55: C55 Chapter 55

C55 Chapter 55

That woman almost imprinted another slap on my cheek if only Kevin did not catch her hand. I wondered how Kevin had a gut to confront her mother. She drew her hand from his son's hold with an anger she was ready to throw.

"What have you done to my son? It seems you have the power to change him." I was speeches, sticking where I was. No form of defense I addressed to her. Debating with her would only put me in a worse situation. She could easily dispute me in any way.

"I forget to tell you one thing, Mom." It was Kevin she turned to with her questioning look. "The one whom I haven't told you saved my life was Ilana. She almost lost her life because of me."

"How can you doctrine my son?" Instead of commenting on what Kevin just revealed, she snapped at me. Not only it shocked me, but it also made Kevin aghast.

"Mom..." Kevin protested. She lifted and faced her palm on that boy, silencing him.

"It was just misunderstanding." I eventually uttered my argument as I could not manage to stay calm. I was afraid that my silence would mislead her into wrong thoughts about me. She would conclude that I had a bad influence on Kevin's life if I just muted my mouth. So, I needed to affirm that her impeachment was fallacious. "I never instill a doctrine or brainwash your son or whatever it is you blame me to do. Besides, your son and I are not friends. On the other hand, we never interact at school. So, there is no way I try to do such things to your beloved son." My sentences might sound provoking rather than convincing.

"Do you think I will take your non-sense seriously? I was pretty sure you are just babbling out. Who do you think the girls don't want to be close to my son?" Her arrogance boosted an outrage inside me yet I held it back with my clenched hands.

"Mom, it's enough. Can we talk about it later at home?" Kevin was trying to reconcile.

"Look how you treat your mother now? This girl..." His mother landed her slap on Kevin's face.

"Mom, please." Kevin touched his red cheek, a mark from her mother's palm of the hand.

"Since when have you had the nerve to disobey your mother? We'll surely talk about it at home." She proceeded toward the school principal's desk and grabbed her handbag. Without glancing at us, she pulled the door and slid through it. The door was slammed harshly behind her.

I ran out after her with Kevin behind me. Kevin was chasing and shouting at me. I pretended not to hear his voice. Turning to the female students' toilet, I locked myself there. I stood by the basin and washed my face while looking at the person reflected in the mirror. The person, who was no other but me, looked more terrible. The slap painted there might disappear. However, the pain it left remained. For my own good, I had to forget what happened in the school principal's room today. There was one test left today. I didn’t want this issue to impact my performance on the test. This was not something I was concerned about, after all.

Observing my reflection in the mirror with sympathy, I pitied myself, not because I was ugly but the bad luck prevented me from taking care of myself. Indeed, I had no acne on my face at all yet it was not smooth like other girls. My honey skin turned tan due to the sunlight that burned my face and skin every time I worked. It was my oval face with a pointed nose along with big eyes and small pink lips that made me look not that bad. I got my eyes and nose from my mother while the lips and complexion I inherited from my father.

I withdrew a tissue and dried my wet face with it. To tidy my messy long dark hair, I combed it with my fingers and formed it into a bun. My appearance was not better. At least, I did not look like a homeless beggar.

I rushed to the library as soon as walking out of the toilet. The students were crowding in the library. They were preparing for the next season of the exam. Vera had been there with her full concentration on her book she was reading. She did not even glimpse at me when I took a seat opposite her. That girl might be still angry with me. I did not expect that my reaction this morning on what occurred to Kevin ignited her irritation.

"I am wondering if you have a plan after school." I broke the silence. "I intend to study with you for the exam tomorrow." She raised her head.

"I think Kevin is free. Why don't you ask him?" she quipped.

"I know I have made mistake. Could you please forgive me?" She stopped reading and closed her book

"You are not wrong in this case. It is me the one who should say sorry. I am too childish. I'm sorry for your inconvenience. But, I just don't want you to get hurt. You know Kevin is a bad boy. I think it is ok that he is sometimes not okay."

"I understand. Well, can we study together after school?"

"Sure."

Vera inquired me to see her by the front gate after school hours were over. As soon as the last test came to an end, I packed my stuff and went out of the classroom. I enthusiastically scooted the corridor and descended that upstairs to get to the first floor. Someone interrupted my pace just after I passed the end of the stairs. It did not surprise me to know that it was Kevin blocking my way. He grinned at me awkwardly. Shortly, he fished something out of his pants pocket.

"Try this." He handed me a bar of chocolate.

"I don't like chocolate," I said.

"Chocolate can stimulate endorphins in your brain that function to create happiness. Have you heard of that? You have been through a hard day; it can boost your mood." He gave a detailed explanation.

"I still don't want it." I rejected. "How is your wound?"

"Thanks for asking. I have been well. The bandage has been removed."

"That's good." I was about to swipe to another side. He postponed me.

"I am doubtful that you don't like chocolate. Or is it for I am the one who gives it to you, not Reno?"

"I was fed up debating with anyone." I stated. It shut his mouth up.

Taking the path next to him, I intended to go away from him. Unfortunately, my feet skidded. I almost tripped over; Kevin caught my body and kept me from falling. Driven by the situation in which we were only a few centimeters apart, the throb drummed my heart faster. My heart did not work normally to pump the oxygen through my whole body that I hardly took a breath. It was when my hands gripped his sleeves and our eyes met, Vera came from another direction and stared at me intently. Her eyes told me one thing. She felt disgusted.0

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