WELCOME, SAMANTHA

Aria finally arrived at the airport as she brought out her phone to call Samantha asking where she was.

“Hello, where are you? am at the airport as we speak” Aria asked

“Come to the Cafeteria Adjacent to the airport you will see me there,” Samantha said

“Oh alright,” Aria said as she made her way to the location Samantha said on the phone. Immediately she found the cafeteria she saw Samantha sitting outside.

Upon seeing each other Aria quickly parked her car rushed to her and hugged her tightly.

“Long time Samantha, I miss you,” Aria said while hugging her tightly

“Same baby, I love you more,” Samantha whispered. Samantha then stared at Aria as she was not dressed or ready like someone who was celebrating a birthday party.

“Aria, anything the issue? Why are you not dressed yet? Or is your birthday not holding again?” Samantha asked

Upon hearing the questions Samantha kept asking, her mood quickly changed, and Samantha noticed it

“Hope all is well? Aria” Samantha asked

“Long story Sis, very long..” Aria replied

Samantha then signaled to Aria to have her sit. “Tell me, what happened? You know am your best friend.” She requested

“Oh alright, let me just make the long story short, I caught Michael having s*x with Jessica yesterday.” Aria finally dropped the bombshell

Samantha was shocked at Aria's statement. “WHAT… you must be joking right?”

“Nah….. why will I joke with something as serious as that, and by the way staying at my mum's side at the moment,” Aria said

“How could your sister be that cold-hearted?” Samantha mustered as she stared at Aria.

“The deal has been done, and it doesn’t matter anymore.” Aria tried to calm her friend as they were starting to get weird looks from people in the cafeteria. “Let’s just forget about them for now.”

“Are you sure you can forget about it?” Samantha whispered to her knowing Aria is an emotional type and she doesn’t just let go of her emotions like that. They have known each other since middle school and have been best friends since then so they both know many things about each other.

“I think we should pay Michael a visit, I need him to pay for what he did to you, to make him know that he can’t just cheat on my friend and go Scott free without making him suffer,” Samantha said angrily

“No Samantha…..” Aria murmured. “That’s too far, we are doing no such thing, we both know this is gonna happen someday, especially when his mother has been on my neck for the past months now, so am planning on just divorcing him straight up.”

“Stop trying to defend the swindler, after sleeping with your little sister in your own house.” Samantha angrily said

“All am trying to do is to move on from him, that’s all, so am not trying to defend anybody,” Aria replied

“Just like that? Without making him pay?” Samantha looked at her weirdly. “There is no fun in that”

“So what are you expecting me to do to him? Everything is not supposed to be fun.” Aria snorted

“Only God knows that if I were in your shoes… Ah …. I would have done something to both of them, you just choose to be calm and that’s boring by the way.” Samantha mustered

“Are you serious….. Then Thank God you are not in my shoes, I know you are standing up for me but I know what am doing trust me.” Aria said

“And what if you don’t know what you are doing, then what next?” Samantha asked

Aria was silent for a second. “…… And if I don’t know what am doing I know I will figure it out someday, okay?” She said as she gently touched Samantha’s hand.

Samantha had no choice but to listen to her friend. She knows Aria has already been tired of what’s going on already so she does not want to add to her worries.

“I will take your word on this, But I hope you know what you are doing. You know I love and trust you and I won’t let anything knock you down.” Samantha said

“Alright thanks, we better start going home now,” Aria said immediately

Samantha then took a sip of the drink she bought earlier. “Where are you hurrying to, I can’t just leave this drink without finishing it.” She fussed

“Fine, but be fast please,” Aria murmured

“Don’t rush me Aria, am quite tired of the long hours of flight I took,” Samantha said as she finally finished her drink. “Am done, let’s go.”

“Alright, one more thing….. Have you paid for your drink?” Aria asked

“Oh I forgot, let me quickly pay,” Samantha said as she was searching for her wallet.

Aria then quickly brought out her wallet. “How much is it?” She asked

“Just $73,” Samantha replied

Aria then brought out a $100 bill and gave the waiter who told her to keep the change, both of them entered the car and drove off to her mum's house.

A few minutes later, Aria pulled up in the driveway she helped Samantha offload her luggage from the car as they both entered the house.

Karina came rushing from the kitchen as she hugged Samantha. “How are you, Samantha? I know you must be tired from the long flight?”

“Am good ma’am, how are you too?” Samantha asked

“Am doing okay, have your seat,” Karina said signaling for her to sit down.

“Thanks, ma’am, but I must admit you don’t seem to have aged a bit since the last time I visited, you still look young.” Samantha praised her as Aria stared at both of them.

“I am flattered Samantha, you are too good with words,” Karina said shyly

“Hey guys, am still here,” Aria screams jokingly

“Don’t tell me you are jealous Aria, let your friend compliment me in peace, stop being jealous,” Karina said while moving to the kitchen.

“Me… Jealous….. Never.” Aria laughed as she gently sat on the couch.

“Samantha you came in right now as the food is almost ready, we prepared a little bit despite…….” Karina stopped halfway through the sentence. “……Let’s just forget about that for now and focus on Aria's birthday at hand, I don’t want to spoil the happy spirit we have right now.”

“Aria quickly come and help me out over here, let’s get this done as soon as possible,” Karina called out to her.

“Am coming ma’am, is the still in the oven mum?” She asked her mother.

“No… I took it down a while ago, so just help me clean the kitchen as I set the dining table up.” Karina said

“Alright, mum,” Aria replied as she went straight to the kitchen and she began cleaning the kitchen and helping her mum dishing out food and setting the table up.

“Now the table is set, Let’s cut the cake before we start eating,” Karina said as she called for Aria to come in front of the cake so they could sing a birthday song for her.

After Aria blew the candle of the cake. “NOW… Let’s feast.” Karina mustered.