I WAS THERE
I was there when Tobi and Sandra entered the house, I watched them sit on the couch to talk about the things girls talk about in private. It was surprising to see them talk so openly without any form of malice or quarrel because these two had always been on each other's throats and would not hide how much they detest each other. I had always been the one to make sure they could at least stay for 5 minutes before trying to tear each other apart and now that I can see them giggling and smiling affectionately like lovers who have not seen themselves for years.
After some minutes I saw Sade coming to the house, I didn’t need a soothsayer to figure it was her because her perfume had always been distinct. No one knew where she got it from or what brand it was exactly, but one thing was always certain, that perfume got to be expensive. But for some reason Tobi and Sandra did not seem to appreciate her coming, and for some reasons Sade herself looked like she didn’t belong which was unlike her. Sade usually had the kind of presence that commanded respect in the room, but this time, the scorn her presence was commanding was palpable.
Standing behind the tinted glass of my mansion and seeing three of my friends in my house uninvited and yet feeling at home made me wonder what was really going on. I wanted to go downstairs immediately when I saw Tobi and Sandra, but something held me back, perhaps it is this mysterious feeling that has always guided me which always made others unable to easily read me. Something in me said there was more to what was going on, and I should just sit down and watch like I had been doing for the past 12 hours before they came.
Later a few minutes after watching Sade sit quietly like an outsider in my house, I saw Derrick and Leo who were always together. These were my buddies, the guys I knew would always have my back no matter the situation. But looking at them, I saw something I had not seen since I knew them. Derrick who was always moody was happy and Leo who was always happy was moody. It was like I was watching the reverse of all their temperaments, this wasn’t how I knew these people, and for once it was hard to really understand what exactly was going on with my friends until I saw my butler come in on seeing Leo and Derrick.
“Buttler”: Master Derrick, Master Leo, Lady Sade, Lady Tobi, and Lady Sandra…
“Sandra”: Why call my name last, am I less than the rest of the ladies and if I remember correctly, I came alongside Tobi. We were the first to get here.
(Sandra cut him off before he could speak any further).
Derrick: I’m sure he meant No offense Sandra, Besides if you noticed too, he started from the most Important Person to walk into the mansion.
Tobi: Just because the King granted you the title of a Young Lord for being the best friend of his sick son doesn’t grant you the right to think you are more important than us.
Derrick: Well I was the one sweating with him in the heat of his hot room while you and your sister decided to play cat and mouse role…
Sandra: It wasn’t our fault that he liked the Chaos you know…
I could not believe what I was hearing. These people are talking about me as though they are not in my house. I knew something was wrong, but I did not know to what extent. I was just discovering that they were my friends because my father had promised them land and titles. These were the people I called real friends, But as I looked through the Tinted glass I witnessed first hand what they all thought about me.
Butler: I would prefer you all listen to me before you speak any further young masters and Ladies.
Derrick: You should be addressing us as Lords and ladies, you should know your place Butler.
Leo: Enough Derrick, I know you are a good actor, I could never compare to you, but at least he was your friend, he was my friend, even though he is gone, this is not the time to rejoice in titles and glory
Sade: I agree with Leo, Auther was our friend, I know I always acted as the bad one to make you all look good, but he wasn’t just my friend, I loved him. And we are not here to bask in the glory of titles, if I must be honest, I do not feel like I deserve the title of Lady of any house, or the lands and gold that come with it. Right now I would give anything to have my friend back.
Leo: Me too (as a tear slowly rolled down his cheeks.)
Butler: The Prince is not dead.
This did not just come as a blow to them, it came as a collected shock, I looked into the eyes of Derrick, Tobi, and Sandra and saw the collective shock in their eyes. Behind that shock was a sudden realization that I could be behind the Tinted glass. I looked into the eyes of Leo and Sade and saw another kind of shock, it wasn’t dreadful, it was joyous and witnessing all that has made me come to my final decision.
When I stood behind the glass I witnessed something only a dead man could have known, I witnessed the true heart of a man. My father, the king, saw my loneliness and how it was making me sick. He decided to get me the best friends money can buy, but in doing so he also gave me the worst friends that could have ever existed. You all never knew I was there all along, and because I wanted to recount all your actions back to your faces, I decided to wait until you said your peace and now I am a witness to the depth of my friend’s heart. Thank you Leo, thank you Sade, You have been true friends, and there is nothing I can ever do to repay your kindness.
Sade: Being your friend is payment enough Auther.
Leo: And I would not trade it for anything.
THIS IS MY ENTRY INTO THE INKWELL COMBINED WRITING PROMPT #52
