Talk To Me

11. I found you

Since the engagement party, Wale had not set eyes on Kind for weeks. It was as if his best friend had vanished into thin air. Repeated attempts to contact him—through phone calls, messages, and even visits to his apartment—proved fruitless. Kind was nowhere to be found. Worse still, he wasn't even showing up at the office.

Sitting at his desk, Wale found himself staring blankly out the window, pondering whether there was any point in coming to work anymore. His main motivator had always been the chance to see Kind, even if they were too busy to talk much. The simple knowledge that Kind was nearby was enough.

According to HR, Kind had taken a leave of absence, but beyond that, they didn't provide much information. Normally, Wale would respect his best friend's need for privacy, but three months without so much as a word was more than he could bear. He'd even gone as far as hiring a private investigator to track down Kind's whereabouts. It wasn't something Wale ever thought he'd do, but the loneliness gnawed at him, and he needed to know if Kind was safe.

Where are you, K? he thought. Why won't you let me in? If you didn't want me to get engaged to Cherry, why did you push me towards it? Wale's thoughts spiraled. I don't understand you sometimes. I love Cherry, I want to marry her... but I miss you. I don't want you to hate me.

Wale hoped Kind wasn't harbouring resentment. He'd be devastated if that were the case. Still, he couldn't undo the engagement, and he didn't want to. He loved Cherry and wanted to build a future with her.

"Maybe I was too cold, asking you to be at the engagement," Wale muttered to himself. "But I still won't let you go, K. No matter how far you run, I'll find you."

On his drive home, Wale's mind drifted back to the engagement party. After Kind had congratulated him and Cherry, Wale hadn't seen him again. He had tried to find him later, but every attempt was thwarted by well-wishers or Swalha introducing him to people he couldn't recall now. The gift ceremony dragged on, and by the time fatigue set in, Wale had given up on searching for Kind and suggested to Cherry that they sneak away.

He remembered Cherry offering to find Kind before they retired to their room, but after a couple of hours, she'd returned, admitting that she had failed to avoid the other guests, who were enjoying a bonfire on the private beach. Kind had slipped away, unnoticed.

A nearby car parking jolted Wale from his thoughts, and he realised it was already dark. He shook his head, surprised at how much time had passed while he sat in the car.

Cherry must be home by now, he thought as he headed for the apartment he shared with her.

Cherry greeted him warmly when he walked through the door, her usual bright smile in place. "Welcome home, love," she said, giving him a kiss. "I got home before you today, so I made dinner. What kept you so long?"

Wale offered a weak smile in return. Cherry had noticed his melancholy over the last few months. His once cheerful demeanor had shifted, and she knew exactly why.

"Still no word from the private investigator?" she asked, noting the tired expression on his face. Wale shook his head.

"I haven't heard from him yet," Wale said. "His phone's been silent, just like Kind's. Even Swalha hasn't been able to get in touch."

Cherry sighed, stroking his hair as he leaned his head against her stomach. "Do you think you've upset him somehow?" she asked. "This is a long silent treatment. I'm starting to worry, even though you're still against involving the police."

Wale didn't respond. He remained slouched, letting Cherry's presence soothe him as he wrestled with his emotions.

Cherry, meanwhile, kept a secret she had been sitting on since the day she had found Kind and Todo together. She had debated telling Wale about what she'd overheard but decided against it. She wasn't sure how Wale would react, and lately, her suspicions about his feelings for Kind had only grown stronger. She had known for years that Wale deeply cared for his best friend, but now, it was beginning to look like more than just friendship.

He looks like a man suffering from heartbreak, she thought, the truth settling in like an unwelcome guest.

She recalled the time they'd gone on a double date with Kind and Swalha. Wale had been glued to Kind's side, and afterward, he couldn't stop talking about him. Kind was always a central figure in Wale's life, even when it came to small gestures. If Wale bought Cherry a gift, he'd buy one for Kind too. He even applied for the same jobs as Kind, making sure their careers aligned.

Whenever Kind distanced himself, Wale would lose his cool, much like he was now. It had driven Cherry mad at first, but eventually, she learned to accept Kind's constant presence in their relationship. It was simply easier to include him in everything rather than fight it.

The more Cherry thought about it, the clearer it became. Wale's obsession with Kind, his inability to function without him—it wasn't just friendship. He loves him, she realised, and the knowledge made her heart ache. She couldn't compete with Kind, and the worst part was, Kind seemed blissfully unaware of Wale's feelings. He had always been their biggest supporter, pushing Wale to propose after ten long years and bringing them back together whenever they had disagreements.

"Your stomach's rumbling," Wale's voice interrupted her thoughts. "I'm starving too, but I'll take a shower before we eat."

Just as he stood to leave, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his eyes lighting up. "It's the private investigator!" he whispered, rushing off to the bedroom to take the call.

Cherry stood there, watching him leave, a pit forming in her stomach. Why did he have to run off to take the call in private? What is he hiding? She stayed frozen for a moment, anxiety creeping in.

When Wale returned a few minutes later, he was practically glowing. "They've found him," he said, his excitement barely contained. "The investigator has tracked down Kind. I'll find out his exact location tomorrow—finally, I'll see him again."

Cherry forced a smile, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm glad," she whispered, though her heart sank at the thought. I want you to be happy, Wale, but I wish Kind would never come back.

Wale, blissfully unaware of her inner turmoil, kissed her cheek, then squeezed her gently by the face. "I love you so much," he said, giving her another kiss before heading off to bed, humming with relief.

Cherry waited until she heard the shower running and Wale's humming before grabbing her phone. She had to warn Kind. She wanted Wale to be happy, yes, but deep down, she wished for Kind to never return—for good.