TWISTED FATE BY VERONICA EDWIN - DANIEL

TWISTED FATE BY VERONICA EDWIN-DANIEL(CONT'D).

EPISODE FOUR

When Lina was discharged from the hospital after about three days, Allen offered to pay her a visit. Lina was very happy and she felt that that was the time Allen would finally tell her the words she longed to hear from him. When Allen called to inform her of his coming, she began decorating her room, sprayed some sweet-smelling perfumes, took her bath and adorned herself with beautiful ornaments and other accessories. Allen finally came but Lina was very disappointed on seeing him with his bosom friend Arthur. He would not be able to say anything to her if Arthur was with him. "Why did he have to come with his friend anyway?" she thought.

Lina's expectation went down in a couple of seconds. Allen and his friend were ushered into Lina's house. "You are welcome, please have a seat," Lina said pointing to two seats which were placed by the wall at the right side of the room. "Thank you," Allen and Arthur responded simultaneously while sitting down. "Lina," Arthur called out, "this room looks fine and smells nice," he said sniffing. "Thanks," Lina said forcing a smile. "So Lina, how is your health?" Allen asked. "Am okay now," Lina replied with a grin. "I can see that," Allen said. "It looks like this your illness made you more beautiful o Lina," Arthur teased. They all laughed.

"What do I offer you," Lina asked. "Give me Heineken," Arthur said. They all laughed again.

"Heineken? No problem, I will get you a crate of it," Lina said jokingly.

"My own is 'burukutu,' " Said Allen.

This time around it was a hearty laughter among the trio

"Don't worry yourself jare," Allen continued. "As for me, I am okay."

"Me am not okay o," Arthur said. "Let me offer you something then," Lina said with a smile and went into the kitchen.

After some minutes, she came back with a plate of savoury rice and a satchet of water. Placing them on a table in front of Arthur, she said.

"Please manage it, it's not delicious." "Hmmmm, is this something to manage? This is food from Mr. Bigg's eatry na."

Lina gave a smile and sat down on a chair beside Allen. "You are welcome once again," Lina said. "And I thank you so much for your care and support.

"It's okay Lina, that's nothing." Turning to Arthur, he said. "Arthur hurry up with your food, we are running out of time."

"Give me a minute, am almost done." There was a moment of silence. Lina at that point was trying to guess Allen's intention towards her.

"Won't he say something? Maybe he is shy of Arthur. Oh dear lord, touch his heart so he will say something." Just as she was offering the silent prayer, Arthur announced that he was done with his meal. "Thanks Lina for this wonderful meal." "Don't mention it Arthur," she said taking away the dish. After a few minutes, they stood up to go. "We will be taking our leave now," Allen said. "Thank you for coming, I really appreciate," Lina responded

"Thank you for the food," Arthur said.

"I have told you not to mention it Arthur." They began to move towards the door, then towards the gate. Lina was heart-stricken. Here was a golden opportunity that Allen could not use. When she had accompanied them to the gate, she came back sobbing like a little child would when left by its mother. Just then, she heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was Allen who had come back, probably in order to have some privacy with her, Lina quickly and excitedly cleaned her eyes, checked herself up and rushed to the door. To her disappointment, it was Kate, her best friend who had come visiting. Lina tried as much as possible to conceal her grief but her red eyes gave her away.

"Lina," Kate called out. "You are welcome my dear," Lina responded with a shaky voice. "You are crying," Kate noted. "Not at all," Lina denied.

"But your eyes are red and there are traces of tears on your cheeks which shows that you have been crying," Kate pushed on. "I just came out of the bathroom," Lina lied while cleaning her face with her palm once again.

Kate shrugged in resignation and stepped into Lina's house but obviously worried. They sat beside each other, chatting and laughing. Although Kate was still curious to know why Lina was crying, because she was totally convinced that her friend was crying before she came in so she asked again. "Please Lina my dear friend, tell me why you were crying, you know you can't lie to me." Lina gave a deep sigh and said nothing. After a moment of silence, Kate jerked and spoke.

"Ehen, I almost forgot, I saw Allen and Arthur driving away just as I was coming, were they here or they came to visit someone else in your compound?" She asked searching her friend's face.

Lina was quiet for a while and then answered.

"They were here."

"Really?"

"Yes Kate."

"How did it happen? I never knew that you and Allen have become this close," Kate said with slight mockery in her tone.

"How will you know when you never visited me in the hospital claiming that you were busy with work."

"You know me Lina, I am a very caring friend and I know you just came down with the normal malaria and typhoid which is prevalent in our continent and remember when I offered to skip work and come over, you told me not to bother that someone was already there taking care of you even though you never wanted to tell me who it was. So tell me, was it Allen who was taking care of you?"

"Yes." "Waoooo Kate screamed. "So how did it happen? You seduced him right?" Kate asked mockingly.

"You are crazy Kate, how could I stoop so low as to seduce a man. It was just a divine arrangement for us to meet on that very day I came down with illness, he offered to take me to the hospital and I couldn't refuse such an offer."

"That's good o, so are you two going out now?" "Shut up your big mouth. What do I offer you?" Lina asked moving towards the kitchen. She was already out of sight even before Kate would respond. Minutes later, she came out with same food she had offered Arthur. Kate ate with relish. After the duo chatted for a while, Kate took her leave.