KALINA (Book 3: The Elixir Series)

22.

The next morning, Khalil is at the gazebo at the back of Kali's house. He's thinking about how he can stop his uncle from selling the shares.

He jolted when a hand held his. He looked at it first before looking to his side. He smiled upon seeing Kali smiling warmly at him.

"Breakfast is ready," Kali said.

Khalil just nodded and leaned his head on her shoulder.

"What's wrong?" Kali softly asked.

He sighed, "I feel useless,"

Kali's face changed into dead serious. "You know that's not true,"

Khalil pressed his lips, disagreeing. "It is," he paused. Kali gently squeezed his hand, encouraging him to continue.

"I failed as a son. My uncle was killing my Mom in front of my eyes and I failed to see it. Now, the company is in danger too," Khalil said.

Kali patted the side of his face to make him look at her.

"You're not a failure. You were deceived, yes but that doesn't make you a failure. You are human. I, myself also felt this shit before. It sucks that you think you still failed despite doing your best and it made you doubt yourself. But then, I realized, there will be no more shitty feelings, or failure if we don't allow them. But again, it doesn't mean, there's no more room for mistakes, misjudges, or miscalculations of things. Sometimes, we make the best plan, but life is unpredictable. Things happen. Shit happens. What we need to do is stay firm with our main goal. Don't waver. Don't let these shits control what you wanted to achieve.

Yes, it took years before you freed your mom. But you still did it. And now, it's time for payback. Everything that happened, use it. Use it to be more determined to put those who wronged you in their proper places. Failure will not define you and your future. It serves as training, an encouragement to strive more, to be better. Remember that learning didn't stop after graduating from school," Kali said.

Khalil is staring at her. He smiled, "Damn, I'm so lucky to have you," he said pulling Kali for a hug.

Kali hugs him back and buries her face on his neck.

"It's me who is lucky to have you. You saved me," she said muffled.

Khalil pulled away and looked at her in confusion.

"Don't ask," Kali said.

Khalil nodded and smiled. He will wait until she's ready to open up.

"Come, let's eat," Khalil said, and they headed inside.

****

"Status," Kali said.

She's currently at the palace with her team.

"There are some interested businessmen but we intervened," Zed said.

"They changed their minds and it made Brice lose his shits," Brye added.

"Good. Keep his surroundings smaller until there won't be any other choices for him but to reach us," Kali said.

"Will he do that? He knows you and Khalil were in some sort of relationship" Miya said.