Chapter1: reconnect
He's here”
“Who?”
“It's Andy”
“That's impossible”
“Am serious, Liya”
“Annie, this is not the time for pranks please” she sighs
“Just look behind”
Liya looked behind with calmness and doubts.
“What!” she said
“Hi Liya” Andy greeted
“What are you doing here Andy?”
“Am here..”
She didn't let him finish explaining
“Say no word and find your way out of this house!”
“Liya please give me just a minute to explain my whereabouts”
“Why should I?”
Andy gathered his hands to plead
“Please listen for just a minute”
“If I give you this chance again, it will be a mistake Andy”
“What do you mean?”
Andy was shocked at her statement and made no answer as Annie moved towards Liya's shoulders and held her to calm her down, moving her hands in a slow motion up and down the shoulders.
“Andy please just do as she said” Annie suggested
“But I have my explanation to tell her..” please Liya let me explain”
No answer from Liya
“ Please leave for now” Annie suggested
Liya turned around heading to the staircase trying to leave his presence
“Liya please just a minute!” he pleaded
She made no answer and runned through the staircase
“Andy!” Annie called
“Yes” he answered
“Maybe Liya has moved on from you, I guess.., I mean cause the way she walked away from you could mean you are nolonger worth to her”
“You think so?”
“Yes, it could be”
“ But I don't think so”
Annie moved closer to him and layed her hand on his left shoulder with her right hand
“Look Andy, if girls act like this upon meeting you for such a long time, it means there is no chance of love again”
Andy stayed quiet and she continued
“Anyway nevermind, it's just my little brain trying to think wider, don't take it seriously”
Andy was puzzled
“ Okay I have to go now, but I will not give up on my Liya”
“O-okay” Annie stammered
Andy opened the exit , looked behind before going out. He pulled the door to open, went out and closed it again.walked for 10 second to his car but before he could reach he mate Lucy on the road side.
“Mr Andy Sir!”
“Hey! Lucy, how are you doing?”
Despite Lucy being Liya's youngest and only surviving sister of the mysterious accident that killed both their parents and their elder brother, she was also her favorite sibling. Just a five years old girl with so much drama to portray.
“Good! Good!” Lucy replied
“ Mr Andy sir, where have you been? cause my sister and I have Missed you so much”
“It's a long story darling, but I promise to explain to you next time”
“Okay, no problem”
“What is he still doing here?” Liya asked as she looked down from the window view upstairs.
“ Lucy, I have to go now” Andy said.
He opened the door for her to enter as he always told her never to play on the road side.
“Bye Mr Andy Sir!”
“Bye bye! Miss Lucy”
He walked for two more seconds to reach his ride, and immediately started off to check on his sick dad. After fifteen minutes of driving, he arrived home safely.
“Mom!”
No answer
“Mom!”
No answer
“ Where has she gone to?” He thought
“Who is there!?”
Andy heard a voice from behind the door to the kitchen.
“Mom it's me”
“Andy, where have you been?”
“Ah, I went to see Liya, where is Dad?”
“ In his room as usual”
“Okay, let me check on him”
“Sure”
He went upstairs to check on his dad, he then pushed his hands towards the door that made the door to open.
“Dad!”
His dad lifted up his heard in so much stress.
“No, just stay calm”
He lifted the brown sheet blanket and sat on the corner side.
“How have you been dad?”
“ Am doing better now son”
Andy looked around the room to check if everything was in their right places, and noticed that the oxygen tube was nolonger there.
“ Wait! Dad where is the tube?”
“ You mean the oxygen tube?”
“Yes”
“ The doctor took it off because it is nolonger needed son”
“ Really?”
He showed some doubt
“It means you are getting better dad!”
“ Yes”
He smiled
“ Now that am getting better son, how is that plan of marring in the next few months?”
Andy looked puzzled
“Ah dad, as I promised you, I will marry in the next few months”
“So now can you let me meet her?”
“Yes dad”
He said, although he was thinking about the issue between him and Liya.
“I have to make things right” he said in his thoughts.
“Son”
No answer
“Son!?
Andy shoke from his thoughts
“Yes dad”
“Why are you lost in thoughts?”
“It's nothing dad”
“Are you sure?”
“ Very sure”
They both heard a sound of the door opening into the bedroom and got their gazes towards the entrance to see who it was. His mom entered the room.
“Andy”
“Yes mom”
“Please can you leave your dad and I alone for some time?”
“Sure mom”
Andy went downstairs to his room , opened the door with the back of his hand and sat on the bed. He held his heard with both hands in deep thoughts.
“Should I call Liya?” He thought.
Asking himself why and what questions, took his phone out of his pocket and began to watch it.
“Maybe if I text her she will reply, because if I call her she will not pick the call” he thought again.
He took the phone and texted
“Liya, I will appreciate it if you will read this text and not ignore it, the reason why I went for one good month without telling you is that my dad was diagnosed with cancer and the doctor said he should be taken to India for treatment” he texted.
“Really?” She texted back
“ Thank you for replying to my text” he texted again.
“Am really sorry, I didn't know about that, but why didn't you call me?” She replied.
