CHAPTER 21

song: Eleven by Khalid and Summer Walker

~Don't just talk. Act~

~Mina

SERAPHINA'S POV

"Then, the body will start releasing ketones into the bloodstream. However, this process varies individually, depending on special, external factors such as physical activity level, metabolism and so on."

Ten more minutes. Just ten.

Time was moving at a pregnant snail's pace

I can't.

There's a carnival going on inside my head.

My stomach was speaking Pakistani.

I was slowly dying.

Food's the only remedy.

And lunch seemed miles away. Jesus.

I looked behind me and, surprise surprise, half of the class was already asleep. Not to mention Kabia's obnoxiously loud snores.

"You look like you're about to cry."

Ace chuckled.

Understatement of the century, I was on the brink of sobbing. Who includes a three-hour lesson on a university schedule? This was attempted murder in so many different ways.

"Dying is the word, Ace."

He shook his head and continued scribbling down whatever crap Mr-I-don't-care-who was blabbering. I wish I shared the same determination.

Ace was the smartest amongst us. He recorded consistent, outstanding grades throughout his academic life, and is commended by all Lecturers for his hard work. In junior year, he received the presidential award for best student of the state. I was so happy for him.

If only the rest could learn from him, but how unfortunate. They have aspirations of their own.

Miskha's on a journey to graduate with a PhD in gossip.

The Suraiya sisters, fashion.

Sophia and Bia, God knows.

Kabia, partying and seduction.

The rest of the guys, football.

I felt a nudge on my ribs and was about to tell off the person until a wrapped object occupied my vision. I gave Ace a questioning look, and he gestured towards the package.

"Take that. It's not much, but might keep you off the edge for some time."

If I pray for this boy. I smiled and thanked him, unwrapping the package. It was a beef sandwich, my favourite.  I finished the food in minutes and gulped down some water. That'll take me until lunch unless Mr-fifty-month-pregnant-gorilla decides to use the entire day for a single topic.

Ace is a saviour. My mood was a bit brighter compared to my previous gloomy one. A hungry man's indeed an angry man.

  I nearly butt planted on my way out, but thanks to Ace's quick reflexes, he steadied me before I could make contact with the floor.

"You've got to be careful."

"I know right, thanks." I laughed, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"You're welcome." He smiled.

And there it came again. That one, stubborn awkward silence.

Ace and I weren't that close. The only times we interacted were during lessons and lunch break. I knew him through my brother. Although he seemed to be pretty comfortable around me these days. Not that I was complaining but I found it pretty absurd. Especially for a reserved person like Ace.

"So how's...

"Life? Ace c'mon, couldn't you ask me a better question than that." I laughed. I interrupted him because I knew exactly what he wanted to ask. It was the typical routine with him.

"You didn't let me finish." He sniggered.

Okay then.

"I wanted to ask about Severina." He scratched the back of his neck.

Severina? As in my twin?

And was Ace blushing? No way. This can't be.

Could he possibly...

"Oh, what about her." I chided, playing clueless. 

"Nothing, I just wanted to know how she was doing, you know. I haven't seen her for a while, and yeah."

Ace was a blabbering mess. I gave him a coy grin and wiggled my brows, making him groan.

"You like her don't you?" It was very obvious.

"What? No, you're not serious." He lied. You're in denial boy.

"Um,  I gotta go. I'll text you tonight."

"Ace wait!" I called out, but he was already halfway down the hallway.

I made a beeline to our already occupied table on reaching the cafeteria and slumped down in my seat. I was hungry again but I'll have to wait for Stella to bring my food since I was banned from eating outside. Shout outs to Mr Grayson Del Varia.

"Hello to you too." Malu rolled her eyes.

I flipped her the bird and pecked Enrique on the cheek.

"Hi." A voice I've been anticipating to hear all day murmured. My eyes flew open and I instantly perked up.

Miskha's features looked distorted. There were bags under her eyes and her lips were chapped up. Her usually wavy hair was saggy and dishevelled. The girl wasn't feeling good, that much was obvious. The exchanged looks left very little to the imagination.

"Girl you look like shit." Leila made a face.

"I feel like shit." Miskha croaked. She sniffed and wiped the lone tear that escaped her eye.

Her weird behaviour has something to do with last night. I'll bet my bank account on that.

"Everything okay Miskha? You're always happy, but today you cry, why?" Bia softly demanded. Miskha shook her head and offered her a weak smile.

"I'm fine B." She sniffed again, more tears raining down her cheeks.

"Miskha you're getting us worried." Even Kabia couldn't help getting bothered.

She remained silent and forked a piece of salad in her mouth, staring into space. I don't know what she encountered last night, but it must've been quite horrific to render her in this condition.

"Miskha?" Sophia reached for her hand, but she pulled it away and lowered her gaze.

"Where were you, last night babe?" She asked to no one in particular. We all exchanged looks, confused.

Babe? Who?

"Or should I say, Ahmed?"

This.

Must.

Be.

A.

Joke.

"I'm talking to you, Ahmed." She snarled.

The tension was real. No one seemed to be able to find their voices.

Ahmed, on the other hand, had a striking resemblance to a deer caught in headlights.

"I'm not asking you ag...

"Home! damn it! I went home okay. Can you please drop this subject?"

"Such a liar. So this was why you wanted our relationship private huh."

What!.

