You're the one I Dream of
Attuma sat at the bedside of Okoye in a chair, next to her bed, as he observed her sleeping pattern. It was erratic. He heard the motor of the land rover, before it reached the open meadows just beyond Okoye’s home. And when Shuri drove up front of the house, and the door slamming to the vehicle.
Then her rushed footsteps on each step; and her opening the front door, making haste to the room Okoye laid in her bed. She paused in the doorway, looking into his worn eyes, then at Okoye. He stood up pointing to beyond her, gesturing for them to talk elsewhere. She turned and headed for the front room. He cracked the door, and followed Shuri.
“There are some things you should know,” he turned to her. “Something is wrong with Okoye, and I don’t know if it’s physical, or mental.”
“What do you mean?” She asked.
“Last night I was swimming, as I usually do,” he begins. “Okoye came up on her pet rhino, as she had done the night before.”
“Wait, so, that’s where she went?” Shuri noticed how exhausted he appeared. “You don’t look so well yourself. Sit, while I warm up some of Okoye’s special fruit tea. And you can enlighten me on what’s going on with her.” He did as she asked, and as she thought, he did feel somewhat drained of energy.
“She evidently, had no idea who I was, the first night,” he says.
“But she would have, when you met at the restaurant; wouldn’t she?” She asked him.
“No, not any of those times,” he told her.
“I’m not understanding, why not? She met you the other night, and returned to the same place last night.” Shuri came with the two mugs and handed him one, then sat in her favorite recliner; and waited for his answer. That’s when she noticed, he had this certain expression on his face. “What?”
“We didn’t have any interaction the first night,” he told her.
“Huh? Why not?” She asked, she wanted to understand.
“Shuri, when I swim; I don’t wear any clothing,” he informed her. She stared at him, then shifted her eyes elsewhere, not being tempted to look. She took a nice sip of the warm nectar. A smile etched across his face. “She hid behind a tree, watching me. So, no, we never interacted, until the restaurant. Even then, I wasn’t aware; she was Okoye.”
“I see,” she said. “But the second time, you did.”
“Yes, and I called to her as she had hidden again,” he stated. “I wanted her to know, I am the one; with who she went on the date.”
“But she spent the night,” she says to him.
“Not by design on her part or mine,” he informed her. “Upon me revealing myself, she went into a panic, and passed out. I took her to my home, where she woke up; dizzy and complaining of a headache.”
“How long had she been out?” She peered down the hall to her room.
“Maybe about an hour,” he told her. “I tried to help in my own way.” He took a sip of the brew, and raised his eyebrows. “This is delicious.” Shuri smiled, but was more interested in him finishing.
“Yes, it’s something she makes especially for me,” she told him, and felt he was being evasive about something. “Why didn’t she just come home after she woke, or call me?”
“She was in a lot of pain, Shuri,” he told her. “And I had to do something to relieve the pain.”
“Wait, what aren’t you telling me?” She stared at him, while he seemed to be searching for the right way to tell her, he used his siren ability on her.
“I used my siren song to relax her; and my heart’s rhythmic to help her sleep, and ease the pain.” He confessed. Shuri sat for a few minutes, allowing what he just told her to digest.
“When did she waken from that?” She sipped some of the brew from the mug.
“The next morning,” he replied. “I was able to convince her; to take a relaxing shower, and eat some breakfast for nourishment; before taking that ride home.”
“That’s when she called me,” Shuri figured out.
“Yes,” he confirmed.
“Okay, but what happened between then and now?” She needed explanation of the time line, for her data.
“When she left me, she was coming home,” he conveniently left out that their parting wasn’t cordial. “Sometime later, I was going into the city; and saw her rhino by the stream, but Okoye nowhere in sight. I went in search of her, and saw her by the stream; passed out.
“Why didn’t you bring her to me?” She was confused.
“Shuri, I was bringing her to you, but she lied to me,” he told her. “She lied to get me to bring her here, instead of to you.”
“I see,” she said. “So, what is it she lied about?”
“She told me, she had medicine that would help the pain.” Shuri had a oh, moment.
“But she doesn’t,” she says.
“No, she doesn’t. Just something you buy at the market place.”
“That’s what you meant by she lied to you,” Shuri shook her head, acknowledging his statement.
“Yes,” he confirmed.
“What happened when you brought her here?” She sipped some tea.
“I was leaving; upon her request. I had made it a distance, when I heard her screaming my name. I looked back, and saw her laying on the steps. I ran as fast as I could to her.” He told her.
“So, did she pass out, or did she just fall asleep?” Shuri noticed he kind of squirmed with the question.
“She passed out. I brought her in and laid her on the couch,” he explained. “She woke up, dizzy and in pain. I took her to her room, and put her in the bed. I asked her where was the medicine, she told me in the drawer. There was nothing but the pills I told you about.”
“You did the siren thing on her?” She inquired.
“Yes, I did,” admitted.
“You did it twice without her permission?” She asked, trying to sum it all up.
“Yes,” he answered. Shuri gave him a certain look, that didn’t sit well with him. “What?”
“Do you even comprehend the complexity of your action?” She asked.
“I’m not sure I do,” he told her confused.
“Attuma,” she says. “You fought her on the bridge, and the ship too. Think about it.” Yeah, she is very tenacious, he has already experienced a sample, with this situation.
“I’m understanding what you’re saying,” he stared at her. “But she was in so much pain, Shuri. And that medicine wasn’t going to help.”
“The sad thing about this. I can’t do anything without her permission,” she informed him.
“But Shuri, she is in so much pain, it knocks her out. And she’s having these panic attacks alongside them.” He explained the dire situation. Shuri looked at him, and realized something in his whole demeanor.
“You’re in love with her,” she stated. He looked away, then back to her.
