Kash:
"I am so happy that you returned with a different attitude. I remembered how rude you were when you left. Even when you came by for a few days off, you barely called to ask me to spend time with you. But today, all my worries were gone." Lara had been yapping nonstop since she got in the car with me.
I didn't know who told her to come to the office, but I was glad she did.
Still, I was upset because, in anger, I did something I wouldn't have done otherwise.
I had not initiated a physical relationship with her yet. And I wasn't ready yet either. But it didn't matter.
I did it today. I kissed her. Because I was furious. Not just with anyone, but with Iris.
The way she returned, looking fine and moving on, crushed me. It all began to make sense, all the evidence against her. It was true. She had betrayed me.
"Can you just, like, stay silent for a minute? I really need to breathe," I told her, watching her narrow her eyes at me in disbelief.
"You know what? Drop me here. I'll go home for now. And call me when you fix your attitude. Father is planning our marriage in a month. Hopefully, you'll have your shit figured out by then," Lara hissed, gesturing for the driver to stop the car.
I didn't stop her. I let her go. If she thought I would make her stay, she was wrong.
The car stopped, and she stepped out, getting into the car behind us.
When we parted ways, I went home. Walkin was already on the road with me, driving in another car. When we arrived, I found my mother and sister waiting. They had prepared a feast to welcome me back.
I had seen them briefly that morning when I first returned, but we hadn't spent much time together. Honestly, seeing them again, I realized I didn't want to. Maybe I would have, if I hadn't met Iris that same day.
"My son, the war god," my mother said cheerfully, walking toward me with a bright smile. "You are my pride," she added, cupping my face in her hands.
"Thank you, mother," I replied, gently holding her hands and lowering them.
"What happened? You're not happy?" my mother asked.
"It's not that, actually. We were working really hard at the office. We struck a new deal with a company. And Kash needs to rest."
Thankfully, Walkin arrived before I said something that could ruin everyone's mood. I tended to do that a lot. When I wasn't happy, I couldn't keep others happy. Sadly, they had a lot of expectations from me.
"Oh, then he must rest! But we've prepared food for him, so after he eats, only then," Zoe said excitedly, clapping her hands.
I truly cared about my family. I loved them too. But ever since Iris left, there had been this hole inside me. After seeing her again today, it felt like that wound had reopened and it was bleeding all over again.
"I really don't feel like eating. I had plenty of food at the office," I lied, watching my mother look at me sadly for refusing lunch.
I excused myself and rushed to my room. Walkin followed. Thankfully, nobody else came in.
"Walkin, I want her at my feet," I said, pointing at my shoes.
"Calm down, Kash. Everything will be done in time. It's not like she's going anywhere," Walkin urged, trying to calm me, but I kept refusing his touch and shrugged him off whenever he tried to pat my shoulder.
I paced from one corner of the room to the other, losing my mind.
"Don't you want to sit down with her and ask her anything? Why she left, or more specifically, why she left with him? Or how long it had been going on?" Walkin asked, and I clenched my fists.
I still remember when I was searching for her. My warriors showed me some pictures. They said they had seen her several times in the woods with a man. I didn't know who he was, but I knew he existed. There were also pictures of them together after she ran away.
A lot was going through my mind. I was under a lot of pressure. I felt guilty for pulling her into something that would hurt her, but I believed I was doing it for her. While I was trying to help her, she was with someone else. I felt like my whole life had been a lie. Still, I had waited a long time for this day.
"It's okay. You'll get all the answers now. Tell me, what do I need to do?" Walkin asked, hands in his pockets.
I started to sketch a plan, moving my wrist while my finger pointed outward.
"Tell her to get to work tomorrow morning. I'm going to give her such a hard time she'll forget she ever played someone like me," I hissed, then scratched the back of my neck.
"I want her trapped in my fist, Walkin. And even if I have to use Lara for it, I will. I'll play anyone at this point to hurt Iris," I added, making my intentions clear. I had waited a very long time to face her again. And she was finally here.
"You know what? Fuck going to the office. Now we're partners. Let's go to her home unannounced," I declared, turning to gauge his reaction.
Thankfully, instead of telling me it was a bad idea, he agreed and began nodding.
"Well, let's go then," he said, and I straightened my posture, ready to confront her and find out where she had been hiding and who she'd been living with after leaving me.
Within fifteen minutes, we were already heading out. I had changed into an all-black outfit because I was going to be the dark shadow over her happiness from this point on.
We traveled to the address listed in the contract files, and soon we arrived in the rogue land. Of course, I had never found her here before. This place was one of the most forgotten lands. A lonely house stood in the middle of it.
As soon as the car stopped, I stepped out and looked around. But before I could even knock on the door, I heard something on the other side of the main gate. I frowned and walked closer with Walkin. It was the sound of children cheering and playing in the garden.
"Are you sure this is her home?" I asked him, and Walkin nodded.
"Yeah, this is the address. We're at the right place," he confirmed.
And sure enough, there were children playing inside. Curiosity got the best of me, and I knocked on the door, ready to enter and see how much she had been hiding from me.