ALMOST UNFIXABLE.

032 - Shutter Speed and Small Talks.

I shook my head

"I think I can take it," I said, trying to form hard guy. But Tola saw right through that, raising his eyebrows inquisitively. "I said I can take it," I repeated.

"You cried this morning, Jidenna... and every other time that I dressed your back." He reminded me of those embarrassing moments. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Well, now I'm getting used to the pain," I answered. "I can take it," I added, lying down completely on the bed, my head facing the other side.

I fisted the duvet beneath me, knowing for a fact that no matter how many times this goes on, I can never handle the pain... will never get used to it.

"Alright, if you say so," Tola said. I wasn't looking at him but I bet he had shrugged.

The man didn't even give me time to brace myself before he began to pour the methylated spirit all over my back. Yes, he poured the entire bottle... and I felt the sharp and painful stings from every slash it touched pierce every part of my back.

"Fuck!" I groaned out, almost leaping off the bed.

"I thought you said you could take it." Tola teased.

"Shut up!"

I screamed, throwing my head back into the pillow to muffle the uncontrollable groans that kept spilling out of my mouth. My eyes began to water as I let out a painful growl, burying my teeth into the pillow to stop me from screaming so much, my hands fisting even deeper into the mattress.

I'm not going to cry...

I'm not going to cry...

I'm not going to cry...

I kept reciting in my mind even though beads of tears dropped from my eyes and soaked the pillow.

"Take a deep breath, Jidenna," Tola said, soothingly this time, trying to calm my already heightened nerves. I growled lowly, punching in the bed with the pain still overwhelming.

"Why aren't they healing?" My voice came out more cracked and shaky than I wanted it to. I didn't have to look up for Tola to know that I was in severe pain...

...that I was crying.

"They are healing but they will take time." He answered. I heard the clanging on metals and I knew he was about to start cleaning me up. Taking deep, calming breaths, I turned my face to the side so that I could see what he was doing.

"The slashes from the whip reopened from older wounds on your back." He continued, glancing at me for a bit before he picked up the cotton wool with his glove-clad hand.

"It's not just going to miraculously heal overnight. It will take quite a while." He said, cleaning my back softly and gently. "Which is why I still think you should take a break from school. Don't resume tomorrow." He added after a moment of silence.

I almost sat up at that, but I couldn't. I had to stay put.

"Take a break from school? Don't resume tomorrow?" I asked incredulously, chuckling in sarcasm afterward. "It's been a little over a week, Tola. I was unconscious for six days and out of those six days, I missed three days of school for the first time. Thank God all these is falling during the mid-term."

I haven't put on my phone since I woke up. I don't even want to imagine the number of messages TK must have left for me.

"It is just an advice, Jidenna. But it's the best one I can give you right now." He paused the cleaning. "If anyone notices you are in pain in school, don't you think it would spark some sort of suspicion?" He asked me and continued to dab my back with the wet cotton wool.