Beloved

Chapter 29 To Make Matters Worse

Chapter 29

To Make Matters Worse

With a bundle of food in my arms, I walked along the beach to the general’s camp. I had left Tobias alone for a few days, just going down to bring him some food occasionally.  I hadn’t seen him much. Just a glance from afar, but I didn’t want to bother him so I never said anything. He was mad, and I had learned a long time ago to give him space. 

I placed my load down on a rock before sneaking along the boardwalk to the house. Tobias had been busy and had fixed the damage caused by Azuka and the other men. He even almost had a wall done. It was exciting to see my home getting close to be finished. I wanted to be with my beloved. I wanted to live with him again, in our own hut. I just had to hope he still wanted to be with me.

“So you finally showed up.” Tobias finishing tying off a pole. “I’ve been wondering where you’ve been.”

I guess he was still mad. “I brought you food.”

“Thanks.” He walked past me to a pile of logs. 

“We can eat together, if you want?”

He picked up a log and put it over his shoulder. “I’ll eat later.”

“Falya made those deer steak things you like. They’re still warm.” I followed after him, making sure not to get in the way.

“I said later Raja.” The general dropped his load.

“Why are you mad at me?”

“I not,” he muttered as he examined the log. 

I walked closer while playing with a strand of my hair. “Will you come eat with my then? They’re not as good cold.”

He let out a heated sigh. “Raja, I’m busy.”

“Will you just tell me what I did wrong? I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” I touched his arm. “Toby?”

“Just go alright.” He jerked away from me. “You didn’t do anything wrong, I’m just busy.”

Bowing my head, I bit my lip. I was done getting upset over him. I spent enough time crying, because of him and my family fighting. “I don’t know why you even bother,” I said as I walked away. “If you’re just going to live here alone, you might as well just stay in the tent.” 

Tobias didn’t even acknowledge me. He just kept on working on the wall, like I said nothing. I marched off back to the village. I didn’t care anymore. He could sit out there by himself until his stupid pod got here and took him home. I was finally seeing the real Tobias, and I wanted nothing to do with some pampered general who acted like a spoiled brat just because he didn’t get his way. He thought I was the weak one, but he wouldn’t even handle being here. 

As I entered the village, my anger was starting to diminish. Maybe my father was right, another man would take me in as soon as Tobias left. I sat down outside my family’s hut and rested my head on my knees. 

“He’s still mad,” said a quiet voice from around corner.

I nodded as Nyko came to sit by me. “I don’t know what to do. I’m starting to think the only reason Tobias liked me was because I was a pet. He was expected too.”

“He still building the house though.”

I sighed. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Don’t worry.” Nyko laid his head on my shoulder. “He’ll figure it out. Just give it time.”