XXII

My deepest apologies, I seemed to have had the chapters mixed up so I just wanted to say that this is the real chapter Twenty two and this chapter should be read before the previous one. My sincere apologies.

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"What would you be making for dinner tonight?"

"I don't know. Maybe, you guys would have to chew on some Cheerios or something and wash it down with some milk, water or juice, whichever you prefer. I'm completely drained from today's sessions," the shrink established as she and her friend walked through the black gates of their house.

"Oh, come on, Mera!" the redhead whined with infantile humour as she stomped her feet on the gravel floor behind Emerald, her car keys rattling due to the motion. "I'm famished!" she continued to wail.

With her head pounding mercilessly as a result of the hectic day she had had at work coupled with Oriana's puerile tantrums, she couldn't help but wish that her friend's heels would break from the impact of her feet hitting against the rough ground.

"If you're so hungry, why not cook for yourself?" chaffed mockery laced her words as she turned around abruptly in aggravation, making Oriana bump into her chest.

"Ouch, Mer-" the protests that began bubbling in her vocal cords immediately died down on seeing Emerald's death glare. Wearing a juvenile pout on her lips, she rubbed her forehead as though Emerald's chest had been as hard as metal.

Seeing that she could finally enjoy some silence as she made her way to her room, Emerald turned around and resumed walking into their home. Using Oriana's weakness of being a walking cooking catastrophe against her had successfully shut her up. Emerald couldn't be more glad for the resultant quietude.

As usual, the house was dark, empty as well as tranquil. Everything Emerald had always wanted, yet she couldn't help but admit that she missed coming home to settle or most times, ignore Oriana's and Logan's puerile banters.

Since the past week, Logan had been pretty busy with work. He'd leave really early in the morning, arrive very late at night when he was sure no one would be awake or not even bother coming home at all.

Emerald had had her suspicions that it could be that Logan, just like Oriana, was also avoiding the elephant in the room, or rather, the elephant that had moved into their home.

She had confronted him about it when she had patiently awaited his arrival in the mid of night and had cornered him. As expected, he had laughed it off and had just given the vague response of 'work has just been really hectic these days.' At least unlike Logan, Oriana had told Emerald truthfully her reason for not wanting to be home.

Finally arriving at the door of her bedroom, she hurriedly walked in and shut the door behind her, making a quick escape from Oriana's throttling claws. She plopped down on her bed, heaving a sigh when she felt her strained back and waist muscles relaxing against the plush paradise.

Closing her eyes, she inhaled deep, long and steady breaths before exhaling while peeling her eyelids open synchronously. Her eyelashes fluttered as she kept her emerald green orbs, which shimmered in the darkness surrounding her, fixated on the grey coloured ceiling.

She let the events that had occured in the past week float around her in the darkness. Letting out a groan, she remembered how Oriana had been so overly clingy this past week.

She knew that her friend was still terrified of the Mafia Don's presence in their home and that it would take some time to adjust to the definitely temporary new living arrangement but she didn't know that she would be the one to shoulder most of the burdens.

Oriana, immediately after she closed from work, would drive all the way to Emerald's therapy place to wait out the few minutes to an hour left before Emerald's last session or closing time.

At first, when Emerald had seen her arrive on the first day, she had thought that her friend had just been in a really good mood and had decided to reward her by driving her home as well. But, when she saw Oriana again the next day, she began suspecting that her friend's unusual actions were equivocal. There was more to it than meets the eye and only when she saw Oriana's Toyota SUV pull up at the curb of her building on the third day, were her suspicions finally confirmed.

Her friend had an ace up her sleeve.

Emerald had confronted her and gingerly, Oriana had defeatedly conceded her claims. Unable to proffer a more befitting solution to her friend's obvious yet understandable fear, Emerald had succumbed to her pleas but now, she was definitely starting to regret it.

Letting her eyelids shield her knackered green orbs, she groaned when she remembered Oriana's seemingly infinite rants about the neverending drama in her workplace and the vulture-like squall that had emanated from her throat when she had tried to sing along with the band music playing from her car's stereo system.

Shaking her head emphatically, she assayed to rid her head of the reiterative caws of Oriana's voice before successfully subjecting herself to the silence again.

Letting her thoughts drift to Logan, she brought her phone out of her purse to send him a text. 'Busy?' she wrote but didn't have to wait for long before the three bubbles - an indication that he was typing - showed vividly on the screen of her device. His text came in.

'Just wrapping things up,' he replied.

She rolled onto her side so she could be in a better and more comfortable position before sending him a reply. 'Home?'

