Chapter 84 - FULFILLING A PROMISE

It was on a weekend's morning, Saturday to be precise, the next day after the party, that Maya had visited Emma in her place. Derek had told her, Maya, to promise him that she would make the human see reasons, forgive him, and take him back. And she had complied, even after knowing fully well how strong-headed the redhead could be.

****

"It's coming out nice." Emma said, as she looked into the pot that sat on the electric cooker, housing a boiling native dish of the county which she had come to love in her week's stay here. It had been one week now, one week since she came into this strange land. She had a feeling that something much more was about to happen; she didn't know exactly what, but she felt it was fate that she was here, and that her life would be taking a new shape soon. She just didn't know how, and why the heartbreak had to be part of it. She had never felt this attached to a person, had never felt this much hurt.

"Yeah, it should. I'm the coach." Maya said with a laugh, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yeah yeah. Coachy" She taunted, with a small smile on her face, a small faux smile. She didn't want her friend worrying over her emotional and mental state.

"So what should I put next?" She asked, placing her two hands on the kitchen counter, still staring into the pot.

She was hungry, and she won't be starving herself for nobody. Heartbroken or not.

"The vegetables." Maya replied, causing her to pick up the plate which contained the chopped vegetables.

*

Maya stared at Emma contemplatively, as she added the vegetables to the pot.

Since she had come three hours ago, they had done everything and talked about everything besides the not so good incident of last night. It was like it never happened. It was like Emma had scrapped off the event from her mind; like she had already moved on. 

And this was no small bad news for Maya. She knew how the humans were with relationship, unstable and unreliable.

Of course, her cousin had been at fault but shouldn't they be addressing the issue, not avoiding it?

She hoped Emma would forgive her cousin, she wished more for her cousin to let the cat out of the bag about their identity, she prayed the most that the redhead wouldn't disappear after he does that.

"The ingredients are all used up." Emma said, awakening Maya from her thoughts.

" Then the food is almost ready. Let it simmer for some more minutes, and then it will be good to be eaten." Maya stated, drumming her fingers on the table, thinking on the best way to approach and please her cousin's case.

She had to, so that Derek could eat. He had been starving himself since last night, raging at the slightest provocation, and totally depressive.

Last night, after she had busted Claire's tatics and left with her cousin; they had dropped in at Ava's place to confirm the words of Clem. And it had turned out true.

Emma had laid tiredly, weakly on the couch in Ava's room, looking downtrodden and crestfallen, still cursing and whining on how a cheat her cousin was.

And when the redhead had seen them step into the room, she had screamed at her cousin, yelling her hatred for him, before slumping tiredly into sleep.

She remembered her cousin looking so devastated. She had been sure that he had never been that way, even when she had betrayed him. He had just told Ava to take care of his 'friend' before stepping out of the house dejectedly, his shoulders slumped and his eyes wet. He hadn't been able to drive; Shane had taken over the wheel that night.

She also hadn't been able to ask Ava how she got to know Emma; the environment was pensive and unconducive. She had left immediately her cousin did, promising Ava to be back the next day.

And she kept her promise, but Emma hadn't been around when she had come back.

Ava had told her that the human had left, first thing in the morning.

She had muttered a thanks, committing it to memory to talk properly with the intuitive girl when next they meet, before walking off to Emma's place.

Now staring at the redhead who leaned on the way with a far away look on her face, she wondered if her cousin would ever be forgiven. She prayed so, for the sake of the pack and the upcoming battle ahead. Her cousin's current state of mind would guarantee their loss and her father's victory; and she didn't want that.

"Check it now." She finally said, referring to the food on fire, but the redhead wasn't responding; her far-outed-ness was much.

"Emma!" She shouted.

"Yeah,..sorry." Emma replied, having jerked up from her deep thoughts.

"Did you say something?" She asked, running her hands over her thick mass of red hair.

"Yeah. Check the food." Maya said, looking at Emma worriedly; knowing now that the incident last night had really affected the human.

"It's delicious."

She heard the human say, after tasting the meal with a dish spoon, with a smile that didn't touch her eyes, and soughed. There was really a long way to go.

"Of course it should be. I'm the coach." She replied, beating her chest rapidly like a gorilla would, smiling in effect as she heard the redhead laugh sincerely at her funny display.

"Coachy Maya..Go up to dinner, let me dish the meal." Emma said, smiling sincerely for the first time that day, grateful for the gift of Maya's friendship.

She also knew that her friend wanted to ask questions or perhaps talk about last night, but was a little bit unwilling to, not wanting to provoke her; and for that, she loved her the more.

"Aye Cooky Emma." Maya sing-sunged before walking out of the kitchen with a whistle, causing Emma to smile out again.

She knew she would broach the topic, perhaps when they would be eating; she couldn't deny her curiosity any longer. She also knew that she would be fine. She always was. This, whatever it was, would soon pass.

And it brought her great comfort, even as she dished the meal into beautifully flower-designed ceramic plates.