A game?

Liora Hayes

I stood by the window of my room, looking out at the rundown apartments like this one, my hand tightly wrapped around the glass of water in my hand, trying to shake off the memory of my earlier conversation on phone with the doctor, regarding Caleb's health status.

A knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called, putting the glass down on the table and hurriedly brushing my hand through my hair to regain some composure.

The door opened, and Caleb stepped inside, his expression was just as neutral as it's been recently, his thin small frame and pale complexion made my chest ache every time I saw him, he looked so much younger and malnourished than his seventeen years.

He gently closed the door behind him, his steps were slow as he walked toward me.

“You went to see him, didn’t you?” he said walking closer slowly, i cleared my throat, flashing a nervous smile,

“I don't understand what you're talking about.” I denied.

He suddenly pulled out a folded piece of paper I had no idea he was holding until now. “I found this on your bed.”

My stomach dropped. One of the letters. I’d been so careful, after all we're that close, he entered my room at will, so I've always kept every letter I received from Tristan in a place he wouldn't find it. But just how could I have been so careless to leave this one lying around?

“Caleb, I—” I started, but he cut me off,

“Is it because of me?” his lips were trembling as he asked, his hands tightening around the letter. “Is that why you went to him?” He unfolded it and showed it to me. I don't have to read the content again, after all I received so many of them before I went to confront the man.

“No,” I said quickly, stepping toward him. “No... God, yes, I went to see Tristan, but I swear I didn’t agree to anything..."

He stared at me with skepticism, his forehead etched with deep lines as he asked with raised eyebrows, “You’re not lying to me are you?”

“I’m not,” I said firmly. “I only went to return them, nothing more than that, and have you had lunch yet?” I changed the conversation hoping he wouldn't probe further,

“No.” he replied simply.

“I bought fruits, they're on the table, you can start cutting the watermelon, I will join you shortly to heat up the food so we can have lunch together.”

He nodded, but I could tell he wasn’t convinced. He turned toward the door, his shoulders slumping slightly. Just as I thought he was leaving, he suddenly stopped, his hand pausing on the door knob as he turned to face me.

“Am I a burden to you?” he asked in a barely audible voice and I felt my blood froze.

“What? No Caleb, you—” I tried to reason with him but he cut me off abruptly.

“I am, aren't I?” He pursed for a moment, taking a deep breath as he blinked. “All I’ve done is cause you trouble. You’re out there working so hard, so hard that I know you’re already getting ready to go to that club tonight again. I know what people say about those places. Same as my friends in high school. I know what it’s like for women who work there... And yet, you're...”

Tears blurred my vision and I couldn't stop myself as I walked toward him and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him with it slightly as if that's going to give him some positive reasoning. “Don’t say that,” I whispered. “Please don’t. It’s not your fault. It was never your fault.”

He shook his head as he looked at me. “What if I’m just holding you back? You’re sacrificing everything for me, and for what? My days are numbered anyway... wouldn't things have been easier if I wasn’t here at all.” he whispered, going to wipe the corner of his eyes.

“Stop,” I snapped sharply, gripping him tighter. “Don’t you dare say that! You’re my brother, Caleb, we've talked about this before, and you promised me no death talk because no one is dying. We're going to find help. I'm going to save you, I definitely will.” I don’t care what it takes, I just have to save him.

His face crumpled as he broke down, crying as his arms wrapped around me. “I’m scared,” he whispered into my shoulder. “I'm so scared Liora... I don't want to die.. i...”

“I know,” I whispered back, stroking his hair. “I know, Caleb. We'll figure it out okay? I’ll find a way, you know I always do right?”

“Yeah.” he sniffled.

We remained like that for a while until he finally pulled back and wiped his face.

“Umm... I think I should probably get to cutting the watermelon,” He mumbled, avoiding my eyes as he walked out of the door, and the moment the door shut behind him, I finally break in silence, tears streaming out of my eyes as I stared at the door,

At long last, I eventually walked to my phone, although every part of me wanted to pull away from this... I don’t need him to survive. I had proven that to myself every single day but now... if it meant saving Caleb, I had no choice.

With one deep breath, I rang his number but it wasn't received at first.

I took another deep breath, dialing it again and as goodness has it this time, it was received on the second rang.

“I’m ready,” I said when he answered.

~~~

I stepped into Cole's Enterprises the next morning.

The receptionist greeted me with a polite smile, “Miss Hayes, Mr Cole is expecting you in the lounge. This way, please.”

I followed her through the hallways, the sound of my heels echoing with each step. My heart pounded in my chest, but I straightened my shoulders. I had to do this for Caleb.

The lounge room door opened, and there he was, sitting at the head of the table in a dark suit that depicted his heart.

“Take a seat.” He said calmly, “And would you like to have tea or coffee?”

I took a seat across from him, keeping my expression neutral, “No thanks. Let's just get to whatever deal we're making,” I answered, confidently meeting his gaze because I knew he needed me as much as I needed his money.

His lips curved into that infuriating smile, the one that always makes me feel like I was always behind him. “Of course,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. Since it's like that, let's get straight to the business then.” he drew the document on the table closer to himself with his finger tips, and crossed his legs as he fished out some papers inside it and tossed it to me.

I picked it up first, then looked at the date on the agreement, but I soon frowned when I realized the document was from four months ago, meaning he's been on this for quite some time now.

I brushed that off, and started to read the terms of the agreement, my already frowning face squeezing even deeper, “Why three years?” I raised my eyebrows.

“You’ll find that a three-year marriage arrangement is the least costly option for you. The alternatives like going to Iran or Bangladesh... well, let’s just say they’re not as accommodating.”

“Mr Cole,” I began, tapping on the document, “It's already good that you make the rules, and i didn't dispute any of it, however three years Is a lot of time, the most I can do is a year, and if you're not okay with it, maybe I'll consider the matter about Iran, at least selling one of my kidneys is way better than sharing the same house with you for a day, no less three years.”

I expected him to push back, to make this even harder. But instead, he leaned back casually, as though he'd already won. “Okay, I will have my lawyer adjust it, and in a week's time, you should prepare for our marriage.”

It's really happening, and to be honest, this is just the beginning of the future I don't know, but one thing I'm certain of is that the game has begun, and I won't be on the losing side, not this time around.