...the den

...She just wanted a little space.

From everyone.

Tale woke up early enough at the break of dawn. The moon was still bright and the weather was all but cold. She got up to her feet, looked around her room. With a little surprise she realized she didn't miss home so much. And with that came another realization, it was time to really get a place of her own. She loved staying with Su Yan, he was perfect, everything with him was perfect. But it was time to move on.

When she came downstairs her parents were already waiting for her.

Not this again, she was too tired to say anymore but she greeted them both and headed straight to the door.

"Where are you going?"

Tale turned not answering the question and staying in her position. She wasn't going to let them think she was comfortable here.

"Look maybe we were too harsh on you," her father spoke rather calmly.

"Maybe?" Tale questioned.

"You should have called us regardless, we are not so unapproachable that we wouldn't listen to you,"

"The reason we are here is because you never listen," Tale pointed out.

"Well I guess we can work on it moving forward." Her mother said casually.

Tale knew that was the end, Nigerian parents never apologized for being wrong.

"Ok. I'm leaving."

"Why don't you stay?"

"I can't, I'm staying with Precious currently and I'm okay there," she lied and felt no guilt.

"Can we come see this new place you stay?" Her father asked.

"No. Precious has family and I don't want to impose."

"Call us, talk to us, we are your parents," her mother talked like she was still disappointed but she could hear the fear beneath it that they had almost lost her, so despite being angry at her life choices, they were grateful she was alive

"I know you are, we will work on talking and listening as the time goes on mom. I have to go,"

Her father handed her an envelope filled with money. I guess this was also part of the unsaid apology Tale thought.

"Thank you dad." She folded it into her crossbody bag and with that was out the door.

Tale wanted to go straight home but decided against it so she took a taxi going to the Den. When the cab was a few meters away, she alighted and walked the rest of the way.

Alone time, desperately what she needed still.

The Den was a play park. It was one of the city's social spots, the park was only filled up on the weekends but on the weekdays it stayed almost empty. Either way it was beautiful, lots of green, a man made lake, a huge play ground for kids and trees dotted the park from the entrance all the way to the ends.

When her tummy rumbled, she quickly got herself what could easily pass as breakfast from a road side food vendor, a small loaf of bread and some fried akara. She got water and continued her walk around the park eating as she went along.

She got to the play ground and sat on the swing, swaying herself lightly as emotions filled her up.

Was she afraid, was she sad, happy, feeling stuck? Tale had no clue what she felt. It was exhausting. Taking a break from her meal, she got out her phone and finally called Su Yan back

Government Residential Area Phase two.

"Her phone is down! What have I done?" He yelled at no one slamming the phone on the kitchen counter.

Su Yan barely had two hours of sleep. He had had a bad dream and couldn't shake it off. When Tale hadn't showed up as he had imagined, his panic level went off the chart.

"She hasn't been with her parents for a while now, she may have decided to spend the day," Precious sounded tired. She had a rough night too but definitely not as rough as Su Yan.

Woo Jin who had seemed unbothered since it all started tried to offer help. "I could go look for her."

"You can't show up to her parents house. Can it get to noon time before y'all start panicking please," Precious pleaded.

Su Yan wasn't hearing any of it. He got ready to leave the house and go look for her alone.

When he pulled out of his driveway his phone rang, finally!

"Where are you?" Letting his worry roll off every word.

"This place called the Den," Tale replied rather calmly.

"I'm on my way," Su Yan rested his head on the steering wheel, he was beyond relieved now.

The Den

He got to the park just in time to see her playing on the swing. She swayed back and forth keeping the motion low. When he got closer, he could tell she must have had it rough as well.

"You look tired," Tale pointed out.

"As do you," he shot back. "Lack of sleep?" Taking the swing beside hers, Su Yan sat down.

"I did sleep actually." Tale turned to him. "I'm just tired, mentally and physically too. And emotionally,"

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have—"

"It's okay Su, you are not the problem."

He looked pained when the look on her face showed a hint of sadness. "Was it that bad at home?" he asked finally, taking off his jacket.

"Yes and no. Not so much was said, and I don't know if it will ever be, at least not in the way I hope."

"I'm sure —"

"Nope, they will not be coming around me being jobless. Probably a disappointment too."

"Don't say that, you are not a disappointment,"

"Wasn't that what you felt yesterday, all three of you. Like I had gone and breached some sort of contract or betrayed you guys,"

"I was angry, but not disappointed,"

When Tale turned to him frowning he accepted. "Okay fine, maybe a little," he sighed.

"I'm sorry, I panicked. I felt if you were going to move out you would definitely mention it first before taking any step," he explained.

Tale nodded.

"There are no rules to moving out of my house, and if you wish to leave, I'm right in your corner."

Tale stood from her side of the swing to his, placing herself right between his thighs, she gave him a tight hug.

"I missed you a little," she said not releasing him.

"I missed you a lot," he responded. "And I'm sorry okay."

Tale smiled and nodded against his shoulder before resting her head and holding him just a little tighter.