chapter twenty seven

"Arielle, l want you to be be honest with me and just tell me what happened", auntie Yolei said trying to keep herself from lashing at us before she knew everything.

Our entire ride back home had been tense. Deborah kept saying soothing words to calm Auntie Yolei who was tightly gripping the steering and driving a little above the speed limit.

Keisty and l sat on the couch, looking down at the floor guiltily. Auntie Yolei was standing in front of us like a teacher. She was impatiently waiting for me to say something.

"I leave you two alone, just for a night and just what l get to find out...", she sighed then went to the cushioned seat she had placed in front of us. She set cross legged, her elbow on her knee and rested her cheek on her balled fist.

"Arielle honey, what happened?, did someone force you again?", her voice had softened with concern.

"No".

"Then you did it willingly?", she waited attentively.

The words made me blush shamefully. I didn't know how l would ever be able tell her anything without getting Keisty into the picture.

"It was a mistake", that was all l could come up with.

"Mistake?", she raised one eyebrow.

"Yes, l'm really sorry. l will accept any punishment you will impose"

"I know you're sorry and you are definitely grounded but first l want to know what happened. You are not getting off that couch without telling me, even if it means missing school tomorrow ", she said firmly.

I kept fiddling with my fingers nervously. I couldn't tell what Keisty was thinking. She was sitting still, nervousness and hesitance showed on her face. I had a feeling that she was contemplating on saying something.

Auntie Yolei, after a while of glaring at me without getting any answers turned her head to look at Keisty.

"Keisty, you seem to know something", auntie Yolei noted. "I know that you want to cover up for your sister but that's not how you protect her, you're loosing her".

The last few words made Keisty look back at auntie Yolei. The idea seemed to have really disturb her.

"Now tell me, l trusted you with her and this happened. I'm hoping that you at least know how it happened or you have proven to be untrustworthy".

I felt Keisty's lips quivering. Her hands clutched the hem of her blouse tightly turning her knuckles white.

"It was me mom, l did that to her?", Keisty confessed.

Auntie Yolei's mouth hung low as she listened to what her daughter was saying.

"I swear she didn't mean to, she was drunk", l said trying to lessen the situation but the way auntie Yolei froze and looked at me even more surprised made me realize that l made a mistake.

"I did it mom, it's not her fault, l forced myself on her. I admit that l felt a little bold because I had taken wine at dinner"

l tried to reason, "But it was also my fault. We had a fight at the balcony and she was really upset"

Auntie Yolei was at loss of words. She gaped at us as though she was in outer space. I couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"Mom", Keisty's voice was shaky now. " I'm responsible for everything that happened and l am very sorry for not being responsible enough and l'm sorry for taking wine yesterday but to be honest... I don't regret what l did to her last night, l'm sorry"

I fearfully looked at auntie Yolei, to say she was angry would be an understatement, she looked furious.

Against all odds, Keisty grasped my hands in hers causing us to face each other. Tears were glistening in her eyes.

"Arielle, l don't think l'm still able to look at you and still see the same cousin sister l once saw. I have always had feelings for you from the start but now that l uncovered your nakedness, its become more unbearable. Forgive me for being selfish but, l always wanted you all to myself and it ate me seeing other people trying to make their way to you.

Arielle Loire, the truth is, I LOVE YOU "

By now, tears were flooding down my cheeks. I was dump found. l wished l could just wake up to find that l was dreaming. When she said those things yesterday, l thought she was speaking with a wine induced mind but now ...

My mind was going back and forth in a whirlwind. Keisty was seriously having these feelings, how was l supposed to take it. I don't know why she said it but obviously it won't work out, it's incest.

"Keisty, you are the most caring and strong and protective girl l have ever known but we're cousins and l don't want to loose that relationship with you.", l said in-between sobs.

"Arielle listen", she whispered with pleading eyes, "l know we're cousins but can't we go beyond that, we wouldn't be the first ones in history".

She paused to wipe a stray tear and steadied her voice. "Arielle l promise, l will make you happy every single day. Seeing you happy is what brings a smile to my face. I will take care of you, you won't have to worry about anything, l will make sure you will be contented. I will stay by your side when you're sick and will never leave you. I will protect you from all the harsh realities of life and make sure that you will stay in a bubble of joy. Your life will be a flowery bed of ease.

Arielle, l'm not a lustful or shallow person to get infatuated for a moment and then forget my promises. I mean every word l say. Arielle when l look at you, l'm not seeing a piece to strengthen our family name or just alluring innocent beauty, l'm seeing a future, us happily having a family with happy children and ..."

"No Keisty please, we can remain cousins, that will be enough for me ", l cut her before she would say more things that hurt me.

I had to look away from her or else l would have taken back my words. The shattered look on her face made my heart ache. Her lips were dried with hopefully pleading.

