Leo

Leo walked in quietly.

  Monica and I stared at him together.

    "What is wrong with this hospital's toilet. It's not neat to my liking" Leo sighed.

    "Leo did you pay my sister's hospital bills?" I asked him.

    "What? Someone paid for her hospital dues. How can I pay for it. Its too expensive. Look I might look rich but am broke" Leo blurted.

    "That's true. Leo looks rich but he's broke so there's no way he can pay for it" I muttered.

    "You are free to leave now" The nurse said to us.

    "Okay. We'll leave just now." Monica said standing up to leave.

   "You're leaving?" I asked Monica.

    "What do you Want me to do. It's almost 24 hours,  so we'll settle that outside the hospital" Monica sighed leaving.

    "Am going nuts right now"

    "Am waiting for your outside" Leo said leaving.

    "Who must have paid the bills? There is no way it could be Mr.Brown but am suspecting Leo".

     *          *          *        *         *          *

    Monica went straight to ask the nurse who paid the bills.

    "C'mon tell me, who paid it?" Monica asked the nurse repeatedly.

     "He said we shouldn't tell anyone" The nurse stuttered.

    "I'll give you a tip if you tell me" Monica smiled. The nurse smiled too.

    "It's the guy that came with your sister" The nurse revealed.

    "Leo?"

    "Yeah".

    "You paid the bills right?" Monica asked Leo.

    "Aishh, I didn't pay it. Am broke!" Leo stuttered.

    "You are not good in lying. I can see by the look on your face that you're actually pretending. You can tell me, I promise I won't tell Mia about it" Monica soothed.

    "You won't tell Mia right? You promise right?" Leo asked curiously.

    "Yes. I won't.  I promise" Monica assured.

   "Yes. I paid the bills. I didn't want to see her suffer anymore. She works part time and also works when she arrives home instead of taking a rest. I actually know Mr.Brown is a trickster.  But he's your boyfriend, so I thought he must have changed. I mean it makes no sense duping your girlfriend" Leo explained.

     "It really makes no sense duping your girlfriend.  I don't know Mr.Brown is that kind of person. I mean, he's been too nice to me. Even when I almost committed suicide, he held me from doing so and I fell in love with him at that instant.  But I never thought he will do this to me" Monica cried.

     "Sorry" Leo consoled her.

      "Do you like Mia?" Monica asked him.

  Leo looked at her immediately.

      "How can I like her? Even if I like her,  I like her as a friend " Leo stammered.

      "Really?. Okay then"

      "Are you guys gossiping about me?" Mia shouted.

    Leo and Monic were shocked. Leo's heart skipped.

     "Mia, you scared me!" Leo shouted.

     "Sorry" Mia apologised.

     "I'll call a taxi that will take us home" Mia said waving her hands at taxi.

     "Thank you, Leo" Monica soothed entering the taxi.

    "You're welcome" Leo waved at them.

    "That was close" Leo sighed.

*             *             *                *               *        *

       "Oh Riah you're here" Henry's Mum smiled welcoming her.

      "Good evening Mum" Riah greeted her and the other women seated.

     "Meet Riah, My son fiancé " Henry's Mum introduced Riah to her friends.

     "She looks to young. She should be preparing to go to college instead of getting Married" The women whispered among themselves.

      "She's pretty right?" Henry's Mum asked her friends.

      "Yes, she is. But I think Eilean will be suitable for Henry. They have been together since childhood. We all know Eilean loves Henty but seeing Henry get married to some other girl will really make her sad" Eilean's Mum shrugged.

      Riah felt uncomfortable when she heard that. She rumpled her skirt with her hands because she was sweating profusely.

      "Seat down my daughter" Henry's Mum offered a seat to her.

     "We're you forced to marry Henry?" Eileans Mum asked Riah.

    "No" Riah smiled.

     "Really?"

      "Yeah" Riah replied.

      "You see, Henry also loves her. They love each other. That's why they're getting married soon. She can be married and be going to college too" Henry's Mum smiled.

     "Looks like you're very excited your son is getting married" Eileans Mum sighed.

    "Of course, Henry will be living on his own now with his wife" Henry's Mum laughed.

      "We'll be leaving now" The women said standing up to leave.

      "I would have like to see you guys off but I can't leave my daughter in-law alone" Henry's Mum sighed.

      The women were surprised and jealous was written boldly on their face.

     "Don't worry Mum, it's okay. I can wait till you come back" Riah urged her.

    "Don't worry, we can see ourselves off" Eilean's Mum sneered.

     They left immediately.

     "This is really embarrassing!" One of the women shouted immediately they came out of the house.

     "This is really an arranged marriage because they are too young to get married or it will be a contract based marriage for business purposes" Another woman added.

     "What you said made sense.  Eilean and Henry are close there's no way on earth Henry won't like Eilean. I must make sure Henry marries my daughter" Eilean's Mum snapped.

      "What if Henry doesn't like Eilean?" One of the women asked her.

     "I have my ways" Eilean's Mum smirked.

      *               *              *           *         *

     "Am really sorry about what happened yesterday night" Henry's Mum apologised.

    "Don't worry, it's alright" Riah soothed.

    "Actually,  Henry is not dating Eilean. They're not in any relationship.  I can assure you that" Henry's Mum assured Her.

    "Am not angry. There's no way they can be dating and Henry would love to marry me at the same time. I just want to hear the story from his mouth but he hasn't called me either" Riah sighed.

    "He hasn't called you since yesterday night?"

     "Yes, he hasn't.  Maybe, he's been busy" Riah suggested.

     "He's hot tempered but don't worry, he will calm down" Henry's Mum comforted her.

     Riah nodded her head.

      "This flowers are withering" Henry's Mum sighed.

    Riah walked to bring the flowers close to her.

     "This one?" Riah asked her.

   Henry walked in immediately.  He was shocked to see Riah. They stared at each other for a while.

     "Hi" Henry greeted her.

      "Hi too" Riah sighed looking away from him.

      Henry's Mum walked up to him and hit him on his chest.

     "Why would you treat her that way? You haven't called her on phone since yesterday night. What kind of a fiancé are you?" Henry's Mum yelled at him.

    "Riah, am really sorry for not calling you. I've been really busy since yesterday night" Henry apologised.

     "Don't worry, it's okay" Riah smiled.

     "Actually,  I went to your place to look for you but your step Mum said you left earlier" Henry recalled.

       "Why were you looking for me?" Riah asked.

     "I was wondering,  if I can take you out for the dinner. At least, make it up to you" Henry stuttered.

     Henry's Mum smiled at this moment.

    "That is what you should. Riah get up" Henry's Mum locked her arms with Riah's own.

      "Make sure you don't upset her!" Henry's Mum  shouted at him.

     "I won't" Henry sighed.