DYLAN'S POV
I was sitting in my office, trying hard to concentrate, yet I failed. We were back in Southrain, but I had not gone to see my mother. She was too controlling, and it was the right time to start showing her that I was an adult with my own mind. It seemed to me like the more I tried, the harder it became. I let out a loud yawn and left the office as I headed to see Anisha who was in hospital. I could not believe the person I found in Anisha's ward; the very last person I would have wanted to see: Carter. Anisha, on the other hand, was sound asleep in her bed.
"When did you come from Hallowcave?" I doubt if I managed to hide the irritation in my voice.
"Today. I flew in today," he smiled. "Dylan, you have to understand this. Anisha and I have a strong bond. I will always be here for her. You have a lot of money, I agree, but sometimes money just isn't enough. I understand her, and she understands me."
I felt I was not in a mood for him. I was already stressed out from what my mother had said to me. Although I had tried several times to be nice to Carter by ignoring him, I thought it was time to say something…
"Since you two are so close, as you claim, have you ever asked yourself why, when she was running down that road; she still managed to pull out her phone and call me? Why didn't she just talk to you, seeing you were just a few steps behind her?"
"Ah…how can…"
"Listen, Carter, I really don't have time for you. I am a busy man, there are a lot of things that need my attention. It would be appreciated if you learn to do your own things without having to constantly remind me that you and Anisha were at Olga Children's Home. You were there, yes, and so were many other children along with you. I really don't have time for you."
Carter let out a small chuckle and, shifting his weight to one side, he stood slanted for a while before he sat down on the chair. I read through Anisha's medical notes and I called in a nurse to ask a few questions. Carter excused himself and immediately left the ward.
My mother's words kept ringing in my ears "….she's not good enough for you….you need a lady from a rich family….how will I tell my friends that my son is in love with a girl from the orphanage?....we need to protect the family name…."
I shook my head as I tried to forget it all. Earlier that morning, I had received a message from my mother, and I had no energy to open it. Gathering up all my courage, I took my phone and finally opened the message. It read:
Son, I see that you are obsessed with that girl. You have not managed to see beyond her beauty. Now let me help you. I will give her a chance. I will give her some time…a month, I guess, to prove to you who she really is. Let me draw her closer to me, so that I also get to know her better. After that one month, I can assure you that she will be out of your life. She is after what you have to offer; not you as a person. Open your eyes, Dylan!
I re-read the message and sighed heavily.
"What is it?" I had not realised that Anisha had woken up. She slowly rubbed her eyes and sat up with a smile.
"It's nothing. It's just a message from my mum. How are you feeling?"
"Your mum?" she seemed to be in a panic. "What did she say? I'm sorry to ask, I really need to know."
"She says she will give you a chance…"
"She will? What exactly does that mean, Dylan? I feel worry coming over me" she struggled to sit up and I helped her.
Her eyes were on me, full of worry and maybe fear. It pained me that my own mother had managed to cause so much fear to the woman that I so dearly loved.
"She wants to know you better. She said she will be nice to you. My mum is not a bad person. Just do your best to also know her better. Who knows; you two may end up being best friends."
I raised my brow at her and she slightly shook her hand. There was no smile on her face.
"May I ask you a question, Anisha."
She quickly nodded her head at me.
"Have you ever been in a relationship with anyone before? Dated anyone? In love with anyone?"
"No. I have told you before," she smiled a bit.
"What is your relationship with Carter, if you don't mind me asking" I kept my eyes on her, for I really wanted to see her reaction. She had a frown at first, which quickly faded off and she laughed a little.
"He is just a friend."
"Just a friend?"
"Yes. We were together at Olga. He used to be the best piano player, and since I loved music that much, Carter taught me to play both the piano and the violin."
"Did you two have a special relationship? Did you consider him as any other person from the home, or he had a special place in your heart?" I asked calmly.
"What special place? What did he say to you?"
"Well he keeps talking about a strong bond between you two and…."
"There is no strong bond between us!"
"Anisha, this guy just appears in Hallowcave, he knows a lot about you…for example he even knows that blue calla lilies are your favourite. He is the same guy who opposed my instruction for you to be sent to Whyte Silver Rays Medical Centre. This same guy just flew in from Hallowcave to visit you. And he told me that I can never understand you as much as he does; echoing that you too understand him a lot."
"He said that?" Anisha seemed shocked. "He is just a guy from the home. When we were staying there, he was nice to me, but I considered him as a brother. Carter is stubborn, you don't have to listen to what he says! Carter has a good way of irritating people. He can really get to your nerves if you let him."
She looked away as if it were nothing, and the next time she opened her mouth, she had changed the subject.
Feeling upset, I did not want to stay in the ward any longer. Why was I having a feeling that Anisha had just brushed off the topic, and had not wanted to tell me the truth? I hated being lied to, and although I trusted Anisha a lot, it still troubled me why she would hide something from me. If Carter was her ex boyfriend, I saw no reason to hide it. Yet she had flatly refused to say anything. I tossed in my chair and failed to be productive at all, until I made up my mind that, instead of shifting and turning all day long, why don't I just ask her?