As the door closed behind Elias, Jediah looked at Dimitri.He was sitting at the small table pushed against the length of the wall.Only two chairs were there, along with a chess board atop the table.
Jediah joined him, and they began a game.Jediah clasped his hands beneath his nose, studying the board.Dimitri always came out hard, going directly for Jediah’s queen.Jediah was strategic.Still, it was too soon to tell where the game would go.
“Yu always seh mi don’ ready,” Dimitri broke the silence.
“If yu leff now, yu can ketch a ride with Eli to Howie’s daycare.Mi sure nuff youth don’ get pick up yet.”
Dimitri tensed, and Jediah shook his head before moving a pawn forward.He watched as Dimitri snatched it up, and he smirked before making a move that stole two of Dimitri’s pieces.
“Yu don’ play fair, dawg,” Dimitri hissed.
Jediah chuckled.“You must mek things pass yu sometimes,” he said, and Dimitri scoffed before considering his next move.“A no seh mi don’ believe therapy don’ work fi yu.It is.But yu wan’ put yuself back out there too fast, and I spoke to your therapist… she’s afraid you might relapse.You’re not consistently taking your pills, and it’s making us worried.”
Dimitri looked from the board to Jediah.He exhaled a heavy breath while leaning back in the chair.His biceps bulged as he crossed one arm atop the next, enclosing his arm with his fingers.“Mi feel like mi naa go ever get better.Mi eye dem wide open every night ’cause mi don’ wan’ see—” Dimitri paused, his eyes becoming far-off.
Jediah rushed out, “Oye, mek sure you a sleep a night time.Next thing yu start sleep walk when we deh road.”
Dimitri chuckled.“You a joker.”
Jediah grinned.“Pon a real, though… Mi sorry fi mek you kill Charlie.Mi shoulda mek somebody else kill her, but—”
“My loyalty is to you, Jediah,” Dimitri said before beckoning Jediah to make a move.
They played for the next twenty minutes until they stopped, promising to resume at another time because it was getting late.Jediah followed Dimitri to his wing.
“Yu irritating, Jediah,” Dimitri complained as they continued down the hallway to his room.
Jediah shrugged.“I can’t take care of my best friend?”
Dimitri hissed his teeth, causing Jediah to chuckle as they entered the bedroom.He moved to his nightstand and grabbed a bottle of pills off it.He opened the bottle and took out a pill.
“Your therapist says two before bed,” Jediah stated.
“And your therapist can’t say anything because your cock’s always in her mouth,” Dimitri bit back as he took out another pill.
Jediah approached Dimitri.“Essy’s not a therapist.”
Dimitri grabbed a bottle of water off the nightstand and used it to wash down the pills.He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.“Right.She’s a—”
“Liff yu tongue and shut up,” Jediah hissed as he stopped before Dimitri.He looked inside Dimitri’s mouth as the man lifted his tongue up and down, proving that he took the pills.Satisfied, Jediah took a step back.“Don’t let me talk to you about this again.I’ll put you back on leave if you start slacking after all the progress you’ve made.”
“Okay, Mass’ Errol,” Dimitri said mockingly.
Jediah rolled his eyes and turned his back.He walked toward the door.“See you tomorrow, Dimitri,” he said, and Dimitri grunted a response.Jediah closed the door behind him, then walked about the house.He paused before the entrance to the abandoned wing, staring up the hallway that led to Ashari’s room.This wing of the house was unused, but he had two guards stationed at the entrance in case anyone suddenly felt like exploring.
“Has she been out?”Jediah asked, and a guard shook her head.Ignoring how his stomach flipped, Jediah pursed his lips.
He continued the journey to his wing of the estate.He knocked on Acacia’s door, and she slightly opened the door.Her eyes widened upon seeing him.
“J-Jed, I wasn’t lis—” she stuttered, and he reached out to press a finger against her lips.Her rosy lips parted to release a barely audible gasp.
“You talk too much, Acacia.If I move my hand, will you be quiet?”he asked, and she nodded quickly.He moved his hand.“Good.Now, may I come in?”he asked, and she didn’t answer.“You can speak.”
“W-why?”she asked.
His eyes slightly narrowed on her.“You’re supposed to be my fiancée, and I haven’t treated you well.I want to do better.”
Acacia’s eyes brightened.“Really?”she asked, and he nodded.She stepped aside while opening the door.