At that mont, upon hearing the words Cora had just said the confirmation Balissa wasn’t hoping to hear her face fell. Disappointnt crept in, quiet but sharp. She slowly shook her head, her eyes narrowing with disbelief. "So... Uncle Festus is actually coming?" she said, almost as if she didn’t believe her own ears.
Imdiately A tired scoff escaped her lips. "Just imagine that for a second. Wasn’t he the sa person who stood tall and proud, saying he would never, ever set foot in this country again? Saying he was done with all of us? Done with the drama? Done with the family?"
Malisa turned slightly, rubbing her fingers together as if trying to work out the confusion in her head. "So what’s all this now? Why is he suddenly coming back? After all those bold words, after cutting ties and acting like he was better than everyone else... what changed?"
Cora, sitting still on the edge of the couch, looked down at her hands and slowly shook her head. "Well... I don’t really know," she said softly, as though even admitting that much felt difficult. "But honestly... I don’t want to see him. I don’t. It’s just... it’s so strange. It feels wrong. And so awkward."
Her voice dropped at the end, and silence sat between them for a brief mont.
Malisa took a deep breath. Her voice, when she spoke again, was firr less confused, more certain. "Rember what happened before? Rember what happened in the past before? Cora... Uncle Festus is not that kind of a person that you can easily rely upon or try to take him as if he’s a good guy. He’s not."
At that mont, hearing what Malisa just said Cora nodded slowly, her eyes filled with frustration. "I know all of that, lissa. I do. Uncle Festus is a very corny person. Yes, extrely corny," she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "And I don’t even know why my dad always wants to tag along with him, always listening to everything he says. It just doesn’t make sense to . I can’t even get that out of my head."
She leaned back on the couch, arms crossed. "It’s so strange. Like... how would my father, soone who always talks about loyalty and wisdom, even be doing sothing like this? Just imagine what Uncle Festus must have said to him. I an, seriously, just imagine. I don’t even know."
Malisa, who had been watching Cora closely, didn’t need to imagine. She could already sense the manipulation behind the scenes. She took a deep breath and replied in a calm but firm tone. "Well, like I’ve said before, we need to trade with caution. We really do. Don’t trust anybody too quickly not even those who pretend to care."
She leaned forward, lowering her voice just slightly. "We need to keep everything we are doing in a very tight circle. Very close. Very controlled. And leave only a little room just a little for whispers."
Cora looked confused. "Whispers?"
Malisa nodded. "Yes. Whispers. Small hints. Nothing loud, nothing too visible. If Uncle Festus catches even a glimpse of what we’re doing... if he even hears a rumor..." She paused for a second, letting the weight of her words settle.
"...then he might even go behind you to sabotage you, by the way."
Again, Cora nodded her head slowly, her face twisted with frustration. "Yes... I know all of that already," she muttered under her breath, not even trying to hide how drained she felt. "He’s a very corny person. Yes, extrely corny. That man knows how to smile in your face and stab you from behind at the sa ti."
Her voice wavered slightly, but she pulled herself together, continuing, "I don’t even know the real reason why my dad always wants to tag along with him. Always listening to him. Like he’s the wise one in the family or sothing. I’ve tried tried to understand it but no matter how I think about it, it just doesn’t make sense. This is so strange to ."
She let out a sharp exhale through her nose, shaking her head. "Just imagine what Uncle Festus might have said to my father. I can only imagine what twisted story or fake concern he used this ti. I don’t even know, Malisa. I really don’t."
At that mont, Malisa leaned back slightly, her hand resting on the edge of the table as she studied her friend’s face. Then, with a calm but serious tone, she said, "Well, like I’ve told you before, we need to trade with caution. Real caution. We’re not dealing with ordinary people here. We need to keep everything we’re doing locked up tight. No loose talk, no wide mouths. Just whispers in small corners. That’s the only way we survive this."
She paused for a second, watching how Cora’s eyes dropped to the floor, clearly lost in thought. Then she added again, "Because if Uncle Festus catches wind of this of anything he might just go behind your back and sabotage you. That man doesn’t play fair. You know that."
Cora slowly looked up again, her eyes filled with the kind of truth you don’t need anyone to confirm. "Yes, I know," she said firmly, almost in a whisper. "And it’s not even going to be easy keeping things under wraps this ti. Not with the way he moves, and not with how close he’s getting to everything."
Her voice dropped even lower, almost like she didn’t want to say it aloud. "You know what’s worse? I don’t even think he needs to be told anything. I feel it in my bones he already knows sothing. Or at the very least, he’s up to sothing. That’s the only reason he insisted on following my dad here. That man doesn’t just travel for fun. Not soone like him."
Malisa narrowed her eyes slightly, concern forming on her face. But before she could say anything, Cora continued with a little more heat in her voice, "And that’s not even what’s making angry the most. It’s what my dad whispered to yesterday..."
She paused. Her hands clenched slightly before she spoke again.
"He told quietly like it was nothing that Clinton is also coming."
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