It's been hard

Chapter 17 It's been hard

News about her ransacked room spread like wildfire in the academy and then she was suddenly pitied and sympathized. Rumor has it that it was because she sat in front of Leo and was therefore getting her karma. When she came in with Leo and Z, as well as Riselle, there were whispers that she was being tortured. Funny how wrong they could be. They have no idea.

"Brielle," Sav called to her and she turned, frowning when she saw her.

"Hey.. Sav," she said, her tone a little surprised. "I was told you left."

"I didn't but I wanted to," she replied.

"I'm sorry to hear about your room," she sympathized.

"It's okay. Can I talk to you later at the rooftop? I have something important to tell you," Sav said, observing her expressions.

Her eyes suddenly turned solemn as she nodded her head. "Okay."

Sav was glad of how the classes went by quickly. She couldn't wait to confront Brielle about the truth. She had mixed feelings about it but more than curiosity, she was nervous.

"Are you sure, you don't want us to come with you?" Leo asked for the hundredth time.

"I'm sure, and you guys can hear through the earpiece. Everything is under control," she said reassuringly. Little did she know how wrong she could be…

***

Brielle was already at the top when Sav opened the rooftop door. She slowly walked beside Brielle who was looking far away, seemingly deep in thought.

"Do you have a sibling Savannah?" She asked.

"No."

"Then it might be hard for you to understand the story I'm about to tell you but I will anyway," she said without looking at her.

"I'm all ears."

"I have a twin brother," she began. "He was about to come here this year but then he fell ill and you got the spot. He was strong and healthy as can be but then suddenly he lost consciousness. He kept getting migraines and that's when we learned he had---he had a tumor," her voice cracked in the end.

"He told us not to worry and that he's a fighter. It was his dream to study in this academy and he promised us that he will."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Sav said quietly.

"But deep in our hearts, we knew that it's unlikely that he'll be able to make it. Just yesterday, he was rushed to ER and the doctor said he has days left." Brielle paused and took a deep breath in. "I hated him before as we were always compared. Him being the smarter and more talented one and me who hates everything that was bright. And he was bright. So bright as he was kind."

"But then now I hate myself even more. Why couldn't it be me instead? Surely, my parents and sister wouldn't cry as hard. They wouldn't be in so much pain as they are now. Why did it have to be him? Why did this have to happen to him? So it's been hard. It's been really hard. Every waking moment, I drown in my tears. Every night, I wish I never wake up. Sometimes it's even harder to breathe."

Sav couldn't say a word. What could she possibly say to that? A death of a loved one wasn't what she was prepared for.

"So that's my story. You can hate me all you want but leave my sister and brother out of this. They didn't do anything," she stated and turned to leave.

Sav didn't try to stop her from leaving. She stared far away to distract herself—anywhere, trying to contain her tears. She was afraid that if she'd open her mouth, the dam would burst so she kept it shut.

"Isn't it our turn to interrogate her? She didn't say how I'm part of this yet," Z said, appearing next to Leo and Luke.

"No, just let it go," she managed to say.

"Why?"

"Because Brielle was crying."

***

I'm glad you are safe,

I heard about what happened to your room. I went to see it myself and was horrified. If this was the problem that you didn't want to tell me then it's bigger than I thought. I'm worried about you. From now on, I'll be watching over you but unlike your stalker, I'll be your guardian.

Take care of yourself because you mean a lot to me,

H.

***

Sav was called to the principal's office afterwards. Ms. Fenton personally called her and said the committee thought it was just a rumor, until one of the teachers checked her room. The forensics are checking for fingerprints as of now and the person responsible for it will be expelled.

The principal was a bald, middle-aged, buff man with tattoos all over his body. His eyes were red from sleepless nights and he glared at her upon entering after knocking.

"Sorry, it's me Savannah," she introduced herself.

The principal's eyes softened as he stood up and gestured for her to sit down. He asked her if she has any idea of who it might be and she shook her head no.

"Are you trying to protect someone?" He asked. "If you are, then you aren't doing anyone a favor. Someone has to pay."

"If I may interject, this is my business and I'll pay for all the damages. Nobody needs to pay."

"Savannah Cahill, you are not only putting a bad example as a victimized mafia student, your lack of willpower and revenge is concerning. Tell me why I shouldn't expel you instead. Who knows, you might be the one who's gone batshit crazy and destroyed your room?" His eyes slit towards her, baiting her to tell the truth but Sav knew better. Her debates with her dad were great practice.

"You shouldn't expel me because I haven't done anything wrong. If you think it was me then prove it. I was seen in all of my classes from morning to afternoon. I didn't go to my room until then," she said smoothly.

"Are you daring me to prove it?" He growled then slammed his hands on the table shocking Sav.

Sav urged her nerves to remain calm. "If you are attacking a cat sir, what will the cat do?"

"Now you're asking questions!" His voice raised a notch. "Unbelievable!"

"What will the cat do sir?!" She shouted back even louder.

"It claws back!" He said, enraged.

"That's right! And that's what I feel right now!" She was on the verge of tears. She didn't know why this principal was being so mean to her.

The principal turned around and when he did she started bawling like a child. "You are so mean."

"There, you finally did it," the principal said, facing her with a kind smile. "Don't try to keep your tears in. Cry when you're hurt. Cry when it's painful. When you're young like this, it's okay to let it go from time to time."

He kept smiling as she cried even harder.

***

Sav felt much better as she skipped on the way back to the mansion. The principal even gave her a lollipop. Sav decided he was the nicest and weirdest principal she ever met.

Her phone pinged and she took it out to see who texted her.

*Hey*

It was from an unknown number but she had a feeling of who it could be.

*Hi* She texted back.

Her phone rang and she answered it.

"It's me," Leo said when she picked up.

"I know."

"Are you on your way back?"

"Yeah. I thought the principal was mean but he was really nice."

"Yeah, he's pretty weird. He keeps calling me to his office to have a chat."

"He made me cry," she said then chuckled, finding it funny suddenly.

"Don't worry, I'll make him cry next time."

Sav laughed and it felt good.

"Right, I left to go to Italy to do some urgent business. I'm on the jet now but I'll be back as soon as it's done."

"Oh, you don't have to tell me. It's okay. You've done so much for me already." She didn't want him to bother at all.

"I want to tell you."

"But—"

"I want you involved in my life."

Sav stopped walking as her heart raced. "I…I—" I want to see you.

"Stay safe."

"You too."

Sav put the phone against her wildly beating heart, murmuring for it to calm down.

But it didn't seem to want to.