She knew very well, her reasons for the one worded responses. She was trying to reel him in and she knew that he had bitten the bait when her device dinged as his text entered.

'Are you angry with me, Meme?'

Yep, he had fallen right into her trap. All she had to do now was play her cards right. 'Why?' she pressed on.

'I don't know? Your one worded sentences?'

'Hmm. . .' she feigned ignorance.

'Well, Meme?' he prodded.

'Yes, I am. Since you've chosen to avoid my existence.'

'That's not it, Mera. It's just that. . .' he left the sentence hanging.

'Just what? You're trying to avoid the situation? Or save yourself? Which one is it?' she finally snapped.

'I'm sorry,' his reply came later than the others and although it was a text, those two words conveyed his earnest sobriety.

But she needed one last thing from him. 'Home. Now," and with that, she turned off her phone, not waiting for his reply.

She knew she was being a tad selfish by requesting such from her friends but if they continued to avoid the pressing issue that had moved into their home, it wouldn't be a fair act; no matter his status, he was still an ad interim roommate.

His existence was unavoidable and they had to believe that sooner or later. And she preferred sooner. She couldn't believe that she was the one saying this but one week of deafening silence was enough for her ears.

Not wanting to leave the cloud-soft haven of her bed and room, she thought of taking a much needed nap before showering but her demon of a stomach apparently had other plans.

Begrudgingly getting up from her bed, she stretched her arms and legs, wincing when she heard simultaneous pops from both body parts inclusive of her aching back. Moaning softly, she admitted that she had really missed Logan's therapeutic massages.

Her stomach growled again, reminding her of its looming munchies. She sighed.

'Looks like Oriana had won this round.'

▬▬▬▬▬

Alighting from the flight of stairs now clad in a wine coloured tank top with black drawstring shorts, Emerald walked into the kitchen just in time to see Oriana perched on a kitchen stool with her back facing her. She was now dressed in her PJs, Emerald noticed. She rounded the corner and could now finally see what her pest of a friend was up to.

Her right hand was buried elbow deep into a box of Cheerios while the carton of whole milk stood proudly in front of her. When she took notice of Emerald's presence, she shot her a glare before stuffing her mouth with another handful of the cereal, letting grains of the food to lie haphazardly on the counter top.

She proceeded to animalistically imbibe the half filled glass of milk, leaving a drop of the creamy liquid to trail down the side of her lips before refilling the glass; all the while, her gaze was fixated on Emerald who could only eye her with distaste evident on her visage.

Choosing not to say anything for her own peace and sanity, Emerald only shook her head before walking towards the refrigerator to bring out the ingredients for dinner.

As she brought out the bell peppers and broccoli amongst other ingredients, from her peripheral vision, she could see Oriana watching her every move skeptically but she paid no heed to her. Emerald was determined to destroy her resolve.

Humming tauntingly, she pulled out the chopping block before finally presenting the key to Oriana's downfall - a pack of noodles.

"What are you making?" Oriana broke the silence, her voice sounding squeaky before she cleared her throat.

"Why do you ask?" Emerald washed the pans and other equipment to be used while trying to contain the smirk that itched to spread across her lips.

"No reason. I'm just. . . uh. . . curious. That's all," she fumbled with her words.

"Mhmm. . . sure." she hummed, intentionally ignoring her question.

'Curious indeed,' Emerald thought.

A few minutes had passed and the delectable aroma of the sizzling ingredients in the pan wafted heavily around the kitchen before Oriana spoke up again.

"Uhn, Mera?" her voice was only an octave higher than a whisper.

Stirring the contents of the hot pan, Emerald pretended as though she hadn't heard her friend calling her name.

"Mera?" she called out again, her voice going a tad higher.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"What are you making? You didn't respond when I asked earlier."

"I didn't?" she teased further.

"No, you didn't?"

"Oh. . ." she remained silent.

"Well?" she smirked at the restrained irritation in Oriana's voice.

"Stir fried ramen noodles. Since it's already late and I'm really tired, I didn't want to make something heavy or extravagant."

"Oh, that's good. Really good," she whispered the last part but Emerald caught wind of it clearly. "Isn't that a bit too much for just you?" she asked, referring to the quantity.

"No, it's not. Logan is on his way as we speak and the meal is for three people."

Oriana's face lit up when she heard Emerald's words. "Three people?" she tried to keep the excitement out of her voice.

"Yeah. Logan, Mr. Kale and I," she ultimately dropped the bomb, draining the excess starch from the noodles as she watched Oriana's excited countenance deflate like a popped balloon.

"M-Mr. Kale?"

