PAIN

Meanwhile, Samuel was busy looking for Anita who had stormed out of the hall.

He has been looking for use and suddenly saw her in the gallery they all were earlier.

Her face was filed with tears.

“Are you all right?” He stood in front of her and asked.

“What do you think?” She retorted.

“I worked so hard to open this gallery. I had finally convinced dad. But what did Anna do?”.

“ I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding. Anna would never…” the mean stare from Anita shut him up immediately.

“How would you know her true self? There’s evidence too” she fired at him.

“Whatever. What do I do now?” Her voice shook as she broke down in tears.

“How can I help stop your tears?” Samuel asked.

What is it to you if I cry or not?”

“It matters “ Samuel muttered, affectionately.

“Whenever I see you cry, I want to beg too” he confessed and held her hand, while she slowly looked up at him.

“Samuel!” She called softly, confused.

“You told me that it shows when one likes someone. Couldn’t you see, I…”

“Stop” Anita cut him off and weighed her palm out of his hold.

“Stop whatever you’re trying to say. I don’t want to hear it” she backed him.

“I…married Anna to be by your side. At first, I tried to be satisfied with that. But I finally realized it when I saw someone else with you” he moved closer to her.

“I need you”

“Stop it!” She shouted.

“So what? What are you trying to do now?” She fired.

“I’ll split up with Anna. And I want to be with you” he answered.

“ I know your mother and father I’ll find it hard to accept but I work hard…”

“I see you’ve lost it” Anita enthused.

“What?” he furrowed his brows.

“Fine” she heaved.

“You had feelings for me? I already knew. You made it so obvious. Only a dense fool like my sister wouldn’t realize. I thought it was just a phase and overlooked your cute crush” Anita continued, but unaware of Anna who just walked in, Ana stood at a distance looking and listening to them.

“But how dare you? How are you and Anna so similar? Why do you both not know your place?” She lashes out at him.

“You desire the things you can’t have and create a mess….” She yelled and when she unexpectedly turned her head, she froze.

Standing few meters away was her sister, Anna.

Samuel wondered why she had stopped and turned to look at the didwvehon she was facing.

“Anna” Samuel called softly.

Anita heaved and stormed back off, walking pass Anna.

Samuel followed behind her, but instead of going to Anna, who had turned pale with shock, he ran after Anita.

“It’s not true, right?” Anna’s voice stoped him.

He stopped, and turned to face her.

“There’s no way you would do this to me. Right?” Anna’s voice broke between sentences.

Samuel sighed deeply.

“I meant ro tell you today” he said.

“ I thought it was about your job” Anna’s voice cracked.

She searched her pocket and brought out the letter she had found.

“I know you were going to tell me that you quit” she walked closer and showed him the paper.

“See? It was about this, right?” She let out a dry smile.

Samuel stared at her distortedly, collected the paper from her, turned the back and gave it back to her.

Anna gasped softly, her eyes blinded with hot tears. She felt an unquenceable fire tightened around her chest as she read it.

‘APPLICATION FOR DIVORCE’. The other side of the paper read. She hadn’t seen it.

“I’m sorry” Samuel apologized.

“Why did you marry me if you were going to do this? So you could be by Anita’s side? Just because of that?” She shook.

Samuel shook his head.

“Because I pitied you”

“What!” She furrowed her brows.

“You worked hard to win your parents favour. And you were happy with whatever they gave you. You were like myself. Like me, you were a pitiful soul” Samuel told her.

The tears she has been battling to keep in check, came streaming down her face without restrain.

“How dare you take pity on me? You have no idea how hard I work for my life” she growled.

“Who gave you the right to pity me? Who have you the right?” Then she hit him in the chest, over and over again, crying profusely.

“Yes, I was wrong. Sorry, Anna”

“Stop it” she yelled.

“You promised you wouldn’t apologize” she stopped hitting him and moved backwards a bit.

“Anna” he took few steps towards her.

“Stop it, please” Anna cried out.

She lifted her head and saw the cops who had been looking for her coming towards them.

She took to her heels immediately as they chased after her.

“Damn it” one cussed under his breath.

Samuel stood and watched.

Anna ran out and got into her car before they could get to her.

While on the road, her mother started calling.

Anna couldn’t stop crying as she drove.

And in tears, she picked the call.

“Mother” Anna called shakily.

“Why are you doing this to me? I didn’t do anything wrong”

“Now is not the time to be emotional. If word gets out to the public, we don’t know what will happen. You should repay my kindness with this. I took you in when you were a homeless orphan..” Mr Kim quickly stopped her

“I’m sorry for the harsh words. Who else can I ask for help? You’re the only one, Anna” she cajoled.

Anna wailed and bit her lip.

“The attorney will settle the rest. If you promise to return the money and reflect, you won’t even get probation and I’ll pay the fine for you”

“Anna, please! We’re family after all” she half pleaded.

Anna broke out in more tears. The tears clouded her vision and she was unable to see the car moving with full speed towards her from her side. She quickly swerved but another car came at her before she could hold her brake.

It all happened suddenly. Her vision blurrred, her head banged, her car broken, her body weak. She was barely holding on when a trailer that has lost its brakes, rammed into her car and the other cars.

In minutes, her body was covered with blood as she fought for her life, lying helplessly inside the damaged car.

TBC