CHAPTER 16

Song: inconsiderate by Krishane and Patoranking

~Art is the lie that enables us to realise the truth~

~Patrick Swayze

SERAPHINA'S POV

You're inconsiderate,

Inconsiderate about my love,

And it's deliberate,

What are you doing to my aching heart,

And cupid knows,

Yeah, he knows,

I'm shot by you...

I danced around in the living room as one of my favourite songs blasted from the speaker. I'd been in a good mood since morning. Weird, considering last night's horrific encounter, but it's whatever. My dad called this morning, informing me that Mr Harts said I could take one more day off, and boy was I happy?

I don't know how long I've been dancing to not have felt a presence behind me, but the squeal I emanated was enough proof that I'd been off to Lala land for some time. Maya leaned against the door frame, staring at me in amusement.

"For a recovering patient, you sure have killer moves. Never knew you could dance this well." She lowly chuckled.

"I miss you too best friend. " I mused.

"And who said I missed you?" She taunted, attempting to keep a straight face. Not on my watch girl.

"Duh." I threw a cushion at her but she effortlessly dodged it.

" I missed you so so so much girl. It's been so boring without you." I knew it was only a matter of time until she's spilling her guts.

"Then why act like a bitch with cassava sticks stuck up her ass." I playfully scolded. She threw me a dirty look and stretched out her long legs on the bed.

We'd relocated to my bedroom since the living room was apparently "weird". Maya's words.

"You changed Phina. Damn. This is one medical glow. What were they feeding you at the hospital?"

I ignored her. My hair, suddenly the most important thing in the world.

"Phina." She hissed.

"What? I can't hear you. The network in the room is shitty." I argued, faking innocence, and before you know it, she'd pull me into a headlock. Like the donkeys that we were, we wrestled and messed up the entire bed, ending up sprawled on the mat.

"How are you, Maya?"

"Alright, now that you're alive and kicking."

I chuckled and laid on my back, staring at the white ceiling. Last night's encounter suddenly occurred on my mind, and I initially made a decision to tell Maya but decided against it after much reasoning. I don't want her to get traumatised.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"I'm not thinking about anything." I lied.

"Two years isn't two days Sera. I won't press you. You can tell me whenever you decide." She smiled.

I felt so guilty. She must've thought I  didn't trust her with my personal life, but it's for the best. I'll do anything to protect my friends, even if it means being discreet with them about some things. I held her hand and intertwined our fingers.

"Maya, I trust you more than myself. Don't you ever for a second doubt that."

"I know Sera, I was merely messing with you. Didn't know someone loved me this much. Shakespeare the second." She mocked.

"Bitch." I muttered under my breath.

"I saw the footage you know." Footage?

"Which footage?" I voiced my thought, confused. Which seemed to frequently happen to me lately.

"That of the canteen, obvs." She responded in a duh tone. I sat up and faced her, wanting to know about this ' footage'.

"Canteen?" I couldn't help it. I guessed the doctors injected oblivion into my bloodstream.

"Seraphina, the footage of the canteen the day you passed out at school. You know, the poisoned milk and...

"It's okay, I get it. No more details." I don't need any more details on that appalling memory.

"Thought so." She scoffed.

"What about it?"

"Let me show you instead, but wait, who's here?" She asked.

"No one."

"You're lying." She didn't look the least bit convinced by my answer.

"I'm serious. It's Wednesday, remember?"

"Oh."

She did numerous taps on her phone, before placing it on my lap.

"Why ar...

" Just watch." She snapped, tapping on the video.

The same lunch lady can be seen entering the janitor's closet. The door reopened moments later, and she re-emerged, except this time with a hooded, dark figure, which, without doubt, belonged to a man. The hefty built and silhouette left nothing to the imagination.

They seemed to be in some kind of heated conversation, as she flailed her arms around.  I couldn't make out a word they were saying though, the volume adjusting was useless. The hooded figure handed her two packages of different sizes, before disappearing down the hallway. She lifted her apron and hid them, making sure the coast was clear, before disappearing through a different door.

My level of trauma at this point was overwhelming. As if things couldn't get any worse, the memories started haunting my mind. I could feel the pain all over again. The way my throat closed up, the stabbing pain in my stomach. I caged my head in my hands, trying to wish the horrific memory away, but all in vain.

"Sera, Seraphina! I knew I shouldn't have shown you this."

I was in a completely different world. One inhabited by 'what if's, why's and how's '. After several failed attempts at making sense out of the distorting video, I hopelessly turned to Maya for help. She's the only person who might possibly know something about the incident.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" My voice shook.

"That someone's after you? Most definitely. " she nodded in agreement. This is what I love about Maya. She's quicker than a fired bullet.

"I just, can we talk about something else? I can't take this shit anymore. It's too much for me." I was started to get disturbed by the entire situation. The poison, the hospital, the bleeding finger. Everything's just too overwhelming.

