CHAPTER 19

Time for lunch. I rushed to the gym to meet Jessica.

I didn't expect her to ask me to clean the entire gym. I stared at her, and she was laughing.

"What? You like to run some errands, right? I am very nice to you now for giving you a very enjoyable errand." Jessica and her friends were laughing out loud at me.

"And anyway, Ms. Hideous! You stay here until you finish. We will come back to you later to check on you." They left me alone and locked me up inside the gym.

Meanwhile, Zion went to my room to pick me up. He was searching for me, but he couldn't find me. He asked Nicole where I was now.

"I don't know, Zion. She was rushing when the bells rang. By the way, earlier, Jessica came looking for Arien. But I didn't ask Arien what they were talking about."

Then Zion dashed, looking for Jessica. Zion found Jessica in the cafeteria. He approached Jessica.

"Hi, Zion. How have you been lately? Do you want to join our table?" Jessica asked him.

Zion frowned and slammed the table. All the students were looking at them. It startled Jessica.

"Where is Arien now?" Zion asked.

"I don't know. Why are you looking for her with me?"

"You went to her classroom this early morning, right? What did you tell her?"

"Nothing! I just asked her about something. And don't ask me where she is because I don't know where on earth she is now."

Zion turned back to continue searching for me. He asked other students if they saw me, but unfortunately, Zion didn't get information from them. After lunch break finished, Zion went back to my classroom to check on me if I had returned already. But Nicole said I wasn't back yet. Dave and Cassy were searching for me as well, as they heard from Nicole that I had disappeared.

At the gym, I finished mopping the floor. I felt so hungry and Jessica hadn't returned yet. My stomach was growling, and I felt dizzy because of hunger and tiredness.

"Why do we have a huge gym in school? When are they going to return to open the door?" I murmured to myself.

Unknown to me, Jessica had no intention of opening the gym. And I kept on waiting for them. Many hours passed. I didn't realize that I fell asleep because of tiredness and hunger.

"Arien, Wake up!" I opened my eyes to see who was calling me.

"Cas, you found me?"

"Yeah! Why the hell are you locked up here?"

"Sorry, Cas, I feel so weak now, and I want to go home."

They brought me home in Zion's car. After we arrived at our apartment, they let me rest and sleep. Zion, Cassy, and Dave were talking about me in the living room. Dave asked Cassy about what happened.

"Cas, do you have any idea who did this to Arien?"

"I don't know, Dave. Recently, she only told me she couldn't join us for lunchtime, and I couldn't talk to her recently because she was busy with her work." Cassy explained.

"She was with me during lunch break. She helped me with my food because she felt sorry for my broken hand." Zion said. Dave and Cassy stared at Zion.

"What? Why do you look like that at me? I did nothing for Arien."

"Yes, we believed you did nothing for Arien, but I think some jealous girls did because of you. You better avoid Arien Zion. Arien went through a lot when we were in high school. She's very kind. That's the reason every woman misunderstands her. If you have a little care for her, please leave her alone for her safety. She doesn't have family anymore to lean on when she's sad or in a tough time."

"Of course, I care a lot about Arien, but I can't leave her."

"And why can't you leave her?" Dave asked.

"I don't know, I just can't. I can't bear to leave her." Zion stated.

Dave clenched his fist and frowned. He knew Zion likes Arien, but he didn't realize it yet.

"Zion, I'm begging you, please refrain yourself. Do you want to see Arien being bullied by all the girls on our campus?" Cassy said.

"Of course, I won't allow them to do that. I will protect Arien as I promised. Just let me be by her side." Zion begged for Cassy, but Dave objected to it.

"Then where are you today? Why didn't you protect her? Dave hinted. Zion became silent and couldn't answer Dave.

"If I were you, you better leave, Arien." Dave insisted.

After their conversation, Zion thought about what they advised him for Arien's sake. But Zion really can't leave Arien. But he didn't have a choice for Arien's safety.

Many days passed. Zion didn't bother Arien.

It's a miracle. Why didn't Zion ask me for help with his food? How many days have passed already? His hand become OK now?" I mumbled to myself.

"Arien, someone is looking for you outside." My classmate informed me.

I rushed toward the door, thinking maybe it was Zion.

"Cas."

"What? Are you not happy to see me? Do you expect someone besides me?"

"No, let's go!"

And we went to the cafeteria for lunch.

"How many days, even at the cafeteria, I didn't meet Zion? I will go to the lake later." I whispered.

In my vacant time, I went to the lake to check Zion. But I didn't see Zion at the lake either. I leaned my back on the tree and thought of some reason Zion didn't show up to me and until I fell asleep.

Unknown to my knowledge, Zion sat beside me while I was sleeping. While looking at me, Zion felt his heart hurt. And he talked to me asleep.

"Are you looking for me here, Arien? I want to talk to you, but I need to take caution from you not to cause trouble for you. I am very sorry, Arien." Zion kissed me on my forehead, then he left me.

I woke up when the bell rang. "Wow, I fell asleep immediately." I whispered, and I rushed to go back to my classroom.

While walking down the corridor, I saw Zion talking with girls. When I was about to call him, he turned his back on me. I suddenly felt a pain in my chest. And I didn't notice that my tears were dripping. I was stunned and asked myself.

"Why am I crying?" I wiped my tears and turned around to go back to my classroom. I touched my chest and rubbed it because of the pain.