Chapter 8 PRESSURE
Godiva’s POV
“Forgive their childishness,” Ben’s calm yet deep voice filled the air as he shook hands with Leo.
“Your brother is something else, a character, I’d say,” Leo added as we all laughed about it.
Staring at Ben, I recalled the incident at the clinic. I remembered his abs, his smile, and my face turned red as I blushed uncontrollably.
“The sports master is calling for you,” Ben said with a smile. “Don’t worry, I will take care of the pretty girl for you,” he added.
All through the game, I was losing focus, thinking about my encounter with Leo.
After school, Dina was all on my case, asking me to tell her everything that happened.
“Patient girl,” I said while smiling before narrating the blissful finger locking moment.
“Go girlie!” Dina’s scream filled the air as I jumped, trying to shut her up with my hands.
…………
Stepping into the Young’s compound, I sighted Jenny sitting alongside Ben on the white elegant rocking chair that sat at the entrance of the mansion.
“Hello, tutor,” Ben said while extending his hand to me.
“Hello, student,” I replied, wearing a big smile.
“Diva, you’re late,” Jenny said while folding her hands. She always did that when she needed candies from me.
“Oh my cutie,” I said, picking her up. “I got you lots of candies.”
“Yayyy!” Jenny said, hugging me tight as we walked into the study.
“Ewwww,” I said, walking in on Jerald and Lis kissing each other violently.
“You’ll get used to it,” Jerald replied.
Throughout the tutoring, I lost focus. Jerald and Lis sat on a couch at the corner of the study, either distracting me with the gross sound of their kissing or their weird comments on my tutoring style.
“Isn’t she supposed to be older?” I whispered to Ben, who was sitting right beside us.
Ben smiled and avoided the question.
Awwn, his smile was so cute. Unlike Jerald, I just hated his guts.
…………
The next day in class, I noticed the stare Jerald was throwing at me. I tried ignoring it, but it kept piercing through me.
“Can I help you?” I retorted, looking at Jerald, who in turn looked away.
“Sorry about yesterday,” Jerald said, standing in front of me. I was taken aback for a moment.
“Sorry for what exactly?” I asked, looking lost.
“You know, what Lis and I did yesterday,” he said in a low tone, looking around and stammering.
My loud laughter filled the class as attention turned to me.
“What the hell are you laughing at?” he whispered.
“Pardon my manners, but who put you up to this?” I said, still laughing.
“You owe your apology to Jenny. She’s too young to witness all that… you know,” I added, putting on a disgusted face.
“Young Jerald,” Lis’ voice called out from behind the class in her usual petty manner.
Focusing my gaze back on Jerald, I smiled and said, “Do better for a change.” He smiled and left. For minutes, his gorgeous smile lived rent free in my head.
“That was the first time I saw him smile. Never knew he had a one-sided dimple, girl,” I narrated to Dina as we walked back home from school.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? First you like Leo’s hands, then you like Ben’s abs, and now Jerald’s smile?” Dina questioned mockingly.
I hissed and walked off, paying no heed to Dina.
On getting home, I branched into the Young’s mansion.
…………
“A minute of your time, Miss Scott,” Mr Young’s voice called from outside the study.
“Good day, sir,” I said, approaching him with a smile. I stopped smiling the moment I noticed Lis standing beside him, sobbing.
“Have a seat, please,” he said, pointing to the fancy straw chair in front of him.
There was silence for a minute. A lot of questions kept running through my mind. Did I commit an offence? Did something happen? All these questions kept running through my mind as I sat waiting for him to break the silence.
“Lis over here says her one thousand dollar worth designer purse went missing,” he said, pointing at Lis, who was still crying.
I kept silent because I didn’t know what point he was trying to make exactly.
“Lis said she saw you pick the purse but is scared of confronting you,” he continued.
I was lost. I tried speaking up, but my voice kept shaking. I remembered Mama always told me confidence is the only proof I’d need. I tried to speak with confidence.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir,” I said, my voice trembling.
“Do you then give me the consent to go through your backpack?” he said, signaling a maid to bring my backpack.
Everywhere was getting blurry as tears welled up in my eyes.
What was I going to do if this girl framed me? I tried to think of an incident where I missed a purse or someone put something in my bag, but I couldn’t remember any.
“There will be no point for that, Pops,” Jerald’s voice came from behind. “Here’s your purse, my lady,” he continued with a smile as the purse dangled on his middle finger.
“Is that the purse, Lis?” Mr Young asked, looking at Lis, who nodded in approval.
“I saw it in Lis’ backpack,” Jerald added with a sarcastic smile.
“I… well… I think I kinda saw wrongly. My apologies, sir,” Lis said, stammering as she wiped her tears.
“Don’t you think you’re channeling your apology to the wrong person?” Jerald said, smiling sarcastically.
Lis was about defending herself when Mr Young’s calm voice filled the air.
“Lis, you need to apologize to Miss Scott.”
“I’m sorry for confusing what I saw,” she said rudely as she bowed in the traditional Chinese way.
“Sorry for the confusion,” Mr Young added as I stood up to leave.
“It’s no problem, sir,” I said in between sobs as I walked away.
I stood there, sobbing and looking at the neatly folded envelope of cash Mr Young gave me as an apology. I had never felt humiliated that way.
I didn’t know the pain in being falsely accused. I wanted to tell Mama, but I knew that would be the end of my tutoring.
Deep inside, I felt ever grateful to Jerald.
I stepped out of the study, barely steady.
“Miss Scott, wait,” Mr Young called.
I turned slowly.
His expression had hardened. “There is something else missing.”
Lis’ tearful eyes met mine.
“And this time, it is not small.”
My heart slammed against my ribs...