18 March 2022
Malcolm Hlengwa: Hey MJ, it's been a bit of a busy day on my end. I know you're headed out to the festival tonight, let's talk when you're back.
Jackson Malaka: Hey you, sure thing. Sounds good. I'll let you know when I am back.
M.H: Do not forget to take and send those photos, Malcolm loves himself some good Jackson photos.
J.M: I'll think about it lmao!
19 March 2022
M.H: Hey, I waited for your text last night. Knowing you, you got pretty turnt! Let me know when's a good time to talk.
M.H: Jackson, you there?
*Missed voice call.
*Missed voice call.
*Missed video call.
20 March 2022
M.H: Jackson? Is everything alright, I've been trying to call and it's going straight to voicemail.
M.H: At least let me know that everything is alright.
M.H: JACKSON MALAKA, this isn't funny anymore!
21 March 2022
M.H: Jackson, I know you aren't ghosting me. Your Insta, Twitter and Snapchat are all down too, Please come back so we can at least talk about it.
M.H: I realize sending texts on WhatsApp is useless seeing that you aren't to read the texts, but it's my best way of showing that I am concerned. So, I'll keep spamming you with texts until you get back.
M.H: It just dawned on me that you perhaps might have no phone, I mean you've been inactive since the festival.
23 March 2022
M.H: Jackson.
M.H: JACKSSSSSSSON!
25 March 2022
*Missed voice call
*Missed voice call
*Missed voice call
M.H: This thing says "ringing" so I know, I am not mad when I say you are seeing these calls. Jackson answer the phone already, so we can talk. You know I worry.
Malcolm was not lying. Jackson had seen all his texts and calls, the ones from Alexander too and his newest friend – Kiara. Jackson did not have that many people to talk to, the few that he did were being outright avoided by him.
There was something about being paralysed with fear. Something he could not bring himself to describe.
In the face of fear, we – as humans – have been wired with two responses: fight or flight. The fight, simply refers to the boldness that kicks in and we bring the heat back to our challengers while the flight is simply making a clean getaway, doesn't matter how but as long as the getaway is achieved. Jackson fell in the latter; he never was the kind that would face his adversities head-on. His first instinct was to always exclude himself and allow it all to sort itself out – this has always worked for him. Back in high school, over the start of varsity, and even now.
And that's just what he's been avoiding. The one that has been at the top of his list that is; Jackson often avoided many things, and Malcolm knew this. It became his one defining trait. When he was still around, and there was a pending argument, Jackson would simply say what he needed to say and exclude himself to avoid nasty fallouts. So, Jackson avoiding his texts now meant that he was running away from something or someone, and he simply did not want to talk about it. To say it was not frustrating would be a lie, Malcolm hated it – wholeheartedly!
YOU ARE READING
The Seven, and their Wealth. II
AdventureWhen the dust from Friday night finally settles, our seven try to make sense of what has unfolded, unaware that the chaos was only the start of a domino effect. The only certainty is that chaos is unpredictable.
