Chapter 03
Five year's back
"Beth you aren't supposed to walk around. Stay in bed!", her Grandma's voice woke her up. Diana and her sister Beth had been infected with the rapidly spreading virus and had been confined to bed for around three months. Even though they could walk, talk and carry on their day activities it took its toll after a short while. Hence her parents and grandparents had been strict and confined them to their beds.
After a frustrating month in bed they had been allowed to attend school, now closer to the end of their three-month period of rest they had been more lenient but still Beth and her found it hard to stay closed up in the same place. They had always been the active sisters, finding anything and everything to do at their bored times. Now it was just a few board games or watching cartoons. And constantly bored at home they had requested to visit her maternal grand-parents and parents had agreed. That brought her to the current situation.
Knowing that there was no way of going to sleep now Diana switched on the phone she had been gifted with around half a year ago. Her heart beat rather fast at finding a notification from her long time crush of four years. Yes, she had been nine when she had taken a liking to him. But she knew it would never work. She could only dream. Love was forbidden in her family and even if it was allowed she knew that him and her would never work out. He was way out of the league and who would even notice a child's infatuation.
But it didn't stop her from maintaining constant conversations with him. He was the best friend of one of her best friends making him a member of their closely knit group of five. Hence they were close to each other but it had never passed the relationship of one which was of siblings. Knowing that he would be no more than a friend to her she accepted him as a brother. At least she could then be close to him. She felt like hypocrite for doing so but what could a thirteen-year old do?
Back to the present situation she found messages from all the other members from her group. First there was Luke, her long time crush then there was Violet, her girl best friend since she could remember and then there were the siblings. Bethany and Brian, Bethany was more of Violet's best friend than hers and Brian was closer to her than his sister was. They had all wished her a good morning and asked how she was doing. Replying to them she opened Luke's message last. What she saw made her heart drop, her gut giving a bad feeling.
'I know there is something you are hiding from me and I want to know what it is.' Diana's mind went blank at this. No. he can't know about this. Only Violet and Bethany knew this and she didn't believe they would reveal this. Only if she knew how wrong she was.
Deciding it was not what she thought it was she replied,
'No, I'm not hiding anything. Why should I bro? Are you joking around with me?' she added the word bro to avoid any suspicion.
After replying she kept her phone aside not wanting to read his reply. Trying to distract her over thinking mind Diana went out to find her sister. she was able to keep her thoughts at bay for not more than a few hours. Within that time her mind had managed to clear out and now she was confident that it must have been something else or he must be joking around her as he always found it amusing to frustrate her. For how could best friends betray each other? It was only in the books that she read that happened. Her best friends would not betray her and being firm in that belief she relaxed her mind. Oh if only she knew that it was just her childish thoughts. She was yet to meet the world of deceiving people.
After a few long hours of putting her mind to rest she knew she could not delay in responding to him. That would only arouse more suspicion. Gathering her wits together she opened her chat with him.
'Don't Diana. I did not think you would do this. I know what they told me was not lies. They are not liars like you are. Tell me the truth. I know that you know what I am talking about.' It hurt. It bloody hurt. Tears were flowing down her eyes at this message. But still refusing to accept that he possibly knew she replied,
'Lucas please. What did I do? And who is they? Am so sorry but I don't know what you are talking about.' And the immediate reply that followed made her blood run cold. Her heart stopped. No, this cannot be happening. She had kept it her secret guarded for almost four years and was ready to keep it hidden in the years to follow.
Till that moment Diana had no idea that a few words could bring her world crashing down. For the text read,
'I know that you love me.'