Fall to Rise

Twenty Seven

She locked herself in the room. I knocked, but she didn't open. I knew she didn't like Kaffo that much but Frayer was a girl of principle, she always followed the rules.

She was an honest person.

And I liked that about her, but for now I had to fight for our friendship even if it meant leaving Caleb.

I didn't want to jeopardize our trust. After all Caleb didn't love me so it was no big deal to him rather.

"Please Frayer,I can explain.Please let me in," I pleaded. "I'll do anything you want of me for you to trust me again."

I stayed at her door for over twenty minutes before she finally opened the door midway.

"Sure, you can do anything?" She asked not smiling at all.

It was the first time I'd seen her this serious.

"Yes Faye," I said trying to imitate the short form of her name.

"Then leave him. Whatever is between you and Caleb end it."

"I will dear, I promise," feeling the pain sink deep into my heart after saying that.

"I don't want to be put into a position where I am lying to my uncle. Am no liar."

"Please, don't say anything to him," now entering into the room.

"I won't but end it today."

Caleb didn't turn up for dinner and Zed too ignored me the whole time. For Frayer, she was now fine with me. Zed concentrated on his food without sparing me even a single glance. Treating me as though I wasn't existing there except for the small conversations he was having with Obed his brother.

Then something surprising happened , "today, Master Kaffo Reinard won't be joining us for dinner," Nomita said taking a seat opposite mine.

Such a relief.

I wonder what could be the matter because of late, Kaffo Reinard seemed to be skipping meals so often and likewise to his son Caleb.
These men were so much alike.
I stirred my spoon in circles around my soup not able to eat too because of late, my appetite was minimal.
I had so much to think about and my appetite seemed not to be able to help it. But today I needed to talk to Zed about everything.

So, I waited for everyone to leave the table but Obed seemed not to be leaving his brother behind anytime soon.

"Zed, can I talk to you?" I walked over to their retrieving frames.

He turned, "okay?" pretending as if he didn't have a clue of what I needed to talk about.

"In private," I lowered my voice down so that Obed couldn't eavesdrop.

"Am sorry, I have something I need to do right now but I'll come by later on," he said with the same smile again.

"Okay, I'll be waiting."

I was relieved to see him smile towards me. Word says it that boys always easily let go off of grudges as compared to women.
Except this wasn't true for Caleb's case. He seemed to always remind me of how cozy I am getting around Zed.

Later in the wee hours of the night, Zed stood by my door. For I knew that talking about Kaffo and Caleb would be a sensitive topic but I had to try.
Unleash all that I felt inside so that I could feel atleast the weight off my shoulders.
So, I told him the whole story of how I had met Caleb and fell for him while on a run. How he betrayed me and how I found myself here. How lucky I was that Kaffo declined me to shift into his chambers.
It was all unexpected but a relief.

"To some extent I think you should move on, I think his probably into Layla and he takes the pain on you," Zed advised.

It was bitter truth.

"And now that father is sick......."

"Sick, how!!!!" I was in shock. Kaffo was ill.

That explains why he has been having meals in his chambers lately.

"And it's taking a toll on Caleb, they're so close," Zed continued. I didn't like Kaffo even for one bit but I didn't wish any bad for him at all.

"He'll be fine," I said cheerfully.

"But Ama, I could stand up for you incase of anything. Please be my girlfriend," he said shocking me. "I'll talk to father to let you be my bride. Am no coward." I could feel the sincerity in his voice.

How I wished it was Caleb saying these words to me. My world would explode.

"I'll think about it."