“Yes, I am; deeply,” he told her.
“What?” A voice intruded in their conversation. Okoye standing in the hallway entrance. Attuma turned quickly to her, wondering if she heard his proclamation of his love for her. And the fact, he thought she would be out for hours.
“Okoye,” he came to her. “Let me explain.”
“Explain? I ask you not to tell Shuri, but you called her anyways,” she said to him. “There’s no explaining away, that simple request you violated.”
“Okoye, he did the right thing. Something you should have done,” Shuri came to his defense. “How would you feel, if I withheld something from you. And besides, you should be pleased he thought so much of you, to let somebody know.” Attuma noticed while Shuri was talking, Okoye’s facial expressions; revealing, she was having another episode. He was there, before she crumbled to the floor. Shuri screamed out, seeing her in this state. He carried her back to her room, and put her back to bed.
“Please don’t do that siren thing on me,” she pleaded, her voice void of any volume.
“I won’t, I promise,” he conceded. “Whatever it is you want, I will do.” She looked at him with vagueness in her eyes.
“Please leave,” she told him.
“What?” He was stumped.
“There’s nothing more for you to do, Attuma,” she conveys. “You can go about your business, and stay out of mine.” His eyes became misted. How could she say these things? Or even ask this of him, while she’s laying there barely conscious.
“No, I will not leave you in this state,” he protested. He stared at her. She tried to raise up, but the dizziness was overwhelming. The headache worse than before.
“Why do you insist on being somewhere you’re not needed, or more so; not wanted.” She could hardly speak through the pain, but her voice was unfeeling.
“Why are you saying these things?” He was perplexed. “No, you must be delirious.”
“Think what you must, but I know exactly what I am saying,” she clarified any delusions he may be having.
“So, you’re saying, there was nothing you felt for me?” He knew there was a connection, and now she wants to act as if there wasn’t. She stared him into his eyes, hers were dark and void of any emotion.
“I was asked by M'Baku to play a joke on a friend. I felt it was quite cruel to do such a prank on a friend. But when he told me who this person was, imagined my surprise. The very same Talokanil warrior, who attacked us; and kidnapped Shuri on that bridge. I was stripped of my rank, and career; before a room full of Elder, warriors, and by the Queen. All because of that one action, by your comrades and you. Do you know how humiliating that moment was for me?” She paused working through the pain, not only in her head, but in her heart. It was a long time coming, to finally get the opportunity; to unload this on him. And make him understand; what these many years have been for her. He stood from the bed, staring at her, in unbelief.
“I get it, you were punished beyond what was necessary,” he sympathized with her, being a general himself, and knowing what he would have felt; if it had been done to him. She allowed herself a laugh with the accompanying agony she was enduring. At this point, she would welcome his song and hearing his heart beat, coursing through her, calming the rage inside.
“Punishment, Attuma?” She mocked his statement. “Beyond what was necessary. What a brilliant deduction. I sacrificed a lot for this nation, and what was my reward? And the thing about all of this, Shuri made the decision to go, I paid the price for her choice. Then the Queen Mother killed? We will never get the chance to reconcile.” Her face grimaced, the pain mounting.
“Cha' in wáantikech, Okoye; Much yaabilaj,” (Let me help you, Okoye; please darling.) With him saying ‘darling’ sparked a fire in her, and gave her the strength, she needed; to unleashed such a torrent on him.
“In yakunaj? Ma' ya'ab a querida; Wa ba'alake' entrañable, xaan k'áat pronunciar,” (Darling? I'm not your darling; or any endearing thing, you may want to utter.) My mission is done. I don’t care one thing about you. Whatever feelings you think you hold for me, are for naught. Now, you know what it’s been like for me. But one thing I hope is true, you feel the humiliation I went through.” Attuma stared at her, trying to compose himself. He tilted his head, tongue in his cheek.
“M'Baku set this in play. But he assured me; you would not go through with it,” he revealed his knowledge of the agreement between her and M'Baku. “I guess he was wrong, and me more. My love wasted on a dream, someone I hoped would return, but didn’t.” He turned and exited the room, without another word. She laid in bed, and heard him start up his bike, and roar away. Shuri came to the doorway, and stared at her for the longest time.
“When did you become such a liar?” She asked.
“What are you going on about?” Okoye asked, her eyes drowning in tears.
“I don’t care one thing about you?” Shuri reiterating what she told Attuma, about her feelings for him. “You lied to him, why did you send him away? What is really going on with you?”
“I didn’t expect to return, and having him here. He is my dream lover, since we fought on the bridge, and the ship. I had been plagued with him coming to me, in my dreams.” She looked to Shuri, wiping tears overflowing onto her face.
“Am I missing something?” Shuri asked. “How did that happen?”
“It was exciting fighting him, no one has been that perfect match,” she explained. “And after the alliance; I left, thinking I could put distance between this obsession and me. But I took him with me.” She told her.
“So, why are you going through with pranking him?” Shuri was confused. “Attuma is one of the good ones.”
“Don’t you think I know that? Forget that damn prank,” she began to sob. “He is more than I expected, from him being my phantom lover that I conjured up.
“Okoye, why did you send him away, so hard, if you weren’t doing the prank?” She stared at her, wondering what was going on.
“He deserves to be happy; I can’t give him that,” she said. “Being with me will end in sorrow.” Shuri came to her, feeling her heart jump in her throat. She sat on the bed, and placed her hand over Okoye’s.
“What are you saying, Okoye?” Shuri dreading the answer.
“Attuma needs someone who can give him children, and longevity in a happy life with someone” she looked into Shuri's eyes, and there was the answer. Shuri broke down and cried. Okoye scooted to her, and took her into her arms. Shuri hugged her, never wanting to let her go.