CUSP
10

I wake up with a terrible headache, it almost feels like it has come straight from hell. My eyes have been open for a while but I can’t lift my head from the pillow because it feels so heavy.

I pick my phone and open it, I have a missed call notification from Claudia and a message from Besa telling me how excited he is that I will be going for the party later. I don’t know but just reading his text makes me irritated, honestly I don’t know what is wrong with him. He has a good woman with him and from what I have discovered he will be marrying her soon so why in God’s names is he up in my business trying to act like he likes and wants me.

There is a knock at the door, it’s obviously Caleb because he is the only one who knocks.

‘Come in.’ I say after quickly scanning the room making sure that there is nothing lying around that might make him uncomfortable.

‘I made us breakfast.’ He says walking in with a tray

‘You are being nice.’ I say sitting upright but flinching at the pain

‘Are you okay?’

‘I have a headache from hell.’

‘I will get you some pain killers after this.’

‘Thank you.’ I say getting a hold of a hot croissant, my brother is many things but he is a very good cook and baker. Better than Nancy and I combined.

‘You didn’t even brush your teeth.’ He says shaking his head

‘You know these are nice when hot.’ I say taking another bite and picking up the glass of juice

‘What plans do you have today?’

I sigh.

‘Nothing.’

‘Oh okay.’

‘Can I ask you something though?’

‘Shoot.’

‘You and Besa were mates in UNI and still have a good relationship going right?’

‘Right.’

‘Do you think he loves Astridah?’

‘Of course he does, why then would he be proposing to her today during the birthday celebrations?’

I sigh deeply

‘where is this coming from?’

‘I don’t know Caleb, but he is behaving funny.’

‘How so?’

‘So he called telling me that he wants me present at the birthday lunch, more like commanding me and something just doesn’t sit well with my spirit. Also I suspect that he might be hitting Astridah, if not him then someone is doing it and sadly she can’t talk. But I just know that something is totally off.’

He keeps quiet for while.

‘I will talk to Besa, if this is making you uncomfortable I don’t see a reason why he has to continue being your friend or even being persistent about the friendship.’

‘Thank you.’ I say hugging him

‘So will you go for the lunch?’

‘Honestly I don’t see the reason why, I will just be in bed catching up on my series.’

‘Alright, Nancy and I will be going so I guess it will just be you at home.’

Its only now I notice that he looks dressed up.

‘You are leaving now?’

‘It’s forty minutes to 12PM, we need to go or Besa will lose his mind.’ He says standing up and I can’t help but laugh at that.

‘Alright you guys have fun.’

‘You too.’

‘And Wane.’

‘Yes.’

‘If anything strange happens, anything. Call me.’

‘Now you sounding like that is strange.’

‘Don’t worry.’ He says coming to kiss my forehead before walking out of the room

A few minutes Nancy walks in with the pain killers.

‘Caleb told me you were not feeling fine.’

‘Yeah woke up with a headache.’

‘Take these, there is food in the fridge when you get hungry you can just warm it.’

‘Sure.’

She walks out an a few minutes later I hear the sound of the car leaving, I don’t have to worry about going to lock the house because I know they have with their set of keys.

I finally manage to get out of bed after an hour of taking the pain killers, the headache is now minimal but my body just feels off. I drag myself to the living room and sit on my favorite couch then cover with a fleece blanket. One minute I feel hot and the next it’s cold, and I know I am falling sick because I haven’t felt this way in a really long time.

I must have fallen asleep because when I open my eyes it’s to my ringing phone.

‘Hey.’ I say, I didn’t even check who was calling.

‘Why do you sound like that? I thought you were coming.’

It’s Claudia

‘I am not too well, let me get some rest.’

‘Should I come through? You sound terrible.’

‘I will be fine.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Has anything ever gotten me down?’ I say trying to make her laugh

‘Of course not, but the way you are sounding is a bit worrying.’

‘I will be fine.’

‘Handing the phone to dad.’

Obrien is on the phone even before I can say anything, Claudia is really something else.

‘Why didn’t you tell me that you were not feeling fine?’

‘I am okay.’

‘Of course you are not.’

‘Dress up, I am coming to pick you so that you get checked at the hospital.’

‘Obrien.’

‘Why are you calling my dad by his first name?’

It’s Claudia back on the line.

‘My apologies, it just slipped.’

‘I see.’

‘Later Claudia, I need to rest.’

‘Alright, I will check on you later.’

‘Sure.’

I am tempted to switch off my phone but then anything is possible with Obrien and I don’t want to replace myself in trouble so I stand up to take a bath.

..

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Winnie

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