Chapter 6
The secrets you reveal
"I-i-i-i d-don't know w-w-what you're talking ab-b-bout." Kuhisha said , trying to calm his breath.
Simba and Mheetu watched the odd display from a short distance.
It was strange to say the least. Sure Simba had seen Kuhisha being verbally cornered before. But Igunya was a full-grown lioness.
Seeing Nala , a fellow cub, handle him, seemed surreal.
.
"You are hiding something. Is it a crush or... ?" Nala guessed
Kuhishas eyes involentarely glanced to the side, looking past Nalas right shoulder.
Much to Kuhishas horror Nala had noticed it.
She turned her head slightly to follow his approximate line of sight.
She turned her head back. "Really ?" She said, in disbelieve.
The tone of her voice made it clear. She had figured it out.
She knew his secret.
"Don't..." Whispered Kuhisha under his breath, trying hard to keep his posture.
Nala looked at him with consideration.
She could just tell on him but then again, this wouldn't do. If anything it would make things more complicated.
Her eyes still stared at him like daggers held to his throat.
"Please,..." He added, sounding close to tears.
Nala growled at him.
"Alright. But remember the following cause I'm only going to say it once."
Kuhisha swallowed hard and nodded.
Then Nala leaned forward and whispered a warning into Kuhishas ears.
A warning that made his eyes go wide.
"Alright? Is that understood Kuhisha?" She asked with a serious look on her face.
"Yes. I understand" Responded Kuhisha while avoiding her eyes in defeat.
"Good" She responded with coldness in her voice.
Both Simba and Mheetu had witnessed the conversation from afar but they too felt intimidated by Nalas presence.
Nala walked over to them with a happy smile on her face as if nothing had happened.
She joyfully went up to Simba and nuzzled him gently.
"He's gonna be less of a douche from now on" She stated, in a surprisingly factual tone.
"What did you tell him?" Asked Simba, still stunned.
"Oh you know, stuff." Said Nala giving Simba a playful lick on his muzzle.
"Hey. " He said, once again slightly embarrassed.
.
Mheetu looked at Kuhisha who still kept his distance to the trio.
"He looks so distraught. Almost sad." Remarked Mheetu.
"Serves him right. Nala, whatever you did to him must've been really effective." Said Simba with a hint of Schadenfreude.
"Maybe I should talk to him." Pondered Mheetu.
"Are you f***ing serious?" Asked Simba in disbelief.
"Just a few minutes ago he was making fun of you." He argued.
"Seriously Mheetu, I think it would be better if you leave him be until Igunya comes back." Agreed Nala.
"I mean yeah, but you two are here...so he's not gonna hurt me." Reasoned Mheetu, taking pity on Kuhisha.
"I really think you should stay here " Said Nala with a hint of worry in her voice.
.
Mheetu looked at his sister and then back at Kuhisha.
He knew that it was ridiculous and probably a bad idea, but he couldn't help but feel sorry for Kuhisha.
He never liked to see anyone sad, even if they had hurt him.
Right now Kuhisha looked mentally collapsed.
Any overabundance of self-esteem usually emanating from him like moonlight in the night, was gone, hidden behind whatever sobering truth Nala had uncovered about him.
.
"He's not gonna hurt me. I just know it."
Nala looked into her brothers eyes and saw strong certainty in them.A certainty as unbreakable as pride rock itself.
"Alright, but remember that Simba and I have your back ,should he get any stupid ideas." Said Nala.
"OK." Said Mheetu and walked over to Kuhisha, who had now laid down and placed his head on his paws, gazing at some dirt.
"Hey Kuhisha" Said Mheetu putting on a friendly smile.
"What the fu** do you want, fruit basket?" Said Kuhisha, trying to sound condescending.
"You seemed sad." Said Mheetu while walking around Kuhisha to face the slightly older cub.
Kuhisha noticed Mheetus attempt at directness and turned to the other side making Mheetu walk back and forth. This somewhat amused Kuhisha.
"So you're here to give me a cuddle to make my boo boo go away ? " Sneered Kuhisha.
