Resurgence

15. Kryptonite

“It’s not that you should never love something so much that it can control you. It’s that you need to love something that much, so you can never be controlled. It’s not a weakness, it’s your best strength.” – Patrick Ness.

•••

The car grinded to a halt, bringing with it—Tari’s thoughts to an abrupt end. The drive with Lani from the site had kicked off with lively banter, characterized with jeers and slurs, but the energy had fizzled out over time as a result of the escalating pain in his head that only heightened upon the passing of every minute. Lani had spared him the need of having to use his mouth for any reason that could trigger more grounds for pain and so had stopped engaging in him conversation, even when he had insisted he could hold his own against the pain.

She was being overbearingly caring.

Her attitude was enough to take him back on a journey of ten years—down the memory lane of when he was in a similar position like the current one. Bruised and battered, in need of serenity and aid—she had willingly provided him with a shelter and her care even when it could have been termed inappropriate and overboard by onlookers and outsiders who weren’t in the loop. Her teenage person was shot through the soul with many flaws but one thing that couldn’t be faulted or criticized was her big, warm heart which was perhaps one of her most disarming and winsome traits.

The other highlight of the memory streaming through his head was the way it ended. The way that night had ended. It hadn’t been unexpected to the point that it made him bewildered or enraged—it was a climax that they both knew was inherent and was going to happen eventually. But that alone wasn’t able to cancel out its surprise element. If anything, it piqued it.

“Thanks for the ride,” He broke the silence finally, meeting her doting gaze that was studying him intently. “It’s a good thing that you insisted on driving me here. I’d have probably passed out if I was the one driving. The pain was that hammering from even this seat.”

“I’d say I told you so, but you aren’t impulsive,” Her smile dissolved into a smirk. “And also—thank you for the ride. Man, riding this your car is like being hit by a fresh breeze and a breath of fresh air also. I’ve always known my good driving skills weren’t put into good use in my small Mercedes. At least, today I got to test its versatility.”

“Yeah, right.” He said. “So um, this is where I say good bye then I guess.”

“Yeah, Tari. I guess this is goodbye for now.” She repeated after him, before tearing her gaze away and turning to her left to push the door of the car open. “I uh, you should definitely get going now. So see you on Monday, then?”

“I’m not sure about that,” He said, to his own dismay. “I have a lot of paperwork to finish up in the office. Plus, work is technically done at the site. I’d probably come in twice or thrice in this coming week but it’s definitely not Monday. We’d see about that anyway.”

“Oh,” Her voice fell, and a look of sobriety took up residence on her face. He was taken aback by this, since she wasn’t one to let on that she was hurt. She always concealed that perfectly. “I see, well till we see again next week.”

It was then he knew that he simply couldn’t just let her leave like that. “Uh, why don’t you come in for a drink or two?” Her head snapped up and her eyes narrowed at him. “I mean, like if that’s not okay by you—I could just run in and bring out the drink, which is coffee by the way. I’m guessing you take coffee? If you don’t there are like tons of other stuff to take, my wine cellar just got replenished but it’s a little too early for champagne isn’t it? Ah, we could do anything you want.”