Purple Romance

When Paula and Leslie entered the ward, they saw that Magdalene was helping Lisa to play a game on her tablet. She sat behind Lisa and guarded her through the game as she screamed each time they missed.

''What is happening here?'' Leslie asked Andy and he shook his head.

Apart from exchanging polite greetings, Magdalene had practically taken​ charge of Lisa, teaching her how to play games leaving him alone. As he was also replying to his own messages over the phone, he didn't also mind them.

''Jump, jump, yes that's it'' Magdalene screamed and everyone turned to look at them. Lisa had beams of sweat on her face but that wasn't that shone about her. The unusual but calm smile that appeared on her face made everyone happy to see that she was having fun with the games that Magdalene was teaching her.

Magdalene got down from the bed and stepped aside as Paula walked over to wipe Lisa's face.

''Did you enjoy the game that much?'' Paula asked and Lisa nodded her head. She picked the notepad and wrote in it.

''It was fun. I want to play it every day''

''I will get it for you right away'' Leslie said and took out his phone to make a call.

''He is going to get you the latest version'' Magdalene whispered to Lisa and she smiled while looking at Leslie.

Paula's phone rang in her bag and she took it out. Her hands quivered a little when she saw the caller ID and Lisa noticed it. She looked at Paula and raised her brow at her.

''It's my mother'' Paula whispered to her, ''I will go out and answer it'' she said and smiled before going out.

Andy noticed their little exchange but remained quiet. He had a feeling that something was wrong. his gaze followed Paula all the way to the door until she closed it.

Once she got outside, Paula looked at the phone for a while before she answered it.

''Hello, mom''

''Where are you?'' an old woman's voice asked over the phone.

''I am at the hospital. Lisa isn't feeling well and I am with her''

''Are you still friends with that delinquent?''

''Mother, please. Don't refer to Lisa with such a word. She is my friend and family''

''You have a family; why would you call her a family?''

''Family isn't just by blood relations''

''You wrench, you keep talking back at me every time''

''That's because you always say the worse things about my best friend. I don't like that''

''Whatever. Your sister is coming back''

''Huh?'' Paula's heart turned cold at the mention of her sister. She clenched her fists together and asked, ''what… is she coming back for?''

''Ask her that when you go to pick her at the airport''

''I didn't say I was going to pick her up at the airport''

''Hey, you wench. It's been 10 years since your sister left the city, how can you not feel apathetic towards her after what you caused the family'

''Since you and her hate me so much, why do you want me to pick her up?''

''She is already looking for a house closer to her future boyfriend's apartment''

''What? She is coming back because of that man?''

''Yes, she is still in love with him and has found out that he is still single. He might be waiting for her so she is returning to be with him''

''Mother…'' Paula closed her eyes and sighed, ''I can't go and pick Mali up. No, I don't want to pick her up''

''Hey, she is asking you to pick her up because she wants to make things right with you. If you feel pity for what happened to everyone, then you would go and make up with her. She is a lawyer now and has a lot of connections. She might even help you get a job''

''I already have a job?''

''Have you finished spending your inheritance and decided to look for a job?''

''Is that a way to talk to someone you have birth to? I know you have no hopes in me but still, how could you always speak this way to me? For God sake, I am also your daughter!!!'' Paula screamed and the few people at the hallway looked at her.

Paula looked at them and sighed. She was getting hungry. She knew she shouldn't be angry because this had happened more than necessary times already but still. She was still affected by her mother's clear discrimination towards her.

''Tell Mali that I won't be going to pick her up. I have work to go to tomorrow''

''She will be arriving at 12 noon. Make sure you go and pick her up'' the woman said and hung up without giving her time to reply.

''I won't be going to pick her up'' Paula said and turned to go and froze on the spot. Andy was standing a distance looking at her.

''An… Andy, what are you doing here?''

''I came out to answer a call. Are you done?'' Andy changed the topic. He knew she was feeling sensitive right at that moment.

''Huh? Yes, are you don't with your call?'' Paula asked nervously.

''Yes, I just did. Let's go. I will send you home first before I go to the hotel''

''Oh, let me pick my bag and say goodbye to Lisa first'' Paula hurried into the ward leaving Andy at the door. She and Magdalene soon emerged leaving the ward.

''Ready?'' Andy asked and she nodded her head.

''Yes, let's go''

…..

CITY B AIRPORT.

Paula stood at a distance from the exit and looked at her watch anxiously as she waited for the one person she didn't know how to relate with in her family. At least she fought with her mother all the time, but with her elder sister, it was different.

They were once the perfect family until their father passed away and her sister turned on her. The truth about their father's passing away faded into thin air as both shut their mouths not revealing the truth to their mother.

Everything changed since then and it has been 10 years since her sister left town. That time she was in her first year in high school and her sister had just finished her degree in law.

''Baby sister…'' a melodious voice called as its owner hurried over to hug Paula tightly. ''Whoa, Paula, you look so beautiful''

''Hi'' Paula said awkwardly as she took a step back.

''Whoa, you are so cold towards me. we haven't seen each other for 10 years and this is your only reaction?''

''Oh, sorry. I just don't know how to…''

''It's alright. I am so tired. Let's go'' Mali said and left one of her luggage bags there for Paula as she walked away.

Paula looked at the woman who looked similar to her but with a slenderer figure confused. It wasn't that she didn't know how to welcome someone but it was just that, she didn't know how to welcome her whom she hadn't seen in the last ten years of her life. She was nothing more than a familiar stranger to her now.

''What are you still doing there? Hurry up'' Mali turned and said to her.

Coming back to her senses, Paula smiled and took the bag, running after her elder sister.

Inside the car, as Paula drove, Mali kept talking nonstop about her trips to all the places that she travelled to and her experiences.

''Next time, let's travel together Paula''

''Huh?'' Paula looked at her and nodded with a smile.

''I know things are awkward between us but I was serious about making things work with you. Let's not grow apart, Paula. I am more mature and sensible than I was 10 years ago''

''Mom said that you are here to make things work with your ex?''

''Yes. Actually, I came because of two things. To make things right with you and to also get him back. I missed you so much and I missed him a lot. I was foolish and immature at the age of 20 and I misbehaved and hurt him, but now that I am 28, I realise that it has always been him all this while. At the age of 22, you are still young, so you should cherish the people around you. wait, are you still dating that boy, mom told me you wanted to propose to him. That was three months ago, right?''

''We… broke up. No, he dumped me rather'' Paula said.

''Oh, my. I am so sorry to hear that baby sis. How are you?''

''I'm fine. Also, I have a boyfriend now'' Paula said as she thought about Andy. She remembered she hadn't called him that morning and made a mental note to call him after dropping Mali off.

''Oh, look at you all smiles just thinking about him. Who is this lucky man to have won my sister's heart?''

''He is a good man. He is good to me and respects me a lot'' Paula said proudly.

''Really? You must like him a lot. How about this, when I get enough rest, you can call him out and we will have dinner together tonight. Let big sister analyse him for you''