"Talk about something else? Are you even hearing yourself Sera? This is your life we're talking about."

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, contemplating my next move.

"I know it's hard but we've to do something about it. You can't let it go."

For a split second, I considered Maya's suggestion. Just for a mere split second, before disregarding it again. I can only take too little drama.

"Fine, I'll do something." I lied for the second time in the day. It's the only way to get her off my back.

"You've got to come up with a better stance when lying to me you know." She snorted. As I mentioned before, Maya knew me better than myself.

"Just how much do you know me?"

"Enough, anyway whe...

She started, only to be interrupted by the ringing of my phone. I checked the caller's ID, and my lips stretched into a wide smile.

"Hey babe." I breathed into the speaker.

"God forbid." A voice I haven't heard for a while seethed. Maya must've noticed the shock on my face, for she leant forward and gestured with her hand to the speaker. I put the phone on speaker and held it away from my ear.

"You've gone quiet, sup? or is it surprise?" He taunted, making me clenched my jaw. This fucker.

"What are you doing with my boyfriend's phone Tyler?" I gritted out, the same time distinct laughter erupted in the background. Did he put me on speaker? Oh no he didn't.

"He just did." He drawled, clearly provoking me.

"Stop disturbing my girl man." Enrique laughed, and I heard what sounded like a slap, followed by Tyler's Yelp. Served him right.

Maya pinched me, making me slightly wince. She pointed to the phone and gestured for me to speak. Just how addicted were my friends to gossip?

"I asked you a question Tyler."

"Bro, Seraphina doesn't cap." Caleb chuckled.

"Nothing sénorita. I just thought since we're all family now, and Enrique's the new quarterback of the team, we should get to know each other more. Well, again." He responded nonchalantly as if it's the most ordinary thing to do in the world.

"Since when do you play football?"

"I've always been a football player Za, sorry I meant Seratina." He provoked. I shut my eyes, and took in deep breaths, trying to contain my anger. He's testing my patience and enjoying every second of it.

"Guess you've always been a liar huh?" I bit back, immediately regretting my action upon realising I was on speaker. Maya smacked me upside the head, laughing silently.

"Touché, babe. Sorry, I meant Seraphina. Don't give me that look man, I'm not hitting on your girl." He laughed. Enrique must've hit him again or something because a lot of rustling could be heard in the background.

"So what do you say? we bury the hatchet and start over? This time as a family?" The dickhead decided to ask this in Enrique's presence. Fully knowing I wouldn't be able to resist. I bit my finger and clenched my fist, wanting nothing more than to remodel  Tyler's face. Maya covered her mouth and doubled over, her shoulders shaking from laughter.

"Waiting here Seraphina or has cat g...

"That's fine, Tyler. I mean, we're grown-ups now. It's about time we move past certain things you know, Just like matured people." I calmly returned, putting a strong emphasis on 'matured.'

"You go girl." Maya mouthed.

Tyler lowly scoffed, before handing the phone over to Enrique.

"Hey babe, sorry you'd to talk with this ass." Enrique disappointed me. He knew what Tyler did to me, and the impact this had on my life. Yet, he's out there, befriending the enemy.

"It's okay." I dismissed with a forced smile.

"Alright, talk to you later then. Coach is on our asses again."

"Okay." I hung up and tossed the phone on the bed.

"Tyler and Enrique, buddies?" Maya wondered. We are in this together, Sis.

"I think I'm imagining things."

I shrugged, losing my hair from the French braids. I really need a haircut.

" I've got enough surprises for the day. I better get going."

"So soon?"

"I've been here for an hour and some minutes." She argued.

"So? You could spend the night." I offered, despite already knowing the answer to that.

"Yeah right. Like you'll be there to help when mom's screaming my ears off." She scoffed, making me laugh. Aunt Shynelle's something else.

"Thanks for the visit Maya, I...

"Don't you dare complete that sentence. I've told you countless times to stop thanking me for my responsibilities."

"Alright, if you say so." I smiled.

"Yeah. Oh, I forgot, here is your mountain of assignments." She handed me a huge folder, stacked with papers. I  groaned and threw myself on the bed, covering my head with a pillow.

These lecturers and assignments. Would it kill them to exempt the sick? It's as though they eat grades.

"Bye girl." Maya laughed. I lifted my head from under the pillow and gave her a goofy grin.

"Ciao, ciao, and please lock the door on your way out. I have a spare key."

"Alright then. See you at school."

I stared at the folder on the dressing table. The white papers grinning at me. Fuckers.

I yawned and stretched, trying to sleep, but a particular, stubborn thought wouldn't evacuate my mind.

Tyler and Enrique? Friends?.

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🙂

Spice, spice, and more spice.

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Xoxo,

Mina.