𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬

CHAPTER 47

Kiara depressed and staring into space above (my poor babyyyyy).

TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter talks about suicide, self harm and the aftermath of death so please proceed with caution and sensitivity!

nepenthe

(n.) something that can make you forget grief or suffering

Days after news of Kiara landing back in India, thousands of fans gathered outside her home in hopes of catching even a glimpse of the People's Actress but to no avail. She had taken to hiding within the confines of her home, declining invitations to parties and sending away anyone who bothered to visit. The girls had threatened to fly over multiple times so it was only after a video call where she apologised profusely that they calmed down. Having been left in the dark and ignored for the past few weeks, they were understandably worried about her well-being and furious at her avoidance. After a while, people just got tired of waiting and the crowd outside thinned until it was practically non-existent.

In life, Trevor had always hated Vijay. They were just too different to get along but for Kiara, they could pretend. In death, he couldn't bring himself to hate Vijay. That was also a small mercy for her sake. Regardless of the harsh words and seemingly unrecoverable arguments they exchanged, he and Trevor would always be connected. They both undeniably and irrevocably loved her but while his love was platonic, he suspected that Vijay's was more romantic. Even if she loved someone else, that didn't mean his feelings just disappeared and Trevor couldn't help but assume that she somehow was aware of those feelings. It was with that thought in mind that he made a spur of the moment decision to jump on a plane to India and now waited at the doorstep of her house.

For a moment, Trevor wondered if Kiara had seen him and simply decided not to answer the door but disrespect was never an option for her. Whenever they fought, she never once treated him unfairly regardless of how much enmity had developed between them. Then again, Vijay's death would have changed her. He wasn't even sure if she would be the same woman he admired. 

Suddenly the door opened, interrupting his thoughts before he had a chance to spiral into a downwards cycle of self-doubt. And there she stood, beautiful as ever in an elegant red kurti with her hair freed as she stepped aside to invite him inside. He didn't realise what he had expected but clear eyes and a delicate smile was not it. Silence ensued as they sat in her living room unsure of what to say to one another. He glanced around the room, noting the orange pill bottle on her bedside table through the sliver of space the bedroom door was left open.

Following his line of sight, she quickly brought his attention back to her before he thought anything of it, "Why are you here, Trevor?"

He frowned at the lack of nickname, trying to remember any reason she would be medicated, but gave nothing away, "To be honest, I'm not really sure myself. All I know, is that you've always been there for me when I needed you and I thought it was about time I returned the favour."

"So you're here to pay off a debt."

"No, I'm here because I wanted to see you. Believe it or not, you're the closest thing to a best friend I have," she released a small huff, as if she didn't want to laugh but couldn't help it, and he continued; "and... I missed you."

She softened, retracting her claws as she murmured, "I'll go make a cup of tea."

Even with all the pressure to socialise, Kiara was adamant that she needed time to recuperate and remained isolated. That being said, she had failed to take into account just how persistent and defiant Trevor was– hence their current situation. His obstreperous tendencies rivalled that of Vijay's and for a second she forgot what it felt like to live in a world without her best friend, finding comfort in the familiarity of Trevor's behaviour. They spent the next few hours so immersed in catching up on the past year apart that they were completely oblivious when the golden afternoon sunlight transitioned into silver evening moonlight.