"Mhmm," she asserted.

"What about me?!" her calm façade had eventually grown thin and Emerald couldn't feel more accomplished.

"You? What happened to you? I just saw you eating cereal, didn't I?" her voice was laced with spurious confusion and mock innocence.

"Mera!" Oriana whined, "but I told you how famished I was. How could you?! How could you do this to me?! Please!" she was on her feet, now beside Emerald who was busy draining the noodles of its excess starch water before pouring it into the prepared sauce.

"I'm sorry, Ori but there's nothing I can do about it anymore. It's almost ready. Besides, I already saw you eating earlier and you seemed to really enjoy your dinner, I just assumed yo-"

"Assumptions! Fucking assumptions! Why would you assume that?! It's like you don't even know me anymore, Mera!" her face was full on smoking red as she puffed dramatically but Emerald was too entertained to bother.

That was revenge for the week of horror she had had to endure with her.

She watched her turn around abruptly before walking towards the kitchen exit and storming past Logan, who now stood, watching the two women - one, an animation like character while the other was completely unfazed by the outburst of her friend as she stood with green eyes scintillating with mischief and amusement.

Logan knew very well, that his friend could be as mischievous as the devil's pawn if she wanted to and it was always fun to watch her perform her rarely displayed malicious acts - if and only if you weren't her victim. He could only sigh in pity for Oriana. But as he saw her gaze harden at the sight of him, he could only gulp and pray that she would go easy on him.

"Meme?" he took a step in her direction, but consequently, she paid him no regard as she turned around to continue stirring the delicacy which was simmering noiselessly in the pan.

"I'm really sorry, Mera. I admit I've just been trying to avoid his presence by occupying myself with unnecessary workloads," he explained while taking slow and cautious steps towards her but still, she ignored him.

That was Logan's weakness - being ignored, especially by someone really close to him. To him, it was like hell on Earth.

"Mera, please talk to me," he wrapped his arms around her waist and snuggled his face into her ambrosial tresses. "Ok, now I'm promising you that I won't do that anymore. I'll come home each and every day and I won't even think of avoiding him anymore. Please, Mera. Talk to me," he begged.

Few minutes of silence followed before Emerald spoke. "I need a massage," she groaned before she fain relaxed into his embrace. She sighed. It was hard not to give into his hold; the man was just too soft for his own liking.

Logan chuckled in relief. "I guess that means I'm forgiven."

"Thank your stars I'm just too exhausted tonight. I would've tortured you mercilessly," she gathered the chopped vegetables and poured them into the simmering noodles.

"My prayers must have been answered then," he muttered before tightening his hold on her waist and assaying to dig his nose deeper into her alluringly scented hair but since her hair was pulled into a messy bun, it restricted his plan.

Attempting to free her golden locks from the confinements of a hairband, she muttered, "Don't even think about it. If you love to have strands of hair in your food, well I don't."

He groaned and dropped his hand, returning it to its initial position around her small waist. They began filling each other in on the horrors - mostly Emerald - and pleasures - Logan - of their week.

They kept talking and laughing with each other that they hadn't noticed the presence of the raging storm behind them until he cleared his throat.

Turning around to see the cause of the intrusion, their eyes collided with stormy brown orbs, which appeared almost black. His jaw was tight and his fists clenched and unclenched before he dug both his hands into his pockets. They were surprised and hadn't thought he would be home so early.

Emerald took in his customary neat and prim look. His hair was disheveled as though he ran his hand through it endlessly. He was dressed in a white shirt, whose sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his tatted muscular forearms. His lower region adorned black pants which clung perfectly to his strong thighs and legs and his black jacket laid haphazardly on his shoulder.

Emerald looked up into his eyes to find him staring daggers at the almost non-existent space between her and Logan before gluing his paroxysmal orbs to the sight of Logan's arms around her waist.

His jaw seemed to tick as the rain of tension fell tempestuously around them. Having had enough of the strained silence, Emerald cleared her throat. "You're back," she spoke and winced when her voice sounded an octave higher than usual.

His gaze slowly left Logan's arms and latched onto her face as he continued staring intently at her before looking her up and down, making heat creep up her neck to her cheeks. Suddenly, Emerald couldn't help but feel naked under his acute gaze.

"Hmm. . ." his response was curt and gruff before he left the kitchen without another word.

Emerald exhaled, confused as to when she had even held her breath. Slowly, the earlier grim atmosphere dissipated and Logan finally detached his arms from around her with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Uh. . . I'm going to take a shower," he gave her a peck on the forehead before leaving as well.

"What just happened?" Emerald whispered.