"Ba...Miskha ple...

"So you can go around and fuck with my best friend." Miskha chuckled, tears endlessly streaming down her pale cheeks.

"Okay. Can someone please explain what's going on? Because this is no joke. Relationships and all that." Sophia couldn't have asked better.

I thought I knew what was going on but boy was I wrong? I was back to square one with the rest of the family.

"Shut the fuck up whore." She sighed, lazily staring at Sophia.

"Excuse me! look, I understand you're heartbroken or whatever, but that doe...

"Don't fucking tell me what to do bitch!" She glowered, raising her voice.

"Miskha!" Severina exclaimed in bewilderment.

"What's going on man," Kabia asked Ahmed, who was paling by the second.

"Miskha, come with me." I offered, but she shook her head.

"No, I'll say everything here, right now. No more secrets."

"Miskha, you don't have to." Lalia cautioned.

"I want to. I have to Lalia, it's too much. I can't continue with this." She sobbed.

"You made a fool out of me. You used me, played me, Ahmed."

She was crying so hard. It was almost impossible to hear what she was saying

"Miskha, please stop. Here, drink some water." Maya pushed a glass towards her, but she swept it off the table, the material crashing on the floor with a loud thud.

All heads turned in our direction. Like we needed this right now. Luckily the cafeteria wasn't that packed today. The number of students can be counted, considering only four tables were occupied. Ours included making it five.

"No, I'll talk now. I've to get this out, it's been years. " she persisted.

"Did you truly go to the restroom as you claimed to last night, Sophia?"  Sophia opened and closed her mouth, at a total loss for words.  Confusion dominating her features.

"I don't have all day Sophia."

"Yes, I did." She blurted.

"Then, what were you doing inside the game room?"

"You're confusing me Miskha. I don't know what you're talking about. " Sophia defied in a low tone. The thing was, nobody seemed to understand what was going on.

"You disgust me. And you, to think that I gave you my virginity. " She snarled at Ahmed.

"What?" Maya gasped.

"Miskha you're being dramatic." This was the first coherent sentence Ahmed form in the past thirty minutes.

"Maybe you guys should go somewhere and talk this out," Enrique suggested.

"You won't understand, Rique. You don't know the type of person you're vibing with. He's a man manwhore.  This guy dated me for two good years, forced me into sleeping with him, only to turn against me with..with...

Miskha was visibly shaking, her chest rising and falling.

"My own best friend!" She cried.

Time stopped, and I froze on spot. Everyone stared at Miskha, dumbfounded. Nobody knew how to react to the shocking revelation. Sophia looked like she would pass out any moment. Maya's mouth was barely an inch from the table. Malu was uncontrollably laughing, as though she's possessed. 

Shock was the order of the day.

"Miskha, are you accusing Ahmed of cheating on you with Sophia? The innocent Sophia, your best friend. The girl who wouldn't  hurt a fly to save her life?" Nathan scrutinised.

"It's not an accusation. It's facts." She snapped.

"You're not alright Miskha. Out of nowhere, you came talking about some suddenly existing relationship with Ahmed, to accusing me of sleeping with your alleged boyfriend. What's wrong with you?" Sophia stood up, her veins popping in anger.

"Calm down Sophia." I gently pulled her down.

Instead of responding,  Miskha unlocked her phone and placed it on the centre of the table, before tapping on the screen.

A video of a couple came to life. They hurriedly tore at each other's clothes, while intensely making out.

"Why are you playing porno...

"Just watch." Malu interrupted Kabia.

Two minutes into the video and I got the shock of my life.

The couple in the video weren't just any ordinary people.

They were students from our school.

From our friend group.

"Stop this now!" Sophia hyperventilated, looking horrified.

She reached out for the phone, but Miskha caught her wrist, swung her around, and landed a sharp slap on her cheek, sending her crashing to the floor. Gasps emanated from the corners of the cafeteria.

"That was just the tip of the iceberg, slut." She snarled.

"That's all I wanted you to know. And oh, there's a new student on campus by the way. Might as well burn off some steam being a self-employed tour guide." Miskha chortled, gently marching out of the cafeteria as though nothing happened.

"What just happened?" Maya exclaimed.

"I wish I knew," Malu mumbled.

Didn't we all.

"Show's over bitches,  there's nothing to look," Kabia yelled at the prying crowd. Sophia got up and ran out of the cafeteria. Afraid she might do something stupid, I started hot on her trail.

Something wasn't right.

I need answers.

Right now.

I lost Sophia at the last curve to the locker rooms. I groaned and turned to go back, only to collide with a force, sending me falling on my butt. I need to get myself a strong resistance. 

This better not be a déja Vu.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry. I didn't see you, I'm sorry."

That accent was neither American nor was it British.  It was too raw and solid.

My eyes lifted to a dark-skinned girl, staring down at me with an apologetic expression, and her hands stretched out. She helped me up, and I muttered my gratitude, before dusting my pants.

"Hi, I'm Aisha Ndiaye." She introduced, stretching her hand out for a handshake.

"Seraphina. You're not from here, are you?" Her accent said it all.

"Nope, I'm new. International student."  Figured as much.

"Welcome to NYU, Miss Ndiaye."

"I'm most definitely honoured, Miss Del Varia," she smirked, longing underlying her tone.

How the hell did she know my surname?

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Xoxo,

~Mina.