Sunbeam crept from the window into the hospital ward where Amanda helplessly laid on a stretcher. Bit by bit, it illuminated the ward as the golden soft diffuse rays settled on her face, waking her up in the process. She groaned in pain. Her face was plastered all over as it was almost completely burned by the acid unknown assailants attacked her with. Having gone through several surgeries, she was healing gradually. But it was certain that Amanda's pretty face would never remain the same again. It was a write-off, and this caused her so much heartbreak. Now she wished for the face she had earlier. The face that had the 'wits and zits' which was a lot better than her present broken spotted burned and nasty face. She was depressed. There was no point in her covetiousness as everything she once craved for began to crumble so quick since she got her 'money'. She gave her education ample attention which led to it's deserved consequence - failure! Although she had in mind that professor Anikulapo would sort that out, only to be stupified after his appointment got terminated by the polytechnic. This was after he was filmed having oral sex with some female students and the video leaked out and went viral. He was sacked and the girls got rusticated after several months before the panel and Senate hearings.
Baroque walked in silently holding two big shopping bags in both hands.
"Good morning my dear. I hope you feel better. I'm so sorry. I was coming from a grocery store then I decided to get you these," she said with sympathy in her voice.
Amanda turned to her direction. She was quite dazzled by the light. Baroque sensed this and shut the window blinds.
"Thanks Baroque. I can't just appreciate you enough for your kindness," Amanda managed to say.
"It's fine," she helped Amanda sit up on the stretcher.
"I'm gradually getting okay. Doc said I'd be getting discharged in less than a month."
"Wow. That's good news. Infact, you really need to be thankful. Thank God it wasn't bad to the point of flying you out of the country for a plastic surgery.. plus you weren't dead. What really happened?"
"It's really sad. It happened a night I was returning from a visit to my family house and I took that short route. That footpath in Ayegun bush. I deliberately didn't want to use my car or go big and blings in order to avoid approaches of suspicion from my interrogative family members. I parked the car at an expressway some kilometers away, changed into casual clothes and went just simple. At dusk while returning, some masked men jumped out of the bush. Guessed they laid an ambush for me. I threw my bags away to flee for my life but they were twice as fast. I tripped over a stone and immediately, I was surrounded by the men. I dreaded I was about to be raped. The shadowy figure of one of them which I thought should be their leader drew nearer to me and uttered a statement that sent the shiver down my spine. "Next time, you don't meddle with whatever that is not your business!" He lifted up a container and spilled the content on my head and fled with his guys," Amanda wept, saddened by the horrible experience.
Baroque yawned and drank a bottle of cold water. "Hmmmm that's unfortunate. Anyways, a man's enemies will always be those of his own household."
"Meaning??" Amanda folded her arms staring inquisitively as awe transformed her face.
Baroque took a deep breath. She was a bit skittish. "I know who did this to you, but promise to leave me out of this. You wouldn't say I told you"
"Can you please talk? Who?!!"
"Promise me first," she juttered in fear.
"If you don't speak up, I'll assume you have taken a side with the perpetrator. And you know this wouldn't be funny!!" Amanda threatened with rage.
"Alright alright. It's Bimbo. Yes your friend, Bimbo," she replied with fear.
"So, how did you get to know that?" Amanda asked.
"I was at her place few days ago, and she told me everything. Every bit of what she said tallied with everything you just said. Besides, I met them celebrating and it turned out that your predicament was the reason for the celebration."
"Oh really?" Amanda shook her head as she faked a smile. Several ideas of a perfect revenge started surging in from that moment. She was going to She deal with Bimbo. knew her comeback would be worse.
"Make sure you deal with that girl. Make her life a living hell for making you pass through these. She's wicked. Anyways, keep my name out of this. Don't say you heard it from me. I'm off," Baroque left.
"In less than three days, her obituary shall be announced!! I'd kill that bitch" Amanda vowed.