THE HOTTEST LOVE

Kendal

It was a chilly evening as it had just rained heavily in the city, and there she was, sat up in her bed in the middle of the night, lost in thought. The recent happenings in Kendal's life has prompted her to review her life choices, casting doubt on the memories she once held dear. Taking a deep breath, Kendal picked up her phone and dialed Karl's number, each digit making her heart pound heavily.

Karl's cheerful voice echoed through the line as he picked up, blissfully unaware of the storm about to hit.

"Hey baby, I was just about to call you. What's up?"

"Hey, Karl."

Kendal's heart fluttered as she thought about the impending revelation. The simplicity of Karl's greeting clashed with the complexity of her emotions.

"I was thinking about us, about everything."

"Oh, yeah? What's on your mind? I have being thinking about us too. Will you go first or should I?"

Kendal cringed, moving the phone from her ear as Karl's excited voice pierced her heart the more. A voice that once brought joy to her heart, now causing so much pain, each word cutting through the hope she had for saving their love.

"I was thinking maybe we could go on a vacation to Maldives or anywhere you desire" Karl said.

"Uhmm Karl, I...."

"No No Babe. Do not worry about the expenses. I will take care of everything. Just tell me where you want us to go and we are there" Karl said.

Kendal paused, feeling Karl's offer to take her anywhere came with an unspoken guilt, even though he seemed unaware that she knew about his actions. His confidence left her torn and uncertain.

Images of whispered promises and shared laughter flashed before Kendal's eyes. She wondered if every 'I love you' had been genuine or just a well-rehearsed line.

"Karl. I need to tell you something." Kendal insisted

"Something important than picking a vacation spot?" Karl asked, surprisingly.

"You know, all those times you said you loved me. Did you mean it?"

A brief pause lingered in the air, tension building with each passing second.

"Of course, Kendal. You know I care about you."

Kendal's hands tightened around the phone, the truth she'd been avoiding now demanding acknowledgment.

"I need you to be honest with me, Karl. Have you been faithful?"

Stammering and hesitation colored Karl's response, confirming Kendal's worst fears.

"What? Where is this coming from?"

"I saw you, Karl. I saw you with her. I saw you with Nancy"

Silence descended, the weight of truth settling in the space between them.

"Was it all a lie, Karl? Did you ever really love me?"

Karl's attempt to explain felt feeble against the backdrop of Kendal's shattered trust.

"Kendal, it's not what you think."

With anger in her voice, Kendal confronted the painful reality.

"How long? How long have you been lying to me?"

"Kendal, please, let me explain."

But explanations couldn't mend the broken trust, and Kendal felt tears welling up, her heart shattering like fragile glass.

"I can't do this anymore, Karl. I can't be with someone who doesn't value me. Someone who betrays me."

"Kendal, don't do this over one mistake. We can work through it."

"Over one mistake? Did you say one? You think am not aware this has being going on for a while? Just because I decided to keep quiet? You think I am dumb?. Yet, you are still lying after being caught. Karl you are loser and I regret the day I met you." Kendal gasped for breath.

As Karl pleaded, Kendal became even more angry.

"This isn't just one mistake, Karl. This is a pattern of lies. Of all the ladies in this world, you chose to cheat on me with my bestfriend. My best friend!!!! . I hope you rot in hell Karl, including that bitch."

The click of the hung-up call reverberated in the room. Alone, Kendal stared at her phone, and cried her heart out. 5years of love gone just like that.

***********************

Later in the evening, after so much crying and reflection, Kendal decides to step out of her room to get something to eat from the kitchen. Unknown to her, her parents were having a conversation she had being trying to avoid for a while.

As Kendal stepped into the living room she noticed a heavy grin on her Mom's face which seemed a little weird.

"There you are!! My baby" Mrs Doyle exclaimed.

"Hello Mom" I responded coldly.

"Kendal, please take a seat. We need to talk to you," Mom said. She gently pat's me as I sit beside her. Father, sitting across from me, wears a deep frown, looking frailer than ever. "I know this is a topic you usually avoid, but it's high time we address the challenges on our hands."

"We must save your father's failing business." We have talked about it for a while now and we have decided it was high time we let you know our stand on this. We believe it is time for you to meet Trey Dennis"

I became so furious and slightly disappointed. It irks me anytime my parents think they can just have a meeting behind my back and decide what they think is best for me without even consulting to me. Come to think of it, it's not like they care about me that much, all they care about is the company that is dying and I am just a collateral in case things do not go well. Only the thought of this saddens me a lot.

