Joan paced up and down her room. King hadn’t called yet, he promised he would. She had made sure to get him a new phone and a sim card before he left, she left it in the pocket of his hoodie. He promised he would call. Her two hands went up in her hair and back down and then down her face.
What if something bad happened? What if the blue guy caught up with him or the cab man had been fake?
It had been two hours since he left, granted the fact that he still had to walk a good distance home after alighting from the cab but he was supposed to be home.
Had the stalker caught up with him? Or Andrew and his men? Or… Jamal.
She let out an exasperated sigh. Of course, Jamal. How bad would he have beaten up King this time?
If only King lived closer, if only he had parents, if only things were different. She plumped down unto her bed, picking up her phone to call him then realizing she had not saved his new number.
She cried out in frustration. What was she going to do!?
A knock came on her door. She glared at the door then widened her eyes when she realized it was most probably her mother at the door.
“Its open!” she announced, composing herself.
Mrs. Michaels entered shortly.
“Are you okay?” Mrs. Michaels asked, shutting the door behind her.
She nodded, forcing a sme unto her face.
“I heard you cry out. Is it about King?” Mrs. Michaels persisted.
“You don’t need to worry mum, everything is under control.”
Mrs. Michaels rolled her eyes, coming to seat with her.
“Its obvious ‘everything' is making you worry.” Mrs. Michaels said, stressing on everything.
“Why wouldn’t I worry also?” Mrs. Michaels continued, “Tell me, what’s wrong? What’s going on with you and King?”
She looked down at her hands.
“How do you know it’s King? He isn’t the only person in my life.”
“But he's the person capable of bringing out this much emotion from you.”
“Its not like you care about him anyway or my relationship with him” she countered, still staring at her hands, “You practically hate him.”
Mrs. Michaels gave a short laugh.
“I don’t hate him. I just don’t like his behavior, character, everything, he stinks and breathes trouble. I don’t want him getting you into any.”
“Do you know of anyone he has gotten me into?”
“Not anyone big to warrant my hatred for him.”
“Aha!” she exclaimed, her head shooting up, “You finally admit you hate him!”
“I don’t…I…” Mrs. Michaels sighed, “Let’s not use the word hate… dislike, I dislike him. I dislike that he always sports one injury or another, I dislike that he keeps late nights, I dislike that he is always coming here, acting like he doesn’t have parents or a family, I dislike that he's too close to you…” she looked her up and down, “He isn’t even up to your standards, he's so poor and wretched…”
“Mum!” She exclaimed, her eyes popping out of their sockets.
“What?” Mrs. Michaels rolled her eyes contemptuously, “I’m stating the truth.”
“No, you’re not!” she exclaimed, letting out a disbelieving laugh, “Definitely not!”
“I saw him hug you.” Mrs. Michaels said, fixing a scrutinizing stare on her, “I’m sure you enjoyed it.”
She gave her mother an ‘obviously' look.
“Of course I did. We hug every time and you know it.”
Mrs. Michaels looked at her suspiciously.
“Joan?”
“Hmmmn.” She answered, curious to know what her mother had to say.
“Do you like King?”
She raised a brow, “Of course I …”
“I mean in a romantic way. Are you falling for him?”
Joan opened her mouth and shut it, blinking rapidly. Why would her mother ask such a question? They were just bestfriends.
“Of course not” she answered finally, “We’re just bestfriends.” She added a laugh at the end of her sentence.
Mrs. Michaels held her both hands, pinning her with a serious stare.
“Joan” she started, “I’m letting you keep your friendship with King because I know how much you really like him. I've decided to let my grievances go and allow you two to be happy and free… but if it comes to the aspect of a romantic relationship, I would never… NEVER… be a party to that. The day I discover you’re harboring romantic feelings for King, that day will be the day you end whatever you have with him, no more King. You hear me?”
Joan stared at her mother in horror. It shouldn’t have gotten to her so bad, her mother’s words should not have affected her so badly but she was finding it difficult to breathe, to swallow down the words her mother just brought out. She was supposed to just brush it off, after all she had no plans of changing the direction of her relationship with King, bestfriends forever, right?. Her heart was heavy and she couldn’t stop the tears that pricked her eyes.
She quickly pulled her hands away from her mother’s and stood up, walking to the double windows.
“Joan, did you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“Good. If you're already harboring feelings for him, you better kill them now before it’s too late. King needs you in his life, even I have to admit, don’t be selfish. I won’t go back on my words.”
She waited until the door clicked shut before she succumbed to the tears.