Talk To Me

23. What happened to you?

The following days had left everyone feeling perplexed. Swalha, ever the perceptive one, deduced that Wale was weaving a complicated web, pulling everyone into her chaotic plot. Todo had returned a day after her mysterious trip with unsettling news: Wale was still adamant about meeting Kind, a revelation that shattered Cherry. His composure crumbled, leaving him frantic and inconsolable. Eventually, Swalha and Todo had to seclude him in a separate room just to give him a moment to calm down.

They had all agreed to gather at Swalha's home, neutral ground of course, as she was the only person connected to all of them. It was also conveniently located. Cherry, still determined to return to Wale's apartment, had spent the past week obsessively waiting there, convinced he would be the first person Wale saw when she returned. It was fortunate that the weekend allowed everyone some time to deal with the situation.

"Why does she insist on seeing Kind for a day? What could her true intentions be?" Swalha mused aloud. She knew the answer, of course, but preferred to feign ignorance, especially with Todo present, who was already on edge.

"I won't be a part of this," Kind declared, visibly frustrated. "I have no intention of seeing her. Wale is toying with us, pulling the strings, making fools of us all. She should be asking for Cherry, not me. Why is she doing this to him?" He threw his hands up in exasperation. "I need some air," he said, storming out of the house.

Kind hated it when Wale staged these manipulative scenarios, making him out to be the villain. He had distanced himself from her successfully since being forcibly brought back and that was after being drugged, no less. He had tried to move on, to overlook everything Wale had done. He hadn't run away this time, but now Wale had, making it seem like he was the reason for his disappearance. Damn Wale.

After cooling off on a brisk walk, Kind returned to find a curious scene: everyone was calmer than before. He almost felt guilty for stepping out and missing what had apparently been a peaceful moment. "What's going on?" he asked, still on edge.

Cherry, without missing a beat, said, "I suggested I go with you."

Before Kind could respond, Swalha and Todo chimed in simultaneously, "And we agreed," exchanging amused glances before breaking into laughter. They seemed to be at ease with the plan, but Kind wasn't. It stung that they had all reached a decision without him, disregarding the fact that he was the one being asked to meet Wale.

"Doesn't my decision count?" his voice was tight with frustration. "I don't want to see her. I'm not going."

Swalha, ever the peacekeeper, approached him gently, taking his hands in hers. Her eyes were pleading. "Kind, Wale isn't in the right frame of mind. He's only asking for one day. That's all." But Kind wasn't swayed.

Sensing his resistance, Swalha quickly asked Cherry and Todo to give them a moment alone. She pulled Kind into her room, closed the door, and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Listen, this is an opportunity. A chance for you and Wale to talk openly, away from everyone's prying eyes. You can finally confront her about her parents, about those ridiculous accusations from Cherry. You can get closure. And honestly, I don't think you're over her just yet."

Kind shook his head. "You're forgetting Cherry will be there too. Besides, I'm with Todo now, and I actually like her, a lot." He motioned for her to sit on the bed. "Swalha, do you even realise what you're suggesting? I don't think I love Wale like I used to. My feelings for her have only ever brought me misery, and she's hurt me, over and over again, sometimes without even realising it. I'm tired of being everyone's emotional punching bag. I'm finally happy, and I don't want to jeopardise what I have with Todo."

He stood again, pacing, clearly conflicted between what he was saying and what he was feeling. "I can't betray Todo like that. You've seen how much effort she's put into finding Wale, despite everything. I'd be the biggest fool in the world to go behind her back."

Kneeling before her, he held her hands tightly, imploring her to see his point of view. "I'm not going. Even if you all insist, this is my decision. Seeing Wale again will only make me angrier than I already am."

Swalha smiled softly. "Very well. Even so as your friend, I still think you need closure. I don't think you're done with Wale, not emotionally. I think you two balance each other out in ways you don't even realise. You calm her storms, and she does the same for you, even if you don't want to admit it. Still, as much as I'd like you to confront your feelings, I respect your decision." She winked at him mischievously. "Though, if I were in your shoes, I'd turn that stubborn Wale docile if I had the opportunity. Just saying."

They both burst into laughter. It felt good to laugh, Kind thought. It had been a while since he'd laughed like that. After everything, especially seeing Todo's dedication, he only hoped Wale's tangled game would end soon. "One day," he finally whispered, almost to himself. "Only one day, and that's it."

Swalha's face lit up with a triumphant smile. "Once you get back, I expect all the details, my dear Kind."

Back in the living room, Cherry was in the kitchen, humming while he cooked, apparently in a much better mood. Todo was buried in her phone, playing games. It was clear that they still didn't quite get along, but the tension had eased for now. Kind informed them of his reluctant agreement to meet Wale, and they all decided to leave for the trip that evening.

During the journey, Kind remained silent, his mind elsewhere. He didn't want to talk to Cherry, though he could feel him watching him. The silence was eventually broken when they were picked up by a driver sent by Todo, who had arranged a helicopter for their trip. "Your girfriend's quite the wealthy one, lending us her helicopter like this," Cherry said with a hint of bitterness. "She's done a lot, especially considering what Wale did to her."

Kind offered only a curt response. "I'll thank her for you."

Cherry, however, wasn't done talking. "You know, they threatened me. Threatened my job, my family. Wale lost my pregnancy five years ago because of the stress, but I still stood by her regardless. I wanted to be her anchor, like you were. I thought if I could just keep our relationship together, it would all work out."

Kind glanced at her but said nothing.

Cherry fidgeted nervously, playing with his hands as he spoke. "Wale found out about the miscarriage eventually, but we kept it quiet. She became suspicious, though, always trying to figure out why it happened. Then, when she found photos of us, photos taken without our knowledge, she blamed you. She thought you were spying on us, leaking information to her family. It was clear as day she had been somewhat poisoned, meaning someone had been spying on us."

Finally, Kind turned to look at Cherry, his expression unreadable.

"I convinced her you were being threatened, that you didn't mean any harm, but then she forgave you so easily, and I couldn't help but be jealous. I knew she loved me, but with you... it was different. I wanted that title, the security of marriage, to become the father of her child. But I was always second best."

Cherry looked down, tears streaming down his face. "I know you'll hate me for asking this, but please... please don't tell him you have feelings for her. If she finds out, I'll lose her for good."

Kind watched him silently sobbing and felt a pang of pity, but it wasn't enough to overcome the bitterness he still harboured. Cherry had betrayed him in so many ways, and now he was asking for another favour. Looking out the window, he silently resolved that, whatever happened next, he was going to confront Wale about everything, including his resignation. Wale had to be behind it.

Cherry, tear-filled, looked at him with a forced smile. "I'll make Wale a mother that she always waned to be. You may not know, but that miscarriage rendered her infertile so we kept trying for a surrogate adoption. Maybe that's why I'm so emotional. Guilt cripples me everyday because I wanted protect her. Everything I've ever done, my intentions were always genuine."

Kind sighed but said nothing, turning back to the passing landscape as the helicopter sped them toward their inevitable confrontation. 

"Wale and I are going to be parents soon, so if you value her, let her have a real family."