SECRETS

Mrs Donalds went outside with Anna

“Don’t be upset about what I said earlier” Mrs Donalds suddenly said to Anna

They had walked away from the women.

Anna looked at her in astonishment.

“You know that all your paintings are in our storage, right?”

“If you think about it, they incur costs. We have to watch the temperature, humidity and security so that the canvas stays taut and the paint doesn’t turn brittle. Other ariatsthabw do pay us to store yhier work”

“For 33 square meters, they have to pay 30,000 dollars. You get that benefit since you’re family”

“You were working on that painting while you should’ve been working harder. That was why I was upsets I’m worried you might never escape from being an amateur”

“I’m sorry. I misunderstood you” Anna apologized, standing behind her like a lost puppy.

“Is the painting for Donalds foundation going well?!”

“Yes” Anna replied with smiles.

“The painting will be hung at a social welfare prganistlike an orphanage or a rehab facility, right. I’ll replicate a famous painting so they can enjoy a real painting instead of a print. It’s for a good cause, so I’m doing my best”

“Good” Mrs Donalds finally turned to look at her.

“Let me know if you need anything”

“Okay” Anna replied.

Mrs Donalds made to walk away.

“I’ll…” Anna’s voice stopped her.

“Do a good job. I won’t disappoint you, mother”

“Try your best to make it identical. Don’t forget that”

“All right” Anna nodded and Mrs Donalds finally walked away.

“She’s so gullible. I love it because she’s so gullible” she smiled and walked off while Anna stood there smiling sheepishly.

She went back to stare at her painting that has now been hung on the wall.

Then, she noticed a stain by the side, with panic, she lived closer to Rey and get it off.

A few distance away, a young, handsome man walked in and strayed walking towards hers

Anna noticed the stain was a paint and tried wiping it, but it asked impossible, so she brought her finger to her mouth, touching her tongue.

The young man stared at her with a grin on his face, intrigued.

Anna noticed him ask quickly brought down her hand from her mouth. The man smiled, took a napkin and water from a table nearby and walked to her.

“It’s okay. I didn’t lick my fingers” she told him.

“Sure. I know. I was watching” he replied.

“Why?” She asked but he ignored and took his gaze to the painting.

“It’s acrylic paint, right? This will get it offf” he stretched the napkin and water to her.

“I see” she collected it immediately.

“Thank you” she added.

“Woah! This is amazing. Hyper- realism” he marveled, taking another closer look at the painting.

“Is this what that is?”

“You must know alor about art” Anna said, while trying to get that stain off.

“I read somewhere that the goal of hyper-realism is not to perfectly portray its subject but to convey that no matter how realistic something might look, it’s still not real” his words made Anna stop what she was doing.

“By that, do you mean…”

“I mean that this painting is fake” he cut her off.

“No matter how realistic it looks” he claimed.

Anna’s face dropped. They stood there staring at achieved without saying anything

“Daniel. Why didn’t you call me to let me know you came?” Anita came in and broke the silence that was already ensuing.

“I was studying your sister’s painting” he told her, while still staring at Anna.

Samuel walked in also.

“Hello, sir” he greeted.

Anita ran to Anna’s side and held her arm.

“Isn’t she amazing?” she asked, elatedly.

“I was really impressed”

“That’s enough, Anita” Samuel told her through gritted teeth.

Anita scoffed.

“Shouldn’t you be boasting if your wife is so talented? Why are you stopping me?” She fired at him.

Samuel brought down his head.

“Do you even love my sister?” She suddenly asked, taking not just Samuel, but Anna and Daniel by surprise

“What??” Samuel gasped.

“Why are you so surprised? I heard Anna confessed to you first” she went on.

“She won’t ever know how you feel if you done express it. Done you agree, Daniel?”

“Come on…” Samuel let out an exasperated sigh.

“He doesn’t have to express it for me to know” Anna butted in.

Anita was taken aback.

“Really? How?” She asked, perplexed.

“Because of the time we spent together” Anna said and suddenly went to remember that one day.

It was raining heavily and she was standing under a shade, waiting for the rain to stop, when suddenly someone called out her name.

“Anna” she looks at the direction of the voice and was surprised to see Samuel running to her with an umbrella.

“Samuel” she was stunned

“Did you wait all this time?” He asked worriedly.

“Thank you” she hugged him.

“Thank you so much for coming” she said again, even though he never hugged her back.

“Since you’re here, it means you accept my feelings, right?” She disengaged and asked.

Samuel avoided her gaze, unable to answer.

“ I’m sure you remember I asked you to come if you accept my feelings “ she told him.

“But you told me you’d wait until I came” he replied.

“Anyway…Yes, exactly “ she said, unable to contain her joy.

Samuel looked expressionless.

She looked up at him slowly, looking at his face.

“Sure” he nodded.

She grinned and hugged him again.

Slowly, he hugged he back . His face sullen and Hess dark.

They stayed like that for a while.

“You done have to say it to know it’s love” Anna faced her sister and said.

“You can feel it from the way one acts and from words like ‘sorry’ or ‘thank you’ “ she explained.

Daniel scofffed.

“Really? I don’t agree” Anna blurted.

“What??” Anna asked.

“ ‘I’m sorry’. ‘Thank you’. That’s what people say to get away” Anna refuted.

“Love is something you should have conviction about. You should be able to tell who that person loves just by the look in their eyes. Don’t you think so, Daniel?” Anita asked him.

Daniel thought for a while before speaking.

“ I’m not sure. I think it depends on the person. I think Anna’s way of expressing love is fine”

“Really? How so?” Anita asked, with doubts.

“To Ms Anna, Mr Samuel must look this handsome “ Daniel said, referring and looking at the painting.

“I didn’t know a man could receive so much love from a woman”

“It’s a huge compliment. Enough to make a man jealous” turning to Samuel, he said.

A short silence ensued. Samuel was at loss for words.

“Now that I think about it, you’re right” Anita laughed.

“ I didn’t know my brother-in-law was so handsome” she giggled and went over to Samuel, holding his arm.

“What do you think? Don’t we look better together??” Anita facing Anna, asked.

Samehwk looked confused.

“Hey, some so this” he warned, and tried to get her off him but she wouldn’t bulge.

“Why? Are you uncomfortable?” Anita asked him.

“Am I not good enough for you?” She pushed.

Daniel looked at Anna how was now twaryyeyws and speechless.

Slowly, Samuel stopped trying to her Anita off him and stared at her with affectionate eyes. His face radiating with excitement and happiness.

What the hell was going on??!!

TBC