Methis Delis POV
After a hearty breakfast and some touching talks, I cleared the table and did the dishes immediately to avoid them piling up later in the evening. My father headed off to the home office while I went to the living room to pass some time and think on my current being. I had school to attend and the level of work waiting for me back at the stadium was bone-breaking. I had to resume soon. I only came back here to have some time off from all the stress and all the drama going on in my life. I had to constantly remind myself about that because soon enough I knew I would get too comfortable and forget all my other responsibilities until it was too late. I had a career to chase. The more I kept thinking about the career I had to chase, the more I reminded myself of Jamal who was here and wanted me to be his Luna. It was an impediment to my career. Or was my career just being an impediment to a regal future with Jamal? Being a queen was said to be every female's dream in the pack and in this generation, with the way Jamal is going, none of them was going to achieve that dream, not even one. So ought I not to be happy that I was being chased by who thousands were chasing?
I turned on the television to pass time and free my mind from the thoughts that the more I pondered on them, made my heart heavier than the way it was the past second. I had to do myself some good and think on more colourful thoughts or something else. I closed my eyes but all that could materialize in my mind was the face of Jamal. Maybe I did love him after all. Of course I did and I remember the feeling vividly especially during our time at the palace but I was not sure if he was the path I wanted to follow in the future.
I stared at the television idlely. A cooking competition was on and all the participants were running helter skelter in the kitchen searching for the required ingredients to whip up whatever it was they were asked to whip. I focused on that but soon became bored of it. Regardless, I stared on. Watching this was better than having to deal with my thoughts. I thought I heard the intercom buzz but I couldn't be sure so I paid it no heed. The imaginery buzz came again and I ignored it. The cooking game was getting more intense. The judges were screaming time and the contestants were frantically cooking the meals, chopping onions at flash speed, roasting God knows what with the fire set to the highest heat, arranging their meals in plates for the judges with shaking hands trying to beat time while still attempting to make it look half as good as a well prepared meal in terms of presentation. At least this was something to get my mind off my troubles.
But good moments never lasted my living room door swung open gently and to my greatest shock, Jamal walked in.
I sprung to my feet and flinched in fear. "What are you doing here?" I think my voice was too loud because Jamal's held his hand to his mouth gesturing me to keep my voice down. "What are you doing here, Jamal?!"
"I came to see you," he said.
"What?" I knew he was lying. If he wanted to see me he would have gone to my lodge at school and I was plain enough to tell him. "Don't lie to me. If you wanted to see me you would have been at my place at school not here. You didn't come to see me. What are you doing her"
Jamal's eye flickered a bit. He wanted to say something to what I just said but kept his peace, rather, he admitted the truth as to why he came here. "I came to see your father. I came to see an old friend of mine."
The use of the word 'friend' when describing my father offended me deeply. Of course, I told him as much. "My father is no friend of yours. So don't lie!"
I saw a bit of disappointment in his eyes and stopped and talking. Now I felt bad. Here was a man who was desperately trying to win me over and though I felt something for him, I made it intentionally hard for him. But I had my career I badly needed to work out as well and I saw Jamal's proposal and my career as a situation where one could not live while the other live. One had to give way for the other. One had to die for the other to survive.
"Methis just listen to me, can you do that?" Jamal asked.
But I still had a sense of hostility against Jamal. He was the reason my surrogacy secrets was exposed to Xander and Sophia and maybe anyone those two had told.
"Why did you expose my secret, Jamal?" I asked.
"What?" he asked confused.
"My years of surrogacy to you was supposed to be a secret. Now Xander knows, now Sophia knows."
"Who cares about Xander, Methis?"
"You are missing the point! Now anyone they tell will tell anyone and soon it'll be in the mouth of everyone. And you know what they call people like us here in the human world?"
"What?" Jamal asked.
"I'd rather not say, but it's not nice and we are looked down upon."
"But I never told Xander myself," he said.
"Your being here alone is enough telling to Xander," I said.
"But I had to come," he said.
"You didn't have to with the kids."
"I had to. Some days you will understand."
"That what?"
Jamal walked closer to me almost completely closing the gap between us. "That I love you to death. And I know you love me too."
I froze and held my breath.