Chapter 13

I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, and I knew it.

Constant irritability, tears threatening to spill out at the smallest of inconvenience, limited patience and just the worn-down feeling of being overwhelmed. Just one push and I would lose control of my emotions, I was well aware of that as well.

With all this in mind, I should have been rational and stayed at home today. But I could not bring myself to do it. And the reason was, of course, Kol.

Today was Freya's birthday. The day that he was going to unveil his surprise for her.

My intention of not wanting to miss it was simple. I wanted the speck worth of hope in my heart to live and blossom and then ultimately overshadow the negativity in my heart regarding Kol and Freya's relationship. I wanted to be somehow proved wrong and mistaken. I wanted her eyes to sparkle with just as much love and adoration for Kol as his sparkled even at the mention of her name.

I wanted to realise that she was, in fact, not cheating on him and that I was a big fool to have thought so. 

Darkness descended all around, welcoming the night and the moon. 

On my request, Ira had agreed to be the one serving Kol's table for the night. In turn, I was going to be at the cash register, quietly doing my work and understanding the bond between Kol and Freya.

I was basically going to eavesdrop and poke my nose somewhere that it did not belong. But I was fine with being that unpleasant person this time if it meant that I could possibly let go of at least one problem nagging me.

The pen slipped from my hand and fell to the floor. 

Gritting my teeth and resisting the urge to cry out, I bent down to pick it up.

"They're here," said Jace, walking past me to Ira.

I stood up and saw Kol and Freya coming in. 

Kol gave me a small wave and I smiled back with a thumbs up sign. Then I sent a quick prayer up for him.

I watched Freya closely, as the couple chose a table in a quiet corner of the cafe.

She was beautiful. However, she sat down with her back facing me, and I couldn't see her expression. 

Ira approached them to take their order and I tore my eyes away from them, feeling like an intruder. 

Minutes passed, Ira served them their drinks, and they continued to laugh and talk. 

Everything looks fine with them, Zuri. They seem happy together. 

As if on cue, their conversation grew more serious. I could tell by the way Kol placed his hand on hers and the way his eyes portrayed how much he meant every word he spoke.

Any minute now, he would give the signal to Ira to bring out the cake. Everything was going according to Kol's plan.

Freya interrupted Kol and began to talk. 

I assumed that she was reciprocating whatever he had just told her. But I soon realised that my assumption was wrong.

Kol was silent but his expression changed. Confusion was written all over his face. He seemed to be in disbelief.

He tried to speak but Freya cut him off and continued what she was saying. He tried to hold her hand again, but she took her hand back. 

Then Kol seemed furious. They both began to argue, and it seemed like accusations were flying in the air between them. 

My heart raced and I blinked back tears. I guess I had realised what was going on.

Then Kol's face fell. He was crestfallen and numb. 

Freya stood up abruptly and hurriedly left the cafe, leaving Kol frozen in his seat.

I discreetly wiped away the tears from my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat. 

"I wonder what happened," said Ira, coming up to me. "Did they fight?" 

"Probably," I said, holding back from saying what I thought had actually happened.

Ira shook her head sadly. "Poor guy. She didn't even get to see the cake and gift." 

"You both seem to know each other," Ira added after a pause, "do you think you could talk to him? He's distraught."

I sucked in a sharp breath. "After a few minutes. Right now, he's still in shock." 

Ira nodded and went back to preparing orders. 

Kol put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on the table.

My heart ached for him. I wanted to tell him that everything would turn out fine. I wanted to lend him an ear to empty his sorrows. But I did not know if he wanted that from me.

The next hour passed agonisingly slowly. 

Kol had not moved an inch. 

I sighed. It was time to go and talk to him. 

"What should I do about the cake?" asked Ira. "It has an expensive gift in the middle of it. I can't break the cake apart to take it out. He has to take the whole thing as it is."

"Just…just pack it up," I said, "he will probably take it home." 

Ira nodded and was about to go when a commotion outside the cafe caught our attention.

A few people were talking loudly and moving about.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Just then, Jace came out from the kitchen.

"Do you hear that?" he asked us. "Something's happened."

We all exchanged a look and then hurried outside.

People were gathered in the parking area.

"Hey, what's going on?" Ira asked a person when we reached the spot.

The person moved aside, and we saw the cause of commotion. 

A car had been vandalised. The windshield had been completely shattered and pieces of glass were everywhere. 

"What the hell?" someone said behind me.

Kol.

I turned around to see him.

He had gone white. 

I touched his arm. "Are you all right?" 

"That—that's my car," he said, his voice croaked.

My breath caught in my throat. His car?

I turned around again to see the brutally attacked vehicle. 

Why would someone do that to Kol? It didn't make sense.

"I'll call the police," said Jace. "We have to report this." 

Kol nodded and then sighed, coming out of the initial shock. 

"Everything's falling apart again," he said.

I squeezed his arm reassuringly, but I had no idea if that made him feel any better. How was I supposed to comfort someone with a broken heart and a vandalised car?

The trajectory of both fate and luck was closely entwined and completely wrong. When things started to go wrong, they continued in that direction until the person was on the verge of losing all hope. The tests and trials only got harder and repetitive until one started cursing their fate.

Everybody had to go through this phase at least once in their life. I was already going through it. But I had thought that Kol was done and out of it after his sister's death. Things seemed to have been looking up for him. Apparently, I was wrong. His phase was not over yet and it seemed to have just gotten worse now.

What else was in store for him?