Broken Mate, Fixed By Fate

11 - Wager

I am being babysat.

Because that’s what it is he’s doing, really.

I stare at him with annoyance. He’s building a house of cards on the table while I sit on the couch, holding a book I gave up on after several tries of reading a line and not understanding a single word.

I’m feeling much better. But Maria firmly declared I am not getting out of the house for two more days, just to be sure I’m fully recovered, even though the sun is shining brightly outside.

Elijah has no such restrictions, and yet here he is, stuck to my side like an unfortunate fruitfly to a flytrap.

I wish I could tell him to just go away. Of course that would require talking and…well, I still don’t feel like doing that, to be honest. There’s something so comforting about not having to explain yourself to the world.

Words seem to have turned…superfluous.

Speaking only reminds me of lies that were fed to me and I cringe as I remember all those dreams I proudly spoke of before…so confident that everything is possible and within my reach, mine for the taking.

“I can feel your malevolent gaze on me and I’m right. What did I do now?”

I feel my cheeks turn warm at being caught.

He smirks and continues to carefully stack his cards. “You know, I’ve been thinking. I liked your laugh.”

The donkey wheezing I couldn’t stop the other day before my mental collapse!? He has got to be joking! Now any compliment that passes through those lips, I will never believe anymore—

“I’m not talking about the donkey wheezing, of course. That one was hilarious, by the way. I thought you were having an asthma attack for a second there.”

My jaw drops. He can read my mind!? Holy crap, what have I been thinking around him so far!?

Think! Think! Okay, let’s test it…

Bubonic plague… Teacup puppies…. too random? Wait, what if I take my cup of coffee and smack him on the head with it!? I can almost see it…almost hear and feel the crunching sound of the porcelain cup crashing against his skull—its rusty smell permeating the place as his blood spills everywhere…

Fucking hell, where did that much violence come from!?

DELETE THAT! Stupid intrusive thoughts…

He continues to speak and I sigh internally with relief. We just had very similar thoughts, then, that’s all.

“No, I was talking about the pretty giggle you let escape before it turned hysterical.” He chuckles at the memory. “I reckon you have a lovely voice too. I can’t wait to hear it.”

Yeah, I’m never speaking again. I’ll just let him continue imagining that I sound like the little mermaid Ariel rather than Scuttle, the bird.

He turns to me again and grins. “How about a wager?”

I stare at him blankly. What is he blabbering about?

“I bet I can soon make you talk.”

I snort. That’s mighty ambitious of him.

He grins wider at my expression. “And I bet I can do it without even tickling or torturing you.”

Ahh, now he’s being plain arrogant.

I smirk. Game on.

He laughs, utterly amused at what he saw on my face. “Oh, challenge accepted, is it? What will be my prize for winning the bet?”

I raise an eyebrow. Getting a little too cocky, aren’t we?

He scoots closer, pretending to whisper as if to share something important. “Let me tell you a secret.”

Intrigued, I lean closer to listen.

He whispers to my ear. “Before we reach the Crystal Cave, I’m going to win the bet.”

I stare at him incredulously. Is he for real?

He wiggles his eyebrows. “So? What do you say? You tell me what my reward will be…or I’ll decide what it is when I win.”

I can only roll my eyes. Smart ass. He thinks I’m gonna fall for it and speak now?

He chuckles and extends a hand. “Deal?”

I shake my head.

“Pffft…It’s because you know I’m telling the truth. I am going to win.” He says smugly. “Didn’t take you for a coward. Let me sweeten the pot. If I don’t get you to speak before we get to the crystal cave, I will introduce you to her majesty Queen Raya and ask her myself to sponsor you at the best international fashion design school in Europe.”

Oh no, he did not just dangle my life’s dream in front of me!

I shove my hand in front of his face and watch as his lips slowly stretches with a devilish smile, so out of place in that angelic face I almost backed out.

“That’s my girl.” He shakes my hand before I can pull it away. “No backsies now.”

Heavens, what did I get myself into?

I don’t know what he intends to do to win but because of the damn bet, I became a little wary of him, however, he behaves just as he has always done and doesn’t show any signs of manipulating me into finally talking again.

After our little agreement, he busies himself with other things, receiving calls from someone I don’t know, sometimes even skipping meals because he’s busy in conversation with whoever it is. Maria just shrugs and focuses on mothering me.

I frown. Isn’t he supposed to be on vacation?

