" But you called. You even texted, more than you usually do. What is that supposed to mean then?'' Kendrell asked as he finally spared Malcolm a glance.
'' I see you're doing ok Ken. Fine. I wanted to check on you, you know, the way friends should. But it's obvious you're doing great, so how about we play chess?" Malcolm said.
He understood Kendrell wanted to push him away so he could drown in his pains. He wanted to drown in despair and knowing Malcolm, it would be impossible to do that around him.
Malcolm was a very observant person with a high EQ and he saw the look on Ken's face when he sat next to him. Kendrell tried masking the joy he felt seeing Malcolm by his side, but it was too late.
" So, what do you say? I mean it's obvious nobody died and nothing happened. So why don't we just sit and have fun, after all, I just took an authorized leave and what better way to spend it." Malcolm said with a smile, like everything was okay.
Kendrell on the other hand, raised his head to look at him. 'He really took a leave from work because of me? Or is he teasing me? But if that was the case, he wouldn't be here, would he?' Kendrell thought looking at Malcolm absentmindedly.
'' Oh I did bestie." Malcolm said as if heard Ken's thought.
" I didn't say anything.'' Kendrell countered as he looked away.
'' I didn't say you did. You know, you remind me of one of my exes." Malcolm said "You know they're a lot." he added.
" Before we started da..."
" I suggest you use the door." Kendrell said.
" Why, we're not playing Chess anymore?'' Malcolm asked with a pout.
" Malcolm I'm not in the mood for..."
" Why wouldn't you be? I thought you said nothing happened. If you don't want to play then I'll assume you're sad about something and...''
'' Malcolm this isn't what you should be doing right now. I'm not down for all of your nonsense okay? So just leave me alone!'' Kendrell half yelled.
'' Then you should be up for my nonsense, since nobody died and nothing wrong has happened." Malcolm countered.
" Listen Ken, I didn't come here for nonsense. But I didn't come here to help you feel even more miserable either. I came here to make sure you're doing ok and to help you feel better. And I know you just want to drown in the pain, and you don't feel comfortable having me around when you do that. But I'm not going to stop you if you feel like crying." Malcolm said to Kendrell who had his hands resting on his knees which were folded upwards, while he bent his head downwards.
" Ken I'm not here to make you cover your wounds on the outside, while they're yet to heal. I'm here to help you heal from within. Do you think it doesn't hurt me to see you like this because of the two people I once cared about?'' Malcolm asked Ken who said nothing.
'' But I want to make you believe that loyalty and true friendship exists, only if you let me. So if you want to talk about it, that's why I'm here. If you want to cry, that's also why I'm here Ken. But I won't let you hurt yourself or say things that you're not supposed to. So if you're just gonna sit here and say nothing, so will I." Malcolm said, before he relaxed on the wall too. And just like Kendrell, he had his hands on his knees which were facing upwards.
' Let's see how long you continue with your nonsense.' Malcolm mused inwardly as he closed his eyes to show finality in his words.
Kendrell didn't know why and how it started, but tears rushed out of his eyes. Slowly he raised his head to glance at Malcolm, without making it seem so obvious. He saw that Malcolm's eyes were closed and he understood what that meant.
Then he bent his head again and shut his eyes, though it was not enough to make salt and water unable to find it's way out.
To Kendrell's surprise, Malcolm pulled him towards himself and embraced him. But this time, Kendrell didn't fight it.
He let the tears flow freely. The pair of true friends sat in silence for a very long time.
* * *
~ Planora ~
" Hello mom." Morticia said to Melinda over the phone. She was alone at this time because Jenna excused herself to give her privacy.
" Oh my! Morticia? How have you been? What happened? I tried contacting you but it didn't go through. I even tried Morgan but he wasn't responding. Is everything okay sweetheart?'' Melinda asked. Unknown to her, she stirred up a very uncomfortable feeling in her daughter, when she mentioned Morgan.
Morticia had lied to her mother about many things going on in her life, one of which included telling Melinda that Morgan was coincidentally her neighbor.
" Mom I'm fine. My phone fell in water, as you can tell it's a different number that I used to call. I just wanted to let you know that nothing serious happened. I have to go now, I promised the owner of the phone a minute.'' Morticia said.
'' Wait! A few seconds more please.'' Melinda pleaded.
" Okay?'' Morticia said, unsure of what her mother wanted to say.
" I'll send you some money so you can get a new phone okay?''
" No. Don't bother, I'm fine." Morticia said.
" But you..."
" I said I'm fine mom. Anything else?"
" Umm, how about the job Morgan promised? How did it go? Did you get it?" Melinda asked, yet again, another question that disturbed Morticia greatly and reminded her of experiences she'd rather forget.
'' No I didn't get the job. Goodbye mom." Morticia said as swiftly as she could, before he mother could notice the hitch in her breathe.
" Wait_" Melinda barely said before the call disconnected.
" At least you've heard from her now. I told you she was fine." Oliver who listened to everything said, since Melinda placed the call on speaker.
He was done with his 'business' at Planora, temporarily.
" She's an adult now. You can't keep doing this.'' Oliver said.
'' But she's also my daughter so I have to look out for her! We haven't talked for quite sometime now, her phone was always switched off whenever I called, Morgan's too. What was I supposed to do then? Not worry?" Melinda asked, half yelling.
'' I'm not saying you shouldn't, all I'm trying to say is..."
" I don't want to know Oliver! " Melinda yelled.
Sighing, Oliver stood up and went over to where Melinda stood, and hugged her from behind.
'' I'm sorry my love. I didn't mean it that way, it's just that_"
" Leave me alone." Melinda said, trying to pull out from his embrace.
She wasn't just mad at him, she was pissed because of the way Morticia replied. But she blamed herself for Morticia's attitude towards her. She knew she wasn't the best mom to her and sometimes, she wasn't happy about that, but whenever she was started to feel guilty, she reminded herself that Morticia wasn't a little child anymore.
'' I'm sorry honey. Please'' Oliver pleaded to Melinda who wore a neutral facial expression.
Seeing that she wasn't so pissed anymore, Oliver began trailing kisses on her neck and shoulder.
Well, in the end, it did not pay off because Melinda walked out the room, untouched.
She was pissed enough to resist his advances.