The kindergarten school

“The time is ticking, I will come for the other child ” the message notification dropped on her screen. Alexia was scared of the unknown threat coming from different numbers. She needed to sort it by herself, not involving Joan, or Bruce, because of the threat message she had been receiving.

“Mummy!,” Rita tapped her lap, cutting off her weary thoughts instantly. She turned to her, “Yes baby,” putting a smile on her face.

“Is this my new school?” She pointed at the window. Alexia looked through the car window where the driver was heading into the school park.

The school looks so big, beautiful, well decorated; it was no doubt that it was for the wealthy class. Alexia quickly looked at the school description papers Joan gave to her before they embarked on the journey, “he made all this effort for my little child even when she's not his,” she thought.

They got out of the car and reached school. One of the teachers approached them, smiling from ear to ear as she grabbed Rita into her hands.

“You are welcome to the Cambridge kindergarten school, we are all waiting for you and your beautiful kids,” the teacher announced, showing the way to the principal's office. Alexia looked around the school environment, it was different from the former kindergarten the twins attended. 

“Welcome, Mrs. Alexia,” the principal, Lily, welcomed her with a huge beautiful smile. It was obvious that Joan had set everything in place before she could come in for inspection.

“Thank you,” She walked inside the office, turned around in search of Rita, but she was not with her. Fear gripped her as she remembered the troubling messages sent to her for the past two weeks. She stood up, still looking around to see if the teacher would come to the office with Rita, but she did not see their sight.

“Ma'am, are you okay?, is everything alright?” The principal asked, looking for an answer on her face.

“Where's she?,” She asked, still looking out the window, “I need to be with my daughter,” she muttered badly. 

“Ma'am, your daughter is safe. I will give a call to the classroom to fetch your daughter. It's best if your daughter begins class today,” the principal, Lily, assured her, but she wasn't having it at all. Fear, anxiety were all over her face, and then Rita ran so close to her with excitement and joy all over her face, leaving the teacher's hands who were standing close to the door.

“Mummy, the classroom is beautiful; the decoration and tables are designed with alot of shapes,” Rita said, smiling. Everyone gazed at her. Alexia smiled back, pulling her very close to her arm, “I love that you love the new school,” She added.

“Mummy, will Rhoda be in school today like you said?” She asked, looking at her for an answer. Alexia couldn't keep up with the lies anymore. This breaks her heart whenever she asks about Rhoda.

“Yes, she will be here soon,” she chuckled, feeling so uneasy.

“Well, follow the teacher to the classroom while I have a discussion with the principal,” she kissed her forehead gently, trying her best to hold the tension in her.

Rita followed the teacher standing close to the door back to the classroom. 

Alexia was unease, uncomfortable looking so lost at the moment. “You don't need to worry about her safety,” Lily assured her. 

“I guess you are scared of leaving her without your guidance,” she added.

“Well… she's my only child” Alexia scratched her hair, making it look puffy. The principal, Lily, nodded her head slowly.

“Thank you for your cooperation, ma’am. We look forward to seeing you next week with your child,” Lily shaked her hands, giving her some documents.

“Go through it, you don't need to worry about the expenses. Joan has paid for that, all you need to get her prepared by next week.” She added.

“Thank you so much,” Alexia said, flipping the documents instinctively.

Just then, Lily stood up from the chair bowing her hand as someone walked into the office.

“I can't believe that you are here sir, welcome,” She pulled a seat close to Alexia. 

Alexia looked up to see who that could be; to her greatest surprise– Bruce. She was frozen for a while, could not believe her eyes, and then looked behind to see Rhoda.

“Mummy!” Rhoda screamed out of joy, hugged her so tight, but Alexia was so stunned at the priceless moment. 

She stood up, hugged her tightly with kisses all over her face as she quickly recognized her leanness.

“Mummy, I missed you.” Rhoda said, biting her lips.

“I…missed you…” she staggered her words while tears dripped down from her eyes, still touching her face 

“Have you been well? I mean aunt and uncle have been treating you well, right?,” She asked, staring at her malnourished body. Rhoda bit her lips, not wanting to say anything, she was scared. Alexia read the signs and, silent between the both of them, knew that Rhoda had not been treated right in the house.

“Hey little child, come with me,” one of the teachers dragged her hands, leaving the adults in the office.

Lily could understand the tension between those two, but she couldn't comprehend the separation of the twins.

“Hmmm,” She cleared her throat, cracking up the silence in the room.

“Ma'am, I think our session is over. You can wait outside while I attend to him,” She added, trying to make the room conducive for her.

Alexia left the room quietly without saying a word to Bruce, patiently waiting for him in the corridor of the school building. Anger brewed up to her nerves, trying so hard to get rid of it, but it couldn't.

Shortly, Bruce walked out of the office smiling at Lily, who handed the same document to him before she walked back to the office. 

“We need to talk,” Alexia said boldly. Bruce looked at her, seeing how beautiful she looked, noticing the change of brown hair. 

“Your hair looks good on you” he said, trying to ease the tension between both of them. Alexia chuckled, she couldn't stand the same breathing as him. 

“You separated the twins so you can punish the other one for my sake, right?,” She voiced out angrily, Bruce wasn't having it all.

“Alexia, at least be happy that they will attend the same school. If I had known..” 

“Have you not done more than enough! Bruce,” She cut in sharply, tears filled her tears but she held it so hard.

“What have I done to deserve all this?,” She added, but Bruce was still silent about her.

“Talk to me,Bruce. Why Rhoda?,” She screamed so hard, but he didn't say a word to her. Instead, staring at her beautifully.

 Bruce pulled her closely to his region, brushed his lips on hers tightly in the corridor of the school compound. Alexia was shocked, trying so hard to brush off, but the kissing got intense. He finally pulled her off, “I know that you still have feelings for me,” he said, as their eyes locked onto each other.