"No, Mom” I say sharply, startling her. I turn to face her squarely. "Mom, Dad, please don't get me wrong. I really want the company to thrive again, I do, but one thing i am not willing to do, is trade my life and future for the company's success. Dad, I am sure there are many other ways to go about this. I do not even know this Troy Dennish or whatever his name is. "

"Will you shut up your mouth you this ungrateful child." Mr Doyle shouts at Kendal. "Do you think you have a choice uhn? Kendal, you have no choice. This is not about how you feel or what you want, this is about what is best for the company and this family." Mr Doyle declares, firmly.

"Dad and you think getting married to someone that i barely know is the solution? What if i don't survive the union? What if I die in the process? I don't even know if he is a monster or an abuser. Dad I am not doing this." Kendal voices out.

There was a silence in the room for a bit and Kendal continued.

"More so, what do you want me to with Karl? Uhn? Throw him out the window? I have a boyfriend for crying out loud" Kendal lied.

"Is it that scumbag you are referring to as your boyfriend? Now i see where the rpoblem is from. I had some doubts initially, but now I am convinced that some nuts in your head are worn out" My Dad hailed at me.

Even though I am no longer with Karl, I was a little bit furious that he was referred to as a scumbag. I felt it necessary to defend him but then I thought again "Isn't he a scumbag for cheating on me with my best friend? Fuck you Karl"

"I'm not interested, Dad. Please, let us put this debate to rest. Please!"

"I won't let you speak to my husband that way, you silly girl," Mrs Doyle yelled forcefully, her hands slipping from my thighs.

Why is she defending her husband? Wasn't it this same woman who wanted to bring down the roof last night when she was yelling at her husband? Now she is pretending like she cares when we all know that all she is concerned about is how to keep getting the cash flow to fund her luxurious and wasteful lifestyle.

Mom is finding it extremely difficult to adjust to this new lifestyle, and she has been having problems with my father ever since the company went bankrupt.

Mom broke the silence again. "Is it that you don't miss the good life? When last did we go on a vacation? When last did we go for luxury shopping? uhn? Look outside we have sold 4 cars in the past 2months just because we couldn't maintain them. Is the life you want? And now we are telling you to get married to a billionaire family that is ready to help us out, you are telling us you have a boyfriend. Listen, if you push me too much I will get that your so called boyfriend arrested."

"You can't do that Mom, You can't." I yelled.

"Okay, try me and see" Mom yelled back

"Also, maybe you should speak for yourself Mom because I am fine without the vacations and the luxury shopping. Yes I am. Maybe the company should remain the way it is, if that's only why you want it to thrive again." I said.

" Honey can you hear your daughter? Do you see how she is talking to me?" Mom nagged.

"Okay okay. That's enough from both of you" Dad cut in.

"Kendal, even if you don't want the luxury lifestyle what about the future of the company? Sooner than later, this company would be yours."

"Well, Mom, Dad, I have a BOYFRIEND! So I do not see how this is going to work with me having a boyfriend"

"The same one who is always cheating on you with other girls?" She retorts back sharply, standing up to my height.

What? How did she know about Karl's cheating?

"That idiot that keeps hurting you?" My mother's voice is raised. "Do you even know what you are doing? He always cheats on you yet you keep accepting him back?"

Who told her this? I ask within me, tears threatening to fall down my eyes.

Was it Nancy? Yes it must have been Nancy, no one else knew about it.

But why would she tell my mother about Karl's cheating? Anyways now I see why. Now I see why she always advised me to leave Karl, and why she was so invested in our relationship. She had always disapproved of him and urged me to leave him. Mom rose from her chair, ready to exit the room. Then she declared, "We're offering you a good life. This guy is handsome and wealthy, the youngest billionaire in New York. What more do you want?"

"What do I want?" I retorted, pointing my index finger at her. "What I want is for you two to stop interfering with my life."

My response took her by surprise. "You are getting married to Trey, whether you like it or not, Kendall. You two have been betrothed since childhood, and I won't let you make a wrong decision when he's obviously better than your cheating boyfriend."

"We'll see about that, Mom."