Chapter 52 SIDE TALK AND RETALIATION
Godiva POV
“What, Jerald? You’re capping, bro,” I replied. “That person looks nothing like Jerald.”
Immediately Dina said the word, we both ran into the church and took out bags. Heading home was the most satisfying option. I didn't have to deal with Jerald. At least not today..
Dina and I went to school very early the next morning to continue preparing for the S.M.A.D competition. We were taken aback when we saw Ben sitting on my seat. I had to step out to check if I was in the right grade, and I was actually in my grade.
It was a shock to me that Ben, of everyone, was in our class and on my seat. Dina and I both locked eyes as we approached my seat. I thought he definitely came to warn me about what I did to Jerald the previous day. I felt a bit of guilt after seeing him, since he had been nothing but nice to me.
“Thank God the confrontation is happening when students ain’t in school,” Dina whispered in my ear. I let out a broad smile at the way our thoughts were always in sync.
“Hello, Ben,” we both chorused in an unusual manner.
“Hello. Why do you both look tensed?” he asked, letting out a gorgeous smile.
“I am everything but tensed,” I replied, dropping my bag on my desk.
“I figured you always came to school early, so I came to wish you well in your reading and give you this,” he said, handing us two milk tea and cookies.
“Thank you so much for being so thoughtful,” Dina said, excitedly snatching it from his hands.
“It’s no problem,” he replied in his usual calm manner, as we both watched him walk out of the class before I let out a deep sigh of relief.
“Girl, what’s that torture?” I said after he left the class, throwing myself on my seat.
We had barely studied for up to two hours when the class became full, with everyone doing one thing or another. At that moment, Jerald walked in with Lis’s arms locked with his. I quickly looked away from them. For some reason, I felt a little sense of defeat and disappointment which suddenly ruined my mood, making me grumpy.
“Some people are burning in the inside seeing us this happy,” Lis said, looking my way. I ignored her, pretending not to have heard the rubbish she said. It pained even more since I was actually burning in the inside.
“Let’s all be seated,” our homeroom teacher said, coming into the class. I had never been excited seeing our homeroom teacher like I was that day. I brought out my tongue in a childish manner, mocking Lis as she walked to her seat.
During our lunch break, I sat at my usual spot, pretending to admire the guys playing football on the court, though my attention was in the class, trying to eavesdrop on Lis and Jerald’s conversation. I could hear Lis giggle at the romantic words Jerald was throwing at her. My ear tingled the second they kissed.
“Hey,” a not-so-clear voice came from behind me, followed by a tickle.
“Who’s that?” I turned angrily. “Ow, Ben,” I said, smiling at him and returning to my seat.
“Why were you so startled?” he asked, sitting on Dina’s seat right in front of me.
“I don’t know,” I denied, laughing. “Dina isn’t here, by the way,” I added, pointing to her seat.
“I’m not here for Dina today, I’m here for you,” he added, dragging my cheek in a playful manner. At first, it was shock, followed by a smile, or should I say blush. I never knew Ben had a playful, cute side of him.
“Don’t do that,” I said playfully, also attempting to drag his. “On a serious note, I didn’t expect that sort of retaliation from you,” he said, sounding serious.
“I’m sorry I dragged a scar from his parents into our drama. I shouldn’t have,” I responded, looking somber.
“Nah, I didn’t say it to make you feel bad,” he said, putting his hands on my shoulder. “He deserved it since he equally ridiculed you.”
“I wish you were there to see the look on his face,” I replied, laughing very loud.
“Don’t mock my brother in my presence,” he said, trying hard to stop himself from smiling.
“I guess I arrived at the party late,” Dina said, approaching us.
“You didn’t miss much,” Ben replied, standing up from her seat.
“Why did you stay this long?” I asked, collecting the snacks she bought us from the mart.
“I was actually on my way here when the French teacher asked for my assistance in making a clip.”
“Oops, sorry,” I replied, smiling, offering Ben a snack.
“No, thank you,” he said, smiling. “I’ll see you both later,” he continued, squeezing my cheek again as he walked out of the classroom. I didn’t need a prophet to tell me everyone in class was already making silly assumptions and rumors in their minds about Ben and me.
All through lectures, I kept on smiling, not because of Ben’s sudden closeness. I couldn’t help but remember our first meeting with him, how we didn’t even suspect he was our senior, and how we were admiring his physique. “How did we go from him coming to thank us here, to laying around?” I thought to myself, letting out a big smile.
We walked from school in an unusually quiet manner since Dina, the life of the party, didn’t say much.
“Bye, girl,” Dina said as we parted under the bridge. She proceeded to go home and I strolled to words the Young's mansion.
.............
“Ewww,” I exclaimed aloud, walking in on Jerald and Lis playing with their tongues in the study. For some reason, it felt like déjà vu.
“Can the both of you excuse us?” I managed to say, not showing my sadness.
“Stop pretending to be decent, slut,” Jerald said almost inaudibly.
“What did you call me?” I thundered, moving closer to him.
“A slut, I said,” he repeated himself. “I can bet my life you came to this school just to get yourself an elite student,” he mocked, looking me in the eyes.
“Stop that,” a deep voice thundered from behind, the moment I attempted slapping Jerald.