Talk To Me

19. It makes me angry

"It's a grave mistake to think Kind is weak or feeble, Wale. You might deny it, but I see right through you. You want to possess him, lock him away somewhere no one else can find him, don't you?" Swalha's voice cut through the office air with the sharpness of a professional who knew precisely what she was doing. They were in her private practice, neutral ground, though Wale found it anything but comforting.

Wale said nothing, but that only encouraged her. "If you're not going to cooperate, then you might as well leave. I've got a patient in an hour, and frankly, I've no time for your nonsense," she added, her patience visibly wearing thin.

Wale glowered at her. "I never thought I'd end up in a place like this. I can't stand these sorts of spaces or the people who occupy them, people like you, always manipulating, asking open-ended questions designed to brainwash. You think you've got the upper hand, don't you?"

She was losing control, and Swalha knew it. She merely smiled as she circled her desk. "You're speaking your mind for once. Progress." She leaned against her desk, crossing her arms. "So, how exactly did you find out about Kind's feelings for you? He's been rather careful not to let that slip, forever friendzoned."

Wale scoffed. "Careful? Hardly. He could've said something, but it's been nearly a year since I found out."

Swalha raised an eyebrow. "Does it bother you that he's with someone else now?"

Wale didn't deny it. She continued, her voice cool. "Of course, why should Kind be happy when you're not? He promised to be there for you, didn't he? Never to abandon you. You've given him everything, but no one gives without wanting something in return, do they, Wale? So what is it you really want from him?"

Wale clenched her jaw. She'd seen this version of Swalha before, ruthless, digging into her thoughts as if she could read her every move. She was a far cry from the timid girl she'd known back in college. "What I want? To protect him," she muttered, more to herself than to her. She glanced up at Swalha, her tough exterior cracking just slightly under the weight of Swalha's relentless probing.

"Yes, to protect him, but also to control him, perhaps?" Swalha didn't miss a beat. "It's true, Kind loves you, but he never acted on it because you were with someone else. Now he's finally found someone, a wonderful girlfriend who cares for him, maybe more than you ever did."

"That's not true," Wale shot back. "He's been with others before, and it's never lasted."

Swalha's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Because you've meddled. You've pushed people away from him, Wale. You keep doing it, and you wonder why he can't move on."

Wale didn't respond, but she didn't need to. Swalha was hitting home with each remark, and she hated it.

Swalha glanced at her watch; her patient was due soon, and she'd rather Wale not be here when they arrived. "You've got fifteen minutes. That should be plenty of time for you to spit out what you really think. Or perhaps you'd prefer to leave, go find Kind and tell him the truth yourself?"

Wale stood up, agitated. "I've always been honest with Kind, and would you please stop with the 'girlfriend' remarks. It's annoying."

Swalha folded her arms. "Is it annoying because it's true?"

Wale took a step closer, peering at her desk. "What were you scribbling down earlier?"

"My notes for this session," she replied nonchalantly. "Every good psychiatrist does it. And before you leave, make sure to pay. Unless you want to finally admit your feelings to Kind, I'll waive the fee."

Wale's face darkened. "I don't have those kinds of feelings for him. He's my best friend, more like a brother. I'm just looking out for him."

"Ah, yes," Swalha said with a wry smile. "Because that's what brothers and sisters do, right? Kiss each other when they're drunk?"

Wale stiffened. "That was nothing. I don't see him as a lover."

"Are you so sure about that?" Swalha asked. "Kind doesn't treat Todo like a sister, I assure you. But you, are you asking for dating advice? You seem confused, Wale, about what you feel from my perspective."

Wale clenched her fists, but Swalha wasn't finished. She took a step closer, her eyes locked onto Wale's. "Let's break it down, shall we? You've probably tried to rationalise your feelings for Kind, telling yourself it's just friendly or sisterly affection yet here you are, in my office, talking about it with a psychiatrist. If you didn't care, why are you really here?"

Wale didn't like where this was going, but she was too frustrated to stop it.

"You don't want Kind to be with someone else," Swalha pressed on. "But you don't want him for yourself, either, do you? How selfish." She gestured to the couch. "Lie down. Let's see if we can't sort through this mess in your head in the next ten minutes."

Surprisingly, Wale complied. She lay back, staring at the ceiling, while Swalha sat beside her, looking rather pleased with herself. "So, how do you feel when you're out with Kind? You've gone on enough 'dates' with him, I'm sure."

"It's fine when we're together," Wale admitted. "But when he's with someone else..." Her voice trailed off, her thoughts turning to the recent scene in the parking lot. "I want to pulverise the person next to him."

"Ah, yes, but what about the kiss? The one that wasn't supposed to happen?"

Wale remained silent.

"Did it disgust you?" Swalha asked, leaning in slightly.

Wale shook her head. "No."

"Interesting. How did you feel when you saw him with Todo? Knowing they've gone further than just a kiss. Does it make you wish it was you instead?"

For the briefest of moments, Wale's expression changed, something close to fear flickered in her eyes. Swalha noted it immediately, filing it away for later. She knelt down beside Wale, lowering her voice. "I think Cherry was right all along. You've been in love with Kind longer than you care to admit."

Wale didn't respond. She was still processing her words, still grappling with the uncomfortable truth that had just been laid bare.

Swalha glanced at the clock. Five minutes left before her next session. Good. She wasn't quite finished with Wale yet. "What happened after Kind kissed you?"

Wale blinked, snapped back to reality by the question. She sat up slowly, her face unreadable. "I love Cherry," she declared, though it sounded more like she was convincing herself than anyone else. "I'll keep my distance from Kind. He's happy, and I won't stand in his way. Let's just conclude that I blame him for being too handsome."

Swalha laughed. "Yes, because siblings always kiss each other whenever they're drunk, right? Come on, Wale. Admit it. You've thought about having sex with him, haven't you?"

Wale shot her a dark look, but Swalha was unrelenting. "Here's an idea; when you get home tonight, think about Kind, but in a sexual way. If you don't get aroused, I'll owe you. However if you do, you owe me three wishes."

"And what, exactly, are these wishes?" Wale asked, eyeing her warily.

Swalha smiled. "First, I want to know what really happened that night. I know Kind won't remember much, but you do. Second, I want a vanilla milkshake from Yummy Yum, extra froth, and the third..." She winked. "I'm saving the best for last."

Wale shook her head, exasperated. "I should have just slept with Kind when he asked. Instead, I helped him off and put him to bed."

Swalha's jaw dropped, but then her face lit up with excitement. "Details!" she demanded, practically bouncing on the spot.

Wale, ignoring her, walked to the door. "I'll see you at Yummy Yum," she called over her shoulder. "I'll pick you up."

Swalha watched her go, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.