Mona, in a happy mood prepared for school, she recalled yesterday, she didn't even mind Mr Ken when he was teaching, her mind was just on her friend. Now that she had done her part yesterday by leaving them together yesterday, she wondered how happy Gina would be too today, she had breakfast without her parents.
They usually leave so early, so after breakfast, she went to school with Ben. He was her other best friend but the friendship they shared wasn't the same level of friendship she shared with Gina.
Gina knew almost everything about her and if Mona didn't love her friend, she wouldn't have shared so much about herself with her.
Ben drove her to school and the day began. The moment Mona reached her class, she saw Gina and not Derick. With that, she approached Gina and nudged her arm. When her friend's gaze settled on her, she raised her eyebrows impatiently waiting for Gina to share her last evening with Derick.
Gina invited Mona to sit, she was reading that popular comic they all read. 'The parallel universe'
Mona swirled her bag to her lap as she bent to sit. She settled and focused on Gina. "So how was it? I was thinking all night about how to get you two together again and I came up with another idea but first, tell me how yesterday was. Did he like it?" Mona expected Gina to hug her as usual whenever she was excited about something but she didn't, Mona could sense her happiness but it was like she didn't really want to share it.
But patiently, she waited for her friend's response and after flipping to the other page of the comic and killing Mona's patience, she answered. "He just kept harping about how disappointed he was about you leaving without informing him. He even said that he only came to the restaurant because of you. He made me feel unwanted and you know why. . ." Gina eventually looked at her friend with that blank expression but it was more like a facial expression of slow hatred. Mona couldn't stand that expression as she stared directly at her friend in astonishment, she looked away. The new day was just a new date, a progressing time and not a change in her life challenges.
The new day hasn't arrived, it still felt like yesterday, the difference was the time. She swallowed and lowered her gaze. "It was because of you" Gina finished. "I don't even know what he sees in a black girl like you. I'm way more beautiful but he keeps looking at you, chasing you" Gina's frustration and anger were expressed harshly.
"I'm. . . sorry" Mona muttered. "Let's try again, I know he'll agree and see that you are the one for him but if we stop now, it won't. . ."
"No, I feel I shouldn't ask for your help anymore. You might just be playing me and dating him behind my back"
"How could you Gina? You actually think that I'm in a relationship with him behind your back. Remember I always tell you my feelings and who I like. I've never told you that I had any feelings for Derick" Mona was quick to defend her clean guts but Gina looked not convinced, she wasn't at all convinced. She scoffed and looked at the comic before her.
After sighing at the reaction she received from her friend, she said. "Is there anything I can do to prove that I'm not dating him behind your back?"
"He will come to you to ask why you left, reply to him rudely. Make him dislike you" Gina answered immediately as if knowing Mona's thoughts.
Mona wanted to refuse. "I don't know how to make someone dislike me"
"Excuses as always. . . alright, I'll give you tips"
That was the agreement they had before classes started. Mona's mind was busy, she was just being strong in front of her friend earlier when she called her a black girl, those words hurt her but she didn't know what to react and how to react. What to do or say. She was just left crushed by her friend.
Should she listen to what Mr Ken said to her yesterday? No, Gina was her friend, it might just be a slip of tongue, she didn't mean it and once Derick and her are together. Things between them will be fine, she was sure of that.
Mr Ken walked into the class with his graceful aura as usual. Sluggishly, she stood up and greeted his presence. After sitting she brought her books to listen to the lectures but then her gaze fell on Derick who was staring lost in thoughts at her.
Mona looked away and listened to Mr Ken's statement, he was talking about the test they'd be having next week and they should prepare well for the test, then he went ahead and asked questions about the previous topic on Pythagoras theorem. That topic seemed to be a piece of cake but it was tricky. With what Mona shared with him yesterday, he decided to act a little upon it. He wrote a question on the board and called Mona and Gina to solve the theorem. Seeing that Gina was her rival in the case. Mona took the marker and solved it wrongly, she knew how to solve for the height but she decided to fail because she didn't want Gina to.
She was rich Gina wasn't, she could do the class again. Gina couldn't because she was a scholar so losing to her was better.
Happiness suffused Gina the moment Mona wrote the wrong answer on the board, everyone laughed at her stupidity in mathematics but when Gina got the answer right.
They applauded her including her best friend Mona. "See, I'm better than you" Gina whispered to her as they returned to their various seats. 'i know' Mona said to herself.
When Gina sat down she saw Derick staring at Mona with creased eyebrows. "What's wrong?" She asked.
"Mona knows the answer to the question, I don't know why she had to fail it. Besides, she looks not okay" he uttered, with that Gina looked behind her to glare at her friend. Even when she's bringing herself down the boy was still on her damn side. What was she going to do?
Mr Ken swallowed after hearing Mona's thoughts, what type of girl was she? She failed because she wanted her friend to carry the crown that was hers. Everyone booed her but she was happy because her friend was being praised, what she didn't know was that the friend she was sacrificing so much for had no good thoughts about her, she didn't deserve the love Mona was offering to her.
He stole a glance at her teary face but she hid it so well by rubbing her palm against her forehead. He could hear her tell herself, that she was fine multiple times but truly she was crushed badly.