"I guess you guys haven't forgotten about my birthday party," Linda said looking at Henry. "I didn't forget. Moreover, I got present for you already so stop looking at me like that," Henry said. "Awnnn. So sweet of you. I wonder what will be in the present," Linda said smiling. " Till Friday," Henry said and continued his meal. "If Henry the odd guy can think of buying me a present, I'm pretty sure you guys will do too," Linda said. "I'm not the odd guy. I'm just unique. William is wielder than I am," Henry frowned. "This frown makes you look hotter," Linda said. "Nah. He looks like an ogre," Drey chipped in. The females laughed while the males except Henry smiled. "Kettle calling pot black," Miranda said. "Who is kettle? Who is pot?" Henry and Drey questioned with a frown. "Drey and Henry respectively," Miranda continued her meal.
"Linda, if you don't mind, I'll be coming with my best friend," Sophia said. "She is welcome," Linda said. "Is she beautiful?" Harry asked. "Tsk. Do you think beautiful ladies go about making ugly friends?" Drey responded. "Yeah. You know handsome guys like me make friends with ugly guys like you," Harry said. "Harry," Miranda called. "What?" Harry raised a questioning eyebrow. "Drey isn't ugly," Miranda paused. Drey smiled prideful. "It is just that being handsome is beyond his reach," Miranda quoth. Drey's smile froze.
******
Katherine ate little of the meal Jake ordered. "I am sorry," Jake apologised after noticing Katherine was now relaxed, " I didn't mean to play the hero who saved the day but I didn't know what else to do to save you except what I did," Jake was now looking at Katherine to see her reaction. "No. No. I should say thank you to you for saving me. Ren couldn't handle the situation and the people were not helping. I just hope none of them made a video," Katherine said with her voice trailing as she said the last sentence. "Don't worry, even if someone posts the video on the internet, I'll bring it down immediately," Jake said confidently. "It's fine. Don't be so bothered about me," Katherine smiled. Jake just nodded.
After some time, Katherine picked her purse and stood up. "Thank you very much, Jake. I will like to be on my way," Katherine smiled. "It's nothing. Do you mind if I drop you off?" Jake questioned. "Thanks for offering but let me save you the stress of driving me," Katherine said. "Alright, no problem but don't say no to me walking you down to get a cab, please," Jake said. "I'm left with no other option," Katherine said.
On their way out, Jake met one of his business partner who is also a friend. "Hi J," Martins, a business partner to Jake, stretched his hand for a shake. "How are you?" Jake responded shaking Martins. "I'm fine," Martins replied and faced Katherine, "Madam, how are you?" he questioned. "I'm good," Katherine smiled. "J, don't forget to send me the wedding invitation. I must be the first person," Martins said already leaving, " Good bye madam. See you later," he left already. Jake grunts inwardly, " I will have to deal with that Martins. How many times will I have to tell him not to jump into conclusion like a fish jumps into the water?" Jake thought. Katherine chortled at Martins's comment.
"I'm sorry about him," Jake apologised for Martins's manners. Katherine smiled. While waiting for a cab, Jake asked, "Aren't you done with Ren? You don't need to answer if you feel it's personal." "I'm done with him but he is not ready to let go," Katherine replied. "Alright," Jake nodded. Soon, a cab stopped at their front. "Alright. Thanks," Katherine boarded the cab. Jake stopped the driver from driving and paid him excessively. "Here, have it. You can call me," Jake handed his card to Katherine. "Thanks so much," Katherine put the card in her purse.
It was soon time for dinner. Katherine went to the kitchen to prepare pasta but discovered they were out of pasta. She decided to cook something else after calling Sophia to do a little shopping on her way back.
Sophia did the shopping on her way from work. She had paid and was about to turn when she hit her head on a wall-like chest. "Ouch," she winced. "I'm sorry," the person whose chest she hit apologised. She raised her head to look at the person. "You again?" she and the person chorused. The person was the guy who bumped into her the last time she did her shopping. "Don't you have enough sense to create enough space while on the line? Or are you blind and senseless at the same time?" Sophia blasted him. "I'm sorry," the guy apologised again. Sophia hissed and walked away. "Idiots everywhere," she muttered.
"Did someone bump into you again?" Katherine questioned as she unpacked the bags Sophia brought in. "Why are some people blind and senseless at the same time?" Sophia said. "Don't tell me it was the same person from last time that you bumped into again?" Katherine said laughing. "It is. Why are you then laughing?" Sophia frowned and folded her arms. "Sorry," Katherine said barefacedly, " Who knows? Maybe he is your shopping bumps just as we have road bumps," she said. "I'm hungry," Sophia ignored Katherine's comment.
******
"Should I checkmate or you still have a move?" the caller asked laughing hysterically. "Are you afraid my next move will foil your game that you want to checkmate so soon?" Mr Olsen responded. "You are the best opponent anyone can ask for. You are bold, determined and adamant yet still a failure," the caller said, "And that's what I like you," the caller added. "Have you also ever wondered why I choose to play your games?" Mr Olsen responded. "Why should I bother about that? After all, I'm always the winner," the caller said. "Why not be bothered about it especially that I let you win most times?" Mr Olsen said. "I got more important things to be bothered about," the caller said. "Okay. You're right," Mr Olsen nodded, " I'm about to checkmate," he added. The caller laughed. "Actions speak louder than words," the caller said. "I know and that's more reason I will checkmate in the next five seconds.......... Checkmate," Mr Olsen ended the call. A satisfactory smile made his face uglier.
He sat at his desk and began working endlessly. He was taking a break when his his mind to his assistant. He dialed a number. "How is he doing?" Mr Olsen asked. "He is recovering at an impressive rate but there is no hope of him standing again. " Didn't I tell you to operate him?" Mr Olsen asked. "We did but still his chances are low," the doctor said. "How much will it cost to change his spinal cord?" Mr Olsen enquired. "Sir, that's dangerous. He has only thirty percent of surviving if the transplant is done," the doctor said. "I asked a question," Mr Olsen's voice was now cold. "Twenty million will be enough," the doctor said. "Start preparing his body for the transplant," Mr Olsen commanded and ended the call.
The doctor looked at Mr Daniel who was laying on the bed. "I'll advise you strengthen your will to survive because in the next few hours, an implant will be done," the doctor said. "Put a call across to my boss. Let me talk to him," Daniel said. "Alright," the doctor dialed Mr Olsen's number. Mr Olsen picked up at the first ring. "Any problem again?" Mr Olsen asked. "Mr Daniel wants to speak to you," the doctor said. "Okay," Mr Olsen said. The doctor gave Daniel the phone.
"Sir, can the transplant hold for a while?" Daniel said immediately he had the phone with him. "Because?" Mr Olsen questioned. "I will walk again only if you can give me three more weeks," Daniel said confidently. "If?" Mr Olsen enquired. "If I can't walk by then, the transplant can be done," Daniel said. "No," Mr Olsen said. Daniel's face fell. "If after three weeks you can't walk, you will be killed," Mr Olsen said. "Alright sir," Daniel knew better than to argue with his boss.
"Three weeks?" the doctor questioned. "To live," Daniel said. "You just postponed your death, right?" the doctor asked. "Yes but that doesn't mean I might not survive it," Daniel said. "You are willing to die yet you want to stay alive. You are willing to stay alive yet you want to die?" the doctor was surprised. "Yes," Daniel nodded.