" I just thought you might like company." Said Mheetu with genuine concern in his voice.
This irritated Kuhisha quite a bit. "I don't need your pity. Now get lost." He growled.
"Are you shure you don't want to talk. You really seem..." Mheetu started.
"I said..." Growled Kuhisha, now facing Mheetu giving him an angry look." get lost, Fu**face!"
"Alright." Responded Mheetu in resignation.
He was about to walk away when he turned around one more time and said.
"I forgive you. Y'know for the bullying. You must've had your reasons ... better to run at something than away from it, right?"
Mheetuh gave a tired smile and walked back to Simba and Nala.
Kuhisha had turned back to face away from the trio. He tried to burry any emotional reaction of his as deeply as possible.
His efforts proved futile as he felt a single tear rolling down his left cheek.
A few minutes later Igunya returned with a good chunk of meat.
The cubs sank their teeth into it with no restrained.
After they were done eating , Igunya spoke.
.
"Kuhisha, Simba ! You two will come back with me to the rock formation. Your friends won't follow, obviously." She explained.
Simba said goodbye to Mheetu and Nala.
Nala gave him a quick peck on his lips much to Igunya and Mheetu's amusement.
Kuhisha didn't seem to notice. He was lost in his thoughts.
Once Igunya, Simba and Kuhisha had returned to the rock formation nothing much happened.
Simba tried to start conversation with Kuhisha to no avail.
"How am I supposed to finish this whole thing if he's not even reacting." Simba asked Igunya.
"Give him a bit more time, he'll come around. It was a strenuous day for him." Answered Igunya as she once again took position on top of the formation.
Simba just rolled his eyes.
"Patience is a virtue, young prince" Said Igunya with a smile
"Ugh, that's what dad told me too. " Sighed Simba.
"Well if the King says it, it must be good advice." Chuckled Igunya.
The sun fell quickly beneath the horizon all the stars of the savanna came out like glistening water drops in the distance.
Once again Igunya had laid herself in front of the stone formation entrance, effectively blocking it.
Once again, Kuhisha couldn't sleep.
And once again...
.
"Hey , Simba" He whispered to the younger cub, gently rocking him awake.
"Wha? Fu***ng hell Kuhisha, what is it?" He asked, still half asleep.
"I need to talk to you." Kuhisha said with a serious demeanor.
Simba slowly got up.
"Alright, " he yawned. "but how about we go to the other end of the formation.
Makes it less likely that Igunya is gonna listen in on us again." Simba reasoned.
"Alright" Agreed Kuhisha.
The two cubs went to the opposite corner of the rock formation.
.
"Now, what do you want to talk about? " Asked Simba.
Kuhisha looked nervously down and then directly at Simba.
"Nala already knows it and Igunya probably does too." He swallowed hard.
"Whait, do you actually have a crush on someone ?" Inquired Simba.
Kuhisha looked sheepishly at the ground.
"You do ?!" Asked Simba in disbelieve.
"Who?" He asked, now truly bent on having to know.
"You are gonna think it's really damn funny. I will probably regret telling it to you, but if I don't , I won't make it any better."
Suddenly Simba's eyes got wide in irritation and horror.
"Do you have a crush on me?" He asked hesitantly.
"What ? No!" Responded Kuhisha instantly.
"Phew" Said Simba in relief. "For a second there I thought..."
Then he went wide eyed again.
"You have a crush on Nala ?! " There was a hint of aggression in Simbas voice.
"Calm down. No...well not exactly. Let's just say I don't know what to make of her and she's not my crush."
Kuhisha responded.
"Ok. Then who is it?" Asked Simba.
Once again Kuhisha looked sheepishly away.
He knew that the secret he was about to reveal would make him extremely vulnerable.
The once self-assured gang leader looked like a sacred antelope in the moonlight.
Uncertain of many things and certain of few.
He took a deep breath.
"I have a crush on Mheetu." He finally said.
End of Chaper 6
Next Chapter 7: stars,words and water
