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“Ain’t cutting it,” he repeats and laughs at her Aussie accent.
Eden thumps his shoulder.
He chuckles again. “I’ll have Asoo bring you some more supplies. Anything else?”
“Yes. What did you want to discuss with me?”
He leans his forehead against hers. “Remember the time I spoke of Inesa?”
Eden nods. Her eyes widen, and in them he senses her compassion and relief that he’s finally opening up to her.
“It’s time I told you what happened.”
Taking his cheeks in her soft palms, she kisses him in a way to remind him she’s here for him, always.
27
EDEN
“It’s a long story, but I’ll keep it brief,” Samuel says as he climbs into the hammock beside me. Lying on his back, he lifts an arm for me to lay my head on his shoulder. He stares up to the pointed ceiling, the bamboo angling to the sky.
“I don’t mind,” I whisper.
“It began in high school. A girl called Inesa took the brunt of our heckling. I later found out Sean had been sleeping with her but never spoke to her outside the bedroom.
“Looking back, I realize Brant secretly liked her, but she was, in his eyes, not at his level. He was top dog of the social status ladder, and Inesa was the girl next door.” He rubs the side of his jaw slowly as though he’s considering his next words.
“I didn’t participate in the bullying, but I didn’t stop it either. In time, she developed severe depression, and it took a toll. Years later, she ended her own life.
“Two days before…” he clears his throat, “… I bumped into her at a bar in Santa Monica. I was home on a short break. She’d been drinking and wasn’t herself. She told me how much she had loathed me because although I did nothing, she knew I was weak.” He taps his chest over his heart. “And for that, she never forgave me for not condemning my friends’ behavior. When I told her they wouldn’t listen to me, she didn’t believe me and then broke down. If only I spoke up just once and made her feel worthy of respect.
“When her tears stopped, she lectured me more, telling me to do something constructive with my life. Do something for the greater good, for the underprivileged. She pointed out studying medicine isn’t for the greater good because I gained a monetary reward.
“I had status and an ego and thought I had the power of life and death in my hands. In her words, if I were truly a decent human being, I would give and seek nothing as repayment… a kindness to others without remuneration. I didn’t know what she was talking about until dark thoughts consumed me, and realized what society stood for and the part I was playing… power.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” I whisper.
“No? But I wasn’t an innocent bystander, and I should’ve seen between the lines and told her she was worthy. Stopped her...”
I take his hand in mine and squeeze it. His face screws up with the burden he has carried all these years. “You weren’t to know.”
His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “I attended her funeral. None of my friends bothered. Watching her heartbroken family sob at the graveside ripped open my heart. I knew I couldn’t continue on the same path, only I didn’t know where to turn or start. All I knew was from that day, my life had to change. Standing by her grave, I made a promise to be a better person and do good in a world without relying on compensation. That’s when I applied to volunteer in a remote area as far down the socio-economic ladder as possible. The rest is history.”
I stroke his beautiful face. “All these years you’ve been too hard on yourself.”
“No. I’m glad I found Ulara. Even more delighted that I found you.”
“I’m glad you found me too.” I lean up and kiss his cheek. “You’ll always be the kindest man I’ve ever met.”
He meets my gaze and stares, really stares.
“I see you,” I murmur. “And I’ll always love you.”
“And I love you,” he croaks. “You’re now my reason for life.” His brow crinkles.
“What is it?”
Lifting his arm from behind my head, he pushes up. “I’ve just remembered something.” Throwing his legs over the edge of the hammock, he springs to the floor. “I’ll be back soon.”
