13

Krystal and Trisha talked for a few more minutes, talking about everything in each other’s lives since the last time they saw and also everything about every other person. Krystal had missed her best friend so much.

“I should get going now, there is a case I am working on tomorrow. It’s a big one and I need to prepare,” Trisha explained. Standing from where she had been sitting.

“That’s alright. One day I am going to need your expertise.”

Trisha smiled.

“I will be here waiting for you and believe me, I am always at your service.”

“I will try to visit too when work gets less stressful,” Krystal said.

“I will be expecting you and this time, keep to your promise,” Trisha said and they both laughed.

“Tell Andrew I said bye.”

“I will.”

Krystal walked Trisha to the door till she saw her wheel her car away.

Krystal went upstairs after Trisha had left. She was about to enter the room when she heard a voice singing from the bedroom.

She opened the door gently and realized it was Andrew with the beautiful voice.

Krystal stayed a while at the door just listening to him. She didn’t want to interrupt him in anyway because his voice filled the whole room and surprisingly had a very calming effect.

“You have such a beautiful voice,” Krystal suddenly said.

Andrew stopped singing and turned to look at Krystal.

“Didn’t see you there,” Andrew said.

“I didn’t want to interrupt you.”

Krystal walked closer to where Andrew was.

“I didn’t know you sing.”

“I used to,” he replied.

“What do you mean used to? You have an amazing voice and the world needs to hear it.”

“I don’t anymore.”

“Why?” Krystal asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“Do you play any instruments?” Krystal asked.

“Most people who sing always play one or more instruments and they are always good at it.”

“I play the piano but I haven’t in a long time too.”

“Why?” While Krystal was still seeking answers to why Andrew had left music. They both heard calls of Andrew’s name.

“Andrew!!! Andrew!!”

They both immediately left the room and went out the stairs.

Krystal sighted Andrew’s mum and one other unfamiliar face which ran down to where Andrew was staying.

“Rita!!” Andrew called.

Rita jumped on Andrew and they engaged in a tight, long hug.

Krystal just watched all that was unfolding in front of her. There was nothing she could do or say as she could not even understand what was going on. Who Rita was and what she was even doing here.

“What are you doing here? Last time I checked, you were far away somewhere in the Middle East and now, you’re back home.”Andrew said, confused and in disbelief. Even though he could see Rita, he couldn’t still believe she was home.

“I heard that you got married. I wondered why you wouldn’t invite your favorite sister to be at the wedding.”

Andrew laughed. “You’re my only sister”

“It wasn’t planned. It just happened.”

“That’s what I told her you said,” Andrew’s mum spoke.

Krystal was starting to understand that Rita was the sister that Andrew talked about. She wondered why she was acting like she wasn’t standing just next to Andrew. She was as oblivious as nothing she had ever seen.

“This is Krystal, krystal, this is Rita, my sister. Rita forced a smile and then Krystal smiled.”

“Nice meeting you.”

“I have so much to tell you brother. I have missed you So so much,”Rita said. Entangling her arm with her brother’s and walking down the stairs.

“I have told the chef to make food. Let’s all go sit for dinner.”

Krystal just watched as Rita was acting with Andrew and how she was acting like krystal didn’t exist or was just a statue.

They all got to the dinning and Rita immediately sat next to Andrew. Krystal sat on the opposite side next to their mum.

“Mum, I thought you said you would be leaving today?” Andrew asked.

He had hoped to be free of his mum today but it felt like she had other plans and was going to stay till she didn’t want to anymore.

“Are you sending me away? I haven’t even spent up to a week and you’re already feeling uncomfortable.”

“Mum, you know I will never be uncomfortable taking care of you. I love you,” he said, holding her hands in hers.

“So, this is Krystal,” Rita said, turning to look at Krystal where she was sitting.

She acted like she was seeing her for the first time and Krystal didn’t say anything also.

“Yes, I am Krystal. So, how did you meet my brother,”
“They have a funny story actually,” Andrew’s mum said and as she was about to start talking. Rita cut her short.

“Mum, I want to hear the story from her.”

“So, how did you meet,” she asked again.

Krystal kept quiet for a while and the spoke. She repeated the story she told her Andrew’s mum.

Rita wasn’t buying all that facade and she knew something wasn’t right. She knew that someone was hiding something and it was with Andrew or Krystal but her bet was on Krystal.

“When did he propose?” She asked again.

Krystal didn’t know what to do or say and then she stared at Andrew who immediately came up with what to say.

“I proposed in the place we had our fist date. It was exactly a year since we had met,” Andrew said and he silently hoped that Rita stopped asking questions.

They talked about several other things. Mostly just Andrew and Rita talking about all the things they were not able to do together. Andrew tried involving Krystal in the conversation but rita always found a way to take the conversation away from her.A couple of minutes later, their mum went to sleep and it was just them 3 left.

“I think I should go to sleep now,” Krystal said.

“Are you sure? You can stay up with us and have a few drinks too.”

“No, I am fine,” Krystal said. Standing from where she was sitting and heading up.

Krystal wasn’t sleepy but she knew it was at least better than being the third wheel in their relationship.

Krystal lay in bed unable to sleep and couple minutes later, Andrew came up to the room.

“You’re still up?” Andrew asked.

“Yea, I am.”

Andrew was trying to get ready to sleep and then Krystal spoke.

“I don’t think she likes me much.”