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The girls were so silent you could hear a pin drop. My spoon clattered unto my plate in shock and I stared at their faces. It was like an open secret among them, something I was completely unaware of.
“I think it’s time to leave.” Lisa cleared her throat and got up.
“You’re right.” Stacy got up next but didn’t wait for us before she stormed out of the restaurant.
“Did you really have to go that far Alison?” Lisa asked.
“Someone had to tell her. We all know what happens to most girls who date cultists. They get hurt, badly. Maybe not now but in the long run, they do. I won’t just sit quietly while she throws her life away.” Alison was the next one to storm out of the restaurant.
Lisa and I exchanged glances and quietly walked out too, we had caused a scene already so it was best to leave as quietly as possible.
“What’s all this about John being a cultist?” It was the first thing I asked once we were a distance away from the restaurant.
“It’s kind of a recent development, what I mean is, we found out only recently after the raid. The fight between him and Ryan, the whole gang attitude thing they had going on were clear warning signs. Alison decided to confront Stacy about it when she returned days after the fight. At first, it was because she felt she hadn’t been there for you when you were in the hospital but then Stacy kinda spilt the secret about
John being a cultist.”
“You mean John is part of THE REDS?”
“Of course not, there’s a rival group called Fugitives.”
“What do they do?”
“Well according to what Stacy said, they sort of want to take out the members of THE REDs.”
“So basically, they’re asking for war?”
“Exactly,” She clicked her fingers. “And we’re right in the middle of it.”
The following day, Lisa and I went to the hospital to get the results of her test. She tapped her foot impatiently as we waited until I grabbed her leg and told her to stop. Once it was our turn, she held tightly to my hand as we walked into the doctor’s office.
“I have good news and bad news.” The doctor began. “Which do you want to hear first?”
“Um… bad news?” Lisa didn’t even sound sure of herself.
“Alright, the bad news is that your test results were initially switched with that of another patient. When we discovered the staff who did this, we had her removed from our service immediately according to the hospital’s policy.”
“And what’s the good news?” I asked.
The doctor smiled and looked from Lisa to me.
“The good news is that you were never HIV positive and the confirmation tests we ran were negative. You’re very healthy.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s great news! Lisa-” I turned to face her only to see her slumped in her seat. “Lisa!”
“She must have fainted due to shock, don’t worry she’ll be alright.” The doctor sprang into action and sprinkled a bowl of water on her face. Minutes later, she became conscious again.
“Please take good care of yourself from now on and as her friend,” He turned to me. “Please watch her carefully.”
“I can’t believe how lucky I am.” She said once we left the hospital.
“Imagine if you’d gone and killed yourself for a disease it turns out you don’t even have.” I nudged her shoulder.
“Okay, I agree that was stupid of me.”
“Finally, she listens to me.”
“But I really can’t thank you enough Monica, you’ve really been a good friend and you’re the last person I expected this from.”
“What can I say? People can surprise you.” I shrugged. “But what are you going to do now?”
“About what?” She asked.
“Mr David, are you just going to brush it off like it didn’t happen?”
“I don’t know Monica, I want to forget all about it.”
“What if it he does something like this again?”
“You’re right, I’ll think of something.” She nodded. “Come on, let’s go get some food. I think all that relief has made me hungry.”
“I second that.” I smiled.
The first sight we saw when we opened the room door was an enraged Alison seated with her arms folded across her chest as she stared at the door. She held a piece of paper in her hands which she raised immediately we stepped in.
“When were you going to tell me, that’s if you even planned on doing so?”
“What’re you talking about?” I asked.
She shoved the paper at Lisa and went back to her position.
“I knew you guys were hiding something but I didn’t expect it to be this big!”
“Lower your voice okay?” Lisa hissed. “And why on earth would you go through my stuff?”
“Lisa, how could you keep something like this from me, only to tell Monica?”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” I spoke up.
“Stay out of this okay?” She snapped at me. “I don’t mean any offence but you’re the last person I expect her to tell.”
“Alison, take that back,” Lisa said. “She’s been more supportive than anyone else.”
“Well, that’s because she’s the only one you told.”
“She’s the only one I trusted at that point!”
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