Ex Gratia (#1 EX TRILOGY)

Chapter 39

Louisa sighed impatiently. "At least say a 'hello' or something!" she whispered. "You're giving me unnecessary chills."

Akoma took a deep breath and clutched the phone with both hands to her ear. "Hello?" she managed to say. There was no response. "Ender?" She felt she should not have mentioned that name, but she could not fight off the urge to. She regretted the more when she saw Louisa's puzzled look.

Just then, she heard the sound of shuffling on the line and breath. Then someone spoke.

"Akoma? Sorry, sorry. I didn't even realize you had answered the call. Sorry, OK?" the voice said.

Akoma frowned. "Aba? Is that you?" She took the phone off her ear and checked the screen again. There was no number showing. She put the phone back to her ear and swallowed. "Why are you calling with this line? What's wrong with your own line?"

"Oh - sorry," Aba said in a voice trembling with guilt. "Hmm. My network had no coverage here and so I decided to use the payphone. Do you know where I am? I am out of the country o. Akoma, I am so sorry for not telling you. It was an emergency."

Akoma frowned. "Did you come to my rescue when I was -? " Akoma hesitated and quickly grabbed Louisa to make her join her under Aba's bed. Louisa turned on her phone's flashlight and scoffed. "Just keep quiet," Akoma whispered to her before returning to the call. "What did you do when you received the message from me after the wedding reception? You know Rich is dead, right?"

"I know Rich is dead. Sad, though. I felt sorry for Gracefield - but the dude got what he deserved, anyway," Aba said quickly and sighed. "No two ways about it. Evil doesn't go unpunished, does it? I would wish the same for my ex-boyfriend who dumped me painfully those times."

"Aba, don't start."

"Oh why should I not say that? That guy? You will understand soon."

"You didn't answer the other question."

"Ahaa. Oh! I tried following you but the signal went off. I don't know if it's because of low battery or data bundle getting used up. I almost called the police but I just had this feeling that you would be fine and someone else had found you. I don't know what informed that faith but - hmmm. How are you feeling now? Have you had something to eat? Is Louisa taking good care of you?" She became silent for a moment. "And who is Ender?" she asked quietly.

"Oh, never mind. It's just - hang on. You sounded like the phone was not close to your ear when I first spoke. How did you hear me call Ender?" Akoma gripped the phone tightly and held her breath.

"Ah. I heard that name o. Why? Don't you believe me?"

Akoma blinked. "Not that," she said calmly. "It's just that - hmmm. You guys have no idea what I have been through since Rich left me. It's been really bad."

"What are you talking about? Are you referring to your 60-day threshold period or something else I didn't see?"

Akoma opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, wondering if she could confide in them without freaking them out. "Look - I know you will not believe me but - "

"Yeah, sure. I will not. I will return tomorrow Godwilling. Whatever it is, I am sure it's not a big deal once you are alive and back again." Aba kept quiet for a moment before adding, "Right?"

Akoma sighed. "You should listen to me at least - "

"Akoma, my call time is almost up. Can I call you back later? I don't know if I have any more coins left. Gosh. Let's talk later, OK?" Aba sounded distracted.

"Wait! I wanted to ask you if - ". Akoma frowned and took the phone off her ear when the call ended abruptly. She lay there on her belly for a moment in thought. Louisa stared. "That was the weirdest conversation I have had with Aba so far," Akoma whispered.