Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

66~Suya Date

Aria knew she would get an earful if any of the nurses yelling at her caught up with her, but still it didn't stop her from racing down the hall and then down the stairs. She was spurred on by Kachi's voice behind her as he apologized on her behalf.

Soon, she'd be out of places to run to and she didn't know what she'd do if that happened. With escape the only thing on her mind, she didn't realize when she miscalculated the remaining stairs until she was stumbling down.

"Oh God! Oh God!" she chanted as the floor grew closer, everything else seemed to be happening in slow motion.

"Still so careless and clumsy," Kachi said then huffed as he held on to the back of her dress and quickly wrapped his hand around her upper arm.

He didn't let go even when she'd secured her footing at the base of the flight of stairs. "You can keep running, I'll chase you to wherever you decide to go," he said.

Aria took a few minutes to steady her heart rate and breathing before trying to tug her arm away from his firm yet gentle grip. "Let me go," she said when he still held on.

"If you are tired of running, we can go have an adult conversation somewhere quiet."

"Hey! You two!" The sudden noise from behind the pair made Aria jump and almost loose her footing again. Suddenly, she was grateful for Kachi's hand on her. They turned to look at the sweaty nurse who'd apparently been looking for them. "You do realize this is a hospital right?" she continued, hands on her waist as she stared them down.

"We're very sorry. We'll take our issues outside." Kachi offered the woman an apologetic smile which seemed to anger her even further.

The nurse let out a hiss before turning to walk away.

"You can let me go now. I'm not running anymore," Aria said when they were alone again.

Kachi slowly let her arm go before nodding at the remaining stairs which she proceeded to carefully descend from. "Should we talk in the waiting room?"

Aria quickly shook her head as she shuddered a little. She remembered the amount of sick people in the general waiting room and how sad they'd made her feel. "Let's go outside. I saw some benches under the trees."

He silently followed her out while her mind raced about what to expect from this discussion. Kachi fished out a handkerchief from his Jean pockets and wiped the bench before gesturing to her to sit.

"Do you want to talk about us now or later?" he asked after he'd sat down.

"How did you know to come here?" she asked, refusing to address their issues. "Was it Azu?"

He shook his head. "It was Chike."

She thought as much! So much for thinking his friend had her back.

"I'm really sorry about everything that happened and I know now's not the time to bring this up. But I'm sorry, Zariah. I really am."

Aria nodded but refused to say anything else. What had happened to all the anger she'd felt? She'd imagined this moment a lot of times and had revised her speech to him. She'd even pictured him on his knees begging her to forgive him. But right now, she was just so exhausted and just needed a shoulder to lean on.

"I don't expect you to forgive me right this moment. Infact, I don't want you to. I just want to be here for you as a friend and then slowly make it up to you. I don't care about how long it will take."

Later was a good enough time for her. Later was somewhere in the distant future where her mom would be healthier and she'd be in a better frame of mind. Aria dropped her head on Kachi's shoulder and she felt him tense up before letting out a breath. His hand slowly came around her waist and he wrapped her in a one-armed hug as she quietly sobbed.