5

“Brother!” Phoebe exclaimed. “I thought you've forgotten about me! Where are you? I tried calling you when I got to the airport. I even thought you changed your number immediately you got back.”

"Look at you. Have you been expecting my call that badly that you couldn't even wait before picking up?” Asher teased.

“Uhn.” She replied quickly. “Besides, I'm angry that you didn't call at all.”

“But I'm calling now.” He defended himself.

“You should have called earlier.” She insisted. “Whatever! Are you fine? Where are you?”

“One at a time, lady. I'm fine and about where I am. . .” He paused looking round. ". . .I'm not sure, but I was with brother not too long.”

“Brother Jared?”

“Uhn.”

“Really? Did he ask of me?”

“Uhn.”

“I should go see him soon.” She replied quickly. “Are you coming home?”

“No. I'm not.”

“Why?”

“Hey, don't worry about me and start worrying about yourself.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“When will you start working at the hospital?”

“In the next two days.”

“Make your brother proud so I'll be able to call you my one and only reliable doctor, okay?”

“Why do you sound like I might not be able to see you for some time? Brother?” She asked with an obvious change in her tone. She knew him so well that she could predict whatever was wrong with him judging from the look on his face and the tone of his voice. "Brother, what do you plan to do?"

"Phoebe. . .” He started.

“Brother, I know you.” She interrupted. “I thought you came back because of me at first, but when I thought about it, I figured out it wasn't because of me, seeing that you came ahead of me. It's because of her, right? I know it's because of her. Annette Nittolo. You still think about her, don't you? You should forget about what happened then. It's gone and it was nobody's fault. You don't have to feel like you owe anything and you should forget about what happened then and forget about her now, she's gone and it's been very long now.”

Asher paused and thought about what she said. He kept quiet for a short while.

“Brother.” He heard Phoebe's voice from the other line leaving him with no choice than to talk.

“How can I forget about her? How do you expect me to forget about her and forget what happened then?”

“But you did nothing.”

“That is what is wrong. I did nothing. That is exactly the problem. Do you know what mother said before she died? "Do your best to protect Annette, I owe her something. When the time comes, you will be the one to give what I owe back to her, but until then, stay by her side and protect her‟. That was what mother said on her sick bed but I couldn't fulfill mother's wish. I did nothing back then and I did nothing all these while for fifteen years, but I'm not going to stand back anymore. I don't have a plan yet and I don't know where this is going to lead to, but I promise not to stand back anymore.”

“Brother, what are you going to do? Uhn? What do you plan to do?”

“Revenge! I'll do everything possible to—”

"Brother! Are you crazy? Revenge? Is that the only thing you can think about? I had better get through Brother Jared and tell him about your crazy plan! I heard he's a detective now. He should—”

“I told him already.”

“You did?” She paused and sighed. “I understand you, but brother, if I was Annette, I wouldn't want you to do that. I'll want you to move on with your life and act like it never happened. I'll want you to live happily and do something good with your life rather than spending your time to dig up what happened long ago.”

“That's good, since you're not Annette.”

“But still. . ." Pausing, she took a deep breath as she gave it a faint thought. “I wasn't as close to Annette as you were, but still, she was my friend. Believe me, she wouldn't want you to do this.”

“Don't cause any trouble when you become a resident and make sure you listen well to your seniors, okay? I'll call you some other time.”

“Brother!”

“And make sure you eat well since you're at home. I don't want to see those neck bones of yours when next I see you, okay?"

“Brother!”

Before she could say any other thing, Asher disconnected the line and replaced the sim card before ordering for another bottle of drink.

An Apartment

Josie carried her drunk friend, Isabella to Frederick Hart, one of her friend's apartment and knocked loudly on the door. She knocked the second time but there was no reply. She was about knocking the third time when the door went wide open and Frederick stood at the entrance.

“Josie?” he called surprised to see her with Isabella at his doorstep.

“Hey! Fred!” She greeted him with a fake smile that disappeared quickly as it came.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, still surprised as he watched her force her way into his apartment.

Josie walked inside with Isabella and dropped her on one of the couch before turning to Frederick.

“What does it looks like I'm doing? I'm leaving Isabella here with you.”

“Why?” He asked with a puzzled frown.

Sighing, she raised her hand to demonstrate. “You see, my mother just got a new credit card in my name recently, but I had to use the money for something very important. Mother found out, and I've been in trouble since then. Also, you know that guy she's dating, I think they broke up and she went ahead to get herself drunk. That's not all, she even went to my brother's apartment and he had to call me where I was having a difficult time trying to—"

“Enough with the story, Josie." He interrupted. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“What do you mean by what am I trying to say? I thought I told you earlier that I'm leaving Isabella here with you.”

“And I asked you why!”

“Don't you get?” She asked folding her arm. “I'm in big trouble, so I can't go home where my Mom lives.”

“What about your apartment?”

“My neighbour moved out and I haven't been staying in my apartment since then.”

"You should have taken her to her rooftop house!”

“Right!” Josie agreed. “I would have but, I don't know the password to her rooftop house and there's no other place to take her to.”

“How can you not know the password to your friend's house?”

“I know it, but she changed it when her sister kept on disturbing her.”

“Then you should have asked her for the new password."

“I did!” she defended. “But she didn't tell me because I was the one that told her sister her former password.” She explained as she took a glance at her wristwatch. “Listen, Fred, I know we're not too close but you should know that I wouldn't have brought her here if there was

somewhere else to go. It's late already and I have to see the restaurant woman before she leaves. I'll see you later.” She told him quickly as she rushed to the door.

“Hey! How can you leave your friend in a man's place?”

Turning back, Josie thought about it. “It's not a man place, but a friend's place.” She replied after a few seconds. “Make sure you prepare some hangover soup for her tomorrow. I might not be here to do that.” She turned back to the door and was about opening it when she suddenly turned back to face him, startling him.

“You startled me!” he exclaimed.

“Fred,” she called him as she pointed a warning finger at him. "I'm leaving her here because I trust you, okay?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“If anything happens, I'll just. . ." Pausing, she nodded her head. “Never mind, I'm just saying that I trust you. I hope you understand.” She added as she opened the door and left hurriedly.

“Hey! Josie!” He shouted after her. “Don't do this to me! Josie! Josie Maran! Aishhh, seriously!”