TWISTED FATE........
1258 Words
EPISODE SEVENTEEN
Kate hesitated a bit on poking her head to see Jonas, although she had seen a man's shoe outside, she thought it was Allen, only for her to see Jonas sitting down in Lina's room. She couldn't hide her surprise. Lina stared into Kate's eyes and gave her an assuring sign.
Jonas was a bit uncomfortable with Kate's presence because he didn't want to continue with his proposal to Lina in the presence of anyone, if not for anything, for fear that Lina would reject the proposal. Although she had told him she needed time to think it through, he felt that she was rejecting him and didn't want to do that directly, probably because she was being careful not to hurt him. Obviously, the presence of her friend had ended the meeting so he took his leave promising to see her again anytime soon. Lina felt a bit guilty before Kate because she hadn't mentioned anything about Jonas' proposal to her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
After Jonas had left, Lina and her friend Kate sat in silence for several minutes then Kate spoke.
"I thought you told me he has already come to appreciate you after the effort you made for him to be healed, has the appreciation turned to an everyday thing now?" She said a bit coldly.
"Kate, I really don't know what to say and how to say it but the truth is, Jonas is asking for my hand in marriage." Kate was quite taken aback. That can't be, he is a married man with kids. Yes, his wife left him during the time he was ill, but that shouldn't be enough reason for him to want to marry another woman just yet. "What are you talking about Lina?"
"You heard me Kate, he said there is no better wife for him."
"But it should be Allen, not Jonas," Kate said with concern.
"Honestly I don't know how it got to this point, after all I did to get Allen," Lina said almost in tears. "What are you going to do now?" Kate asked. "I am as confused as hell now Kate, I don't know what to do really." "Is Allen aware of this?"
"Yes, very much aware."
"And have you spoken with him ever since this started?"
"Yes, I have."
"What did he say?" Lina was silent, this time with tears running down her cheeks.
"Talk to me Lina."
"He begged me to accept his brother's proposal Kate, I am not happy that all along, Allen does not even care about me."
"Hmmm, this is serious. It should tell you one thing though, Allen never loved you, so why don't you forget about him and maybe accept Jonas' proposal and save yourself all these emotional stress you are putting yourself through."
Kate's words further broke her heart but there were some sense in it. She couldn't continue to wait for Allen. Wiping her tears and looking more courageous and more decisive, she spoke.
"I will accept Jonas' proposal Kate," she said as a matterof-factly.
"That's my girl, after all, they are the same, are they not brothers? And Jonas is as handsome as Allen and it's the same surname that you would have borne when married to Allen that you will bear when married to his brother. Come to think of it, you will still be close to Allen to an extent and it's just a matter of time, you will come to love Jonas as much as you have loved Allen, by then, your love for Allen might have gone under the drain." "You are very correct Kate." "So when next he comes, don't tell him to give you time to think again o, just accept his sweet proposal and make yourself a woman, I will gladly be your chief bride's maid.
They both laughed. "Such a crazy friend I've got, who even told you you will be my CBM?" Lina teased.
"Who else?" "Allen."
They roared into an uncontrollable laughter.
"Lina you are not well at all."
"I am sick for Jonas."
"I smell love."
"I have no option, it's already a 'TWISTED FATE.'" "All you have to do now is pray for wisdom on how to run your home, if not for anything for the fact that his wife is still hovering around and also how you would gain control of yourself over Allen so that you won't go and do the unthinkable in your marriage, I hope you get what I am saying."
"You are right Kate."
The two friends chatted endlessly until late evening when Kate left. Lina couldn't get a sound sleep as she kept thinking about Jonas' proposal and of course, Allen. The whole thing was not going down well with her but she had told herself that she had no choice than to marry Jonas. After several hours, she fell into a troubled sleep, having lots of dreams about Allen and about Jonas. "At 10:00am the next morning which was a weekend, Lina was awaken by a hard knock on the door. Scared that her house had been invaded because she thought it was still night, she jumped off the bed but the sun's rays which pierced through a slight opening on the window, told her that it was morning already. The knock came again, this time, harder. "Who is that?" She asked almost shouting. "It's Jonas, he said softly.
"Jonas?!" She whispered under her breath.
She began arranging herself in the mirror, keeping Jonas waiting further.
"Sorry am coming," she shouted from within. She ran to the door after some seconds and opened it and there Jonas stood like a knight in shining armor looking extremely handsome and graceful in a nice outfit. Lina couldn't curtail her admiration and she muttered before she could caution herself.
"You look wonderful this morning sir."
"I am so happy to hear that from you for the first time my dear Lina. You are looking wonderful yourself, even though you are yet to have a bath, not to talk of a make-over, still your beauty radiates like the morning sun," he said with a sweet smile plastered on his face.
Lina felt good and shy at the same time but the thought of Allen crossed her mind and her countenance changed wishing that it was he who was saying all these to her. Jonas noticed how her countenance fell but decided not to probe her.
"I have been here knocking for several minutes now but
I guess the angel was in a deep sleep." She smiled again and apologized for keeping him longer than necessary at the door.
"I'm sorry sir, I slept quite late yesterday, please do come in."
He walked in gracefully as one who had found a new purpose in life. Lina already knew why he had come. To get an answer to what he had been asking and the way he looked and carried himself showed that he was certain to get a positive reply from her that day. After the usual exchange of pleasantries, Jonas spoke.
"Lina, you already know why I am here, though I am sorry for waking you up suddenly, I came this early because I am becoming restless. So I ask again. Lina, will you marry me?"
She was silent for a while, a silence which made Jonas very much uncomfortable.
"Hasn't she thought about it yet?" He asked himself. "Or is she going to reject my proposal? Oh no, don't do this to me Lina, please Li... "
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