Kale pov
One thing I hate and actively avoid is unfamiliar things, I could be anything, whether it's an unfamiliar feeling or something new and not registered in my brain as to how to deal with it.
It's not something that comes often either, my life is relatively quiet with me following the normal routine I set for myself, I love routines and I love rules, especially the one I make for myself, that way nothing really interferes with my schedule and even if something unexpected comes in between I can easily avoid it my ignoring it totally and then move on.
But recently things have changed, even I have to admit to myself, I find myself faltering at each step, unexpected events have been showing up and I find myself not only giving it attention but also involving myself directly in a way that can mess up my routine and I nothing is supposed to interfere with my routine no matter what it was.
Except it involves a certain chaotic girl that I know I'm supposed to actively avoid but instead I'm doing the opposite. I held the phone tightly in my hand, my head perpetually bent and focused on the silent phone that just lay pliantly in my palms, I don't think I have been desperate for a message from someone this much, I don't think I have ever been desperate about anything at all but here I am slowing losing my mind because a girl has not messaged me back.
Does it usually take long for someone to call back or reply to a text, it's normal right?? Waiting all night for a reply , or am I just overthinking things.
But was the use of pondering here about the duration it takes to reply to a text, isn't it better I just call her ??.
My hand hovered over the call button and I stopped myself when I saw that calling her again would make it the 10th unanswered call from me, when did I become the person calling someone who's not picking.
I was startled out of my insistent thoughts when Rasheed spoke beside me, seeming as if he could not bear looking at my phone any longer than he had .
" I know it's not like you to be worried but just to put it out there, Stravokos henchmen that hit Amory has been taken care of, though I'm still try to find the connection between Stravokos and Velda except business partners and also the reason he was trying to break into the Calloway's family system, But in all of that, Amory is safe and out of problems for now"
Rasheed is a very quiet boy that would not say anything on his own, sometimes would not even speak even after being spoken to, unless it's absolutely necessary, which means that I must be currently acting too weird for even him to handle.
I sighed and looked up at him, letting my mind wander for a while from Amory and dwell on yesterday's event.
After I left the hospital, I went with Rasheed to investigate and find out why Amory ended up hit in the head by some group of thugs and not to mention why on earth she was in Jaguar's Den.
Which finally led me to finding out about her little missions as it turns out she was also known in the underworld but not her full identity, just as Velda's Vixen, most of the missions are quite simple but also risky if it goes wrong.
But even as that, I'm yet to find out why Amory's mom Velda, will send her daughter to Jaguar's Den of all places just to get a document containing a property signed, the documents was even fake along with the signature, It turns out they just wanted to lure her to that place and achieve whatever aim they were looking for.
No matter how fast she wants to climb the wealthy and famous ladder, she does not worry that her daughter might not come back from that hellhole.
She didn't even visit her to know whether she was alive or not. Instead she sent their servant, even though the father was also not available. I didn't understand any of that and I wanted to find out more but ended up losing track of time entirely.
So when I returned to look for Amory in the hospital like I promised, It was already late from the time I was supposed to be there, and I was met with an empty bed. She had already left without even a trace. The nurse informed me that she left hours ago after clearing herself.
I tried calling her but she was not picking or returning my calls, so I texted but I haven't received any feedback yet, which is an explanation for my current state.
Rasheed was right, I'm not one to worry, but I can deny the fact that I'm worried right now, is she fine?? Did she get back home safely? Is she eating and taking her drugs adequately and taking enough rest? I wanted to know all of these.
The realization of this, yet another shock to my bewildered system.
" It's fine Rasheed I'm fine, I'm not worried" I said and he nodded
" I'm going to class," he said before walking away from me. It's a free period for me. I just sat on a bench outside, watching and wondering.
I know she might have decided to rest today at home considering she just left the hospital yesterday but for some reason my eyes have been glued to the school entrance and the spot she usually frequents with her friends hoping I'm going to see. I have been doing this since the morning I arrived at school.
Think about the devil and he appears. I watched Amory from a distance with her friends as she approached me in all her glory, effortlessly she was the spotlight shining without a single stress, she looked the exact opposite of the girl that was crying in my arms earlier in the hospital.
I didn't realize I stood up, until I was standing in front of her while she sar with her friends under a cherry tree. My full attention was on her and it felt so wrong to ask if she's feeling alright considering how much he was or is it just my mind.
