Not even me (4)

She looked at him and back to the picture before walking to her mom who was now standing with the workers. 

"Mom?"

"princess,"  she excused herself, "is everything okay,? she raised her chin up "where you crying?"

 "no it's nothing..it's the picture, nevermind,"

"ohh..I see you liked Akarui's surprise. But tell me, is the rest okay,?"

"yeah, am not even concerned about that_it's about you, you know am going to miss you?_ with no one to wake me up, scold me for missing breakfast, complaining about work, who will be there Mom,?" She faced the herm of her dress "there's a lot of things we do together and am going to miss each and every one of them. Yes, I might be coming to visit every weekend but that  won't just equate it cause am scared everything I'll do will remind me of you," 

"are you saying goodbye my love?," Mrs wan held her daughters face_with battling demons of emotions forcing their way through the cornea of her eyes tears and nostrils,  "am afraid neither do I want you to go my love; how I wish you can remain forever young and stay with me and your day_how I wish you didn't have to grow and be with your husband-Lijie. Cause to me you're still my little sweet child..my Candy.." 

she looked at the wall... "I also knew this day would come_but my heart refused to accept it. Even now I feel like it's a dream I'll wake from but then am reminded my Candy is a grown woman and now she'll have to leave with someone else, someone other than her own parents,"

"Mom," she took her hands, "you'll always be my first priority-no one will ever change that, and please whenever you miss me or need anything don't hesitate to come over or to call me."

"Now smile a little bit, otherwise everyone will be wondering..."

 "but promise me something; that whenever you'll feel you're not happy or nolonger in love with Lijie you'll come home?"

"that will never happen, but regardless I promise." 

"But Cadeau...?" she stopped midsentence,

"Alright, alright, mother and daughter can we now do something else,?" Fleur stood in-between them. "Are you jealous little sis?"

 "nope! let's just say am used to it," she smiled,

"okay-you two this is enough honestly," Guerrier said as he came over with Tasha on he's tail. "This isn't a funeral, she's not dying or going overseas. Besides, she's been apart from you, am I wrong?"

" yes mum, Fleur added.. all those years Cadeau spent at a boarding school you managed didn't you? so take this no exception, like it's a vacation,"

"mum fleur and Guerrier are right, Consider this like am going to a boarding school again," 

"And you know the best part?" Tasha spoke up..this time you'll be in the same city,"

Guerrier moved back  and pulled everyone in to a group hug,

But when it ended almost everyone had their own thoughts.

_

"you know what Tasha?" Cadeau began as they stashed the remaining vases. It was almost heading to dawn.

"I fail to understand mom. if she says she missed me so much and felt resentful after sending me to a boarding school then why did she do it regardless of how much I whined."

"just forget it, am sure she did it out of love."

Cadeau wanted to disagree but then she thought of something..  "l wonder where Akarui has gone_ have you seen him,?"

 "No. But and if you don't mind can I ask you a question,? it's just something I've been meaning to ask lately-but don't get upset it's just a question..." 

"cut the chase Tasha," 

"okay, first of all I know you're getting married tomorrow, and I know you love Lijie, but just between us," she first navigated the circumference before almost wispereing in her eardrum "tell me do you also love Akarui,?"

Tasha could see the shock register on Cadeau's face, but that didn't stop her to rumble on, "what I mean is this_ he seems to care about you- a lot than your fiances' bestfriend should do don't you think? plus you two understand and neither is your relationship with him bad so why not him marry_him instead," she started counting... "he's handsome, calm and collected_no drama with girls, and to top it off he's the governor's son, so why not go for him.?" 

Cadeau felt her body numb until she opened her mouth to speak. No one has ever questioned her relationship with Akarui till today.

