Chapter Fifteen.

Lina was out groceries shopping for her family, a few days after, with Catherine when they ran into Arnold. 

It was the second time they were running into each other that week, and Lina's heart skipped a beat.

She saw him first, so she decided to say hi.

'Hey, Arnold.'

Arnold, who was about grabbing a cart too, lifted his gaze to Lina's. 

His eyes widened in surprise, and he stood frozen for a moment. 

'Hey, Lina.' He replied finally, his eyes drifting to the lady beside her.

He thought she looked so much like Lina's sister, Catherine. But he didn't want to be too forward.

'Hello to you too, Ms.' He hesitated before speaking to Catherine.

'Hello, Arnold.' Catherine blurted.

'It's me, Catherine.' She added, confirming his doubts.

'Oh my goodness, Catherine.' Arnold uttered in sheer awe, letting go of his cart.

He moved closer to her and offered her a hug, which Catherine obliged. 

Lina watched, feeling a pang of unease. 

She didn't mean to be bitter or jealous.

But she couldn't help but notice Arnold hadn't offered her a hug when they met again.

'It's good to see you.' Arnold said as they pulled back from the hug.

'You've grown to become even more beautiful, Catherine.' He said, grinning widely.

'Is that a compliment?' Catherine chuckled, her cheek flushing.

'Of course, it is.' Arnold said.

'Thank you.' Catherine replied.

'You don't look bad yourself.' She added.

'If I didn't know better, I'd say you didn't age at all.' She went on.

'And the fact that you look more like a Greek god now, clearly shows you're aging just like fine wine.' She added and Arnold laughed heartily, his eyes sparkling in amusement. 

Lina felt a lump form in her throat as she watched the exchange.

It's not like Catherine was wrong.

Arnold did look good, but Lina didn't want it to be Catherine attesting to that.

'Oh my goodness, Catherine. Are you flattering me?' Arnold blurted.

'I am not, Arnold. You look even better than in the last 15 years.' Catherine said and somehow her words stung Lina. 

She and Arnold were still in a relationship 15 years ago, and despite the fact that she also thought he would be better off without her, Catherine's words also proved it.

And she loathed that.

'We should have coffee later to catch up. All three of us.' Arnold suggested. 

'That's an amazing idea but I have an appointment in 10 minutes.' Catherine said. 

'Oh, how sad!!' Arnold muttered. 

'Yeah,' Catherine faltered. 

'But Lina is free, so you two can still have coffe together.' She added and Lina's eyes widened in protest, but Catherine shot her a stern look.

'Sure.' Arnold hesitated. 

'Oh no, Catherine. I have to help mom prepare the vegetables for dinner.' Lina countered, trying to wriggle herself out of the situation.

'Dinner is not in the next 7 or 8 hours, sis.' Catherine raised an eyebrow.

'Plus, my appointment is only for an hour. So, if you both decide to visit a park after coffee, I'd make dinner with mom.' She teased.

Lina's cheek flushed as Catherine eyes seemed to bore into her soul.

'But, Cat....' Lina muttered. 

'No buts, Lina.' Catherine blurted. 

'Just go have coffee with him, he is an old friend of the family.' She whispered.

'And this is not how to treat our friends, Lina.' She added.

'It's fine if you're both busy. We could do that some other time.' Arnold intervened, sensing the tension.

'No, she will have coffee with you.' But Catherine was insistent. 

'Right, Lina?' She shot Lina a patronizing look.

'Right.' Lina muttered, feeling cornered. 

'So let's finish up with shopping and we will meet you up at the parking lot.' Catherine said. 

'Okay.' Arnold said and smiled at the sisters.

Lina looked at him smile and wondered how a man could look so beautiful.

Arnold walked past them to the other aisle, and Lina's feet stuck to the ground in amusement of how good looking Arnold was.

'You are smittened, sis.' Catherine voice jolted her of her day dream.

'No, I'm not.' Lina defended. 

'You still like him.' Catherine squealed.

'No, Catherine.' Lina fired.

And moved away from her sister. 

'Yes, you do.' Catherine went after her.

'How are you so sure?' Lina asked. 

'Because I know that look on your face, Lina. You still have feelings for Arnold.' Catherine said. 

'What do you know about having feelings or men, Catherine?' Lina blurted, not even realising her little sister wasn't so little anymore. 

'I am 29, Lina.' Catherine uttered. 

'Not the timid 14 year old you left 15 years ago. I'm a grown ass woman.' She added.

'I'm sorry, Catherine. But, I didn't mean belittle you. You know this, right?' Lina apologised. 

'You just grew up so quickly, I didn't even realise it.' She added. 

'It's fine, but you still have to make it up to me.' Catherine replied, not wanting to soil the moment.

On a normal day, she would have told Lina that she didn't see her grow up quickly because she wasn't in the picture to begin with.

But, Catherine has something up her sleeves and decided to let it go.

'Tell me what you want.' Lina said.

'You will go on this coffee date with Arnold,' Catherine started. 

'It's not a date.' Lina blurted.

'Plus, I already agreed to go anyways.' She added. 

'I'm not done.' Catherine uttered. 

'Okay?' Lina snickered with the feeling that Catherine was going to ask for too much.

'You will act sane and not try to push him away during this coffee date.' Catherine said. 

'I won't do such a thing to Arnold.' Lina replied.

'And for the second time Catherine, it is not a date.' She added.

'And lastly,' Catherine went on.

'There's more?' Lina spat in awe.

'Yes. it's the last one I promise.' Catherine replied. 

'Okay.' Lina muttered.

'You have to bring him over for dinner.' Catherine said.

'What!?' Lina spat with a voice so loud that attracted other customers shopping on that aisle to her sister and her.

'I can't do that, Cat.' She added.

'I won't.' She blurted and moved on with their cart.

'Yes, you would.' Catherine scurried to the front of the cart and stopped her from moving.

'How?' Lina spat.

'And why?' She added.

'You have asked me a couple of time for the past weeks, how to make it up to me for being absent all these while, right?' Catherine said. 

'Yes, Catherine. I will do anything to make it up to you.' Lina furrowed her eyebrows as she replied.

'This is what I want.' Catherine said. 

'Catherine?!' Lina faltered. 

'Bring him over for dinner tonight, or you can as well just forget about making it up to me ever again.' Catherine said.

Then she turned her back on Lina, and folded her arms. 

'And if you do not, I will never forgive you Lina.' She concluded and walked away quietly.