*******
A girl was roaming, wandering through the corridors. It seemed as if she was looking for someone.
"Hey, Ruka!" she said looking out of breath standing in front of a guy who looked like upperclassmen. He was lean but muscular, tall, his skin was fair and his crimson red curly hair was covering his forehead. He looked angelic yet he was far from being it.
"Move it, Ito. I don't have time to waste on you" the guy went by her.
"Well I have some news that might interest you," she said blocking his way.
"I don't care! Get Lost!" he pushed her aside and started to proceed.
"It's about Bo" hearing that name Ruka stopped in these steps before walking again
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
"I know all about it Ruka. I know what happened between you two" judging from his silence Ito knew she had caught the right nerve. "Don't worry I haven't told about her to anyone."
"Do you think, just because you know a few things about my past, you have a chance to get closer to me?" scoffed the upperclassmen.
"I just wanted to give you a heads up. Thank me later" She said before leaving.
*******
After leaving the cafeteria I was really happy that everything went well with Pepper. I was happy because I found a lovely friend who believed me and not the rumors, unlike most people. Yet there was a part of me that was still worried because of what those girls said.
"Ah, I think I just can't help when it comes to her and with that smile, she reminds me of Mom," I mumbled and a smile crossed my lips.
During biology, Pepper asked me to give her my notes so she could copy what the teacher taught us yesterday. I told her to meet me at the school's gate.
I saw students leave, one by one, everyone left but Pepper didn't come. I waited for a while but still, there was no sign of her. It started to get on my nerves. I hope she's not lost, did she forget her way out? Or... I ran inside to look for her. As I was looking for her I felt someone as if was following me.
I turned around to see if there was anybody but there wasn't. I must be going crazy. I decided to ignore that feeling and went to look for her in the infirmary but she wasn't there, I went to the gymnasium but she wasn't there either so I went to the girls’ washroom to look for her next. God, I hope it’s nothing more than a stomach ache. As I opened the door I found a bag lying on the ground, it was damaged like someone intentionally tried to tear it apart, all of its content was spread on the ground as well. I walked in to take a better look at it, I picked up the now ragged bag and from it fell out an ID card. I turned it around and it had Pepper’s name on it.
"Pepper?!" Horror struck me as I called her name.
"Bo? Is that you?" Her voice was hoarse as if she has been crying.
"Were you crying? Are you not feeling well?” I leaned into the stall door. “Well come out I'll drop you home" I tried to console her hiding my worries.
"I'm alright I can go home by myself," she said in a dull voice. Of course, not, you are nowhere near being alright. Does she think I’m blind? It’s obvious someone did all of this to her.
"Pepper, Come Out Now," I said tapping the restroom door.
"I'm okay, I wasn't feeling good earlier but I'm fine now. You should leave you'll be late otherwise-" before she could finish it I flung the door open and I saw Pepper drenched in water.
It was dripping from her hair, her eyes were swollen which I guess was from crying for a long time. Lastly, I saw some scratches on her neck.
"Let's go to the infirmary," I said pulling her out of the small room. She wasn't complying with me but I was in no mood to listen to her. I took her to the infirmary and on my way, I felt that presence again as if someone was watching us but when I looked back there was no one, again.
Pepper was being weird, she was walking a step or two behind me. It didn't look like she had any injury to her legs, or did she receive any internal wound. Why was she walking behind me? I guess she was just shocked. I didn't ask her for now because she has already had enough today.
When we reached the infirmary it was empty. I seated her there and took out my gym clothes which I received after the classes ended.
I applied some antiseptic cream on her face and neck to disinfect the wound. The marks were a little less visible now than before. After Pepper was done changing, she got up and as we were about to leave, she tripped and fell dropping her uniform. When I bent down to help her, I saw something scribbled at the back of her shirt she dropped.
"D...Don't look please, Hand it b..back to me," Pepper said stuttering.
It read "I know you are here, Princess". No! No! this can't be happening! It can't be... no. It's just a coincidence, someone's planned this hideous prank on me.
"Pepper, I need you to tell me who did this?" but all I got was silence.
"Pepper, please just tell me! Was it a guy?" I asked grabbing her shoulders and pulling her out of her daze.
"No" she mumbled " I-" before she could say anything we were interrupted by a phone call.
"I have to go, my dad's here. See you tomorrow, Bo," and just like that, I was left alone, all of my worries and questions unanswered.
I could not let this affect me. He no longer controlled me. I have to stop thinking about it, I was so caught up in the facade that I totally forgot what time it was.
Though I wasn't that late, any normal parent would let that much slide but not my mom. She would tear down the world if I didn't reach home on time, trust me when I say this. Maybe it was because of the past events, that we now had each other only that she would worry over the littlest things.
I glanced at my sonata, "S**t, mom's gonna kill me," I dashed towards home.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
