Aila quickly wiped her face clean and waited for Reese to come.
"Are you okay girl?" Reese worriedly asks her.
"Yes, I actually feel a lot better, I was just overwhelmed about those two guys."
"I see, it is most likely the first time you handle things like this yourself, if not; they might have been banished for giving you a hard time."
Aila was shocked to hear what Reese just said… Seeing how shocked Aila is, Reese hugged her.
"You..."
"You see I am not supposed to tell you just yet, but the hell with rules, I am your friend and I can't keep this from you anymore."
Aila was speechless, but her tears kept flowing with the realization that, again she failed to have a real friend, Reese turned out to be a member of her security team.
Reese saw how hurt Aila was; she decided to tell her the truth, but ended up hurting her more. She pushed her earrings in her left ear;
"Sierra 1, come pick up the princess, use the 3rd gate of the school."
Aila and Reese were quiet the whole time they were inside the car. As soon as they arrived at Aila's mansion, she went straight to her bed and cried her heart out. Reese quietly stayed by her side, waiting for an opportunity to be able to explain her side.
Aila finally had the courage to sit up; she hugged both her knees while still crying. Reese fixed Aila's hair while she was trying to keep her emotions in check. Aila cleared her throat,
"You know who I am?"
The guilt in Reese's eyes was evident.
"Yes, I am one of your undercover security staff."
Aila's tears began flowing again.
"I thought I had finally gained a friend… but this was all staged." Reese hugged Aila…
"It's not like that at all, I am really a student too, and I approached you with all sincerity, I really wanted to be your friend."
Aila looked at Reese nodding, wanting her to continue with the explanation.
"Do you remember the school fair? When you went missing, I was so worried about you, I tried calling you but you were not answering your phone, then I went to the principal's office to ask for your address."
Aila smiled at Reese.
"So I am guessing the principal is also aware?"
Reese nodded her head.
"The school is yours, the principal was appointed by your family… she asked me to be part of your security staff since she trusts my relationship with you… and I agreed because I care about your safety."
Aila hugged Reese,
"At least, I am comforted with the thought that the friendship we have is the genuine right?" Reese chuckled
"Of course! I would have not agreed if not, crazy girl!" she messed up Aila's hair.
"Oops, I can still call you crazy girl right?" Reese said while both of them are laughing hysterically.
"Princess, now let's get to your other problem." She sneered at Aila as if she's waiting for her to confess something to her. Aila understood the look on Reese's face…
"What? I don't like that look on your face."
"Forgive me my princess, but what is it that makes the situation harder for you? I mean it's not like the first time you've been chased like this by guys." Reese blurted out her thoughts.
"Well, I usually just need to turn them down once and no one ever bothers me again… these two guys are just too stubborn." Aila let out a big sigh.
Reese was trying to ingest the information Aila was making her understand since she never had such experience herself.
Aila continued… "Vince and Ken, I like them as friends nothing more and it frustrates me that they can't accept it as it is. You know I don't like fanfares, I'm not looking for trouble, I want to graduate as smoothly as possible."
"I understand you better now. Do you want to hear my advice?" Reese asked Aila with a concerned tone.
Aila nodded in agreement.
"Embrace it…" Aila was surprised with Reese's advice.
"Huh? What?"
"Girl, this is part of the experience you want as a normal teen, then you should experience this; do you think they will do this if they knew who you really are? So what you must do is accept it and go with the flow, I mean you don't need to love them back but it's not wrong to enjoy it either."
Aila smiled, "I guess you're right, so starting tomorrow this burden should be lifted off my shoulder." She stood up and fixed herself.
"That's my girl!" Reese shouted in glee.
The following day at school, Aila and Reese went to school together. Aila was feeling better about herself, she was actually looking forward to seeing the two guys and to apologize for being mean to them. She was all smiles while they were walking towards their classroom; when a storm was brewing not too far from them. Rachelle and Tracy were in the hallway looking like they were about to make a very undesirable scene.
Tracy said in a loud voice; "The ultimate sl*t is here!"
Rachelle looking fiercely at Aila as she blocked her path, she was standing there with her arms across her chest.
"See what I'm talking about? This won't happen either if they knew… so embrace this hahaha…" Reese whispered to Aila, they laughed together.
Aila was unfazed, she slightly pushed Rachelle out of the way, and continued on her way. The hallway was filled with chatters mocking the failure of Rachelle's attempted intimidation of Aila.
As they reached their classroom, Aila saw the two guys with the obvious tension between them. She smiled at them, which caught them off guard.
"Hi Vince, Hi Ken." She smiled so sweetly they were again captivated with it; they were not able to respond.
"Hey guys, I'm here to apologize to both of you, if I've hurt you in any way. I also want you to know that I will be more considerate to you both as I am expecting you to be considerate of my feelings as well."
Vince and Ken were taken aback with Aila's attitude towards them; the resentment she obviously showed to them was not there anymore.
Vince's maturity showed, he reached out his hand to Ken,
"Brother, let's not fight anymore, just make this lady feel loved until she feels the same way."
Ken stood up and reached out his hand as well, "For Aila."