Rhett quickly hides the small bottle in his palm and faced Sabrina. "Ah, this one, just a basket filled with food. Grandma Azere brought it here a few minutes ago," he replied calmly.
Sabrina picked up the basket and checked the contents. "I'm getting hungry," she spoke. "If only we can grow our own food here inside the cave we no longer need to bother Grandma Azere in coming here everyday," she said, pitying her benefactor and also admiring her dedication in bringing the food every day to the cave.
"Yeah, I was also thinking the same thing," Rhett agreed. "Too bad we can't grow food inside the cave. The cave is not an ideal place to grow crops since there is no sun to nourish the plants," he said.
"I'm getting hungry," Sabrina said and walked away, carrying the basket with her to the chamber.
Rhett was left alone at the entrance of the cave, staring at the bottle in his palm. Should he use the aphrodisiac on Sabrina's food and be done with it?
He released a deep sigh and put the bottle in the pocket of his pants. He still needs to decide whether he will use the aphrodisiac or not. Using it will tamper Sabrina's mind and emotion and after the deed is done, she will not only hate him but also hate herself.
Not a pleasant memory for Sabrina to deal with when she's already alone on her own in the cave.
He wants Sabrina's willingness and cooperation, he doesn't want to force her in doing something against her will. Things would have been easier if he didn't develop tender feelings for Sabrina, he can easily use her. But things are different now. He wants to cherish her and respect her choices and decision.
'But sooner or later, you are still going to use her! Just do it! The outcome is still the same!' a vicious voice suddenly popped up in his consciousness.
Rhett was shaking his head vigorously trying to push the voice away from his mind. He breathed deeply and walked in the direction of the chamber to join Sabrina for breakfast.
He found her eating rice and fried fish on the table.
She looked at him. "Let's eat..." she said. "Grandma won't come here at lunch, so we should save the rest of the food for lunch," she added, pointing to the note written on the small piece of paper.
"Okay," Rhett said and began eating his food.
A few minutes later.
Sabrina finished eating first. She stared at Rhett's handsome face. "You know what? I'm puzzled why Grandma Azere keeps bringing you food in the cave for the last ten years?" she asked.
Rhett looked at her for a few seconds. "She did it on her own accord. That's the only thing I can answer you," he said.
"Yeah, but why? What's the reason? I mean why she keep doing it? Could it be that you and Grandma are relatives?" Sabrina asked.
Rhett no longer answers her. He allowed her to form speculations in her mind.
"Then who is this witch that cast a curse on you and this cave?" Sabrina asked, hoping that Rhett will provide the rest of the information to her.
However, Rhett already finished eating his breakfast but give no answer to Sabrina.
He picked up the dirty dishes and put them in the basket. "I'm going to the stream to wash the dishes," he said.
"I'll come with you..." Sabrina said. She rose to her feet and followed Rhett to the stream.
She watched while Rhett washed the plates made of clay in the water. He's not answering her questions yet, it left her frustrated. She released a deep sigh.
Rhett looked at her after hearing her sigh. "Why are you sighing?" he asked.
"I'm dying to hear your confession. Yet, you are not telling me anything. You have no idea how hard it is to be left in the dark and completely caught off guard in the spiderweb of lies and deceit. It's not nice at all!" Sabrina whined.
"I know how it feels. I can relate with you," Rhett said.
Sabrina rolled her eyes, feeling annoyed after hearing Rhett's statement. He can never relate to her situation, never!
After they finished their business in the stream, they returned to the chamber.
Sabrina went to the entrance of the cave and watched the trees and plants going through the same thing every day. It's so tempting to leave the cave, rush to the open space, and enjoy the wonderful feeling of just being there outside.
Sighing, tears appeared in Sabrina's eyes. She missed the hut, she missed Grandma Azere's company, and miss attending to the garden outside the hut. She missed everything outside the cave.
Rhett joined Sabrina at the entrance of the cave and saw the sad expression on her face. He sighed inwardly, their situation is not improving at all.
They both looked outside, shrouded in silence.
Rhett studied Sabrina's rigid posture. Based on her behavior, she will never yield to him. Unless she can learn to forgive him and forget what he had done to her and start trusting him. But she refused to forgive him, that is the barrier that is hard to break.
Forgiveness takes a long time to happen. He can wait for her forgiveness no matter how long it takes, but his father can't wait for him to leave the cave as soon as possible. The full moon will take place a few days from now.
He needs to decide... whether or not to use the aphrodisiac and be done with it. Leave the cave forever and never return.
Meanwhile...
Grandma Azere was tending to her vegetable garden at the back of the house.
Suddenly... she heard noises and saw movements behind the banana trees located a few meters away from the garden. She saw the black wolf! She rose to her feet and walked towards the area, the wolf was already waiting for her there.
The wolf howled while looking at the old woman. He starts a conversation with her. 'Why my son is not getting out of the cave, yet?'
'Your son is falling for the girl. He can't bring himself to force the girl to share a kiss with him, the girl has to initiate the kissing before he will respond to her," Grandma Azere replied.
'I see... I'm getting impatient! I want him out of the cave within this week!' the wolf said.
'Don't worry, I have already given your son an aphrodisiac that can speed up the process. The girl will offer herself to him and the kiss will take place one of these days,' Grandma Azere assured him.
'That's great! I'll take my leave now. Take care of yourself,' the wolf said and bolted towards the deepest part of the forest.
A gentle smile broke on Grandma Azere's lips as she watched the black wolf fading away from her vision.
She turned around heading back towards the vegetable garden to continue her task.