Ella got home and did her new routine of writing a summary of what happened that day with a date on top of it in her diary.
Jessica wasn't happy with what happened, she promised herself not to let that scene slide.
Poison ivy is a very rare plant, but Jessica still managed to get her hands on it. She is careful enough to mix the extract well with water and put it safe in a bottle. Poison ivy is an allergenic plant which extract causes rashes and itchy bumps.
The next day, Jessica hands it to Darifa and asks her to pour directly on Ella's skin.
"What is this?" Darifa asks as she collects the bottle of liquid from Jessica.
"It's nothing, all you have to do is pour it directly on Ella's skin." Jessica replies bluntly.
"I hope it won't harm her?" Darifa asks with fear.
"No." Jessica lies.
The plan is to be carried out during lunch hours, right in front of everyone. The bullies walks in as usual and Jessica stares at Ella for a while. Then Darifa pours the liquid directly on Ella's skin, not only did Ella itch her skin with pains, she faints immediately after itching her skin in a very hard manner for some moment. The entire student were in distraught, Jessica herself didn't expect Ella to faint. Asma and Abdullah bends to Ella calling her name hoping she would open her eyes but she didn't.
Some students rush out to call the attention of some teachers, the teachers rush in and take Ella out. Darifa was dumbfounded, what if something terrible happens to her?
Right after, the school bullies moves out and went to a quite place.
"What was the meaning of what happened earlier there?" Emerens asks.
"I don't know, we should ask Darifa, she poured the liquid."
Jessica pretends not to know anything and looks at Darifa straight in her eyes. Darifa couldn't believe her ears, she was pained and annoyed. How could Jessica do this to me? Darifa thought in her mind.
"Darifa, what if something Terrible happens to Ella, will you take the full responsibility? How could you do something like that?" Emerens asks worriedly.
"Emerens, why are you suddenly acting like a saint?" Darifa asks and faces Jessica. "Jessica, you gave me the bottle filled with liquid and asked me to pour it directly on Ella's skin. I did it because you are the leader of this group and I have to be loyal to you, so why would you make me take full responsibility?" Darifa asks with pain and tears already rolling down her round cheeks.
"Wow, are you already planning on framing me?" Jessica asks again. "I don't know anything about what you did, thank goodness everyone saw you pour the liquid on her."
Darifa couldn't believe her ears, how could the table just turn and she is on the table for bully and threat?
"I knew you were always a ruthless and wicked person, but I never knew you could go this far." Emerens adds.
Darifa couldn't say anything, she walks out of the place silently.
On the sick bed, she tries to open her eyes, but the first vision isn't clear, so she close and opens it again. Slowly, she starts to have a clear and better vision, Vivian was there with her.
"Ella." Vivian calls gently and bends over to her patting her head. "How are you feeling now?"
"I still fell weak and my skin is still very itchy." Just after that statement, Ella looks at her hand and sees the big red boils all over her. "What is this?" Ella asks in shock.
"Don't worry about it, the doctor said you reacted to something, but the students told me someone deliberately poured some sort of liquid on you before you collapsed." Vivian stops patting her head and stands. "Do you by any chance remember who did that?"
"Yes." Ella nods and smiles. "But, the person who did it didn't act on her own."
"What do you mean by that?" Vivian asked confused.
"You remember those bullies I told you about?" She asks and Vivian nods. "I know Jessica asked Darifa to do it."
"I don't care." Vivian retorts. "Whoever did this to you must take the responsibility, she was stupid enough to follow the orders of a mere classmate. I will make sure she gets expelled and punished severely."
Just in time, there is a knock on the door and it happens to be Darifa.
"Talk of the devil." Ella says and smiles.
"I am sorry for what I did, please I am ready to accept any form of punishment. I don't want to be expelled." Darifa pleads with tears.
"Really?" Vivian scoffs. "You weren't aware of the backlash when you poured the terrible liquid on her?"
"Please forgive me." Darifa continues to plead.
"Confess to everyone, that Jessica made you do it." Ella advices. "That is the only way you will not be expelled."
"I acted on my own." Darifa retorts.
Vivian opens her mouth in disbelief and annoyance.
"Alright then, no problem. Continue to live your life as a shadow of someone else's and keep paying for someone else's crimes and mistakes you pathetic looser."
Ella whispers in annoyance and it really get to Darifa, but what can she do? If she dare open her mouth to talk, Jessica will kill her for real. At their young and tender age, they also had to live with fear and low self intimidation.
"It's not as easy as you think, Ella." Darifa says sobbing loudly. "It's best if I don't talk at all." Darifa runs to Vivian and holds her hands. "Please, help me out just this once, I promise not to bother you at all again, I will do as you say. Just help me not to get expelled."
Both Vivian and Ella pity her, the tears are real and it is coming from the place of hurt. Even though she does not want to confess to the fact that she did not act alone, her behavior shows she didn't act alone.