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18: Scared of the worse
The look Annie gives me when she opens the door prompts me to explain myself in details. However, she stops my rambling with a snicker and tells me I don't owe her an explanation. Then she walks away and starts to sing aloud.
Amanda's voice is loud in prayer while Diamond's Bluetooth speaker is turned up so that it somehow overshadows the girls' voices. It's the usual noise I'm subjected to every morning, but this time, it doesn't annoy me. Instead, it makes me smile.
I woke up feeling better. Although there's the fact that I'm a useless friend to Eric, I don't know, something about our conversation last night makes me feel a little... useful.
The girls are all finished and are on their way to school by the time I'm done, so we leave together.
“Ehen, Zhaki came last night to tell us that we should
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Finding Us 19: Almost
I wish I never answered the call that came in a few hours later.Eric left to submit his assignment to his course rep., so I had to go to the canteen alone. I'd just bought my food and taken two spoons when my phone rang.The number was unknown. Unfamiliar. I assumed it was someone I knew. Someone I shouldn't miss their call. I should've known better.“Hello.” I swallowed my food before saying.“My beautiful.”I froze. My heartbeat progressed to an erratic state as I struggled to believe what I heard. My heart pounded so hard, it desired a quick escape.Mr Victor has been showing up for his classes these past few days, but I've always been abl
Finding Us 20: Be your brother's keeper
“It seems like you don't like to hear word,” Eric tells me. “Where did you drop your phone?”“It's in my bag.” I unzip my bag to take it out, then I see the ten calls I missed. Five from Eric. Two from my mom, two from my dad and one from my sister. “Yikes.”“What were you doing with that guy?” Eric nods sideways.“Who? Caleb? We were just talking.”“I thought Harry warned you to stay away from him.”I look over his shoulder at Harry standing afar, his hands in his pocket as he stares ahead.“He told me, but he never said why.”“So it's until you have a gun to your head or a knife close to y
Finding Us 21: There was a caught
My speech starts with a stutter, then a quick pause before it progresses with a ramble that has Annie and Amanda giving me looks.Diamond, who is the recipient of my advice, doesn't even move a muscle. Her eyes are trained on me like a hawk's, her arms folded over her chest. Though she remains still when I'm finished, it's clear a storm is brewing within her and I can already tell Annie and Amanda, who are standing behind me, hate me for dragging them into this.A chortle is what breaks out of Diamond first as she shakes her head and regards me with those stormy eyes.“Come let me ask you,” — she gestures at me before interlacing her fingers — “Did I, in any way, mention, even if it was by mistake o, that we're friends?”“Shebi I told you,” Ann
Finding Us 22: Higher power
It takes time before Annie stops crying and collects the handkerchief Amanda brought from her room. She cleans her face, blows into the handkerchief and sniffs.“Are you okay now?” I ask.She nods but doesn't say anything. I'm at a loss for words, Amanda likewise. We both sit by her, exchanging glances as we wait for her to feel better and maybe tell us why she cried.When she finally speaks, her words stun us into deeper silence. “My dad drowned when I was eleven, and I saw it happen.” She sniffs, wiping the tip of her nose. “We had been on vacation and were at the beach that day. My dad was a surfer and decided to hit the waters for a couple of minutes. The ocean was calm, so he started smoothly, impressing everyone watching with a few stunts. I was so happy watching him.”
Finding Us 23: Truth hurts I
Classes ended minutes ago, but I spent most of my time (during the class) trying to get Eric on the phone. The fact that he's not in the hall when I later searched for him and he's not answering my calls makes me very worried.“Your friend's still not picking?” Caleb asks from beside me.I glance at him before staring down at my phone. “No, and I don't know why. I've searched everywhere in the hall, but I can't find him. Eric has never missed a class,” the last part I murmur as I dial his number again.He still doesn't answer.I recline with a loud sigh.“Maybe something came up at home, so he couldn't make it in time,” Caleb says. “He'll probably show up later.”“Maybe.”But my mood sours, my excitement fading away wi
Finding Us 24: Truth hurts II
Eric's girlfriend is the last person I expect to see, but it all adds up now. She's the reason he didn't show up today. But why? The question stirs a plausible answer as I analyse her clothing and slightly messed up hair. My stomach churns, a lump forming in my throat.I try to swallow past it and find my voice. “Where's Eric?”Although she just called me a boyfriend snatcher, I choose to ignore it.“You're even wearing his hoodie on top.” She points at the hoodie and laughs scornfully. “This girl you're really trying your best o. You know when those girls told me what you've been up to with my boyfriend, I almost didn't believe it. But now you're here, I don't doubt they were telling the truth.”It doesn't take long for me to understand she's talking about the girls that wouldn't stop glaring my way when I came over.
Finding Us 25: Relationship advice
My legs feels like lead. Each step weighs a ton. My heart feels like it has been crushed by a dumb-bell. And all I can do is clump my way upstairs, hoping to get into my room without being seen, slump on my bed and cry my eyes out.When I reach my door, I begin to search for my key, but the damn thing stays hidden.Exasperated, I turn my bag upside down, allowing all of its content to rain to the floor. My books hit the ground and I don't realize my mistake until my phone falls too, smashing itself to the floor.I throw my bag aside, bending immediately to pick up my phone.“Oooh, God!” I grumble when I see the crack my stupid actions has caused me.This makes me snap, lose every ounce of strength I have and collapse to the floor as I begin to cry into my hands.
Finding Us 26: Just to prove something
Days go by and try as I might, I'm disturbed by Eric's silence. But even more disturbed by Mariam's presence. She's always with him: in the hall during classes, at the canteen, on the traders' ground. They're everywhere; however, her presence sort of makes it easier to also ignore Eric.She's the girlfriend, not me. I'm that pathetic friend who will always be on the sidelines; the sooner I get this into my head, the better for me.“What are you thinking of?” Caleb asks when he sees me staring ahead with my temple rested on my palm.“Nothing really.” I sigh and sit straight. “Just wondering how I'll pass our tests.”Since Eric is never around, my new company became Caleb. Aside from when he has other things to attend to, friends to talk to, he's basically wherever I am. I know it's wrong, but his company doesn't make me feel thr
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