She looked at her bestfriend intently and coldly responded with a plain truth,  "I don't love Akarui.  My relationship with him is strictly that of a brother and a sister," she paused and thought of something, "ohh and it's not about the money-who's handsome and who's not, whose the governor's son and who is not_It's not even about who's calm or who's not." she looked to see if anyone was watching and said, "It's about who I love Tasha, who I genuinely and sincerely love, and who loves me. it's also about who understands and takes care of me, who I connect with-and I can't lie to you that man is Lijie. He's my dream, my world and my heart only twinkles for him.. " she took a deep breath "coming back to your question? No I don't love Akarui."

 "But what if they never knew each other? in another world let's say,"

She had once asked herself that question. Cadeau was searching for the right words to say, "mmh maybe.. look, Akarui is handsome, he's charming and so forth but he's not for me. So no I doubt I would have fallen for him, cause in that same world i would have fallen for Lijie again."

"Fine I understand," 

they moved to a table and sat.  

"I heard you were with Guerrier yesternight," Cadeau picked a rose, "yeah, he insisted i escorted him to the commissioner. 

Though I heard the man say-he, Akarui and Lijie trained to be •shíbīngs but they never graduated. What happened?" "honestly it's a long story but I'll cut it short," she moved her chair,  "first things first it was my father-in-law who forced Lijie to join the military, Initially he didn't want to but he's father had already submitted his name and so he had no choice, but since he didn't want to go alone-he ended up persuading Guerrier and Akarui to join him."

"everything was fine, and according to Lijie, Akarui was doing so good. he was the strongest and bravest, everyone gave him respect including their trainers, sergeants, and lieutenants, he had no fault with anyone, actually he was also  appointed a young leader. " Cadeau leaned back, "But on the night before their official receptioning Akarui went missing."

"what! " Natasha dragged her chair closer. " you mean Akarui was kidnapped?"

"He was nowhere to be found. They searched and searched but they couldn't find him.so, on the morning of their graduation Lijie and Guerrier escaped the boot camp to go and look for him, cause they thought he was taken hostage by he's father's enemies." 

   "No. no. no. no. don't tell me that's how they missed the echelon?" 

"Exactly. there's only one Convocation for soldiers per year so you miss that you miss your life cause you would have waisted your time."

"Ohh my word. nowonder Geurrier doesn't like talking about it." Tasha searched for Guerrier with her eyes and rested them  there for seconds.

"but then Cadeau, who kidnapped him or did they ever find out? "

"they found him home the next day, though Lijie till now suspects no one kidnapped Akarui."

"are you kidding me?" Tasha's head fell back and let out a loud humourless laughter..

"Am serious. no one knows what really happened except for Akarui himself and he refused to talk about it."

"Was he in shock? But what Lijie,why does he suspect no one kidnapped Akarui?" her checks flashed with laughter.

" talk of the devil." Cadeau immediately abandoned Natasha and walked to meet Lijie halfway. before he could speak she wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a short but passionate kiss on the lips. "I missed you love, how are you, and how was your trip,?" 

"am okay, thanks. I traveled safely," he told her,

She pecked his checks and glared at he's mouth lustfully."did you miss me? " he stroked her hair back and responded with a kiss. "of course, why not. though am jetlagged." A yawn followed as if to back him up. 

 "why didn't you say," she buttoned the last two openings of he's shirt.."you should have remained at home to relax. Tomorrow will be a long day-and I don't want you to fail to say your vows because of fatigue," 

he bluffed, "I came here for you_to see if you need anything." 

she twinkled her eyes, "this is why I love you, always considerate, but no, you shouldn't have bothered, just a call would have been enough," she winked at Natasha. "Now if you die of stress who will take care of me, So now do me a favour, please go back home and rest." 

"you're sure about that,?" he closed the gap,

"yes,"

"you won't need me?"

"no,"

" you won't miss me,? " she almost said no and saw the smirk on he's face.."go already!" she pushed him up-to the doorstep and grabbed he's hand, "you know what I'll be called tomorrow?"

"Mrs Lijie." Lijie smiled and walked out.

"Hey be careful. I love you!" Cadeau shouted.