Chapter 4: No Longer Safe

I woke up feeling relieved today. Maybe it was the fact that today was really a free day for me so I decided to stay home and have some rest.

"Going to uncle Kelvin's house won't be a big deal. Moreover, it has been long I visited him."

Let me tell you about uncle Kelvin. Well, he's my mother's brother and he has been living on the same street with us.

Ever since I was young, I was fond of him to the extent I shared some of my little secrets with him especially the one that happen twelve years ago which I told nobody except him. I wouldn't mind anyway since I was safe around him.

¶¶ uncle Kelvin's house ¶¶

" You can't believe this, Ella. " Emma said from the other side of the call.

" Believe what? " Curious, I asked.

" Are you watching the media now? "

" No, I'm in my room. Is there a problem? " She was still keeping me in suspense and I hated the fact that she wasn't hitting straight to the point.

" Not at all. Your name is all over the media now. "

" I know, my uncle told me that. " I said reluctantly, not able to see that as a surprise.

" I'm damn serious about this, the incident of what happened in school went viral, your name has become the talk of the town.

Everyone wishes to see you, the whole world is. Oh, Ella, I wish I were you, I would be yelling in happiness right now. "

My heart skipped when she said that.

The news sounded like a blast, I mean, the part where she said the whole world wishes to see me. I'm still a hundred per cent surprised about this, it's not even close to a day and I'm already viral like a pop star.

It's really surprising, yet I find it hard to believe. I slept in uncertainty, forgetting my discussion with uncle Kelvin.

I looked happy while returning to my room but not anymore.

Now, I'm fucking Uncomfortable right now!!!

The night passed out just as I have wished. I don't know what got over me this morning, I did everything hurriedly to be able to go on time.

Uncle Kelvin had to go to work so early for an urgent matter, and Mrs Tracy was called for an emergency incident.

It's me again with the three kids…

I was preparing while they were having breakfast. I first drove Max and Ruby to school, and it was Sophia and me alone.

I wasn't expecting either of us to talk, I know she hates me, and after what happened last night, there's every chance for her to hate me the more.

We got to her school, I was expecting her to slam the door hard and walk away like she never noticed me. Guess I'm always wrong about things.

She was staring at her hands as she pinched her fingers. " I'm sorry. " Came the soft words out of her mouth.

I didn't say anything, but I was ready to listen to whatever she was about to say.

" I'm very sorry for yelling at you. I know you didn't do anything and you didn't worth any of that either. I thought that was the only way to make you leave. "

" Why would you want me to leave? "

I remember back in those days when Sophia and I spent together not just as sisters but as best friends too.

We always shared this girl's little secret and most times we had great fun together especially when Max and Ruby were playing video games.

It's still surprising you know, to have such great times together and now, we look completely like sworn enemies.

I hate to say that it really hurts a lot. The last thing I've ever wanted in my life is to quarrel with someone so close to me. Not to talk of my sister.

She's only ten, we shouldn't be having such annoying hatred for each other.

" To pay you back for what you did yesterday morning. "

" But Queen, you knew I was running late for work and I had something important to do at the company. If you had gone, all this wouldn't have happened. "

" I know. " She said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

" Look, I don't hate you for anything, Queen but if there's anything wrong I've done to you, please forgive me. " I apologized.

Feeling more embarrassed, she looked away. " I should be the one apologising. It's me who started the quarrel, not you. "

" It doesn't matter who is at fault or not, none of us deserve to hate the other. We're the only girls around and we're supposed to have each other's back and not hate ourselves. " I explained, sighing.

I never knew I had to use all the strength I've got to say that. But at least, it really was helpful.

" You're right, we should have each other's back. Do you hate me?"

She took her gaze off the window, now staring at me with eyes pleading for a sincere reply.

I don't hate her.. for any reason. But I still want to know how she came to know about Acanda. It's almost twelve years ago since I came here which is likewise the same year they had given birth to her.

How does she know about Acanda?

Has she been overhearing uncle Kelvin and me talking about it? Or did someone tell her?

I know aunty Tracy will never do such and uncle Kelvin can never have such a discussion with his daughter.

I have a friend who has been very close to me since I graduated from college and I haven't told him about my background.

How the hell then did she know about this? There's someone who might have told her… Someone close to us.

" I don't hate you for any reason, Queen. But I want to know something, who told you about Acanda and my family? "

She looked outside again, and for a second, she stared at her fingers. " No one. But… " She paused like she was scared to continue.

" But who? "

" I once overheard Mom discuss with her friends about it. "

Shocked, I asked.

" When was that? "

She was counting her fingers, and when she got to the seventh finger, she stopped counting. " Last weekend. "

I didn't want to believe what she had just said, aunty Tracy would never do such. I mean, what was so interesting to say about it?

" You were out for a walk with Jake, Max and Ruby were out to meet their friends and I was the only one at home, in my room.

She might think I was sleeping but I wasn't. Tom was tired, " referring to her teddy toy, " I didn't want to disturb him.

I could hear mom discussing with her friends, that was how I got to know about Acanda. "

" What did you hear last night? "

" Nothing, I was crying so, I couldn't hear anything. "

I sighed heavily, and it felt like I was bearing a heavy burden on myself. The joy I had used to drive to work disappeared from me.

I felt the pains to be betrayed, to be talked about. And the questions kept pondering in my head…

" Why would aunty Tracy do that to me?

"Why would she be so willing to tell her friends about my family?

And last night I had explained to her what Sophia had said to me, she didn't much react the way Uncle Kelvin did.

"Why do I feel much hurt for what she did than learning about what happened years back?

"Why do I look bothered than being tired in this eternal misery?

I didn't want her to notice my sudden feeling, she doesn't have to.

The school bell rang, " aunty Ella? " She called for the nth time, I guess.

" Yes? "

" I have to go, bye. "

"Bye, " She waved at me, leaving for school.

I drove out of the school premises, I couldn't think straight, my joy was gone completely.

I wasn't bothered about Sophia knowing about my family background and the rest of them.

But I am when it has to do with some group of persons involved too.

And I can't stop imagining it looking like a Saturday class about me.

Who knows what she has told to the others, and what those people have said about me?

Why is my brain being so calculative over this? I should be heading towards home acting like I heard shit about anything.

*******

I got to the front door of our house, first taking a deep breath.

Now I've got two people who don't want the good out of my life. One who desperately dislikes me, and the other who condemns me.

And I really don't know who I'm to run away from…

~~~~

I knew it… I suspected Aunty Tracy's action towards her when Ella told her everything. She didn't react...