Chapter 24: Plan and Reality

Some time has passed since the incident and the fuss about Nelly’s safety. Stacy’s injury was finally healed. She started training everyday. The injury was a slight distraction that delayed her plan. Now that she could fight to her full potential again, nothing’s stopping her from going all out to achieve her goal.

She had just finished her morning training and was heading to the kitchen. She grabbed her usual slices of bread, one held in her mouth and another in her hand. As she was leaving the kitchen, she ran into Chad. “Nice timing! Do you have time right now?” Chad asked.

“I’m headed to the warehouse. What’s up?” Stacy replied, the bread still in her mouth. “I’m surprised I can understand you. Come to the meeting room. There’s something we want to discuss with you,” right after he said it, he immediately walked out of the kitchen. Stacy took it as a sign to follow. She bent back to grab another slice of bread before following Chad with quickening steps.

Zalen was already waiting in the room when they arrived. “Take a seat,” Chad said as he settled down on a chair. Swallowing her bread, Stacy asked, “what’s this about?”

“Remember how we made a deal to let you stay until your injury heals?” Chad started. He observed her expression closely, looking for any changes. There was none. “I can move out right now,” she said. Her tone was so neutral that it felt very distant. Immediately, any form of relationship and memory built between them was gone. The distance between them was only an arm’s length but it felt as if they were an ocean apart.

“There’s no rush,” Chad added quickly. “I’m not rushing it. I can really move out right now. You can set a deadline if it’ll make you feel better,” Stacy said, maintaining the unseen distance between them. “What he meant was, he’s not chasing you out. We’re here to discuss this matter,” Zalen jumped in to save the situation.

“Alright. Are there any changes with the plan?” Stacy leaned back in a relaxed manner, chewing on another slice of bread. “We want to know what you think,” Chad said carefully.

Stacy laughed. “Does it really matter?”

Chad’s expression turned serious, as if he was about to say something very important. “Whatever happens, Sammy, know your worth.”

Stacy was taken aback by his words. “My.. worth?”

“Yes. You are more than what you think of yourself. I don’t know what your life was like in the past, but remember that whatever happened didn’t define who you are. Get that into your hard skull. Don’t go acting like you don’t deserve anything. You deserve all the help, respect and happiness you can get,” Chad gave a long speech.

Stacy looked down at the table. The ‘motivation talk’ managed to render her speechless. She didn’t know what to respond. It’s the type of information she never processed before.

“Alright?” Chad’s voice brought her back to the room. She raised her head to look at them simultaneously. She nodded. Why did she nod? What did he say? She couldn’t remember. At least she reacted.

There was a weird feeling in her heart she couldn’t describe. She’s never had this feeling before, just like she’s never had anyone tell her these words before. Was she touched by his words? Was she accepting the idea he tried to convey? What was it? She didn’t know. She was utterly confused, still trying to put words to the feeling. Was that how Nelly felt when she said those things in the warehouse?

“Right. Back to the topic. What do you think? Do you really want to end the deal and move out? What’s your next step? Do you have any plans?” Zalen asked. The serious talk grounded her. It’s something she’s familiar with and her logical mind started operating again.

“What’s the current situation? I believe you didn’t bring up this matter just because you want to,” Stacy answered the questions with a question.

“We see that you’re healing well. So, we want to know if you have any plans in mind,” Chad explained. “Not really, no. I don’t,” she denied.

“All these time you’re here, you’re already one of us,” Chad said. “Why are you being so cheesy today?” Once Stacy pointed it out, Zalen nodded in agreement. “I’m simply telling the truth,” he shrugged as he responded.

“How’s the reaction of those who hated my guts and wished me gone?” She changed her question. The two men stopped talking altogether. They looked at each other, silently communicating with their eyes. Although it was just for a mere second, Stacy caught it without missing a beat. She immediately knew that something was wrong.

“Tell me,” she demanded.

“The usual. You know,” Chad answered but that was not the details she wanted. Seeing that she was quiet, Chad asked again, “so, what’s your plan?”

“I need to know the truth of the situation before I plan,” she insisted. “You have your own thoughts. The situation won’t change that, will it?” Chad challenged. “Good planning requires adequate evaluation. Planning without knowing the details of a situation is almost equivalent to crossing a river blind-folded. Get the steps right,” Stacy shot back.

“I’ll change the question. What’s your preference? Everyone has their own desire. The situation won’t affect your preference. You can first tell me what you wish to do, then we can plan together,” Chad insisted.

“Why can’t you tell me first?” Stacy demanded.

“Then it’ll influence your answer,” Chad answered.

Zalen shook his head. “I shouldn’t be here, should I? I feel like a third-wheeler.”

The whole room was quiet as they started a staring competition. It went on for almost a minute.

Finally, Zalen gave up. “Alright. I don’t think that we should keep her in the dark,” he looked at Chad for confirmation, before continuing, “I’ll explain.”

“There were men who suggested that your time here is overdue.”