Chapter Seventeen.
'Arnold, I...' Lina started to say something but he interrupted her.
'Never mind.' Arnold let out a pained chuckle.
He shouldn't have brought this up, but he couldn't help it because he felt Lina isn't acknowledging the fact that she hurted him.
'We should get going.' He spoke after a moment of silence.
'Tell Catherine that I'd be at yours for dinner.' He added and moved out of the café lawn.
'Thanks.' He barely heard Lina voice.
After which she followed suit.
They got into his car and he drove to her house, to drop her off first before heading home.
He assured her again that he will be present at the dinner before driving off.
Although his words at the café made Lina regret ever asking him to come.
She shouldn't have.
She could have just told Catherine that he said he couldn't make it to dinner because he didn't want his son to be by himself.
Instead, she even ended up asking him to bring his son along.
'Gosh, how selfish can I be.' Lina said in her head, as she watched Arnold drive away.
'I don't even deserve any of the kindness he's showing toward me and now I just ruined everything.' She went on with her thoughts.
She broke up with him and ignored his countless calls and messages after she left.
And now she's back and expects him to treat her like a friend?
Of course not.
'I shouldn't have asked him to come.' She rumpled her hair, clearly flustered.
Her mind clouded with lots of thoughts as she walked towards the house.
She opened the door and Catherine was the first person she saw when she walked in.
After which Catherine scurried in from of her, hindering Lina from going into the house.
'Where is he?' Catherine asked her.
'He is coming for dinner if that is why you're asking.' Lina spat subtly and walked past her.
'What's wrong, Lina?' Catherine asked after detecting the hostility in her tone.
'What is wrong?' Lina fired, halting her steps.
'How can you even ask me that?' She added, and turned to face Catherine.
'What do you mean?' Catherine puzzled.
'Arnold and I broke up on a very bad note, Catherine.' Lina started.
'I hurted him, more than I have ever hurt anyone in my life and things are not going to be okay between us ever again.' She went on.
'I know I hurt you too and I am sorry about that, but you could have asked me to do anything to make it up to you, Catherine. Anything else but trying to make me close to Arnold again.' She added.
'It's never going to happen.' She concluded.
'I just wanted us to spend time with him again, like we used to in the past.' Catherine said.
'Then, why didn't you go with us to have coffee and ask him that yourself?' Lina asked.
'You could have but instead you decided to put me in an uncomfortable situation.' She added.
'And that is quite unfair, Catherine.' She stated.
'I didn't realise wanting you to have a little fun was me putting you in an uncomfortable situation.' Catherine replied.
'Do not gaslight me right now.' Lina voiced.
'You always stayed indoors and I thought going out with a friend will help you loosen up a bit.' Catherine went on.
'Catherine, don't play the victim here.' Lina retorted.
'I didn't mean to set your emotions ablazed. I'm sorry.' Catherine spoke in a melancholy manner, before quickly exiting the house, slamming the door behind her.
Lina shrieked angrily after Catherine left and Natalie came running out of the kitchen.
'Are you okay, honey?' She asked.
'No!!!' Lina grumbled and proceeded to the stairs.
'Catherine is going to make me lose my mind.' She lashed out as she took every step.
'And she's trying to play the victim?' Lina uttered again.
'So annoying.' Natalie heard her voice grew faint and she started to wonder, what had happen between her children again.
And then she slipped back into the kitchen to carry on with what she was doing.
Lina came downstairs to have dinner, a couple of hours later.
Catherine was laying down the napkins, while Natalie was setting dishes down on the table.
'Why are there so many food?' Lina spewed immediately she walked into the dining area.
'Well, we have guests.' Natalie said, but Catherine kept mum.
'Guests?' Lina repeated after her mother.
'Yes. Arnold and his parents.' Natalie said.
'His parents?' Lina expressed her surprise.
'Why are you repeating everything I say, Lina?' Natalie asked.
'I'm just so surprised.' Lina responded.
'I'm as surprised myself.' Natalie proclaimed.
'When Lisa asked that we had dinner together, she told me that Arnold refused to join us.' Natalie added
'And now Catherine told me he would be coming. I am indeed in awe.' She smiled.
'Oh, wow. Okay.' Lina muttered.
'Can I have my dinner now?' She asked anxiously.
'Why?' Natalie asked.
'Our guest haven't arrived yet.' She murmured.
'Well I don't want to have dinner with your guests, mom.' Lina shot back.
'Come on, Lina. Don't be rude.' Natalie retorted.
'I haven't seen Arnold's mother in years.' Lina said.
'So?' Natalie queried.
'I don't want te be questioned by her or her family.' Lina responded.
'I don't want some form of interview over dinner, mom. I just want to eat in peace.' She spoke under her breath.
'What is wrong with having a chat with family, honey?' Natalie questioned.
'But I really don't want to have a chat today, mom. Maybe some other time.' Lina replied.
'And why is that?' Natalie asked.
'Please, stop asking too many questions. You're making me nervous.' Lina grumbled, beads of sweat starting to form on her forehead.
She wipe it with the sleeve of her top and proceeded closer to the table.
Catherine and Natalie exchanged a glance when Lina reached for a plate.
'I'd just grab my food and leave.' Lina informed her mom.
'Crystalina?!' Natalie sputtered in surprise.
'Let her be mom.' Catherine voiced.
'She's doing what she does best after all.' She said and shot Lina a glance.
'Running.' She added after looking away.
'Please Catherine, not now.' Lina muttered, trying not to umbrage.
'If someone asks after me, tell them I want to bed early.' She said to her mom.
She had not even dished her plate when Christopher walked in with Arnold and his family.