TWISTED FATE BY VERONICA EDWIN - DANIEL

EPISODE ONE On a cool Wednesday evening at about 5:30pm, Lina's beautiful eyes caught an amazing figure around the Orthodox Church premises, the church which she attended. A kind of external force steered her towards him. When she was close, she felt a little dizzy. According to her, this dizziness was caused by his calm, reserved and handsome nature. To Lina, Allen was the most handsome man on earth. "Hello," Lina greeted. "Hi," Allen replied calmly. "You are not familiar here," Lina continued. "I am actually a new person in this town of Ammu," Allen affirmed. "Though I am a member of the Orthodox Church where I came from," he added. "I see, you are welcome to Ammu," Lina said. "Thank you very much. May I know your name please?" "I am Lina and you?" "Allen." "It is a pleasure meeting you," Lina said. "The pleasure is all mine," he responded. "Thanks, hope to see you again," she said. "Hope to see you again too." With that, they walked into the church building through different entrances for the prayer session that was slated to be held that day and at that hour. After the prayer session, Lina looked out for Allen but could not find him, disappointed, she went home. After the meeting of the two youngsters, they both could not help thinking about each other. Allen on one hand was not particularly drawn to Lina, though she was beautiful, he thought. She was fair in complexion, the head tie she wore which failed to cover her head completely, revealed a long, thick, full, black hair, the sides of her face was hairy too which was one of the physical quantities he admired in a woman. What was more, she had well-formed limbs, her breasts stood firm and defiant like twin deer and most of all, she had a rounded buttocks and protruded hips. Allen thought of all these physical gifts possessed by Lina as well as her warm nature and the way she smiled; all appealed to him but he quickly dismissed the thought of going to ask her out. Lina, on the other hand, could not hold back her feelings. She thought to herself. "What a handsome, nice young man." His handsomeness coming largely from the shape of his well-formed nose, his body size and his fair skin. His calm, reserved and warm nature appealed greatly to Lina as well and from thence, she hardly did anything without thinking about Allen. About two weeks later, Lina met Allen at the same church premises but unfortunately for her, she could not get close to him because he was very busy with other members of the church as they were engaged in the weeding of the grasses that had overgrown around the church compound. Allen who was working with ten other young men, wore a more serious effort. While he did his work quietly and seriously, the others were chatting and laughing loudly, only bending down occasionally to cut the grasses. Lina then sat at a vantage point just to watch Allen as he worked. It took about forty five minutes before Allen finished clearing the portion assigned to him. As at the time he finished, Lina's close friend had joined her where she was sitting but did not suspect that Lina sat there just to watch Allen. "Hi Lina," Kate greeted. "Hello Kate," replied Lina. "How has been the day? You seem to be worried. Is anything the matter?" Kate asked peering into her friend's beautiful face. "No, I am not in the least worried Kate." "Ehen my dear friend, have you noticed a young man who is new in this church?" Kate asked. Lina feigning ignorance asked. "Which young man are you talking about?" "I don't know his name but he is fair in complexion, average in height and body size, very quiet and..." "Oh, you mean Allen? Lina interrupted. "Is that his name? What a nice name for a nice young man," Kate said. "He is actually around now," Lina told Kate. "Really?" Kate asked excitedly. "Yes, he was weeding the grasses with John, Kelvin, Lopez, Ohams, Ray, Lugard, Fred, Caleb, Robert and Alfred. You needed to see how serious he was among the others." "But where is he now?" Asked Kate. "I think he has gone to the back of the church to wash, oh...here he comes." At that point, Allen emerged from the back of the church walking slowly but steadily towards the gate. Kate made to approach him but was held down by Lina. "Don't do that Kate, let him not say girls in Ammu throw themselves at men." "I want to be the first girl in this church, in this town to talk to him." Kate said not knowing that her friend had spoken to him before. "And who told you that if you talk to him now, it will be accorded to you that you are the first to talk to him in this place." As they were busy talking, Allen had already gone. "Wait a minute Lina, don't tell me you have spoken to him before." "Of course not," She lied. "How then did you get to know his name?" "I heard somebody called him." "Is that so?" "Yes Kate." With that, they stood up to go. Chatting and laughing and talking about Allen. Although Kate pointed out that she only liked Allen as a person not that she wanted him as a lover but Lina who did not say anything about her feelings for Allen, knew deep within herself that she wanted him not just as a temporary lover but as a husband. When Lina got home a neighbour of hers Betulia called on her. "Lina, how are you and how has been the day?" "Am good and my day has been good, how about you?" "Am ok," Betulia replied. "Hmmmm my dear, have you noticed the new guy in our church?" Betulia continued. "Who?" Lina asked feigning ignorance once again. "I don't know his name but he is fair in complexion and average in height." Lina pretending to have recalled said. "Ok...that guy, yes... What about him?" "He is such a nice guy," Betulia continued. "Nice, how?" Lina asked as though she had no single interest in him. "Is it because he is handsome?" She added. "No not just that," Said Betulia. "Then what makes him nice as you said?" "You know, he is very hardworking as reported by Ray and some others with whom he was engaged in the weeding of the grasses at the church compound today." "Hmmm," Lina sighed, "I was actually there today and I saw how he worked so seriously." "You see, so Ray was not lying," Betulia said. "Yap, he was not lying." "My dear, I only came to gossip about the new handsome, young guy in our church, let me be on my way now." "Ok Betulia, see you next time." "Bye," said Betulia and she left for her home. After the departure of Betulia, Lina slumped into a sofa in her room and spoke aloud. "This is serious, I am not alone in admiring this guy Allen, I must act fast to get him before others overtake me because it is said that the slow footed is always defeated in battle but I must take things gently because it is also said that too much haste splits the yam. Allen, as the deer pants for the water Brooks, so does my heart for you." "I Lina, hardly do love But when I set my eyes on you My heart skipped a beat. Now I think of doing a rare thing.