Kitanna
Chapter 177: FINAL DECISION

Chapter 177: FINAL DECISION

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: AT MY WORST ~ PINK SWEAT$]

"Axilla, you’ll make a hole in the air with your sighs," Kayla remarked, brushing the girl’s brown hair.

Axilla looked at Kayla through the mirror, then she smiled. "Sorry, I didn’t know."

Kayla shook her head, "This won’t do," she dropped the hairbrush on the table and moved a chair closer to sit in front of Axilla. "What is it? You have been cleared of being a thief; you can now leave, what then troubles you?" The young girl queried.

Axilla held her fingers together, playing with it. "I don’t know, I’m afraid the young master now hates me because of my constant drama." She replied, keeping her eyes on her fingers.

Kayla shook her head, "He doesn’t!" She exclaimed. And Kayla knew this because earlier when she had waited for Chief Cortez to finish his meeting before reporting to him, she saw fear and anger in his eyes as he rushed outside to save the young woman.

Axilla smiled, "I know you are trying to make me feel better; I appreciate that but I would appreciate the truth more."

"I’m not lying, even last night he-" Kayla hit her lips with her hand, closing her eyes tightly.

"He did what?" Axilla narrowed her eyes.

Kayla pressed her lips, "Before I tell you, I want to ask you something. How do you feel about Chief Cortez?"

Axilla was taken aback by the question, not that she didn’t know but she didn’t want to know how she felt. She just wanted to be floating. "I- I don’t know; I see him as someone kind?" Her words sounded more like a question than a statement.

Kayla shook her head, "No, as a man. How do you see him? Do you like him?" She clarified her question, waiting excitedly for Axilla’s answer.

Axilla felt heat creep to her neck, her cheeks flushed at the words. "Like? I’ve not thought about it before."

"What about thinking about it now?" Kayla pressed on, trying to get the girl to say what she actually felt.

Axilla pressed her lips, moving her body to lean on the chair. "I enjoy his company; he has been so good to me and also I like listening to him even though he teases me a lot but..."

"But what?" Kayla asked, trying to keep her smile at bay.

Axilla shook her head; she was going to talk about the young master’s debauchery, but it didn’t seem like the right thing to do. She exhaled, rubbing her temples.

"I don’t know what has got you worried, but you like the young master. If anything is making you have doubts, then talk to him about it." Kayla suggested as she paused for a moment, "If not, you’re leaving tonight and it might be too late." The young woman completed.

The door opened, and Lady Hash stepped inside, "Are you ready, bright flower?" The woman asked, holding her walking stick firmly.

Kayla bowed, before she left, she leaned forward to whisper "You should think it through, especially after what happened last night" the girl disappeared from the room, leaving a confused-looking Axilla.

"Greetings, Lady Hash," Axilla bowed slightly, her eyes lingering at the door.

Lady Hash nodded her head in acknowledgment to the greeting, "Why are you hesitating?" The woman asked, hitting her stick on a chair before sitting down comfortably.

Axilla’s brows creased, "I’m not; I just finished dressing up. We can go now." Even though her thoughts were conflicting with her words, Axilla wanted to stop causing troubles.

"Not that, Why are you hesitating on your feelings for Cortez; even my falcon could detect it." Lady Hash replied, mentioning her messenger bird.

"I’m not, I don’t." Axilla bit her lips; she didn’t even know what she wanted anymore.

Lady Hash sighed, "Young ones these days and their uncertainty. In my own time, once you are attracted to someone, you dive in, and let your emotions sway you to an unknown land filled with happiness. Cortez came to meet me after he left the palace; he told me that you saw him having fun with his friends and your attitude towards him changed. You know, I’ve known that young man for a long time, not to sing his praises but he is the best man for any woman. He joined the trade at a very tender age of twelve, after his elder brother refused to take over the family business. How he cried every night for his mother, during the days we met with bandits Cortez would fall sick for days, he grew up on the rough side of life. You don’t expect him to come out as a saint." The elderly woman paused for a moment to be sure the girl was following, then she continued.

"The first day Cortez smoked, was when he had his heart broken, he was about eighteen years old or so. The girl was very pretty; her father brings her around during trade fairs, and our dear young Cortez fell for her only to find her married to another merchant. I tried to console him that day, but it could only do little. Have you ever asked yourself why Cortez never mingled with women under the same business as him? After that time, he locked his heart never to fall so hard for a woman. It was better for it to be a one-night thing. When he brought you for the first time to my store, there was something different. He treated you different, the innocent boy I once knew appeared trying to protect the same innocence he lost, which he found in you." Lady Hash coughed, bringing out a small piece from her pocket she dabbed her lips.

"I’ve said so much. If you don’t like Cortez, the carriage leaves in five minutes. Don’t let him feel hurt once again," the woman concluded, gingerly standing up from her chair as she walked out of the room.

Axilla was left inside alone, the candlelight gleaming in the dark. She tried to gather her thoughts; she got up from her chair. Using her hands, she straightened the part of her gown that was rumpled. Axilla made her way out of the room, her mind trying to recall what happened last night and also gather what she actually felt.

Far away from where Axilla was, Cortez stood at his balcony. His fingers holding a brown cigar close to his lips. When his door opened, he didn’t bother to look at who it was.

"The carriage has left, right?" Cortez asked, puffing out another smoke.

"Yes," the person replied.

Cortez nodded his head, "It was for the best, I was beginning to get confused." He muttered, crushing the smoke on a plate. Cortez turned, only to stop in his tracks.

"Axilla?" He looked back outside at the carriage that was leaving.

"Young master" Axilla gulped, rubbing her clammy hands on her dress.

"You didn’t leave with Lady Hash?" Cortez asked partly surprised.

Axilla shook her head, "I wanted to stay back. I wanted to stay beside you." She replied getting a look of surprise from Cortez who was lost for words.