"Did you have to do that?" a voice asked, which had both Arnold and Vanessa turn to look in the direction of the owner of the voice. It was obvious the owner of the voice was Samuel, yet the look of surprise on both Arnold and Vanessa's faces made him chuckle. Thanks to Samuel's grim look, his chuckle was mistaken for a curse by Vanessa.
"I watched him struggle to hide his emotions, act cool, yet longed and yearned to be with someone who deliberately tortured him for the sake of her own pride!" Samuel spat unable to hide his disgust.
Well, Samuel had never liked Vanessa, because he's always thought of her as a woman filled with too much pride, one who only knows how to hate, and above all - a selfish woman! Neither Vanessa nor Arnold seemed too surprised by his outburst, because his prejudice was known to both.
"Just when he got a grip of himself, you decide to show up just in time to send all his walls tumbling down. You're nothing but a bitch..." Samuel spat bitterly.
"Samuel !" Arnold intercepted.
"I'd like to excuse myself" Vanessa said as she tried to evacuate the room.
"It'd have been better if you hadn't shown up! and far better if you could leave now!" Samuel said angrily.
"Was that necessary?" Raymond asked, causing every being in the room to halt.
"Raymond..." Vanessa muttered inaudibly before turning to face him.
Raymond scanned the faces of the people in the room. Anger was written all over Samuel's features, Arnold held a passive look and Vanessa avoided his gaze. He couldn't get a grasp of what had gone on earlier that lead to what he heard Samuel yell at Vanessa. But if anything, it was evident Vanessa was hurt and was holding onto her last thread of pride to withhold her tears from breaking loose. Without waiting for a reply, Raymond said;
"Samuel apologize to Vanessa"
"What?" Samuel asked looking as shocked as he could ever be.
"I said, apologize to Vanessa!" Raymond replied sternly.
"You don't even know what we're talking about and you're taking her side already!" Samuel replied angrily.
"I'm not going to repeat myself Samuel!" Raymond threatened.
Arnold looked at Raymond, saw creases on the young man's forehead and wondered how much he heard. It was obvious Raymond was in no mood for any form of otiose.
"Boo! I'm never going to take your side in any subsequent argument!" Samuel replied and turned angrily towards Vanessa and uttered; "Sorry!" which came out as a yell instead if an apology. "Happy now? Damn it!" Samuel asked Raymond and stormed out of the room angrily.
Raymond locked eyes with Arnold, trying to find out what happened, before he looked at Vanessa who stood quietly on the staircase staring into space. Arnold's expression remained passive which confirmed Raymond's suspicious that whatever happened might have evolved around him.
"Vanessa" Raymond called her softly but she seemed lost in her thoughts. "Nessa" Raymond called again which made Vanessa flinch.
"Excuse me" Vanessa said as she walked away.
Raymond tried to follow her but Arnold held his wrist and shook his head when Raymond looked at him. Just as Raymond tried to sigh, he suddenly remembered he had walked in with Mary and Maya. The two women remained at the entrance and seemed to be in some sort of trance. Raymond sighed heavily and gestured for them to walk in. Maya clinged to Mary as they walked in. Arnold raised an eyebrow as he watched them enter. As if on cue, Raymond introduced Maya to Arnold.
"That's Maya. She's my mother's childhood friend!"
Arnold looked shockingly at her unable to hide his surprise. He opened his mouth as if to say something and it closed it again. It was so obvious he didn't believe what Raymond said. Honestly, Maya looked like a girl who had recently hit puberty and Mary, of course looked nothing like an adolescent. Of course! Mary can be the friend of Maya, and their friendship can date back to when Maya was a child, but it can't be the other way round since the former was way older than the later. As if reading his mind, Maya said;
"I'm,honestly, older than Mary"