"I disagree!" female voice sounded and it wasn't Atina.
We all turned to the source-the elegant lady. It would go undisputed if she claimed that her dark purple suit was the work of Armani himself.
"I disagree with them for disagreeing with the priest." she pointed at me and Mah. It took us by surprise. In addition, we were disappointment. On the other hand, the priest's party was also pleased.
"You pick the wrong side. We're defending your fellow woman here." Mah told her.
"No," she shook her head, "a woman must know her place. The bible has got crystal clear instructions on that."
I never run out of arguments and this time was no exception. I remained silent because I did not feel myself free to speak.
"You could have made a great feminist rather than cowering in presence of your husband," Mah said helplessly.
"I'm glad I'm neither both. I'm considering of becoming a nun." when she said that the old woman pulled a long face.
"Give it more thought, dear. I need grandchildren," the old woman's eyes glinted with concern.
"I'm leaving," Atina got up.
Akim gave her a swift stare. A round emerald earing on his right ear flashed. Only at this moment did I noticed that like Atina he wore emerald earings too.
He turned to the thug,"Sir, you said we may proceed with our business. I guess that includes leaving the restaurant when done."
Bang!
There, between Atina's eyes, a dark red hole appeared.
Bang!
Akim's forehead was welcomed by the second bullet soon after returning from a sharp subconscious stare at his disgraced companion.
We all froze. The sound of Atina's body hitting the floor proved insufficient to wake us. For a time, we had forgotten we were in a exceptional dire and dangerous situation. The reminder brought along excessive fear.
"You should proceed with your business," the thug muttered. We all noted the emphasis on 'should', "it is an obligation. I now declare it a rule. What that means is that if you do not continue with what you came here for I get to take you down."
We acquiesced.
I started by eating the last tomato. When I came to the last of the streak I realized even it had lost taste. In proper way, I lost appetite. I made no effort to bring it back.
Am I really going to die here? I queried myself.
"Obey the rules and you shall survive," he spoke from beside me on the previously Akim's seat.
It felt like he read my mind, "I will repeat the rules. Rule number one; You shall never separate yourself from your seat in a slightest manner. Rule number two; you shall never touch or use in any way any information and communications gadget. Rule number three; You shall proceed with your business.
They are pretty clear and simple. Only the intolerably pathetic people shall face death."
I shallowed a chunk of steak without chewing it. My companion, Mah, no longer displayed exceptional immunity. In his mouth, he moved around a tomato. I supposed that was his way of coping up.
"You see?"
That voice again, I grimaced.
"What now?" I turned my bitter face to him-the bearded kid.
I hoped he would—for first time—say some positive. My mood was already terrible. The deprivation of freedom of speech although limited surprisingly made my mood worse. I felt that hadn't had enough talk with the thug.
"This time around keep your cursed mouth shut. You should as well cease your stubbornness."
His voice was soft in my ears but rough in my heart.
"Bull..." I gritted my teeth and refrained myself from swearing.
It upset me even more that this kid could make me this upset.
"Your reckless words gonna consume us all. Mawu amalenga."
The bearded kid's last sentence is a popular proverb which translates to "words create."
"Oh my God you are so annoying," I hissed through gritted teeth, "and remarkably ignorant. Your incredible expertise in the stubborn field is beyond what I have never seen in my entire life." I scolded him.
The bearded kid's changed drastically. He leaned back, his chest heaved up and down. He casted a glance at the thug. For first time he was rendered speechless.
"How many times should I tell you all these are coincidences? There's no limit to amount of coincidences that can occur in a row, at a time or at a place," I paused and looked up to the ceiling, "if my words truly has got supernatural ability to influence the reality; I ask a rock of the ceiling to fall and crush the thug." I realized my voice especially the last part was loud enough for many people to hear.
They stared at me, the ceiling and the thug. Nothing happened.
"You see," I said, "coincidences."
I turned my attention to my table feeling a mixture of relief and triumphant. For first time I subdued the bearded kid. It was an achievement worth celebrating.
I continued eating.
"You were making so much noise earlier, why have you stopped now?" the thug shouted. Immediately after, the noise resumed. It carried hints of nervousness and reluctance though.
"The couple..." I said and paused to clear my throat, "though deceased, I would like to express my opinion on the marriage and religion matter."
Mah nodded at me and gestured at the waitress.
"Religion is the most important aspect of life," I uttered, "it may lead one to eternal life or eternal destruction. Religion or church selection is a matter of life and death both to eternal extent. You see that's not a matter you let another person decide for you and no one is in place to decide another person's fate no matter what."
"No church saves," the bearded kid opposed and raised his hand, "who's with me?"