CONTEMPT

Diva watched John and his mom stare at the portrait, she had a very frustrated look on her face, if John wasn't going to make her moan every night and day then why is she still in the house? She approached them and cleared her throat.

Mirabella turned and smiled at her, "take a look at this." she pointed to the portrait. "Isn't it looking so beautiful?"

"When did this arrive?" she asked and moved closer to the portrait, threw her head backwards to have a better view.

"I guess a few hours ago." Mirabella replied with her eyes fixed on the portrait.

"I had no idea, I was in the room all along-" she sighed heavily. "All by myself."

"Go back home Duva." John said softly. "I know you aren't comfortable here, just go to where you will find peace."

"What do you mean where she will find peace?" asked Mirabella.

"She obviously needs someone to talk to, and none of us is available for that." He exhaled sharply. "Only if she wants to talk to the domestic workers or Anne!" He smiled maniacally.

"Do not involve Anne in any sort of conversation, she is still young, just fifteen." Mirabella said gently as though she was passing a very important piece of information.

"How can you even think of me having conversations with any of those low lives? Including the young Anne!"

John looked at his mom then shake his head. "I don't know what to say."

"I will be in my room." Mirabella excused herself.

"I will be going back home today, I can't stay where no one likes me."

"Is it that you changed so much or I never knew you then?"

"What?"

John sighed and put his hands into his pockets. "The Diva I knew then was one of the sweetest things that has ever happened to me. She was cool and soft, understood and supported me, even when I wanted to be a lawyer."

"And now?" Diva asked looking straight in his eyes. "How do you perceive me now?"

"You are young lady who knows nothing, being pushed around." He lowered his voice. "So obsessed with cock."

"You made me like that, you started having sex with me at what age?" She said with a sneer.

"We were young then Diva, so young and reckless."

"Really?!" She raised her voice. "You promised to marry then John."

"But we got separated-"

"You mom separated us!" She yelled cutting him off.

"Diva please stop this, you really know nothing about what you want to bring up." He paused. "If I should continue with this conversation, you will never forget this day."

She moved closer to him, so close that she could hear his breaths. "I left home because of you."

"You weren't the only one who left home Diva! I left home too and do you know what it cost me?" He looked at her for a while and walked calmly to his room.

Diva watched him until he disappeared out of her sight. "What is wrong with him?"

************

Mirabella bent to her drawers, searching for something and the soft knock on the don't distracted her. She rises and asked "Anne?"

"Diva." she said bluntly.

"Is there a problem?" Mirabella didn't want to let her in her room.

"Not really." Diva opened the door. "I just want to ask a few things from you."

"Well, you already opened the door, come in." She sat at the edge of her bed.

Diva walked in and sat close to Mirabella, facing her. "Please, I want you to tell me nothing but the truth."

The savage look on Mirabella's changed immediately she noticed the somber tone in Diva's voice. "Is everything okay?"

"Ten years ago-" Mirabella's eyes widened. "Are you okay?"

"Of course, I am." She stuttered. "I am just wondering what you are so curious about what you want to ask of."

"Thay night, when I left home, what happened?"

Mirabella became restless, she stood and started pacing to and fro. "Happened in what aspect?"

"John mentioned something like he left home too, I am so confused about it, and I guess he is being mean to me for that reason, I feel like I am making old wounds bleed and-"

"Diva!" Mirabella called with her forehead covered in sweats. "Retire to your room, ten years ago was nothing."

"The other day uncle Richard was here too, he made reference to me as the source of John's ruins-"

"Leave my room." she interrupted her. "You have nothing to worry about." She smiled.

"You not going to tell me the truth and keep me in the dark?" Diva stood few paces away from from her. "Tell me now, please."

"Tell you what?" Mirabella scoffed. "I had a long and stressful day, I need to rest."

Diva looked at her with contempt for a while before walking out of the room.

She could have decided to walk straight to John's room or the room she was currently sleeping at or even decided to go back home where everyone accepted her. But Diva decided to walk straight to Neo's room, the apartment John practically willed out to him about six months ago. She opened the some without knocking.

Neo, in shock and just a towel round his waist, his broad chest had a scar which we can say at some point, disfigured his perfect body. "You should learn to knock before walking in."

"I'm sorry." she stepped in and shut the door.

"How may I be of help to you?" He placed both hands on his waist.

"I came here to ask a question, no one is willing to give me an answer, and I hope you are different."

"What is that?" Neo asked again.

"What happened ten years ago?" her eyes and his engaged in a long stare.

John cleared his throat to break the silence. "In this house, no one dares talk about what happened ten years ago, not even me." He shrugged his shoulders. "I wasn't even here then, so I obviously have nothing to say."