LET'S STAY APART

A WEEK LATER

Natasha strolled through the corridor with a thoughtful gaze as her mind woundered off in thought.

"I'm almost done with Gina." She smirked. "Now, all i need is a very good strategic way to get to Desmond–Think, Nat, think.", she muttered. Just then, a thought clicked in. Her lips curved in a satisfactory grin and her eyes sparkled with joy.

" I'm such a genius." She scoffed. " I'll call him over for dinner after school,then I'll take over the rest– Yes!, such a sharp brain I've got up there.". She chuckled and sauntered over to her room.

GRAVE YARD

Gisella stood by her father's grave. Her eyes fixed on it as sorrow erupted her chest. The tears she fought back, slowly drifted down her chin. She slowly crenched down as she dropped the flowers in her hands, brushing her hands over the grave.

" Hi, daddy" She giggled as she sniffed back her tears, a pained smiled dazzled on her face. "Your baby is here to see you, dad" She sobbed and chuckled.

" You couldn't wait for me to return from the hospital to save you but yet still, I understand how you felt before leaving– It wasn't your wish to leave me all alone in this cruel world."

Gisel swiftly dried her eye. "But I miss you and will always love you" She cried. With a droopy body, she instinctively laid on the grave as she trembled with tears. A soft, tender hand slowly held her shoulder as it gently caressed.

" It's okay, Gisel " a musculin voice consoled. "I'm always here for you." He whispered. " I came over so we can go to school together– I don't want you to feel lonely."

She slowly turned, only to met eye on with Desmond.

Desmond !" She cried and instinctively fell in his bosom, burying her face in the process. She shook with sobs. He wrapped his arms around her with a faint sigh as he gazed down at her.. "I feel your pain, Gisel and I understand exactly what you're going through at the moment."He stuttered. "It's okay to cry it all out, you'll feel better after that."

Some minutes later, he slowly drew her from the hug and cubbed her face as he brushed her cheeks with his thumbs.

"But I promise, we'll go through this together, huh?– Just hold my hand and you're going to be fine" He assured. "Now, let's get to the bus stop before we miss the school bus."

He held her hand and gently pulled her as he turned to leave but Gisel swiftly called with a blank gaze. "Desmond ?" She whispered. He instinctively turned to face her.

" I need to tell you something." She added. Desmond tilted his head as he gave her the ears.

" I know it's not what you want to hear but I still need to do it now– It's for your own good." She stuttered. Desmond glanced at her with a furrowed brow and norrow eyes, confused.

" I don't get you, Gisela– Why are you talking like this?"

She sighed with a blank gaze.

"I know how you feel about me and I also feel same but we need to give up on that. I think it's best we stay apart from each other." she replied and turned to leave. Desmond instinctively held her hand which made her pause in her steps as she slowly turned to face him.

" Just let me go ,Desmond" She cried. Desmond stared with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. His thoughts kept screaming with so many questions. His lips quivered.

"But, Gisel–" He argued but was immediately interruoted by Gisel.

"You'll one day understand my decision, Desmond.", she cited. Gisel drew her hand from his and sped off in tears. Desmond just stared at her back, lost.

" Gisela?– Gisela!, please–come back. Please, let's talk!", he called and he raced after her. He got to the street leading to Gisella's house but couldn't find her anywhere. He sighed with shallow rapid breath as he run his hand through his hair, turning to the direction of the bus stop.

"I don't know why you said that but i won't give up so easily on you, Gisela– I'll fight till I have you", he muttered. Just then, his phone rang which drew his attention. He hurriedly took it out from his bag, hoping it was Gisella.

" A new number? " He eluded with a furrowed brow. " Who could this be?" He mumbled in his thoughts. Without further thoughts, he answered.

" Hello, I'm I speaking to Desmond?", a voice inquired from the other end.

" Yes–" He eluded with an uncertain gaze. "Who am I talking to?", he queried.

" This is Natasha, Gisella's mother. –Does it ring a bell?"

" Oh, Mrs. Natasha " He stammered with a sheepish chuckle. " So sorry,I couldn't recognise your voice, ma'am.." He apologized.

" No, problem dear. No need to worry about that.– It's okay."

" Thanks– How may I help of help"

" Um, well– just called to ask if you can come over for dinner after school? if only you'll be free." " Sure, mum– I'll gladly come. Thank you so much." She let out a chucklle. "Don't mention dear and thanks for accepting. I'll inform Gisella too. Have a nice day, bye. "

" Same to you, bye." He glanced at the phone for a while, his lips curved in a broad daylight.

" I'll definitely come for you, Gisella.." He mumbled. Just then, e noticed the bus took off from the bus stop. He instinctively howled as he sped towards it.

" Hey!– wait for me!!"

THE ANTONIO'S MANSION

Gisella strolled into the house, approaching the hall with her gaze buried face down.

" Hey, Gisela" Natasha called from the sofa. " You've returend so early today from your walk." She stated. Gisela raised her eyes towards her direction and nodded with an indifferent gaze.. She stared at her for a moment and sauntered off towards her room.

" I invited Desmond over for dinner this evening after school." She exclaimed which made her pause in her steps. She swiftly glanced back at her with wide and darting eyes.

"What?" She exclaimed and Natasha chuckled. " Guess what my plans are, honey?" She added with a sligt close-lipped smile and a slightly tucked chin.

"Just leave him out of this, please–He has nothing to do with this, please" She cried. Natasha scoffed and tilted her head.

" Oh, I see but to my knowledge, he was the one who first interfered or...?"

" I've already cut off every relationship I had with him. What else do you want from him...?", Gisella exclaimed in tears. Natasha chuckled

"I want him out of my path forever because no matter what – so far as it concerns you, he'lll definitely interfere.!"she exclaimed and strolled off to her room.

Gisella stared at her back as her tears consumed her.

" Why should it be me?–Haven't I suffered enough to also gain, happiness!", she cried.

Just then, she heard a heavy fall behind her. She swiftly turned, only to find Gina, lying motionless on the floor. She gasped." Aunty!", she shouted and sped to her side.

" Gina?–Gina, please wake up. Please, please! " She exclaimed as she tried to revive her which provide useless. Lizzy sauntered in, only to meet such a scene. She screamed as she approached. " What is wrong with her, Gisella.?" she queried as she knelt beside her.

" I don't know– All I saw was her just laying unconscious over here" She trembled.

" Give me way", Lizzy shouted as she instinctively drew Gisella away from Gina. Lizzy anxiously lifted Gina onto her laps as she shook her.

" Is me, Lizzy– please wake up, Gina, please..",she cried but to no avil.

" Oh, God, not again." Gisella cried.

" Help me take her to the hospital... ", said Lizzy. Gisella hurriedly nodded. They quickly carried, Gina out of the house. Natasha stood at her door, her lips curved in a satisfactory smile as she clasp her arms behind her body.

" Two down, two more to go.....", she chuckled and glided into her room.