Chapter 31: Some Things are Just Meant to Remain Unshared
Elizabeth noticed Thea’s growing anxiety and offered reassurance. "Don’t be concerned, Thea. I’m sure he’s okay. He may have simply gotten sidetracked. Try sending him a text-perhaps he’ll respond to that."
Thea nodded, and wrote a message to him: ’Where are you? I’m at your place.’ She waited eagerly for a response, her gaze fixed on the screen, hoping to see the three little dots indicating Ryder was composing a reply. But the screen remained unchanged.
"Let me call him. " Elizabeth dialed his number. After a few rings, the call was picked up. "Ryder...Why aren’t you answering Thea’s calls?" Elizabeth asked.
There was no response on the other end. "Ryder, are you there?"
"Auntie, it’s Savannah. Ryder went to the counter and left his phone here."
"Okay...Tell him to call me as soon as he gets back." Elizabeth said and hung up.
"What happened, Aunty? Is he busy? Then..." Thea started to ask before Elizabeth said, "His friend said he went to the counter. I’ve asked him to call when he comes back."
Thea felt a pang of unease hearing a female voice answer Ryder’s phone.
"Who answered his phone.. Aunty?"
"A girl... maybe his friend or an acquaintance.."
Thea spent some time with Elizabeth, lost in thought. Suddenly, thirty minutes had passed, and Ryder finally phoned his mother.
"Ryder, what took you so long to call me back? Come back now... Thea is waiting for you."
"Mother, I’ll be late today." The line went dead, leaving Elizabeth staring at the receiver in surprise.
"Aunty, as he is busy ...I’ll come next time.." Thea said, already standing up to leave.
Elizabeth protested, "Thea, don’t leave. Stay a bit longer."
Just then, her phone rang, providing a timely escape. She glanced at the screen to see Charlotte’s name.
"Thea, can you come to the Riverview Library right away?" Charlotte’s voice was low and urgent.
"I’ll be right there. What’s going on?"
"See you soon." Charlotte replied, ending the call abruptly.
Thea turned to Elizabeth. "Aunty, I have to go. My friend called and asked me to go to the library."
"Then you go with Mr. Jack, he’ll drop you off at the place."
Thea smiled gratefully, hugging Elizabeth to reassure her she’d be fine. With her bag in hand, Thea headed out the door and walked to the bus stop.
The bus arrived, and Thea took a short ride to the library stop. Stepping off, she strolled through the crisp air, feeling invigorated by the warm sunlight on her face.
As she approached the library, its modern architecture and inviting entrance came into view. Thea quickened her pace, curious about Charlotte’s urgent call. She pushed open the large glass doors and stepped into the quiet, air-conditioned space.
Thea’s eyes scanned the quiet library, searching for a familiar face amidst the rows of bookshelves and studious patrons. Her gaze wandered until it landed on Charlotte, seated by the window, lost in the pages of a worn novel. As if sensing Thea’s presence, Charlotte’s gaze lifted, meeting Thea’s. A warm smile spread across her face, and she beckoned Thea over with a subtle nod.
Thea smiled back, her feet moving towards Charlotte. "Did I disturb you by coming so suddenly?"
Thea shook her head, "No, not at all."
Charlotte closed her book, her eyes locked onto Thea’s."I’m glad you’re here.I needed to talk to you about something."
"I was thinking of taking part in this competition with you.."
Thea accepted the leaflet from Charlotte, her eyes quickly scanning the details. It was an art competition titled "Artistic Expression," inviting participants to create a mixed-media artwork that showcased their unique style and personal creativity.
The highly anticipated art contest brought together talented students from various schools to showcase their creativity and unique perspectives. A panel of renowned art experts would judge the entries based on originality, skill, and emotional impact. The winner would receive a prestigious award and a cash prize.
"I would love to take part in this competition!"
Charlotte grinned brightly. "I had a feeling you’d be interested!"
"Let’s enroll our names then..." Thea suggested.
After discussing some assignment matters, Thea decided to head to the grocery mall, "FreshMart", to pick up some ingredients for dinner. She stepped through the sliding glass doors.
She headed towards the butcher’s counter, where rows of neatly displayed meats and poultry caught her attention, and began scanning the options for the perfect cut.
