Embarrassing but cute

"Mother would definitely understand you, don't worry," Derek tried to console her. "She knows me right?" he aksed her.

"But it's 12 at night, would she not check the time and wonder what we were doing at that time? Umma would tell Uppa these matter and he will come and kill me," she replied.

"Taaliyah, it would be fine, really," he said.

"Taaliyah," Ryan came running. "Your father is here," he said. "He is waiting in front of the office,"

"What?" Taaliyah jumped up. Everything on the desk fell down including the bags and books. "I told you," She said to Derek and ran outside. She ran downstairs like crazy, like a jet passing by leaving people wonder what just passed them. Derek got out and followed her to see what happens too. He could not believe that her father showed, so he wanted to know like she said what her father's reaction is going to for chatting late at night with a boy by girl from a very conservative family. He wished he could help her.

Taaliyah grew tensed and turned all red as she approached her father. He had something in his and Taaliyah wondered if it is a cane to hit her in public place like he did to Nara. Her heart trembled and so did her voice.

"Uppa," she called. "What are you doing here?" she managed to ask her father. Derek who walked behind her hid behind a pillar in front of the office. His heart pounded loud too. Getting ready to jump forwards and stop her father from hitting her as she explained.

"Uppa," Instead Zahir handed out what he had in his.

"Here," he said. "Your mother asked me to give you this, she said you have to keep this in your bag for safety and you ran out of it,"

"Huh?" Taaliyah did not understand. Zahir took her hand and gave it ti her.

"Hold it," he said. "Don't you know as a girl who attained puberty you should always carry the sanitary pads?" he asked her. Taaliyah flushed red. He was pretty loud and she looked around to see if there is anyone she knows around, feeling embarrassed. "Uppa, shhh.." she hushed him. She then saw Derek behind the pillars and felt even more embarrassed. He turned around and walked away, having a smile on his face.

"Making me come in between the work time, get back to class, go," he scolded her.

"Okay," she said and watched her father leaving. She felt relieved that it's not about the messages but she was not expecting this either.

She took another stair that takes to 5th grade section and then walk a long distance that connects to 8th grade block. She climbed the stairs hurriedly to not get noticed by anyone. "Wait, Taaliyah," but she heard him behind her. And the next moment, he had her in his arms, pulling her hand and startling her which made her fall on him, standing against the wall. She pushed him and stood on her legs immediately. "Sorry," she said and turned away. "God so embarrassing this is, wah seriously," she thought.

"Did father give you nicely for texting late at night?"

"You shut up," she said and continued climbing the stairs.

"If you are this scared then why do you text me?" he asked a valid question. She stopped walked and kept thinking hard for giving an answer but she failed tremendously. "Okay forget it," he said. "It's over, father cool, next task is mother, we will wait and see,"

"Yaaaaar why? Seriously!" she said making a sad face, hiding the sanity pads behind her skirts.

"You don't have to struggle hiding it, we all know about it anyway, I do," he said which made her turn red like plum even more.

"hmm..." she said. He caught up with her and walked along with her, in her pace, smiling often which she did not notice. Little did they know that they were being watched. Min Ah with her smart phone she brings to school. She smiled and saved them.

Taaliyah and Derek walked back to class and sat down. The bell rang at the right moment. But someone else came for Derek this time.

"Hurry Derek, your mother is waiting downstairs," Taaliyah looked at Derek who turned serious immediately. "What would it be this time? Mother coming directly to school? Could it be to take him away, or break down right in the school? Derek will need help," she kept thinking. She looked around and got up.

"Taaliyah what are you doing?" Bhoomi asked her, stopping her from running outside the class.

"His mother," she began and then realized how no one knows the truth about his family. She shut up immediately.

"Don't get into trouble, you can meet with his mother later, don't get caught and earn reputation, the bell has already rung," Bhoomi advised and pulled her hands to make her sit.

"And she claims they are not even that close, but just friends," Sarah sitting three benches away in the front of Taaliyah's murmured.

"Shut up Sarah," Ester said immediately once she overheard it.

"Whatever!" Sarah said with an attitude and turned around.

"See how people are making comments, just sit in your place," Bhoomi said to her. It did make sense. Taaliyah sat down and kept glancing at the door for every minute. Biology teacher Maria walked in to teach about binomial nomenclature of various animals. The class turned interesting instantly but Derek did not show up. Taaliyah could not stop wondering what could have happened between the mother and son while teacher explained about Panthera Leo.

Several minutes later, some one did walk in. "May I come in Ma'am," it was Danny.

"Come in Danny," teacher said.

"I was asked to take Derek's bag and give him," he informed the teacher. Taaliyah looked at the watch. There was still 8 more minutes for the hour to get over. Danny looked for Taaliyah and smiled at her. Everyone in the class noticed it. Pretty boy. Danny took the back and left the classroom. "Thank you ma'am,"

"Why is Derek leaving?" Maria asked the students.

Taaliyah stood up immediately. "Ma'am,"

"Yes Taaliyah,"