I was so happy that I thought of jumping up and down like a little kid. But that would be too weird for Lysha Evor to jump around like that in Public.
I was walking home but it had already become dark. I didn't know how long I was waiting for my audition. But it was really true! I was part of the Music Club! Finally the dream I had since I was five years old was a reality.
My jaw hurt after smiling for as long as I could remember but I didn't care at that moment.
I stopped in front of the bus stop where I had spotted the homeless kid. I had almost forgot about him. I pulled out my phone from my skirt's pocket and dialed Brooks' number.
"Yes, Young Mistress?" he answered.
"Brooks did you drop the kid safely at a good orphanage like I'd told you?" I asked.
"Yes, I did, Young Mistress. He is safe and has a warm place to stay."
"Thank you, Brooks. And sorry if it disturbed your routine."
"No worries, Young Mistress, shall I come and pick you up from school now?"
"No no, I'm not too far from home. I can go on my own, thank you."
"As you say, Young Mistress."
I hung up and continued to walk. The way he said 'Young Mistress' on his every sentence was getting kinda annoying to be honest. I'd had to make him stop calling me that but won't it be weird? I sighed.
I was walking straight ahead but then I saw Arken Sager at the other side of the road. But he wasn't alone though.
Beside him stood a man with a white suit and black hair slit back standing in front of a black BMW. Jarin Sager, Arken's dad!
Arken was saying something to his dad and his expression made him look sad.
I thought I exactly knew the case there. Jarin Sager was a CEO of one of the most powerful companies in the country just like Lysha Evor's mom.
Arken had lost his mother at the age of two so he had no other family than his father. But they didn't have a good relationship since Jarin was always off working to make his company stronger. And that made Arken upset of not able to spend time with his father.
And when Jarin found out about Elliana being Arken's girlfriend, like any other novel, he was against it because well, Elliana didn't belong to a rich family and it would be disgraceful.
My heart said that I should help Arken out with building a good relation with his dad. So when he introduced Elliana maybe then it would be good for the couple.
I crossed the road when the lights turned green for walking.
"Hello Mr. Sager! It's been a while hasn't it?" I waved at Jarin smiling wide.
"And you are?" Jarin asked.
"I am Lysha Evor, daughter of Alina Evor. We met at your last month's launch party," I reminded.
"Oh, Miss Evor, nice meeting you," Jarin smiled. As a matter of fact Jarin liked Lysha very much. He thought that she was perfect for Arken. And I might as well agree with him but a story's a story. Lysha Evor deserved better than the ending she received.
"How are you doing, Sir?" I asked.
"Oh no formalities, call me Uncle," he smiled as a crease appeared between his brows.
"Hi Arken," I greeted Arken but well he looked disgusted. Was Lysha really that bad to be treated like that? Uh huh, Arken hated her, alright. Actually now he heated me.
"What are you doing here?" he directly asked. That hurt.
I awkwardly chuckled and turned to face Jarin again. "Actually, Uncle if don't mind can I ask you something?"
"Of course Miss Evor, tell me," he folded his arms.
"Please refer to me Lysha only. I just wanted to tell that Arken seems upset at school lately. I asked him but he told me it's nothing. I wanted to know for sure though. Is everything okay?"
"Really?" his eyes widened.
"Yeah. He seems distant and whenever I or anyone tries to talk to him he acts all tough but I can feel that he...maybe feels lonely?"
He looked shocked. He really had no idea, did he now?
"I didn't realize that," Jarin said, barely a whisper. "Maybe I've been the person who's become distant to my son all along. Well, it has been a while since we spent the dad and son time together." He turned to look at Arken. "Let's go to the Arcade together again like old times, what do you say son?"
I looked at Arken, anticipating his reaction. Arken smiled. Like a literal smile! That was the first time I'd seen him smile.
"Yeah," Arken said. "I'd love to go."
"Well, I'll plan it out then and clear my schedule for the weekend," Jarin said and then he looked back at me. "Thank you Lysha dear for informing me about my son, I appreciate it."
"No worries at all. Arken's my friend-" I trailed off. Was he really my friend? Of course not he didn't see me as a friend anymore. "I mean that's no biggie!"
"It was great meeting you Lysha. Come to our house for dinner sometime." If that could happen in this life. I mentally laughed.
"Me too Uncle. And I'll stop by someday, thank you."
"Though, do you want my driver to drop you off to your house? It's dark, you know?" he asked.
"No it's fine, thank you. I like walking home now, just enjoying the fresh air. And my home's not that far, only a few minutes of walking."
"Are you sure?" he asked and I nodded. "Okay then, Arken, let's go home."
"You get in dad, I'll be there in a minute," Arken said.
Jarin nodded and took his seat inside the BMW.
Arken turned to look at me as I tried not to look away from his charming gaze.
"Why?" he asked.
"Arken, even if you hate me like you feel disgusted to even look at me but I don't feel the same okay?" I paused to analyze his expression which just showed confusion. "I really do want us to be friends again and I know I've done so many bad things and it's utterly wrong! But I...just want to make things how it used to be. When everything was normal and nice."
Why did I felt like crying right now? It felt like someone was pinching my heart again and again.
A silence followed. The most painful silence I'd ever experienced.
"I...never hated you Lysha. It's just that you had changed completely after your dad, you know?" he said.
Now a tear did come down from my eye. The mention of Lysha's dad made me feel like curling into a ball and weep to my heart's content. Lysha was really close to her dad until he passed away due to asthma when she was twelve. That was the most traumatic phase of her life. After that Lysha changed completely and unknowingly started bullying in middle school. That's when Arken started pushing her away from him. They were the best of friends before that.
I felt a jerk and the next moment Arken was hugging me as my eyes widened. He ran a hand down my open hair, comforting.
So this was what felt like to be comforted. It felt...nice.
As he pulled away, our eyes met.
"Well, you're still a cry baby, aren't you?" Arken asked as I sniffed. "Let's be friends again then just like we used to be and I'll help you, okay, Lysh?"
So many questions but I kind of knew the answer, "Yeah. I'd love that!" I grinned.
And that's how Arken Sager and Lysha Evor became friends again.