“It was because my phone shut down down at the moment the plane started off, and upon reaching india, the network was lost” he texted
“Okay, am really sorry, I didn't know about your dad's illness” she replied
“It's okay, I understand” he texted
“So how is he doing now?” She replied
“He’s better now” he texted
“That's wonderful” she replied
“And if you don't mind, can we meet tomorrow to talk about it?” She double texted him.
“Yes my love” he texted back
“Goodnight!” She replied
“Goodnight, love you!” He texted
“Love you more!” She replied
“Sweet dreams!” He texted
“Sleep, we have the all day tomorrow” she replied
“Okay, Mrs me “ he texted
No reply
Andy was so happy that they had made up . He fell into deep sleep with a smile.
The following day in the morning
“Hey Liya, wake up!”
“Hmmmm” she made the sound in her sleep.
“Why are you still sleeping?”
“Lucy, leave me alone”
“Annie is here for the musical training, open your eyes!”
But Liya was not opening her eyes, Lucy went downstairs.
“Hi aunty Annie!”
“Good morning lucy!”
“Morning, can you imagine your dearest best friend is still socked in sleep by now?”
“Oh really?”
“Yes”
“Let's go upstairs to wake her up”
Lucy and Annie went upstairs while running, she left the door wide open
“Come in aunty Annie”
Annie’s eyes headed towards the bed space
“Hey Lucy! there is no one on the bed, where is Liya?”
“I don't know, she was right here before I left downstairs”
“Am in the bathroom!” Liya shouted
“Very good Liya, today you have done a great job”
“What do you mean by today? Don't I always do great jobs everyday?”
No answer
“She thinks she's better than everyone” Annie spoke in her thoughts
“Just joking, I know that no one can do great job all the time”
She laughed in the bathroom.
“Yes you are right” Annie replied
“Is Lucy there?”
“Yes am here Liya” Lucy answered
“Please go and get me your lotion , mine is done”
Lucy went downstairs to get the lotion while Annie remained in the bedroom with her eyes gazing from every corner of the room until her eyes where caught up by Liya's phone that was on the bed, she went toward it and held it in her hands.
“Annie!” Liya called from the bathroom
“Yes!”
“You are still there!?”
“Yes am here Liya!”
“You sound so quite!”
“Is quite a sound, Liya!?”annie asked
Liya laughed
“Nevermind anyway!” said Annie
Lucy came back with the lotion in her hands, walking so slowly, she almost forget about hurrying.
“Why is Lucy taking so long!?” Liya asked
“I don't know but I think she's almost here!” Annie replied.
Lucy was there already in less than ten seconds.
“Here is the lotion!” Lucy said
Liya opened the door to the bathroom, slightly for the purpose of getting the lotion, she felt she was making her best friend wait for too long.
“Don't worry Annie,I will be done in no time”
“Alright” Annie replied.
Three seconds later, Lucy and Annie heard the sound of the door open while they were caught up doing their own things, Annie was pressing Liya's phone and Lucy was playing with her favorite Pink doll.
“Am done now!” Liya said
They both turned to see what she had dressed.
“Stunning!” Lucy said in a loud voice.
“Really?” Liya asked with less confidence
“A all one hundred percent!” Lucy lamented
Annie was saying no word at the moment, she was not amazed about how pretty Liya decided to look as she had already seen the conversation between Liya and Andy on Liya's phone.
“No doubt, they are back together” Annie said in her thoughts.
“Annie, why are you quiet?” Liya asked
She shaked off the mood from her thoughts.
“Oh, it's nothing Liya, am just amazed about how pretty my best friend is looking today” she replied.
“Really?”
“Yes”
“Thank you Annie”
“Okay, let's go downstairs we begin our music lesson”
“Sure”
They went downstairs, they made a queue while walking down the stairs as the space was only meant for two people to pass, Liya and Lucy where in the same line while Annie was behind them. Annie's eyes were set on her best friend Liya, from toe to neck.
“I have my parents but you do not have Liya and yet you look more happier than me” she said in her thoughts while looking at Liya with evil eyes.
They all sat down to their positions, Liya holding the mic and Annie holding the piano.
“Well! Let's start at the count of three”said Annie.
“Wait, I think we should go and do the music outside at the flower garden” Liya suggested
“ But why?” Annie asked
“I would like to feel the essence of the music today” Liya replied
“Can't the essence be felt here too?”
“No! I mean look at the flowers outside and the nature, it's all connected to love”
“Liya, we are doing this for the contest not for the feeling, remember?”
“Yes l know but let's do it for both the feeling and the contest, trust me will do this great!”
“Okay no problem, let's shift”
“The time will come when things won't be done your way Liya!” Annie in her thoughts.
They took all the musical instruments and went out to the flower garden, a place where Liya's grandmother spend most of her time during her young age before she passed on. It was as if she could speak to the flowers and Liya's love for the flowers resembled her grandmother.
“Finally!” Liya said as they sat down to play the music
“Mr Andy sir!” Lucy shouted while looking at Andy at the gate side
Liya looked behind curiously and she smiled. There eyes mate at one point and Annie could see the magical look of love in there eyes that made her to change her face expression from normal to cold.