Well, that was kind of a letdown. I’d sew my own lips together with a red thread and a needle before I’ll ever admit that I was looking forward to the fun game of cat and mouse, but the truth is that I can’t wait to see how far he would go just to win the bet since he seems to be very confident. I will prove him wrong, of course, but it will be amusing nonetheless. And to be honest I am feeling rather giddy at the idea that such an important and mature man would go to lengths just to get me to talk. It’s flattering.

Perhaps I’m being childish but it is such an ego boost after all I went through.

However, now I’m being assailed by doubts. He’s not exactly ignoring me but…he’s not doing anything either, at least, none that I can see. Has he forgotten about our deal? If he has, then that sucks. All that anticipation for nothing…

Then finally, Maria gives her thumbs up for us to go to the Crystal Cave.

Elijah smiles and tells me to pack light, but to bring an extra pair of clothing and shoes inside a plastic bag because it might get wet. He doesn’t explain why even though I’m staring at him curiously.

Maria tells me it’s going to be around an hour and a half walk from the house. She prepares some sandwiches, cold cuts of meat and some left-over fried chicken for us to bring for lunch. There’s also some grapes, a couple of bananas and strawberries in a picnic box for Elijah to carry.

“Just be very careful because the cave is slippery this time of the year.” Maria tells them and I glance at Elijah who is stuffing the food inside his backpack. He doesn’t look worried at all.

“Don’t worry, Mum…I’ve been visiting that cave for several years now…we’ll be fine. We’ll go real slow and bring you back some crystal quartz, right, Maeve?”

I nod, feeling the excitement rising. So there are actual crystals in the cave! And we can even get some! I can’t wait to see it!

“Don’t take more than you should, you don’t want to anger the guardian of the cave.” She reminds him.

He chuckles. “We’ll share some of the food to make up for it.” He winks at me and I wonder if there really is a guardian there or if he is just humoring his old mum. In any case, I am so excited I can barely stay still!

I admire the forest path as we start hiking. Elijah keeps a steady flow of chatter, talking about nothing in particular…the weather, the local flora and fauna…his voice calming in the background as I listen only with half an ear.

Like his mother, he doesn’t seem to mind that he’s getting no response from me but occasional facial expressions of amusement or curiosity, sometimes annoyance or disbelief. He walks in front of me to lead the way and I wonder if he truly has forgotten about our bet.

Not my problem, I will remind him when this is all over, with a pen and paper, or even type it on my phone if necessary, that is, if I’m still not speaking by then.

Halfway to the cave, we stop to rest in a clearing of what looks like an often-used area for camping. There’s a couple of logs surrounding what clearly looks like a spot for building a small fire. But he leads me to a park bench with a table.

“We won’t be needing fire, anyway. We have everything we need in this bag. I didn’t bring anything to drink because there’s a freshwater spring just over there, so all we really need are containers for the water.”

He tells me to settle down and gives me the bag of food so I can start eating if I’m hungry while he gets us some water.

I take a deep breath as I sit down, loving the wonderful scent of leaves and earth. It’s a good thing we stopped to rest because I am already starting to feel tired. Maybe Maria was right after all when she asked me to rest for a few more days. My body is restless but still catching up.

Elijah comes back with a jug of water. He takes out two foldable cups from the backpack and gives me one.

“I just love eating outdoors, don’t you?” he asks amicably. “Somehow food just tastes better in the open air for me.”

I stare at him dubiously for a few seconds before staring at my turkey sandwich, wondering what he’s talking about. I give it a try, chewing carefully to see if the taste has in fact changed.

Nope. Still tastes like a turkey sandwich to me.

But he munches on happily and you would have thought he was eating cordon bleu or something gourmet instead of a simple homemade sandwich by his mother.

I look at my sandwich again. What am I missing? I know it’s the same half of the sandwich that Maria prepared. What makes his sandwich different? Why does he look so happy eating his?

He smiles. “It’s the same sandwich. It all depends on you. Just like in life.”

It must be something philosophical one develops with old age, I wanted to tease him—and almost did it too but I caught myself in time. I gotta be more careful or I’ll lose the bet.

He grins and it looks for a second like he knows something I don’t. Which makes me suspicious. Is this his plan all along? Lull me into compliance because he’s acting all normal and harmless, so much that I let my guard down and then before I know it…I’m spilling my guts out, talking about my feelings?

Cunning! But not enough. I’m gonna win my future in half an hour and Jack will rue the day he betrayed me.

I eat my sandwich with renewed determination.

When I’ve finished my water he lets me rest for a few minutes before standing up and holding out his hand.

“Ready to win the bet?” He asks and I’m about to nod yes but then he grins. “I know I am.”