A jolt against Ixora thighs cuts off her trails of thoughts as her phone rang . She stared at the caller ID that made her heart jumped in fear.
" I have to go , mother . " Ixora muttered hurriedly and made a cross sigh with her rosary before rushing out of the church.
The Reverend mother slowly shook her head as she stared at Adrianna shoulder . " Peace be unto you , dearest child." She muttered with a silent prayer .
The Reverend mother is acquainted with Ixora ever since when she was a little girl. Her parents always brought her to the church. The church is the only place for Ixora that connected her with her parent . The Reverend mother slowly shook her head in pity.
"Hail Mary , full of grace....." The Reverend mother hummed softly with the rosary over her head .
Ixora rushed out of the chapel hurriedly with her body jittering. She feared of Aunt Magnolia reaction. As she took a glance at her wrist watch she took in her lips and ran over her hair with a soft exhale. It's past 7, Aunt Clarice would be starving and she could already view Stacy rolling her eyes waiting for her at the door .
Something struck on her face and she staggered almost falling on their face " Christ." Ixora mumbled breathlessly holding her breath and saw the thing that struck her face. A ball, it was a ball. She saw a group of children running towards her with their sober cute faces.
" Sister .You aren't hurt? Are you?" One of them asked concerned .
" She got hurt!" A boy among them pointed at Ixora bleeding nose. Wild gasp erupted from the children lips and they stared at Ixora soberly with their lips pouted sadly .
" Oh goodness , sister .We are so sorry. " They held their ears with cute pouts on their lips .
Ixora finally smiled , holding unto her bleeding nose" It's fine. Just be careful , okay. So you wouldn't get injured . " She smiled lightly and gave them back the ball.
The children let go of their ears with dazzlingly smile spreading across their lips" Thank you., Aunty." They said with happy grin on their face.
The boy who asked the earlier question whispered to his friend and they started giggling spreading it to the other kid's. Ixora stared at them confused. Are they laughing because of her bleeding nose or worn - out clothes and shoes. She looked tattered and she is aware of that. But these are the finest of her dress, you don't want to see the rest of her rags which she call dresses .
Suddenly the boy got pushed out among his friends and bit his lips shyly adding to her perplexity. If theses children dare spout nonsense , hell she was going to give them some home- training they refused to collect.. Ixora creased her brows with a frown as she turned sharply walking away
" Sister ." The boy word made Ixora halt in her tracks.
" You have a beautiful smile " No one except her parents called her beautiful , boys get displeased by her tattered looks. The clothes she wore are dresses Stacy turn to rags but Aunt Clarice gave it to her like it was something valuable.
" You are more beautiful than my mother. " The boy came closer to her with a wide grin " When I grow up . I would marry a beautiful woman like you . "
Ixora bashed her lashes before releasing a thin line of smile , she bent closer to the kid's height " Don't just marry a beautiful woman. Marry someone you love . Okay. And don't talk about marriage yet. You are way too young for that. But thank you for calling me beautiful. You are so sweet." She pulled his cheeks playfully and roughed his hair .
Ixora phone made a buzz and she knew she was doomed at that incessant ringing of the phone . She turned off taking to her heels fastly, she doesn't want any trouble tonight with her Aunt.
The boy stared delusioned with a sweet smile. His friends came closer. He staggered holding onto his sister shoulder.. " She called me sweet." He muttered holding his chest and his friend shosok their heads bemused.
" Get off me!" His sister playfully snarled.
" Oh jealous!!!!" The others jested and bursted into laughter's holding their stomach as their laughter exploded more.
•
•
Ixora stood at the door breathing through her mouth. She couldn't believe but she had to run all the way home, the bus drove off before she could get in. She couldn't enter a taxi because of her insufficient funds.
When orphan kid's whine about their guardians being wicked , yet they are dressed averagely, get pocket money and attend the regular school. Ixora couldn't help but feel their ungratefulness. She would do anything to be in their shoes.
Ixora turned the door knob slowly with her head popped inside , her heart accelerating at each turn. She breathed out relieved and walked in but felt a splash directed on her face. Her eyes widened with outrage as she stared at her dress. Did she just get bathed with fish water?
" Oh sorry. I thought you were the dumpster. You look pretty alike." Stacy threw the bucket at her feet and turned at the stairs.
" Mom, dino girl is here!!" She said with a wicked smile directed at Ixora .
The name Dino girl was given to her by Stacy . On prom night , the most memorable night Ixora have ever dreamed of. She had been crushing on a particular boy in highschool for the past two years but couldn't muster the courage. Strangely, the boy asked her to dance. She get to dance with Carloss . Their school football Captain and many girl crushes.
She couldn't contain her joy. She happily endured her burden. But on prom night , her dress she bought with her part time salary got drenched with fish water. Yes fish water! Stacey had assumed it to be a rag and she used it to clean the kitchen. She threw it away soiled and unrecognizable. Ixora threw her fists up when she discovered Stacey cruel act.
