Chapter 12 RECKLESS DARE
Godiva’s POV
Skating was pretty easy for me, at least that was what I thought, until his actions pushed me to the edge. In a bid to save face and bask in the pride of being able to match his energy, I lost my dignity.
It began with harmless skating along the steep slope edges people usually avoided. Then came the drama, the jumping part. Jerald was a genius when it came to pushing someone over the edge.
I attempted the stunt.
The next thing I knew, my trousers tore as I landed buttocks-hard on the snow. The impact shot straight through my spine. For a moment, I could not even move.
I felt embarrassed, deeply embarrassed. I literally wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole.
But for some reason, the onlookers did not laugh. They all stared at me with sympathetic looks.
And somehow, that was even more humiliating than laughter.
………….
The next day in class, during break, I quietly sat by the window, spacing out while waiting for Dina. I still had not gotten over the awkwardness of yesterday’s event.
A few students saw me fall. It happened suddenly and I got up quickly, but I would not have been surprised if I saw myself trending on social media. But none of that happened. I just wanted to be left alone.
I grew impatient waiting for Dina, who had gone to return the Atlantis jersey James gave her. He was now her ex, and she felt there were no strings attaching her to him anymore.
“What are you looking at?” Jerald’s voice came from behind as he walked toward my desk.
I ignored him and continued looking outside the broad white window in front of me.
“Are you looking for your next catch?” he said, laughing.
“Just shut up,” I said in a low tone as I walked away from him.
“Everyone!” Jerald shouted, getting the attention of the class.
I stopped close to the door and turned to look at him, hoping he was not about to do something we would both regret.
“Please give your lunch to the needy,” he said, pointing at me. I gave him a disgusted look.
“The moment I served this needy food the other day, she claimed to be sick. The needy suddenly became healed,” he continued, leading the class into an outburst of laughter.
I was not sure what to do. It was too late to do anything, because the class was already wild and the air was filled with laughter.
“I will get back at you,” I said to Jerald as I walked away from the class, feeling embarrassed.
How did I ever confuse Jerald’s cowardly act with him being caring? I spent the rest of my day thinking about how to even the score with him. Not only had he humiliated me at the skatepark, now he had embarrassed me in front of the whole class.
I forgot the idea of meeting Dina and began cooking up a plan in my head.
………….
Entering the Youngs’ mansion, I sighted Mr. Young sitting in his usual elegant manner at the entrance of the house, reading a Chinese classic. Mr. Young lived up to his name. Even with grown-up sons, he still managed to look young, handsome, and stylish.
“Good day, sir. How are you?” I said, standing before him.
“I’m good, Miss Scott,” he said with a smile, looking up.
“Sorry to ask, sir, is Jerald in?” I asked curiously.
“No, he is currently observing his library hours,” he replied, taking his eyes away from the book.
“Sorry to say this, sir, but he may be skating at the nurses’ quarters,” I said, sounding concerned.
“Thank you,” he said, signaling his maid.
I was so excited as I walked toward the study. I knew I had gotten Jerald into trouble, I just did not know the amount of trouble.
I watched through the window as the army-green Benz left the compound and returned minutes later with Jerald in it.
At first, I felt excited seeing Jerald walk in, already looking scared. In minutes, my face turned pale. The joy I felt disappeared the moment I heard Jerald’s loud scream, followed by his father’s whipping and shouting.
His screams were so loud they could be heard from miles away.
All of a sudden, I became scared. I never imagined skating would land Jerald in that kind of trouble.
I felt worse the moment Jenny began sobbing as she listened to Jerald crying. I could not concentrate on tutoring as the loud scolding from his father continued for almost an hour.
I wished I could walk in and plead on his behalf, but it was not possible.
After a while, everything went silent. Then I heard a car start outside, and I quickly peeped through the window.
“Open the gates. I can’t listen to this,” Mrs. Young said gently as she got into the back seat of the black Jeep parked close to the garage.
Jerald’s mother looked eighteen. She had flawless skin, an even tone, and she was very beautiful. If not for the family portrait that sat in their art gallery, I would not have known what she looked like.
Back home, I could not think straight. I felt the need to share the incident with Dina. I was sure she could cheer me up a little, but Dina was not home.
I kept pacing restlessly around my room. At that moment, I wished I could call Jerald and apologize, that was if he was ever going to pick up.
The next day, I had eye bags because I could barely catch any sleep. I kept remembering the book of Isaiah which says, “But the wicked are like a tossing sea, which cannot rest… there is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.”
I was not wicked, but that verse kept ringing in my head throughout the night.
I was not sure if I wanted to go to school that morning, but I needed to come up with a tangible excuse for Mama.
Wrapping my hands around Dina, I began narrating the gory incident that had taken place. For once, Dina was disappointed in me, yet she tried to reassure me that everything would go well as long as I apologized.
The next morning, I stepped into the class slowly, remorse written all over my face. Nothing shocked me more than the state I saw Jerald in.
I was overwhelmed.