18

“I didn’t know you were coming or that you were back in town,”Andrew said, facing Rita and Brittney.

“She told me she was in town and I was like “you should totally come to Andrew’s birthday party.” Rita said.

“Are you not happy to see me?” Brittney said.

“I am, just surprised,” he said.

“I will leave you two. You should talk,” Rita said. Taking a drink and going away to meet the other guest.

Brittney moved closer to Andrew, they were only an inch apart now.

He could feel her breath on his skin as she spoke.

“You look good as always,” she said.

“You look beautiful too,” he said.

She traced her fingers on his hands drawing circles on them teasingly.

“We should go out and get drinks sometime. I have missed you,” she said.

“Who is she?” Krystal asked.

“You will need a drink for this?” Trisha said to Krystal as they both grabbed a drink from the tray.

Krystal’s eyes were focused on both Brittney and Andrew. She tried making out what they were both saying but they were too close for her to know.

She shifted her gaze from them to Trisha who was standing in front of her.

“So, in high school. Brittney and Andrew dated. It wasn’t just any type of relationship. Everyone envied them and everyone loved them together. They were literarily the perfect couple. They went everywhere together, did everything together, they loved each other alot,” Trisha explained and Krystal became more intrigued in the story and wanted to know what was next.

“Then what happened?” She asked her.

“Then they broke up.”

“If they loved themselves as much as you explained why would they break up.”

“It was just a few days before finals. The news spread across the whole school, and the news was that Andrew had cheated on Brittney.”

“I was surprised because it seemed like it was he who invested more into the relationship and loved her more.”

“Was that we’re the playboy name came from.”

“Yes, you’re right. And it was said that he cheated on her with her bestfriend. They broke up after and then we left high school.”

“Why did Rita invite her?” Krystal said.

“To spite me?” She added.

“Maybe and also, they were close friends in school too.”

Krystal knew the invite wasn’t an innocent one. She watched as Brittney flirted with Andrew and How Rita turned to look at them at every chance she got.

Andrew knew he had to save himself from what was going on with Brittney. The memories from the past were still so clear in his head and he also knew how much effect she had on him. Regardless of what his marriage with Krystal was, he still wanted to respect her.

Andrew took a glass of wine and gently tapped the side with a key to grab everyone’s attention.

“I want to thank everyone for being here today to celebrate with me and specially I would like to thank my amazing sister, Rita and my beautiful wife, Krystal for putting all these together,” he said and they both smiled.

Krystal had moved to where Rita was standing now.

“Why did you invite her?” Krystal said, turning to Rita and looking and Brittney who was still all over Andrew.

“And who are you to give orders around here,” she said.

“You know what you’re doing.”

“Someone needs to love my brother right and it’s not you,” Rita said.

Krystal had thought that they were fine now. She didn’t know that Rita still harbored a lot of things in her mind against her.

“Why do you even not like me!! I have done nothing to you,” Krystal said.

“I don’t have to talk to you,” Rita said.

“Someone has sweet as Andrew shouldn’t have a sister as bitter as you,” she said and Rita spilled the contents of her glass on Krystal.

“How dare you!!” Rita said.

“Rita!!!” Krystal exclaimed.

Everyone in the room turned in both their directions and Andrew who had been watching them from afar immediately came running towards them.

“What happened here?” He asked.

“Ask your sister!!”

“She deserved it,” Rita said.

“Rita!!” Andrew exclaimed.

“You should never have done that!! Now apologize to Krystal!! This is very uncalled for!!”

“I am not going to apologize to this thing!!” She said.

“Rita!!”

“You know what, it’s fine, let me just go and change.”

“Let me come with you,” Trisha said to Krystal.

“No, I am fine,” she said.

“Rita, you and I have to talk,” Andrew said as Krystal walked up the stairs.

After some minutes, Andrew announced that the birthday was over and that everyone should go home.

“Tell Krystal I left already, I will call her,” Trisha said before leaving.

“I will, thank you again for coming.”

“Bye.”

Trisha walked out of the house. She was the last person to leave. Andrew closed the door behind her after she left.

It was just Andrew and Rita left now.

“What you did to Krystal was totally uncalled for. You really should apologize to her,” Andrew said.

“What if I don’t?”

“Then you better be prepared to go back home,” Andrew said.

“I guess I would do that then,” Rita said and turned to walk away.

“Rita!! Rita!!” Andrew called but she didn’t even look back to listen.

Andrew went up to meet Krystal. When he entered the room, she was changed already and was about to start coming down.

“Was just about to start coming back for the party,” Krystal said.

“It’s ended already,” Andrew said.

“What! Hope it wasn’t because of me?”

“It was about time already.”

Krystal walked closer to where Andrew was standing.

“I am sorry for what happened.”

“It’s your birthday and you deserve to enjoy it,” she added.

“I enjoyed it. Thanks to you. Never had a birthday like this before.”

“Rita won’t apologize.”

“Really, it’s no big deal,” Krystal said.

“I told her that if she didn’t apologize, she should be prepared to go home.”

“Andrew!! Why would you say that?”

“She was being too stubborn. She needs to start understanding that the world doesn’t revolve around her.”

“You should tell her not to go though.”

“She should do anything that she wants to. She needs to start understanding that every action has consequences.”

“She is your sister.”

“And that’s why I want her to learn.”

“I wouldn’t want to be the reason why you and your sister ain’t talking.”

“We will be fine. Don’t worry about that. We have had plenty of fights and made up.”

“Thank you for standing up for me.”

Andrew touched her on the arm.

“It was the right thing to do,” he said.

“Who was that Brittney girl. You two seemed very familiar,” Krystal asked like Trisha hadn’t just told her the story.

“We used to date,” Andrew said.

“You two talked for a pretty long time and I saw her flirt a lot. She still likes you?”

“Is that jealousy in your voice?” Andrew said with the cutest smile.

Krystal laughed.

“Of course not. Just saying.”

“She wanted us to get drinks sometime. You know, if you don’t want me to go, I won’t.”

“I think you should do whatever you want to do,” Krystal said.

“I don’t think I have the rights to tell you what and what not to do.”

In a way Andrew wished her answer was different. Maybe a little hesitation to show that she cared.

“You’re my wife, I think you do, he said.

“Do you still like her?” Krystal asked and Andrew stayed silent.

“you don’t need to answer. Not like you owe me an answer,” Krystal said.

“sometimes even silence is an answer,” Krystal added.

Krystal went to lay in bed and Andrew also went to his side of the bed.

“Trisha told me you cheated on her. Didn’t know she would still be so cordial with you after that,” Krystal said.

“That’s the story everyone knows. Not the actual story,” Andrew said.

Krystal wondered what he was talking about. She wanted him to say more and quench her curiosity.

“What’s the story then?” Krystal asked.

“I will tell you when the time is right.”