"Arielle please", came out a weak shivering voice, one l had never heard her use before.

Before my resolve melted, l quickly rose from the couch and walked away. I left her sobbing defeatedly hugging herself as if she was out in the cold rain. I had to temporarily hold myself together so that l wouldn't break in front of her.

I looked back only when l was taking my first step up the stairs. She harshly wiped her tear stained cheeks when her eyes met mine.

"I will always love you Arielle", she weakly mumbled.

That had me running to my room with my hand covering my mouth.

-

"Arielle, l brought your uniform", Deborah called from behind the door.

I opened the door then she handed me the uniform. "Thank you", l smiled gratefully.

"Come for breakfast as soon as you're done ok"

"Okay"

To say that l was anxious would be an understatement because l felt a jumble of emotions, shame, hurt and nervous about what was laying ahead of me.

After l changed into my uniform, l peeked out of my room. Auntie Yolei was leaning against Keisty's door tiredly like she didn't get an ounce of sleep that night.

"Keisty you need to get out of that bed now and change for school", auntie Yolei wearily demanded.

"No mom, l'm not feeling well, l'm sure you understand me because l have never skipped school purposefully before", l heard Keisty's muffled voice from inside her bedroom.

"And you're not skipping school today neither, besides, you are the one who has to drive Arielle to school, do you want her to miss her lessons?"

"You can drop her on your way to work, if l go with her it will be torture, she won't like to talk to me, she will be avoiding me", Keisty said in a defeated voice.

"You said you were angry at her because of that basket ball guy at school, what's his name again?", auntie Yolei asked.

"That horny bastard ", l heard Keisty hiss from her room.

"Imagine how happy he would be to see that you are absent, and you know how vulnerable Arielle is. Do you perhaps prefer that he do the honours for you."

There was silence for a while from the other side of the door before there came out a small determined voice.

"I will go"

-

At the table l found Deborah stirring and blowing on a bowl of hot instant porridge. I stared at her curiously, she doesn't usually eat porridge.

"This is yours", she said noticing my stare.

"Aw, but why blowing it", l asked embarrassed.

"It's hot, duh".

I laughed, Deborah was suddenly showing me an amusing side of her that l didn't know she had.

"What's next, you are going to feed me too", l said laughing, "l'm not a baby".

"But you're my baby", she whined.

"Good morning everyone", auntie Yolei said pulling a chair out. She sat down tiredly, leaning her forehead in her palm with her eyes closed.

"I just hope you will be able to pull it through the day", Deborah commented.

"I hope so too, if it wasn't for the important meeting l have today l wouldn't have forced myself to go".

Deborah handed me my bowl then rounded the table and went behind auntie Yolei's chair. She leaned to her ear and whispered.

"I will promise you a tiresome night that will double your exhaustion, you will sleep like a baby".

"I will be looking forward to it", l heard auntie Yolei whisper back.

"Arielle you have to eat quickly, Keisty will catch up with you in the car", auntie Yolei said looking at me.

-

I waited for Keisty in the car. She followed later walking like a zombie.  Although she had put on a subtle makeup l could still see the dark circles around her eyes. Like auntie Yolei, she looked like she didn't sleep. Holding a flask of strong coffee to keep herself alive.

Even though looking tired, she still looked beautiful in her uniform. Her blonde hair in a ponytail, leaving two loose strands dangling from her forehead.

I don't know if it was the way she walked if she was tired but her curvy hips seemed to be swaying a bit more when she was walking, it was seductive. Her plaid skirt was bobbing from side to side.

She closed the door after she had set in her driver's seat then she turned to look at me with a strained smile on her face.

"Hi", she said with a strangled voice.

"Hey", l responded trying to use a lighter tone.

I know Keisty is going through a hard time right now and l don't want to make things worse for her. I will try as much as I can to be at least bearable.

"You are pretty but you don't look so alive, did you sleep well", l asked concerned.

"Sleep well?, if l even had any. I will be fine though don't worry", she said igniting the engine. "How about you, did you have a good night?"

I wasn't sure how l should answer that question, it sounds heartless to admit that you slept throughout the whole night when someone didn't even wink a sleep. So l stayed quiet.

Keisty maneuvered the car into the highway. I was fearing that she will start dozing on the steering.

I cleared my throat, "Keisty you really should stop being like this, or else l would have to live somewhere else. I can't endure seeing you so eaten up for long"

Her eyes widened, a bit of shock shone on her face. She sighed sagging her shoulders to look calm.

"Don't worry about it, l'm sure you will get used to it. I can't promise that I will get over it, you are the only one who can fill that sore empty spot in my heart but l understand you don't want to see me around so l will give you your space".

That was the last we spoke except the 'see you later' we said after stepping out of the car.

I don't know how we will get through this but we certainly have to before it destroys the both of us.