Haylen's POV:
"My mom and Dad's marriage was a forced one." He said.
I urged him to continue, "And?."
"My mom doesn't love my dad. She only married him because he threatened to lock her father in prison if she didn't." He paused, trying to hold himself from breaking down.
"She was madly in love with another man. A very poor man that could be of no help to her struggling family. But she had to lick her feelings after she got married to my dad, who was obsessively in love with her.
She then gave birth to me and was still living with my dad till I was ten. She might have pretended, but I thought she was happy. Happy with my dad. Happy with me. Happy to be with us. Until she suddenly disappeared and never came back."
"I'm so sorry." I was shocked, surprised, bewildered. Jacean had stayed without his mom since he was ten?
That was quite a shock, it was no wonder he always had this blank icy looks in his eyes, looks that seemed so emotionless you wonder if he even have a soul.
"Until she surprisingly appeared out of nowhere, came to me, begging for money and forgiveness. She said she was sick, and needed money for treatment. She said she was sorry for how she had abandoned me but had her reasons. She claimed she missed me. She had met me in secret knowing dad would never allow her get close to me. I was still feeling betrayed and mad with her for her selfish act, but I was also feeling sad for how rough and sick she looked. I gave her money, but maybe, it wasn't enough for her, I have no idea, she came by herself here yesterday to beg my dad for money. Do you know what he did? He kicked her out of the estate and didn't give her a dime. He let her go home without a penny even though she had knelt in front of the mansion for hours." He said, and I could see the tears clouding his eyes.
He cleaned them off, "My mom might be terrible and a cheater for doing what she did, but this wasn't what she planned her life to be. My dad destroyed her because of his obsession with her."
I didn't say anything; instead I did what Aunt Cathrine did whenever I felt upset;
I hugged him.
Which startled Jacean.
"It's okay, it's okay." I consoled him. He relaxed a bit before hugging me back and sobbed.
I patted his shoulder, letting his tears soak my shirt.
This was my first time to see Jacean Smiths this broken. It was a first seeing the broken shattered side of his enigmatic, proud self.
For the very first time in my life, I felt guilty and stupid for playing with people's feelings.
For making such stupid bet on Jacean with Zoe.
.
.
.
While Jacean drove me home in silence, I peered out of the window, my thoughts and mind blank.
Finally, he reached my destination.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and gave him a smile, which he didn't reciprocate.
"Goodbye."
"Same."
I made to shut the door when I paused, "Are you coming to school tomorrow?." I asked.
He remained silent as he shrugged, " I will try."
"Alright."
I turned to leave, but he stopped me.
I furrowed my brows, "Anything?."
"Thank you, Haylen," he smiled, "thank you for today."
I didn't want to smile, I tried to hold myself from doing that, but I caught myself smiling at him gently, "Oh, well, don't thank me. It's cool."
I slammed the door close and watched as he drove away.
Shaking my head, I made my way to the mansion and gave a brief look to the bodyguards there.
The parlor's lights were switched off, so I turned them on, staring around the huge, glamorous space.
I sat on the sofa and turned on the TV and decided to watch some cartoon, but my mind wasn't there.
My attention and thoughts were somewhere.
It was all on Jacean's mom.
How could she leave a life of luxury because of love? Love that couldn't bring food to the table or provide her with what she needs and wants in life? How could she?
Now that she was poor, was she happy? Happy with the kind of she was currently living? A life where she couldn't even get money to treat herself?
Money was the only source of happiness.
What could be more important than that?
Though money and wealth were my major source of happiness, I couldn't help but feel a part of me being numb.
Incomplete.
.
.
Next morning…
"Wake up sleepyhead!." I felt a hot smack on my back. I instantly opened my eyes in pain and alertness.
Someone laughed, while I blinked my eyes in confusion.
It was none other than Zoe.
"Zoe!."
"That's my name!." She laughed harder.
I rubbed my eyes before looking around they rowdy class. Weren't we having Physics? How did it…wait, it couldn't be I fell asleep midway until the lecture was over?
"How the hell did I fall asleep?."
"You should ask yourself that," she slapped her forehead, "you fell asleep just when Mr Francis was about to start explaining. Had to lie you were sick before he could let you be."
"Damn." I facepalmed. How could I miss Phyiscs ? I freaking missed Physics class!
"Did you learn a thing?." I asked Zoe who threw a gum into her mouth.
She darted me a puzzled look, "What?."
"The physics. Did you understand?."
She rolled her eyes, "I'm yet to understand Mathematics, and you are here asking me about Physics?."
I waved her off, "Forget it. I just knew it'd be useless to ask you," I stretched, "my body needs some exercise. When will it be lunchtime?."
"In a few minutes, shall I follow you?."
"If you wish."
She got up, "Let's go then."
We strolled lazily to the corridor before walking into Jacean and his friends.
He looked much more happy than before, talking to Thomas and the rest.
A flash of his dispirited face came to my mind.
At least he was cool now.