"Good evening, Alethea." Mr. Jenkins said with a warm welcome.
"Hello, Mr. Jenkins." Thea replied. "How are you tonight?"
"I’m doing well, thanks.." he answered. "What can I help you find?"
"I’m making dinner for my grandma.." Thea explained.
"That’s lovely! Let me give you our best." He handed her a sealed packet. "This meat is top-quality. I think she’ll love it."
With the meat in hand, Thea continued shopping for the remaining ingredients
As Thea collected her items, she made her way toward the checkout.
Passing through the mall’s upscale chocolate section, she noticed a man standing with a woman whose face was partially obscured.
She froze for a moment-could it be him? What’s he doing here? she wondered.
Gathering her courage, Thea approached to get a better look. Her surprise quickly turned to dismay when the woman stepped forward-Savannah-and playfully offered a piece of chocolate to Ryder, eliciting a soft giggle.
Thea drew near, a twinge of envy and heartache enveloped her. She observed Savannah’s beaming smile, her effortless rapport with Ryder.
Thea recognized she was witnessing a tender moment she had longed to experience with Ryder herself. Her eagerness to present him with the new chocolates now seemed pointless, overshadowed by his clear distraction with Savannah.
A tight knot twisted painfully in Thea’s throat, making it hard to breathe. She fought the urge to call out, knowing she couldn’t interrupt this moment. Ryder was clearly engrossed with someone else, and she didn’t want to be the unwelcome shadow in his happiness.
A heavy ache settled deep in her chest as tears blurred her vision. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she turned away, each step feeling heavier than the last, her heart breaking in silence.
Thea walked home slowly, her heart heavy and tangled with painful questions. Every unanswered call and missed message now made sense, each one a sharp sting in her chest. Tears welled up as the truth settled in-’Was Savannah the reason he kept avoiding me?’ The thought pierced her like a knife.
"The Ryder I fell for would never dismiss me like this..Am I losing him, or has he already slipped away?"
"Maybe he’s still the same, maybe he’s just busy." She clung to the fragile thread of hope, desperate to believe their connection remained unbroken, that the Ryder she loved hadn’t truly vanished.
Thea shuffled into her home, numbly setting the grocery packet on the counter, her eyes shying away from the treats that now seemed tainted.
After changing, she went to her kitchen and placed the chocolate she had hoped to share with Ryder in the cabinet. The sweet treats now seemed like a bitter reminder of his absence.
"He already liked the treat she was feeding him...I guess some things are just meant to remain unshared.." she thought, her heart aching.
She went to check on her grandma. But as she opened the door, she saw her grandma sleeping peacefully, her medicine laid out on the table beside her. She looked at the medication and found it was for headache.
She decided not to wake her grandma, letting her sleep peacefully. Instead, Thea sat down beside her, gently holding her hand and whispering softly, "Grandma, I haven’t shared the chocolate with him...".Thea’s words were a tender confession, a sharing of her hidden pain with the one person who would understand and love her unconditionally.
Thea delicately stroked the moisture from her grandma’s forehead, her touch gentle as a feather. But her grandma slumbered on, impervious to Thea’s soft whispers. Thea smiled amidst her tears, aware that her grandma required repose, and quietly crept out of the room.
In the kitchen... Thea’s hands moved mechanically, chopping vegetables and marinating meat. She carefully arranged the steaming dishes on a tray, the aroma of cooked food filling the air.
Returning to her grandma’s room, Thea carried the tray, its enticing smells creating a warm atmosphere. She set it on the table beside her grandma and gently called out, "Grandma, wake up. I’ve brought your dinner."
Grandma Grace slowly opened her eyes, a tender smile spreading across her face as she noticed the food and her beloved granddaughter beside her. "You’ve already taken care of dinner." she said softly.
"Yes, Grandma.." Thea replied, helping her grandma sit up and propping pillows behind her. "I made your favorite soup and some meat dish. I thought it would help you feel better."
"Grandma, let me feed you today.You don’t have to exert yourself. Just relax and let me take care of you."Grandma Grace’s eyes, cloudy with fatigue, locked onto Thea’s, and she nodded weakly.