She complained to Aunt Clarice who snubbed her completely and Ixora had never felt dejected. Clarice got bored and went into the store. They was a string of hope for Ixora , she knew her aun to be a fashionista . Her hopes got diminished immediately as she saw the outfit Clarice brought out. A dinosaur outfit. It made her look like a clown on that day and she felt stupid.
Ixora didn't want to disobey Aunt Clarice even though she didn't like the dress. She tried to talk her into giving her another dress, only for Stacy to ruin her chances telling Clarice that she was all giddy to attend prom because of a boy.
So hence her miserable night, she was forced to go to school dressed as a dinosaur , while Stacy in her elegant beautiful black net outfit that turned necks towards her . The whole school jeered when they saw Ixora and gave her the name "Dino girl." Carlos felt embarrassed , so embarrassed he couldn't stare into her eyes , he just walked off only for him to dance with Stacy that night.
" I really thought I felt something special like a connection. If you didn't want to dance with me, you should have said so but you came dressed this way just to humiliate me. You are a sick weirdo! I cant believe i took interest in you . You flighty pig. " Carlos spewed angrily that night. " Get out of my way !!" Carlos pushed Ixora aside . immediately he left Ixora went to her kness sobbing bitterly
Ixora didn't knew who gave him the wrong impression about her but ever since that night till their college examination. Carlos hated her ! Even his stares were so cold. His pride got hurt but her heart was shattered seeing him together with Stacey sharing their moments. Moments she dreamed about, moment she saved for.
Worse , Stacey got hooked with him and they started dating. Ixora couldn't shake off this feeling that. Stacey had planned this all along. It was hurtful seeing him every weekend in their house and seeing him kissing Stacey, sometimes she heard them making out.
Ixora then realized nobody in their right sense would ever look her way and even if they did ,it would be for a fleeting period before her ugliness struck them hard on the face .
" Oh goodness. Stacey ." Ixora gasped for air as Stacey dumped the fish water on her face.
" Peasant . Is that you. ?" Clarice approached the door with cucumbers on her face , just like her daughter she is obsessed with skin care , despite that they cant stand near to ixora when it comes to beauty . Ixora looked beautiful without taking care of her skin and it annoys them.
" Oh goodness. What's this awful smell?" Aunt Clarice held her nose with her tounge stucked outside disdainfully.
" It .. Sta..."
" Ixora bumped into me while I was about to throw it out." Stacey cut off with a wicked sneer on her face.
" You peasant , are you blind?" Clarice hand met Ixora cheeks instantly.
" Aunt." Ixora muttered gripping her damp tears with tears brimming at the corner of her eyes , Stacey smirked secretly in sheer wickedness.
" You foolishpauper. Do you plan on tainting my polished tiles. Do you know how much I got it! You disgusting thing! You incorrigible fool! You bastard!!! How dare you smear my polished tiles. Can your late parents afford it . You miscreant!" Clarice scrreamed angrily while giving Ixora a wild push
" Wipe it off . " Clarice muttered with rage .
Ixora helplessy swallowed , she searched for the mob stick to no avail , while fidgeting , sweat breaking out on her forehead.
" Where is the mob stick!" Clarice snapped irritatedly.
Ixora swallowed back averrting Clarice harsh glare .
" Are you deaf!" Stacey bawled angrily " Mom is talking to you , how dare you keep mute peasant!"
"It was here this morning." Ixora muttered inaudibly trying not to release her tears.
Stacey tore off Ixora dress from her body and threw it on the floor stepping on it with her feet. " Wipe it before it gets inside the kitchen."
Ixora couldn't take it in. Tears brimming at the corners of her eyes fell , she clenched her dress tightly while exhaling slowly . " Stacey , I just got that shirt yesterday and... And you tore it off."
" Oh I am sorry. " Stacey said with a glitzy smile crept up on her lips. " I thought it was one of the rags."
" But. It's new It has a.. a logo and..."
" Stop ranting. "Magnolia angrily cuts in " Clean off the dirt , I want to see it sparklig after wards prepare dinner and run a bath for me , make it lukewarm " Magnolia snapped walking away .
" And after . Go to my room and pick up my dirty laundry. Dino girl." Stacey grimly whispered with a eering smile on her lips.
" eww you smell Peasant . Really,,,,,, bad." Her wicked laughter followed as she turned her back heading out of the door.
" Mom , I am going over to Carlos!." Stacey announced and the door shut followed .
" Alright sweetie. Have fun. " Clarice replied back with a yell from the living room,Clarice laughters followed as she watched her soap operas.
Ixora stared down her chest the only piece that covered her nakedness was now reeking of fish smell , she stared at her torn dress and sniffed back in her tears . Her gaze fell on something , the mob stick. It was behind the door all along and Stacey stood behind it purposely.
Ixora released those fresh tears she has been holding onto. She held her chest as her heart wrenched in undescribable pain. She felt so tortured she couldn't make a noise while crying. Why is she treated in this inhumane manner?
