15 I Hate him!

The next minute, he completed the call, he drove back to his house. He was afraid as to what Nina saw that made her sleep outside. Reaching home, he asked Tala if Nina woke up.

"Not Yet! It's just 7 am, and she is a city girl." Tala responded, winking.

Ace lethargically marched towards the kitchen, yawning. He wanted to sleep for some time but chose to take a nap after speaking to Nina.

"Maa! Coffee." Ace cried, keeping his chin on Jennie's shoulder. Watching a huge bearded man acting childish near his mom appeared weird to Tala. Rolling his eyes and shrugging his shoulders, he walked to the door to gather the hay bed.

"Didn't you drink in the morning?" she inquired, peeling the potatoes. "Mmmm.....I want to drink your coffee," he replied, blinking his eyes and pouting. "Trying to coax me for a coffee!! I will get it for you in five minutes." he grinned, smoothing her tall son's brown hair.

Ace came out of the kitchen with a bright smile. Glancing at his little brother struggling, he lent on the door and continued watching him. Sensing that his mother was pouring the coffee into a cup, he went to Tala, took the bundle he gathered and asked to rest for a while. Tala agreed as he was tired but found it fishy as his brother would help anyone in the world except him.

As he sat down, Jennie came to the door with the coffee. "Tala will do the rest. Here's your coffee!"

Tala's world broke down hearing that. He watched Ace, wishing that he would tell his mother that it was him who gathered until then. "Thanks, Maa!" uttering that, Ace stood up and fetched Tala the bundle, which he took from him. Taking the coffee, he disappeared into the hall silently.

"What just happened?" Tala thought to himself and continued picking up the grass.

***

Nina opened her eyes to see the sun shining brightly. Closing her eyes with the palm, she sat on the bed, away from the beam.

Rubbing her eyes, he suddenly recalled the weird and terrible incidents that took place the previous night. She scratched her head in bewilderment as the place she was sleeping didn't match with her memory.

'Was it a dream?' was the first question that stroke her. How would a dream if so realistic? The pain that she felt when she slipped on the fur and the coldness that she bared were still vivid.

"The things which I saw or heard might be a dream, but the emotions that I felt can't be a dream." Nodded to herself, she walked to the hall to check for any clues.

There wasn't any fur on the floor as Jennie cleaned the house. She peeped and searched every inch of the floor near the door, crawling.

Ace and Tala looked at each other and went to Nina to ask her what she was searching for. Tala placed his hand on Nina's shoulder, making her scream loudly. Hearing that sound, the spoon Jennie was catching while cooking dropped with a heavy sound.

As soon as the spoon fell, Nina ran out and kneeled, closing her eyes and shivering. Tala stood in the same spot with mouth wide open and eyes that forgot to blink. Ace rushed towards Nina and put her trembling cold hands in between his, "Nothing happened, cool down!"

Realizing that it was Ace's voice, she immediately hugged him and cried. Removing her arms, she caught her hand and dragged inside. Closing the door, "I understand that you are frightened, but everything is fine here. Open your eyes and look around." he assured her in a calm voice.

Gulping hard, she opened her eyes and took a glance around. Finding no animal or thief, she sighed and dropped her shoulders in relief. Drinking water that Jennie brought to her, her mind recalled the scene minutes ago where Ace broke the hug even without considering that she was worried. She understood how much he hated her, and her heart shattered acknowledging it.

"What were you searching for?" Ace inquired as she calmed down.

"Nothing." she shook her head with tears crawling down his cheeks.

Watching her cry, Jennie approached and hugged her. Patting and smoothening her back, "You are safe. Don't worry! I am here for you."

Nina sobbed harder, hugging her tightly. "Why am I crashing just because of a person? Who is he to me? You didn't even know him two days back. Did he become that important that you forget your goal and job?" Nina asked herself, wiping the tears. Stepping back and smiling, she turned towards Tala, who was still dumb-struck.

"Tala!" she called loudly, observing that he froze.

"Ahhhhh!!! What?" he searched around and landed his eyes on Nina finally.

She wanted to ask about the schedule, but her eyes fell on the bottle beside her. Lifting the bottle, she understood that it wasn't a dream as the bottle that should be in her room was in the hall, and it was heavy too. Sniffing and adjusting her nose with the index finger, "Yesterday night, I slipped on a light brown coloured fur, here at this point. So, I thought an animal came and sat out."

"Then?" Ace asked to know what else she remembered.

Listening to his voice annoyed and irritated her, forming deep lines on her forehead. "Am I speaking to you?" she asked with her nostrils flaring and eyes bulging.

All the three were shocked to hear that. They looked at each other, not knowing the reason for the sudden behaviour change. Watching the disturbed look on Jennie's face, "Aunty, I am sorry, but I really hate him."

Jennie, not understanding what to reply, nodded and shook her head at a time.

"Fine!!" Ace yelled and went to his room.

"Tala, let's do as we planned yesterday."

"Ok!" Tala nodded continuously. Ignoring him, Nina went to her room.

Jennie and Tala were left in the hall, still analyzing what might have gone wrong between them. In few minutes, Nina came back with clothes and rushed to the bathroom.

Jennie also raced to the kitchen to check on the vessel that she forgot on the stove. Tala thought for a few minutes why Nina was annoyed by his brother but later took it lightly as Ace would be leaving either that day or the next day. He just prayed that everything would go smoothly until then.

In thirty minutes, Nina and the breakfast were ready. There was an awkward silence at the table for the first two minutes. Breaking that, Jennie questioned, "What did James tell?"

"He asked me to meet him this week along with Nina. So I am planning to go tomorrow. If she wants, she can come with me or travel by bus."

"Why me?"

"I don't know! I didn't ask!" Ace answered without removing his gaze from the plate.

"Of course you wouldn't. I am the least concerned person for you in the whole village, right?"

"What? You! For him!...the least concerned?" Tala satirically told and chuckled, shaking his head with at most disgust.

"Silently complete your breakfast." Ace glared at Tala.

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