Chapter 11: Avoidance

" I'm done with my lunch. I'll be heading back to class now if you don't mind". I stood up and headed towards the exit.

Oscar and Angel were the only ones left on the terrace while Angelique had left.

" Have you finally decided to believe me?" Inquired Angel in a sudden tone.

Oscar stared at him with utter confusion. He spoke the following words in an uncertain tone: " I'm doubtful all of a sudden. I spent the last four years believing that she was guilty of everything that occurred back then".

Angel was assertive as he listened to him talk. He was full of hope all of a sudden as all he had done to show him the truth hadn't been in complete vain. It's full of hope that he asked him the following question: "Aren't you doubtful anymore?"

To this sudden question asked by Angel, Oscar kept quiet. His expression expressed loss and confusion as he faced the opposite direction.

" I understand!" Angel said with a grin.

Oscar, who couldn't understand what he meant, suddenly asked him: " What do you understand?"

" You're confused and doubtful right now, aren't you?"

…

" You've seen a lapse of Angelique's feelings show up after four years. You've seen the love and care she had back then resurfaced once again and that alone was sufficient to instill doubts in you, wasn't it?"

…

Angel talked and talked but Oscar still kept silent. His silence meant a lot. It revealed the truth, the truth he had hidden inside his heart for four years.

" Something is worrying me and you must know about it". Angel's expression suddenly darkened.

" What is it?"

Hearing what Angel had said, Oscar broke his silence and faced Angel with interrogation in his eyes.

" You asked Angelique to meet up and reminisce regarding the past, didn't you?"

" What about it?"

" You want to reminisce regarding the past and seek answers to your interrogations but Angelique doesn't want the same thing as you. You're aware of that, are you?"

Oscar's expression darkened and an appalling sadness started to form on his face. He couldn't understand where this sudden sadness came from. Maybe it was emotions he had repressed for so long that were letting their presence known but he felt incredibly strange.

"… Why wouldn't she want the same thing? It would be in her best interest if all misunderstandings were finally cleared out. Why would she be against it?" He inquired interrogatively.

" You know the answer to that question pretty well. Why are you asking me?"

( He's right! I do know the answer to that question extremely well but I'm still playing ignorant in front of Mukaido. I do want to get answers to my questions, but that doesn't mean she would want the same. After all, I've been so unjust with her all these years. Not only have I doubted her but I also made her life miserable every single day. I made everyone at school doubt her integrity and hate her. If in the end, it is proven that she had nothing to do with what occurred four years ago, how would I earn her forgiveness? Will she ever forgive me for whatever I have put her through?)

Oscar's thoughts got interrupted by the sound of the bell, indicating that lunch had irremediably come to an end.

" It's time to head back to our next class. The bell has rung". Angel stood up from the mat and Oscar did the same.

" You're right!"

Oscar folded the mat and gave it to Angel to return it to Angelique when he saw her.

" Why won't you return it to her yourself? You're meeting her after school anyway". He questioned him.

" I could but I'd prefer if you were the one to return the mat to her. You're on good terms with her while I'm not. Besides, she would never accept it if I were the one to return it to her". He said with utter bitterness of sadness in his voice.

…

" I'll do you this single favor and return the mat to her on your behalf".

" Thank you!"

( Oscar has always been arrogant and bad-tempered but ever since he started to have doubts regarding his once childhood friend, his bad temper started to loosen. Before, he would never have thanked me for anything let alone listen to what I had to say. He's starting to change. Let's just hope this change is durable and not temporary).

" Let's head to our next class!"

" Yes!" They exited the school's roof and got back to the hallways in no time at all.

Ten minutes later, in gym class----------

" Angelique, how are you feeling now?" He asked out of concern for me.

" I'm fine now. Thanks for inquiring about my wellbeing". I said thankfully.

" I'm content to know that you're alright. The whole class was worried about you when you suddenly lost consciousness". The P.E.Teacher added further.

Angelique kept silent at the professor's refutation. She simply stared at him instead of saying a word.

" Why aren't you saying anything, Angelique?"

" Professeur Le Blanc, what you said just now isn't quite right?" I spoke up.

The professor looked utterly confused at my refutation but didn't show it. He kept his question to himself.

" The only ones who were worried about me as I collapsed were Angel and you, Professeur Le Blanc. No one else was worried about my condition. I know that extremely well in my heart". I added further.

…

" Why won't you believe that the whole class was preoccupied about your condition? Why do you always believe that no one loves you or cares about you?" The professor inquired with a bit of anxiousness in his voice.

…

( Something terrible might have happened for her to say stuff like that? What could have happened that made her so indifferent and cold?)

" Shouldn't we begin with classes now, Professeur? Time is flying by quite fast you know". I showed him the time it was on my clockwatch.

" Let's start with classes!"

P.E. class went smoothly as well as the class that came after. School concluded at last and I headed towards my locker to pick up my stuff in order to head home.

" Angelique, are you heading home?" Angel showed up by my locker.

( Angel! What is he doing here?)

" School concluded, isn't it? Where am I supposed to go if not home?" I inquired.

" You're supposed to meet up with Oscar after school today. Have you forgotten about that?"

…

" Were you thinking of not going to the meeting?"

…

" If I hadn't shown up to return your mat to you, you would have gone home without meeting him, right?"

…

" Angelique, can you tell me why you're doing everything you can to avoid this meeting? Why are you trying so hard to avoid him?"

Angel's questions obtained nothing more but utter silence from Angelique. With her voice and mouth shut, he asked her another question but this time, it left her utterly shocked.

" Angelique, just answer this one question for me, will you? I won't ask you anything else besides that, neither will I question you anymore about that subject!" His expression drastically changed and got more serious and intense.

…

( What does he want to ask me this time?)

" Are you afraid to reminisce regarding the past, or are you afraid of Oscar's questions regarding your respective pasts?" He inquired in a sharp and vivid tone.

...