Did I mention I couldn't talk for a few minutes because I was starstruck and my saliva got stuck in my throat. I had a gulp and cleared my throat before I could talk.
" Ugh.. I how are you Amory"
Her legs crossed as she stared up at me without responding. I saw something flicker in her eye for a moment, before it was quickly made by her signature smirk, now turning fully to face me.
" Oh hi Kale "
" I'm sorry for not showing up earlier like I promised yesterday, it was not my intention to keep you waiting" I said coming closer to her, thread bandage has already been removed, someone who didn't know wouldn't know she was injured two days ago.
She just chuckled and then laughed some more, looking around her to her friends that was sitting with her who were just looking amused
" Me, wait for you, did you really think I was waiting for you "
" I promised to come get you, but I was a little late.."
I was cut off immediately by the blonde guy sitting opposite her
" Wow Amory, I didn't know how deep you have gotten with your recent boy toy, he promised to come carry you"
That seemed to amuse them because all of them started giggling
" Tell me about it, even I have no idea" Amory said rolling her eyes
" Ugh... For a moment I really thought this one will last a bit longer, considering you have been ditching us for him but he looks like he's already in love with you"
A girl sitting beside her Said pouting her lips.
" Amory, what..." I was interrupted again, this time by Amory herself
" You know I really wanted to see till the end of the bet by making you fall in love with me but I'm really sorry Sweet, I'm already sick of it"
My throat was dried up
" Sick of what " I croaked out
" You, I'm sick of pretending to be interested in you, you're becoming too clingy for my liking, hence I'm calling off the bet" she finally said raising her hand earning a series of groans around the table.
A bet.
" So you don't have to try to do things for me, I'm done with you, I don't really want a situation where you're thinking we are in a relationship and further complicating things"
I haven't said anything, I just stood and stared .
A bet.
I was a bet.
" What does that mean" I force out, still trying to understand, my gaze still fixed on her, she closed her eyes in clear annoyance.
I'm annoying Amory.
" It means you don't talk to me, you no longer have the right to sit beside me or think I'm the same level as yours, I'm longer interested in you and that's the end Sweet"
A lot of things became a blur of sounds
" Oh my God he's gonna faint" someone said and it seems everyone in the table was talking
" He's looking so pale Amory, but still hot"
A laughter, a cackle, more giggling
" I think you were a bit too harsh just now " I looked up to see Carmen walk into their circle.
" And the religious one walks in" the blonde says sarcastically
" Why? You were always against the bet, I just ended it, shouldn't you be happy "
" Amory they're better ways to end it without hurting him, he's the only one with a conscience here, he took care of you in the hospital, none of these people here did " Carmen said, coming to stand beside me
But Carmen just rolled her eyes
" I never asked him to, so stop being dramatic, he was about to become clingy and I was avoiding it"
Carmen wanted to say something else but I stopped her by shaking my head.
I turned to Amory and looked at her face, her face was without blemish as usual, even with the compression in my chest, I still managed to be awed by her beauty, it was enchanting, my eyes trailed from her face to her whole body, her posture, her aura, she indeed is a goddess.
I felt like I wanted to tell her a lot of things but nothing was coming out so I came even closer to her, squatting to be on her level since she was sitting and I said.
" I don't want you to worry about me falling in love with you or becoming clingy, I'm not in love with you, I just needed to tend to you and your injury, and make sure you were fine" my voice has considerably reduced, I think she can only hear me and for some reason everyone in the table has decided to quiet down.
Her face showed surprised before she quickly changed and bent down, her eyes boring into mine,
" That's what I don't want kale, this attention from you, It makes me sick, I don't want it, whether or not you are in love with me, after all it's just a matter of time, before you become clingy like the rest of them and expect things from me"
She said not even blinking.
I was supposed to leave now, seeing as she had made it in clear and unambiguous words but I didn't look away from her. For some reason it felt like this would be the last time I would get to look at her up closely so I persisted.
" Not even friends, I can't be your friend" and she faltered, for the first time today I saw her falter but she said
" No"
I nodded and handed her the handkerchief she left at the hospital
" The nurse said you left this behind, just make sure you take care of yourself Amory" and I stood up, turned and left
" Amory now that you're not interested in him again can I take him, I can't pass by this one"
Someone said in the group, I didn't listen anymore as I walked out.
Kale what just happened.