Brooke's Priority
Chapter 27's

Fanita leaned against the wall of our room, watching me who was packing my things. We haven't spoken a word since he slapped me. I wonder why during the day he's in the room instead of doing something important with Lucas or Alex.

The atmosphere is getting uncomfortable.

I decided to ask him to talk first. “I'll be home for a few days.”

Fanita looked at me in silence. I then lifted my backpack and did not expect much of his hospitality. From the beginning, we agreed to ignore each other.

“You want to go to your house or see him?” asked Fanita suddenly.

I looked at Fanita who was looking at me suspiciously.

“Who is that?”

“The man who carried you jumped the trees.”

My eyes are starting to widen.

“You...”.

“I saw it,” Fanita cut my words and walked slowly closer to me. Take my backpack and dump it on the floor. “Who is he? You have to be honest.”

Fanita then grabbed my clothes and made my breath choked.

“She's that unknown person, isn't she? You lied to a lot of things yesterday.”

“I can explain.”

“Explain with honesty,” Fanita said in a threatening voice. “I'm not Lucas trying to believe without asking you anything. I'm not your brother, not your family and not your friend.”

The grip on my clothes felt tighter.

“I will not deceive you. We just can't talk about it here. And honestly I don't want to involve you.”

“I've been involved and don't waste my time.”

“Good. But we have to meet Haley,” I said. “We will discuss it with Haley.”

Fanita did not let go of her hand. His eyes seemed to ask Haley why she should be included in this conversation.

“Haley should know too. We talk while drinking.”

“Drink?” Fanita confused. “Absolutely you can drink?”

Now he sounds like he's underestimating me. If I told you I was twenty-eight years old, he would think I was crazy.

“I like alcohol.”

Fanita looked at me with a strange look for a long time until she finally let go of her hand. He took out his bag and randomly put some clothes in. I am grateful that he agreed to my request.

“If you dodge, I'll tell Lucas immediately what I saw in the forest that time.”

“Take it easy. Drinking is my forte.”

Me and Fanita walked together without talking afterwards. I wanted to ask Lucas and Alex where Fanita was but I kept my intention out when I saw her looking at me like a criminal. We boarded the horse-drawn carriage that I rented and reached my house. I was welcomed by the servants and also the knights who looked surprised to see me coming to bring a friend. A fairly famous friend (Fanita had a good reputation among the knights).

“Where's Haley?”

“Consulate your Father, Miss,” Jane replied.

I'm nodding.

“Fanita Cassius is my guest. He'll stay for a few days. Please treat him well.”

I had Jane drive Fanita to the guest room and whisper softly that I was going to meet Grace for a while and talk to her.

Apparently, Grace was studying with Mrs Dusay.

“Sorry if my presence interrupts your lesson,” I said in a polite manner.

Mrs Dusay doesn't like me. He is not good at hiding his feelings.

Mrs Dusay resigned from the room.

“He sucks,” I complained to Grace. “How are you?”

“I feel a little bored,” Grace replied with a smile. “It's good to see you home Brooke. You all right? Yesterday you must have been very scared.”

I still remember Grace hugging me and crying after Fanita slapped me. Grace must have been as surprised as the other students.

“The action is correct. I do deserve to be slapped,” I laughed a little. “Did Mom or Dad say something about me?”

“They are worried but do not blame Lucas.”

“Happy to hear it.”

I asked Grace to greet Fanita in the guest room. I convinced Grace that Fanita didn't mean anything bad to me. He slapped me because he was worried about me (initially I thought so).

At nightfall, I took Fanita and Haley for a walk in the park.

“You want to drink alcohol in the park?” asked Fanita in her cynical tone. “Do not waste my time. Remember?”

I take a short breath.

“Can't you be patient a little? Where might I take you to the secret warehouse as soon as we finish dinner with my parents.”

The secret warehouse was where Haley and I hid the items we bought for the expedition plan to the north. Haley was in charge of organizing the preparation of the equipment we needed to get through that treacherous forest. The medicinal plants that Darshan collected were also stored there. Haley and Darshan already know my destination to the north. Looking for someone named Gordon Fichser.

“What's your warehouse say?” Fanita looks at me. “Actually what are you planning?”

“You will listen to everything.”

I'm a little sorry I didn't bring Darshan. I have to repeat the same story to him later. The fourth priority is the reason I came home. I have to teach Grace (forcing it too) to use a gun. I got more worried after finding out Carlo had a heart problem. If I hadn't known his face in the first place, I might have thought he was just a prettier man than a woman (me) not a weak man (weak because of heart problems).

My heart was pounding again remembering Carlo's smile.

My man's taste didn't come close to Carlo at all. The problem is not me, but Grace. He's weak too. A man who can't protect his lover and a woman who can't protect herself. So complicated.

Not cool but tragic.

“Brooke,” call Haley. “He's one of six people?”

Haley suggests the maximum number of people you can invite to go north. It will be difficult to move in large groups.

“Not sure,” I said with a small smile on him. Haley who usually tries to make sense of it all by herself ends up asking about Fanita.

“You are both suspicious,” Fanita stopped her steps and turned to look at Haley. “You're north.”

“What's up with the north guy?” I said quickly with an angry face. “You're a narrow-minded person huh?”

This isn't the first time I've heard someone question Haley's home region. Wherever Haley went with me, people would glance at her or whisper in front of her face. I don't like people who discriminate against others based on their race or origin. We cannot determine where we want to be born and what kind of family we want, so it is ridiculous for me to see people who think others are inferior to them just because they are different from birth.

“I'm not like that,” denies Fanita is no less fast. “She must have trouble living in the south.”

“Difficulty? Haley?”

“I thought you were smart,” Fanita said. He looked down at Haley from top to bottom. “Day must drive you crazy.”

Fanita explained to me that northerners are used to living with extreme cold. I read that in a book. I feel bad for Haley.

“I didn't notice you well, Haley,” I regret. It seems that I ignored that fact and chose to be serious about my other thoughts.

“You should start complaining to me.”

Haley shook her head.

“I'm used to.”

The atmosphere between the three of us turned awkward. I took the initiative by saying we should go back inside and at two in the morning, I would pick up Fanita along with Haley. I'll introduce him to my secret warehouse.

*****