Talk To Me

11. I found you

Since the engagement party, Wale had not set eyes on Kind for weeks. It was as if her 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 her desk, Wale found her staring blankly out the window, pondering whether there was any point in coming to work anymore. Her main motivator had always been the chance to see Kind, even if they were too busy to converse much. The simple knowledge that he was nearby had always been enough for her.

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

'Where are you, K?' She thought. 'Why won't you let me in? If you didn't want me to accept Cherry's proposal, then why did you push me towards it?' Wale's thoughts spiraled. I don't understand you sometimes. 'I love Cherry, I want to get married to him... but I miss you. I don't want you to hate me.'

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

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

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

She remembered Cherry offering to find Kind before they retired to their room, but after a couple of hours, he'd returned, admitting that he 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 her thoughts, and she realised it was already dark. She shook her head, surprised at how much time had passed while she sat in the car.

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

Cherry greeted her warmly when she walked through the door, his usual bright smile in place. "Welcome home, love," he said, giving her 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 her melancholy over the last few months. Her once cheerful demeanor had shifted, and he knew exactly why.

"Still no word from the private investigator?" he asked, noting the tired expression on her face. Wale shook her head in response.

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

Cherry sighed, stroking her hair as she leaned her head against his stomach. "Do you think you've upset him somehow?" he 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. She remained slouched, letting Cherry's presence soothe her as she wrestled with her emotions.

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

'She looks like a woman suffering from heartbreak,' he thought, the truth settling in like an unwelcome guest.

He recalled the time they'd gone on a double date with Kind and Swalha. Wale had been glued to Kind's side, and afterward, she 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, she'd buy one for Kind too. She even applied for the same jobs as Kind, making sure their careers aligned.

Whenever Kind distanced himself, Wale would lose her cool, much like she was now. It had driven Cherry mad at first, but eventually, he 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, her inability to function without him, it wasn't just friendship. She loves him, he realised, and the knowledge made his heart ache. He 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 accept his proposal after ten long years and bringing them back together whenever they had disagreements. Not to mention, the act he'd caught Kind in, always going after women with money. Shucks! Everyone knew that Villa was owned by a conglomerate, Todo no less. Kind had taken one for the team sleeping with Todo to secure a nice venue for the proposal. To think Todo had fallen for a cheap charm, didn't she know she was being played? 'Rich women are easy women I guess. I don't get what they see in a bloke like Kind,' Cherry wondered.

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

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

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

When Wale returned a few minutes later, she was practically glowing. "They've found him," she said, her 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 his arms around her. "I'm glad," he whispered, though his heart sank at the thought. 'I want you to be happy, Wale, but I wish Kind would never come back.'

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

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

And knowing Kind, he had already proved he would do anything for him. 'Yea. You secured that venue for me, lying to that Todo lady that you like her, and also had Wale accept my proposal. You can also do this for me too.'