For a moment, Aster was at loss. The seconds after she turned her back was kind of fuzzy. It left a gaping hole that boggled her mind. The only plausible explanation was it must be because of shock. Mandy actually threw a poor vase at the window creating an imperfect circle fit for a person to jump into. Among all of them who seemed in processing stage, Ms. Sanz was first to recover.
"You may leave, Aster, Care and Mrs. Aragon. I believe I need to talk in private with the Salvadors." She declared.
They did go out before things went awry. This is the second time Care saw Mandy manifest her violent tendencies. It was honestly alarming.
Remember the girl she hit with a chair who connived with her in the end?
A twisted collusion, indeed.
Care headed straight to her next class with a conflicted look due to her legs throbbing in pain with every step. Aster smiled, reminding her of their bargain. She raised her hands up midair as complete surrender.
"I will back you up and bring the due justice for myself if and only if you'd let me help you, too. And I concede… for now. I won't snitch on Tito. This is truce. I'd just protect you by my own means." That was Aster's condition.
Although hesitant to leave, she was forced to honor the agreement. Aster then hastened her strides in order to match the pace of Helena Aragon departing.
"Tita, Care will stay with me until Tito gets back to town." she casually said in a manner of informing instead of asking permission.
Naturally, she should be scared of being brazen yet all she feels for the horrid woman from that day and onwards is hatred. Her blood boiled at a mere thought of how severe the emotional scar she inflicted on Care was --- No, in fact, still inflicting. The two-faced Mrs. Aragon is in no way stopping, she believed.
"My dear, I understand how you need support but I can't allow---"
"No buts, Tita! I hope what you did to Care shall be the last time you would do such an abominable thing unless you'd love incurring the whole Aurum's condemnation. My sister isn't called tattletale for no reason." Aster implicitly threatened.
Ena halted her steps, stunned. She lost the chance to counter or deny the implied allegation because Aster walked away quickly, then soon met Ivy across the deserted hallway. Her sister almost crushed her body through her fierce hug.
"I heard from our family lawyer! Why didn't you tell me?!" Ivy yelled. The frustration and pain were evident in her strangled voice, crumpled face and shuddering body because of the storm brewing within her.
For the second time today, Aster was at loss. Frankly, Ivy as she claimed now did not cross her mind. Marigold couldn't care less so she guessed maybe Ivy didn't, too. Nonetheless, the guilt gripped her heart upon staring at her sister's eyes glistening with tears then one after another eventually trickled her cheeks.
Ivy Nguyen never sheds tears and if she did, no one witnessed not even her sisters until today.
"Sorry, I didn't expect you to care." She blurted out.
"Of course, I do! Why did you ever think I won't?" Ivy replied.
Her suspecting eyes searched for answers in hers. Aster was good at lying till she discovered earlier how liberating to tell the truth is. Lying has become a difficult strenuous task.
"Mari..." She trailed off, because admitting seemed to be an act of betrayal against Marigold but Ivy understood. The two syllables were a dead giveaway already.
The lady, without another word spoken, marched into the gym where Marigold was dancing with her fellow cheerleaders. With her knees turned wobbly at the sight of livid Ivy, Aster barely managed to reach the door when her sisters were a mere meter distance. Well, in her panicked state, she was at least able to call help from Caspian.
"You knew!" Ivy spat.
"Huh?" Marigold mumbled, disoriented up until she noticed the presence of Aster, "I see, the damsel in distress---"
Ivy's hand moved instinctively in the height of blind rage. Before she realized what she had done, her palm smacked Marigold's cheek which knocked her off balance. The cheerleaders, the live eye-witnesses, gasped.
"You've gone overboard, Marigold. I'm telling Grandpops."
Marigold scoffed the pain in her butt away. She stood up, taking a step closer like a part of the pack wolf challenging the alpha.
"What a filial sibling you are! It had been years, Iv, how come? If you really cared, you would have noticed sooner. Obviously, Ivy Nguyen obsessed about herself so much she could not be bothered about someone else! I bet even Caspian never occupied a single percent in your thoughts. It's always yourself!"
Aster found the willpower to intercept between them before the worst scenario happens.
"Ivy, please get a grip! I blame neither of you." Aster insisted.
"Don't! You were a punching bag for the girls I've crushed and for those who Marigold had stolen their boys. How can't it not be our fault?" Ivy retorted, downcast and despondent.
"For Pete's sake, you sound as if she's a saint although the truth is, she killed Papa!" Marigold retorted, darting her finger at Aster.
That was Ivy's last straw. She immediately lunged at Marigold and pulled her ponytailed hair. The latter fought back with equal aggression. On the other hand, poor Aster was shoved on the side. If she tries to meddle in the squabble, she surely will be a helpless mouse caught in the fight of lions.
At last, it was Caspian who saved the day! He grabs Ivy by the waist and uses his other hand to restrict Marigold from pursuing her sister.
"Ivy Nguyen, snap of it!" He rebuked in a fatherly manner then faced Marigold, "MG, cool off elsewhere, we'll meet you back in the mansion."
They say triplets share a special connection incomparable from ordinary siblings. Some people refer to this as telepathy while Marigold calls it a big BS. What only tied them was their identical faces. Whatever talk they have will never fix their severed bond. Her grudges especially are too deep rooted.