SOFT MOANS

Today I was performing at the senator's daughter's wedding ceremony. The wedding was beautiful and colorful, and we witnessed a very young couple tying the knot. The most amazing part is how deeply they seemed to be in love. Their love, care, admiration, and adoration were evident in their eyes. They are so young, but they have learned the mastery of true love. It makes me want to find someone to fall in love with, but I better stop dreaming. I don't think I am meant to be loved.

As a gift, I decided to perform my newest song, A Love Never Dies, and the sweet couple joined me on stage, and of course, a few more people. I wish them nothing but the best happiness in their lives together.

As I was rushing to the gate to get into the car, sneaking out of the celebration that felt like it was just starting rather than ending, someone shouted my name, and I made a u-turn. I did not want people to see me leaving so early and start asking questions. I hoped whoever was calling had a very good reason. When I turned, my eyes met the face of a very beautiful lady running towards me. As usual, Ejay's security dogs stopped the woman before she could even say hi. I must say they are really annoying, extremely annoying, but Ejay does not want to let them off by back. So I have to deal with them in my own way. Even after telling them to give us a minute, they stood still like electric polls, and I had to nearly yell my lungs out before they took a few steps away. I inquired who the lady was, and she told me she was from the music association of Kenya. She then handed me an invitation card and said,

"We are nominating you to represent our country in the music extravaganza show, which will be held a week from today in Mombasa."

At first, I thought I didn't hear the lady well, then a surge of mixed feelings spurred me. I was overwhelmed by the fact that in the whole country, they saw me fit. I was not the only one nominated, but being one of the five that the country nominated among the hundreds of thousands of musicians this country has, I feel greatly honored. I have been given the privilege to meet new people from this country and beyond. The opportunity to explore another county, another different place, which is so new to me, is in my hands. I am still looking at the card in my hands, reading it over and over, and even for the twentieth time that I am reading it, I still can't believe it.

I want to jump down and shout at the top of my voice for people to know how happy I am right now. But something reminds me that I am co-living my life with someone else. He even has more to say about my life than I do. Now that drains all the hope I had in me to travel and take some time away from this stress. I badly want to go. I want to take a break away from Ejay. Maybe when I get back, I will have an idea of what to do. But knowing Ejay, I don't know how valid this dream is. Either way, I will try.

Entering through the gate, I step out of the car, and I am dismayed to see Ejay's car parked outside. He knew I was not around, because the only time I don't inform him when I am doing something is when I am breathing. So why did he come here? He did not even call me. Strange, but this might be the perfect timing for me to let him know about the extravaganza. I should do it as early as possible, so that I will have the next three or four days of begging and trying to convince him. I know he will not agree immediately, and the highest chance is that he will refuse.

I stride inside my house, waiting to see Ejay sitting on the couch or at the dining table, but no, I can't see him anywhere. Only his shoes are at the door. Where is he? And my two impossible friends—actually one now, because one changed. Where are they? It's so quiet. I walk to the kitchen first to see if they are there, but none of them are. I close the door and start upstairs; maybe they are sleeping. It's not like I give them work to do around here anyway. But if they are in their rooms, Ejay does not have a room in my house, right? Yes, he doesn't. But his shoes are inside the house, meaning he is inside too, but where? In my room? Maybe because that jerk has no manners at all.

I am about to finish the stairs when I hear some soft moans coming from the very first room on this floor. It is Mayleen's. Is she crying again? If this girl continues like this, she will go mad. She has to control whatever is happening to her. I get close, past the stairs now, and I am just outside her door. What could be happening to her? God please, h.e.l.p. Wait, those moans

I walk in a bit closer, and the moans start getting louder and louder.

They don't sound like sobs at all. They sound like...no! Can't be.

But they are so clear!

Someone wake me up from this dream. As her noise becomes uncontrollably loud, her partner decides to join her, and they start to chorus together, calling God knows what names and screaming like they are in Ejay's office, where they are used to doing this. This is my house, for freaking sake! And they have the guts to screw in here?

I kick the door without hesitating and I budge in. Holy crap! So this is why this son of a bitch did not care to tell me he would be coming to my house today? Because he was not coming to keep taps on his pet today, but rather to satisfy him. How dare Ho come here just to screw his bitch? What kind of insolence is this?

"Gia." I was in another world, only to return to this world of sinners when Mayleen spoke. The fools don't even make an effort to hide their pathetic, naked selves in front of me. And why the heck are her hands tied to the bed? This other bitch of a man does not even have the courage to speak. How dare they?

"So you decided to bring the brothel into my house? Aren't you even ashamed? If at all I don't deserve your respect, can't you respect yourselves one bit, just one bit, you filthy fools?"

"Hey, watch your mouth..." Ejay started picking up his trash of clothes from the floor, but I shut him up.

"Oh, shut your mouth! You have the guts and the audacity to open your stinky mouth and tell me to watch my mouth? Don't you think you should have watched your sexual desires first?" I retort.

"It is just sex! It's not like we killed and buried someone in your house!"

the balls this son of a whore has, huh? Today he has crossed another boundary, and I am not going to allow this disrespect. They can do it anywhere, so damn it, please, for all I care, just not my house.

"You both are so shameless. So pathetic. You stink."

"Don't say something you will regret later, Gia!" Ejay warns as Mayleen tries to pull up her dress after untying herself from the bed.

"Regret? Make me Ejay! What will you do? Slap me? Punch me? Or maybe pull a gun and shoot me? Oh, will you tie me too to the bed? That will make you one million times a man, right?"

"I told you to shut up, Gia."

"And I dare you to shut me up, Ejay! Come on! I dare you!"

And there. I received what I was asking for. I knew he would not hesitate to hurt me, and he has proven that just now. He did exactly what I asked and shut me up with a slap resounding that is making my empty head spin with more emptiness.

I force myself to stand up from the floor where his slap sent me. My face is already red, sore, and painful like hell. "You can slap me a million times if you want, you sick bastard, but I will still tell you the truth." I walk back to where he is standing, Mayleen trying to hold his hand. "Read my lips Ejay. I don't care how hurt you are by my words or how many times you slap me, but I know one thing. This is my house, and I will not condone this insolence. Screw your bitches to the core for all I care, but not in my house. Since your fun moment has been cut short and there is no way I am letting it happen again, why don't you get your disgusting self out of my house? Get out, and take your b*tch with you before I get out if you don't want me to kill you both!" I walk out, slamming the door behind me, and I walk to my bedroom. I better not find them when I get out. He dares slap me after what they just did to me. Bastard! He can go entertain his guests tonight with his bitch.