Talk To Me

38. A tug of war

Since the kidnapping, Swalha had been kept from Kind for two long weeks. She took leave from work, worried her life, too, might be at risk, and stayed at Todo's estate until Kind was found. When she returned to her office, she was met with a mountain of delayed appointments and abandoned duties, all piled high. And yet, every few hours, she would call Wale or Todo, asking for news of Kind, eager to learn how he was managing the ordeal. From what they said, Kind handled it with a rare fortitude, though the horror of the events had clearly shaken him.

Cherry, too, had stayed with her a few days after leaving Todo's home, though Swalha's mind remained troubled for her friend. Cherry's restless, vacant gaze and anxious silence unsettled her for he hosted a woman in her parents home, who was presumably expecting his child...and Wale's. Whenever Swalha attempted to find out if that were really true she was met with withdrawal and an unyielding wall between him and the world.

At last, the weekend arrived, and Swalha was overjoyed for she would reunite with Kind and Wale, the couple whom, for better or worse, stirred the entire town. They dined together at Yummy Yum, the finest restaurant, after two weeks of hard-won patience and relentless toil.

"I missed you a lot , Kind!" she exclaimed, embracing him warmly as he arrived with Wale at his side. Meanwhile, Wale stood by, her arms open and expectant, as if she, too, awaited her affection. "Ah, so Kind alone receives your embrace?" she muttered, casting Swalha a wounded look.

Swalha ignored her entirely, turning her smile to Kind. "How long has it been? I've missed you more than words can tell!"

Kind laughed, his joy evident. "It's always a pleasure to see you, Swalha." After weeks confined within the sprawling but stifling expanse of Todo's mansion, he was desperate for reprieve. Besides, Wale's ardor for him was boundless and unrelenting, leaving him in dire need of rest. Desperation had led him to reach out to Swalha using Todo's own phone. "But you seem weary yourself," he noted, concerned.

Wale, meanwhile, watched the two with quiet intensity, her gaze fixed upon Kind. Here, beside Swalha, Kind appeared unguarded and carefree, displaying a lightness Wale rarely glimpsed. She wondered at the contrast; she'd been Kind's closest friend for years, and yet here, in Swalha's presence, Kind seemed almost reborn, a distant shadow of the boy Wale had once known in youth.

"Wale, do not stare so intently, you'll bore a hole through K's head," Swalha teased, patting Wale's hand. "If you desired a hug, you could have requested it, rather than glowering in silence."

Wale chuckled, her reverie broken. "I was distracted by my handsome boyfriend." She took Kind's hand with an affectionate smile.

Kind withdrew his hand, rolling his eyes. "We are not yet official, you fool. Spare her your tales." He frowned, noting Wale's crestfallen look. "Is something wrong? You wished to come here, didn't you?"

With an exaggerated sigh, Wale replied, "If I must be honest, it pains me still that you refuse to be my partner when we've already done everything there is to do of partnership."

Kind's eyes narrowed, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "You...!" He lowered his voice to a heated whisper, "Why must you speak of that here, in front of Swalha?"

Wale seemed unfazed. "Oh, K Bunny, don't feign modesty. Swalha is a skilled psychologist; I am simply seeking her guidance on the matter. After all, she might help me comprehend your strange resistance to the idea of being mine."

Kind gritted his teeth, recognizing Wale's mischief all too well. To banter here, of all places, where Swalha's delight in such discussions was boundless... He was trapped. "Can we not set aside this matter for now, Wale? Let us enjoy dinner, and later, we shall address...whatever you desire. Modestly."