“My love” Liya said sweetly
Andy took two steps toward to talk to her, he stood still and smiled for noticeable seconds that made his dimples to show off his cheeks.
“Good morning, my love” he replied
Annie was not shocked by the language that Liya and Andy began to use. It was all known to her that they had made up.
“You made up?” Annie asked, pretending like she knew nothing
“Oh, yes I forgot to tell you about it earlier” Liya answered
“That's wonderful”
“Yes”
“Shall we continue the music Liya?”
“Yes, I will talk to Andy when we sing two to three songs”
Andy sat down on the left, watching her open her mouth and moving her lips while singing. After singing the second song Liya paused and said:
“How is the music Andy?”
“Hmm, I love it, I didn't know you could sing like this Liya” Andy said
“Thank you my love”
Annie caughed
“Am sorry but I have something on my throat, excuse me” Annie said
She went into the house and left Liya, Andy and Lucy outside the flower garden
Fifteen minutes later Annie took her bag and left
“Liya, we will practice tomorrow my mom just called me”
“Okay bye, make sure to come early tomorrow!”
“Alright, bye Andy, bye Lucy!” She left.
The emotion was trapped between Liya and Andy, they could not say a word but maintained a very strong eye contact for five minutes, almost forgetting the presence of Lucy.
“Andy, am so sorry about how I reacted yesterday I should have listened first” Liya apologised.
“It's okay my love, anyone could act like that”
“Ah! So so sweet” Lucy shouted in an emotional way.
“Lucy, can you leave us for a moment?” Said Liya
“O-okay”
“But don't go outside the gate” Andy emphasised.
“As usual Mr Andy sir!”
“Good girl!”
Lucy went inside the house with her pink doll she never left behind,”pucky” she called it. Liya and Andy where left alone on the flower garden, the flowers where bright and the weather was on their side.
“Let's sit down Andy”
They sat on a brown wooden chair, leaving almost no meter of space, so close as a mother would be to her new baby.
“How is your dad doing by now?” She asked as she grabbed his hand comfortably.
Andy smiled
“He is fine now, I left him in a good condition with Mom” he replied
“That's good news!”
“Liya” He called
“Yes” she faced him
“I have something important to discuss with you before your musical contest”
“Something important?” She asked
“Yes”
“What is it about?”.
“It's about you and I” he grabbed her by her right hand.
“Alright” she looked him in the eyes
“Can you help me with something first?” Andy asked
“Yes, just say it!”
“My dad would like to meet you”
Liya stayed quiet for a second
“Wait, what is going on?” Liya asked herself in her thoughts.
“Is there a problem Andy?” She asked
“No, there is absolutely no problem”
“Okay, but why does he want to meet me?” She asked
“It's a secret”
“Since when did you became secretive Andy?”
“The day I made the most important choice of my life” he said emotionally.
Liya was confused
“Alright, can you help me to water the flowers?”
“Yes why not?”
They began to water the garden
Fifteen minutes later, Annie had reached home.
“Open the car” she said to the driver
“Okay madam”
The driver went out of the car to open the door for Annie.
“Why are you so slow!?” She shouted as she pulled her legs off the car
“Am sorry madam” the driver apologised
Annie went inside the house so furious, her face looking like she was in labour pain.suddenly came her mom from the dinning room, she found Annie crying and throwing things anyhow in the house.
“No! No! No!” Annie cried
Her mother headed towards her
“Calm down Annie! What is wrong with you!” She asked
Annie made no answer and continued flowing things up and down shouting:
“She’s not better than me!”
“Will you calm down first!” Her mother said
“Mom, we are rich right?” she asked
“Yes”
“And am pretty, am I not?”
“Very pretty darling”
“But why can't he notice me too?”
“Who are you talking about dear?” Her mother asked.
“You don't know who am talking about?”
“No, tell me”
“That's because you never cared about me even from the start mom, you usually support her instead of your own daughter!, You say she's polite, beautiful and responsible!” Annie shouted and runned to her room, leaving her mom in tears.
She bunged the door and rocked it while her mother tried to run after her. Every one could here the noice that Annie was making in her room, echoes of cries.
“When will she change?” Her mother said to herself.
Annie fell into a deep sleep
After five minutes Liya and Andy were done watering the garden and began to put all the flowers in order one by one.
“Am in love with them” Liya said
Andy looked at her face
“In love with whom?” He asked
“ The flowers” she answered
Andy exhaled and smiled
“Liya, am hungry”
They heard Lucy's voice from behind
“Oh let me prepare something for breakfast, Andy please join us!”
He looked at his watch
“Am sorry, it's almost 10am, am having a meeting with my clients at the office”
“Oh no Mr Andy sir, you always run when we invite you to eat!” said lucy
“Run?” He asked
“Yes!”
He laughed
“It's not like that Lucy, okay let's do this, next time when I come you should tie me with the ropes so that I won't be able to run”
Liya laughed along
“ I will do as wise!”
“Take care my love” Andy said
“Take care too” Liya replied
He pecked her and left.
