Packing his bag as fast as he could, Fred dashed towards the door, leaving Elli dumbfounded. "Where is he going?" Elli asked, carrying her bag.
"Elli, go home alone. We have a... football practice," Seth said, following Fred.
Elli stood there alone, her heart heavy with disappointment. She glanced at her friend's bench, but neither Amaya and Sophia were with her today. With a dejected face, she made her way towards the door, feeling like the fifth wheel.
"Seth! Why are you late!?" Jay whispered, peeking out from behind a wall. Seth joined him, his eyes widening in amusement.
"Damn, look at him," Seth chuckled, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's totally smitten."
"They're heading somewhere. Should we tail them?" Jay suggested, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Seth and Jay exchanged a knowing glance. Moments later, Seth turned around with a gasp.
"AHH!"
Jay and Seth jumped back in surprise, their hearts pounding. Standing behind them were their classmates.
"What's the commotion, fellas?" one of the boys asked, a sly grin on his face.
"Nothing, man," Seth replied, dismissing it with a wave of the hand. "Just hanging out."
"C'mon man," another boy interjected. "We want to meet our future sister-in-law too."
Jay and Seth shared an uneasy glance.
"They're moving!" someone announced.
As they turned their heads, they saw Fred and the girl approaching.
"Hide!" Seth exclaimed, grabbing Jay's hand and running towards a nearby shop.
They huddled behind menus and newspapers, their eyes fixed on the couple. Through the gaps, they witnessed Fred flipping his friends the middle finger.
Seth's blood boiled with rage. He threw the menu aside and glared at Fred. With his bag slung over his shoulder, he led the group in pursuit of Fred and the girl.
Meanwhile, Fred's jaw clenched in frustration. He cursed himself for sharing his secret with his friends.
"Fred, I think those boys are following us," the girl whispered, her voice trembling.
Fred forced a smile, his eyes narrowing. "Are they? I don't think so."
"But I've been seeing them everywhere we go. Shall we call the police?" The girl whispered, looking at Fred with her puppy eyes. Melting in her innocent eyes, Fred smiled at the girl and patted her head, ready to betray his friends. "Sure." The girl and Fred walked hand in hand while his friends were unaware of the betrayal.
*Ringing*
Amaya sat on the couch, her legs hugged tightly to her chest, her gaze lost in the flickering images on the TV screen. The phone on the table next to her rang non-stop, but her mind was preoccupied with a thousand thoughts, and she failed to notice.
"Hello..." Sophia answered the call, her voice cutting through the haze of Amaya's reverie.
"What?" Sophia's brow furrowed in confusion. Amaya released her legs and sat up straight, her attention drawn to her friend's hushed conversation.
"Okay..." Sophia whispered, rubbing her temples. "Everything good?" Amaya asked, her voice laced with concern.
With a heavy sigh, Sophia glanced at Amaya and shook her head in disappointment.
"You're... their teachers?" The police officer's voice asked suspiciously. Seated opposite him was Mrs. Hailey, her demeanour as cold and unyielding as ever. Seth, Jay, and the other boys remained silent, their heads bowed in shame.
"Yes, officer. I apologise for the trouble my students have caused," Mrs. Hailey said, her voice devoid of emotion. She took out her card and showed it to officer.
"Let this be the last time. You're all students, so I'm letting you go this time. But if you end up in my hands again, I'll file a report," the officer warned the boys before dismissing them.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hailey!" The boys exclaimed, bowing their heads in gratitude. Mrs. Hailey sighed and shook her head. "You guys are definitely the worst students I've encountered in my entire life."
"Thank you for the compliment and the help, Mrs. Hailey," a voice said from the doorway. Amaya and Sophia stood there, their arms crossed and their expressions a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"Ama? Sofy?" Seth called out in confusion. Amaya responded by kicking Seth in the shin, sending him stumbling. "Ow!"
"What! If Mrs. Hailey hadn't come, you would have been kicked out of the football match!" Amaya scolded, her eyes narrowed at her classmates. "It's not that serious-"
"Amaya is right," Mrs. Hailey interrupted Jay, her gaze fixed on the boys. "You were lucky to escape with a warning this time. But remember, actions have consequences. And next time, you may not be so fortunate." Everyone nodded their heads in guilt.
"Well, boys," Amaya said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "it seems like you've learned your lesson."
"Yeah," Seth muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "We won't do it again."
"Good," Mrs. Hailey said, her tone softening slightly. "Now, go home and get some rest. You have a big match tomorrow."
With a collective sigh, the boys turned and shuffled out of the police station. Amaya and Sophia followed behind, their laughter echoing through the empty hallway.
"I can't believe you guys got arrested," Sophia said, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're supposed to be the school's star athletes, not its resident troublemakers."
"We know," Seth said, his voice filled with remorse. "We messed up."
"Well, you're lucky you have Mrs. Hailey on your side," Amaya said. "She's the only one who can keep you guys in line."
"Yeah," Jay agreed. "We're grateful for her help."
As they walked out of the police station, the sun was just beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the city. The boys took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling a sense of relief and gratitude.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Sophia asked. Seth and Jay exchanged a glance with the other boys, an evil smirk on their faces—a clear sign of another mischief in the works. Amaya sighed, knowing that they would never learn their lesson.
"Zeya," In the symphony of chopping vegetables, my mother's voice cut through the air, calling my name. A warm and gentle smile adorned her face, but her gaze held a hint of curiosity that I couldn't ignore. Her voice soft and inviting, "the girl I met today, what is her name?"
It was unusual for my mother to inquire about my friends, so I couldn't help but steal a quick glance at her. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and anticipation.
"Amaya," I whispered, my voice barely above a murmur. I washed the vegetables in silence.
"Is she your classmate?" she asked, her tone casual.
"No, she's from another section," I replied, my heart pounding in my chest.
She nodded, her smile widening. "Where does she live?"
"Just down the street, house number 204," I said, my voice barely audible.
"She seems so sweet and innocent," my mother mused, her eyes twinkling with a hint of knowing. I smiled at her words, but my heart ached with a pain.
"Don't let her face fool you, mom," I said, my voice quite playful. "I'm telling you, she's a rebellious kid. If she doesn't get what she wants, she'll destroy it rather than give it to someone else." I smiled at my mom.
My mother raised her eyebrows in surprise, her smile widening. "Really? She doesn't seem like that type of girl." She stopped cutting the vegetables and turned to face me fully.
"I know, right!" I exclaimed, quite happy and proud of her. "But she is. She isn't afraid of anyone, not even the principal!"
"What about her parents?" she inquired, her voice gentle.
"Her father passed away when she was young, and her mother remarried," I whispered, my voice barely above a murmur. "She doesn't like to talk about her family much."
"She's such an angel," my mother said, her voice filled with sympathy. "You should bring her here sometime. I'll cook a delicious meal for her."
"Um. Okay," I agreed without much thought. "She loves the pancakes you make. You should definitely make those for her."
"You know so much about her," my mother said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Do you love her that much?"
I chuckled, "Of course, I love her a lot-" My voice trailed off, a heavy silence descending upon the room. I lowered my gaze and pulled my hand away from hers. "I-I have homework to do."
With that, I turned and walked towards my room, closing the door behind me. Leaning against the door, I allowed the tears to flow freely down my cheeks, my lips trembling as I bit back sobs. I love her, mom.. I love her so much.. More than anything and anyone in this world. I wiped my tears and took a deep breath to calm down my heart. But I can't tell you that. Because she can never be mine.