Chapter 14 The video
Uriel's POV
"I passed! I passed!"
I was elated.
This was one of the toughest exam for me. Mostly because my mother felt that it was the right time to take my phone where I had my reading material.
To think I even rushed through the textbook that morning before writing it.
I didn't expect myself to ace it 19/20.
It was pretty fair to me.
However, I may have triggered some persons.
My mother frowned at me, eyeing me up and down as she sat with Emma by her side.
Our school always sent our parents a copy of our test and result and then we also had a school copy we were to pick up in school.
I couldn't wait so I took the ones meant for my parents.
Not like anyone took it anyway. I was my parent.
"You passed what?" She asked me, anger laced in her voice.
I didn't even have the time to read the room as she snatched the paper from my hand, distracting me.
"19 over 20? Are you sleeping with the lecturer?"
I blinked severally looking at my mother in pure disbelief. How could that come out of her mouth?
"She's a woman!" I defended.
"And don't females sleep with each other?" She eyed me.
Emma's sob suddenly rose, getting my attention. I turned to her, forehead creased in confusion.
What was it now?
"See? You've made your sister cry."
My mouth fell open, looking between them.
"What did I do?"
Then I caught on her test paper. It just had to be that. I took it, looking down at the score.
15/20
I was dead.
"Yes. Look at it. You made your sister fail." My mother pushed my head down
Was it my fault that she wasn't so grounded in her academic work?
"She tried." I complimented.
My mother snatched the paper, shoving me aside. I locked my foot with the other, falling to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Oof!"
I shut my eyes, wincing in pain.
"She tried? You should've gotten the 15 then. How about that?" My mother gripped my hair, pulling it back. "You better make sure this doesn't happen next time, Uriel. I am warning you."
I bit my lips, my eyes watering with tears.
"What's going on here?" My father's voice boomed in the air.
Mother roughly let go of my hair.
"Can you imagine? Uriel scored 19 and Emma scored 15. How's that possible?" My mother showed me father the papers.
"So? It goes to show that Uriel is more dedicated. Didn't you take away her phone thinking it'll stop her?" As usual, my father took my side.
"I knew you'd support her. I don't even know why I try with you." Mother snatched the paper, tearing mine right on my head. I closed my eyes, tears slipping down as it littered all over my body.
"Faith!"
"What? Emma needs to be on clear standing so that she can make College!"
"And she's on clearing standing, ma. I am the one struggling. Over the years I've ensured that she never failed an exam. I wrote for two! Most times, I fail while she passed." The words broke out of my heart. Directly from there.
"All these things I do to make you and Emma happy but this one win. This one session that I've decided to equally prioritize myself so I can make College too..." I paused, swallowing my saliva. "You still are against it."
"Yes! She's your sister!" She yelled. "She comes first before you. Put her first."
"No, she will not. Emma is big enough to do her things herself." My father butted in, his tone hard
"Emma is a cheerleader, she's mostly tired from practice. Emma needs rest and sleep so that she can give the cheerleading team the best." My mother argued pointlessly. "Do you have anything you prioritize?" She glared at me.
It was pointless with her.
I helped myself up, dusting my trouser.
"I will put Emma first but there are times I would choose myself first over her." I told my mother, looking her straight in the eye.
She raised her hand up, only to fold it in the air. "You're really testing my patience, little girl."
Prioritize me too!
I wanted to scream but I was tired.
It was a lost cause.
She would never get it.
I wasn't Emma.
"You did good, Uriel. Keep it up okay?" My father praised me, squeezing my hand. "Do better, Emma. Stop being a liability to your sister."
"Sometimes I wonder if you're my father or you're only Uriel's father. You do not have my best interest at heart!" Emma yelled, storming off.
"Can you see what you both have caused?" My mother pointed mainly at me.
"Give Uriel her phone back, Faith. She deserves it." My father's voice was authoritative. "Now."
My mother eyed me, walking towards the kitchen cabinet. She brought out the phone, pressing it to my chest.
"You won't get away with the next one." She sneered. "You'll not eat for two weeks as punishment for letting your sister fail."
"But it's the other way around!" I cried.
"Are you shouting at me?" She frowned, pointing at me.
Clamping my mouth shut, I shook my head.
"Good." She hissed, storming off too.
"Uriel, I'm -"
"It's not your fault, Father." I sighed, picking my bag. I bent down to place a kiss on his cheek before leaving.
He looked at me with sad eyes.
I forced a smile on my lips, waving at him.
When I got to school, I was cornered by Emma.
"You may have won this battle but this is not the end, Sis. I'll break your wings." She pushed my back into the wall, turning away to leave.
There was nothing to say to her. What could she possibly to do me aside hiding my stuffs?
Or joining mum and I's head together?
I made a stop for the library, wanting to empty my heart in a quiet place before going to class.
My legs led me to the secluded part of the library. I dumped my bag on the chair, burying my face in my folded elbow.
The tears fell down, soiling the table. My head began to bang hard, my eyes hurting in the process.
When I raised my head up, I jerked back, almost screaming.
My heart slammed hard against my ribcage as I frowned at Ryder.
I quickly hid my face under the table, cleaning my eyes.
When I raised it back up, his eyes were settled on me. He was oddly calm and less talkative.
"What? Are you not going to ask me?" I frowned, folding my arms.
"Why?"
"What do you mean by why?" I frowned, quite confused. "How about teasing me about it?"
"Yeahhh about that. You look like a chain smoker. Red eyes, dry lips." He snorted.
Now that was Ryder.
"Thank you for the compliment. It's subtle." I said sarcastically.
"Oh I didn't know you liked it hard." His tongue brushed his lower lips.
"I don't like it hard."
"So, you like it soft? Gentle?" He folded his arms, enjoying the way he was taunting me.
"What are we even talking about!" I stood up, picking my bag.
"How you like it. I pegged you to like it soft though. You know, slow strokes through the heart." His eyes never left mine.
"Y... you! Pervert." I raised my bag, threatening to hit him with it.
"Hey! Hey!" He warned, his eyes glaring daggers at me.
I wasn't scared of him at this point
We were in an open space and it sounded playful too.
I'd beat the shit out of him anyway. I was angry enough to do that.
Pfft.
Who was I kidding?
With that hot, muscled body?
He'd beat me with just one hand.
"Don't you have class by 8? It's 8:05." Mrs Wonnell looked between Ryder and I.
Shit.
We stood up, racing to our English class together. Mrs. Linda would definitely think we're doing something.
Everyone would.
"This is bad." I panted, holding the door knob.
"This is nothing." Ryder shoved my hand away, pushing the door open. "I can hold your hand if you want?"
"Oh please!" I rolled my eyes, following him inside.
"Good. We'll start pairing from you both."
Huh?
"The both of you are partners for poetry. The theme is writing about your partner. Personal feeling ignite the poet in us."
"No, Mrs. Linda. Please don't do this. Not with him." I begged, eyeing Ryder to join me.
"Yeah. Not her." He said, his voice monotone.
"It's final. Go back to -"
Everyone began to pick their phones, engrossed in what was being shared.
Ryder and I shared a look - confusion.
"Isn't this you, Uriel?" A girl in front flashed the video to my face.
My heart raced.
With every lean to see the video clearly, it felt like my heart was going to fall.
I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I looked into the phone. They seemed like they were waiting.
I swallowed hard, paying close attention to the video.
I recognized it instantly.
I knew the culprit.
As if to rub salt into my wounded heart, the audio loudly blared, " don't I look pretty enough for you to fuck?"