to her, in this same room. Even the feelings of guilt that followed after were drowned in her love for him. She'd at first been uncomfortable with Yomi's habit of smoking and his lack of remorse about their indulgence in forbidden pleasures, especially since he professed to be a Christian and was a gospel dancer, but she got used to it as time went by. People weren't perfect, were they?
She was still in love when she received the first slap that she waved it off as a mistake, but when the slaps became accompanied with punches and belt whacks over the smallest argument, she wondered if they were really in love. Yet she found herself unable to let go, hoping desperately that it was just a phase in their relationship that would soon pass.
Get out now, Beloved! This is not my plan for you. Come out of this and I will heal you.
To where? She had nowhere to go. Her life was nothing without Yomi. She was herself only when he was with her. He was her first and would be her last.
This isn't my best for you. My plans are good, to give you a future and a hope.
No! She used to believe that voice, knew that voice when she used to read her Bible constantly. When she was fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Not anymore.
She wasn't worth the good plans anymore, God could keep it to Himself. All she needed now was to have her Yomi back, for their relationship to go back to the way it used to be—sweet and honey-filled.
Shall we then continue in sin and expect grace to abound?
She burst into tears afresh. She willed the voice to stop but it seemed to be stronger even in her confusion.
The door creaked and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Yomi stepped in and looked at her, his eyes soft and repentant. He bent towards her and gathered her in his arms.
“I'm so sorry, pumpkin. I won't do this again.” His voice was so soft and tender, shaking like he was on the brim of tears. “I just can't take it, you smiling sweetly at another guy. I can't afford to lose you. I love you so much, and I don't want any other guy near you.”
She whimpered. “You should have just told me that and allowed me to explain, not hurt me like this.”
“I won't do it again, I promise.” He gazed at the welts he had made on her skin and began to kiss each one as he sobbed. “I'm so sorry. This will be the last time.”
He unzipped her skirt, slowly caressing her skin and she began to melt as always, her pains momentarily disappearing.
He loves me. And I love him, too. So much.
Yet deep within her heart, she knew it happened this way the previous times and this wouldn't be the last.