Chapter Forty Two

The night was really short, the morning came quickly. I woke up to see Mar watching me.

"How long have you been up?"

"Long enough to listen to your snoring"

I hit him and he started laughing.

"That's a lie I don't snore."

"You do... I'm sure the other people on the house could hear you snore"

I made a baby face and then he pulled me close and kissed me on the forehead.

"I was only joking"

"I know. I was only pulling your legs"


I got up from the bed and I could see his countenance changed.

"I wish I could stay a little longer but I have to get going Laurie would be waiting for me"

"Please be careful and don't forget to call me"


"I won't"

I rushed over to his side and gave him a quick kiss but he was fast enough to hold me and deepen the kiss. I pulled away quickly.

If I had given in to the kiss, I won't leave on time.

"I'll see you when I get back," I said and ran out of the room.

I felt really bad lying to Mar, I didn't think it was the right time to tell him about all of this. If I had told him I was going to Kuja he's have insisted on taking me there.

I called Laurie to remind her of our plan.

"Hey bestie... hope you haven't forgotten our plan"

"Nope... I was waiting for you to call me. I'm actually at home"

"I'll come and meet you at home and then we will go from there.

I went to my room to take a shower and get dressed. I left the house and got into a taxi that took me to meet with Laurie at home.

I'd completely forgotten about our apartment ever since I started staying with Mar. and now we were dating it was even going to be very difficult leaving his house.



I got in to see Laurie already dressed up.

"What kept you bestie?"


"Mar..."

"You both are so cute. He cares a lot about you. Take him seriously"

"I know and I am taking him seriously. Let's get going"


We took a taxi that dropped us at a bus station. And then took the bus heading to Kuja.

Kuja was very far from the main city and from what I heard most people who stayed there were fetish.

I felt the constant mermaid dreams and attacks from those strange men had a link to my origin, so if going to Kuja was going to give me answers then I would willingly do that. All I wanted was to find the woman who brought me. To know if she knew anything about my mother or father. I wanted to know why they had abandoned me. I needed an explanation.

We spent 1 hour and 45 minutes on the journey to Kuja. The roads were so bumpy and lonely. There was no sign of civilization around. The roads were so mutton seen by bushes.


"Whatever you find out today when we get there does not change who you truly are. You are still the best and sweetest person I have ever known" Laurie said

And I didn't know what else to say I just hugged her. Laurie had been a support system and I was lucky to have her in my corner.


"Thank you for being there for me at all times. I'm glad I have you as my bestie"

"I'm glad to have you too"

We finally got to Kuja and highlighted from the bus. It looked like a marketplace and I could see people buying and selling things.

"How do we find her?" Laurie asked

"Mama had said she was a palmist, she told people's fortunes"


Then we started asking questions. We asked people around but no one had an idea of a palmist around.

We had walked for hours and we were both tired. I didn't want to go home without an answer but from the look of things, I had to leave.


"We have searched for a long and it's getting late already. We should go home"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes... we can come back and continue tomorrow"

We turned to leave and then an old woman tapped me on my back.

"Can you help me with my bag" she pleaded?

I looked at her and I realized she was blind. And so I didn't hesitate to help her. Laurie helped me with the bag because it was so heavy. I wondered who had helped her from where she was coming from but didn't bother to ask so as not to sound rude.

The blind woman led us to a house, it was small, and then she turned to us.

"I am grateful for your help"
Laurie and I dropped the bag where she asked us to drop it and turned to leave.

"Kiani...is that you?" the old woman asked

"No ma... we need to get going. It's getting late"

Laurie and I left and boarded a bus back to Salamanca, it was getting late and I didn't want Mar to be worried. He had asked me not to stay out so late.

Laurie's phone rang and she picked it up. I noticed her countenance changed and then the call ended.

"Just got a call from my manager. I have to be at an event as one of the runway models and I have to be there tomorrow"

"It means I'll come here tomorrow by myself but that's fine I'll be fine"

We got back to the city very late. And by the time we got to Salamanca, it was dark already.
When I got back to Mar's house I saw Jade pacing. I was scared.

"Was everything alright?"

"Why are you pacing?, where is Mar?"

And the moment he saw me, I saw some excitement.


"Where have you been Arya? You got us all scared. Mar has been restless and he said no one will have a night's rest if you are not back"


"Where is he?"

"He just went up to get dressed, we were about to go in search of you"

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I'll go and speak with him"

I rushed up to his room and he has dressed already.

"You got me worried"

"I'm here now... I'm sorry. I was delayed"

"What kept..."

Mar was about to ask but I stopped him with a kiss. I didn't want him to ask any more questions because I didn't want to lie to him.