Chapter songs:
First half - Broken by Isak Denielson
Second half -Truth is by Sabrina Claudio
••☆••
" i know I am only burdening you with yet another secret from Amir," Marieh softly said .
She pulled herself close to Babi, reaching for both her hands and holding them tightly.
"But please B. " Marieh pleaded, searching for her eyes.
"How am i going to face Amir? Well aware you might break his heart," Babi asked. Her voice caught in the throat.
"All i want is to explore his feelings for Darnel . Then i will decide the end result, " Marieh added.
" What if you realise your feelings for Darnel are stronger, then what?" Babi looked into Marieh's eyes, asking.
"Then i will talk to Amir myself. He will never know you knew," Marieh said.
Babi was having a hard time keeping in pain and heartache she was feeling with each and every word coming out of Marieh.
"So you end it with Amir and date Darnel," Babi exhaled painfully .
" he is already mine. It was destined to be. Whether i like it or not. Darnel was mine long before we were born, " Marieh said in assured and confident.
"You're right," Babi deeply exhaled.
That was the last nail in the coffin. Shredding Babi's heart in even more pieces with no hope of recovery from that.
"You worry about me not being liked back by Darnel and i breaking Amir's heart . " Marieh concernedly said .
" i will have it all sorted , just me some short time," Marieh pleaded.
" i am also sorry i am making it seem like you have to choose between Amir and i, but you are all i have," Marieh added .
Babi's heart felt so heavy with the chest squeezed tight that not enough oxygen was entering her lungs .
"It's a lot right now," Babi honestly said .
" Let me sleep on it," She added.
She immediately laid back down, covering herself to the neck.
"Good night, Babi," Marieh softly said, laying down as well.
" Hmm..." Babi replied.
Babi turned to the left, facing her back to Marieh.
Hardly had she turned when tears rolled down Babi's eyes.
Babi covered her mouth and struggled with maintaining her breath to normal for Marieh not to find out she was crying .
With that failing, Babi turned her head, bitting into the pillow crying muffledly, not able to remain composed.
Marieh of the other edge of the bed shut her eyes closed , sleeping peacefully.
The pain Babi was going through was a lot .
The night it's had been quite a roller coaster for Babi to endure Marieh's confessions like the rest.
Babi quietly rushed out the bed to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
On her knees, Babi went before the toilet seat, bending her head in and vomiting.
The news was difficult to stomach, hence coming back with everything she had eaten.
Babi breathlessly sat next to the toilet seat, breaking down into heavy tears quietly .
She colied herself, folding her hands on her knees and burrying her face between her hands and legs crying out .
"Of all people, why ....why...Why him...." Babi cried to herself, struggling to be as quiet as possible.
She lifted her head, leaning back and fighting to breathe properly.
Her suppressing in the pain and cry only made her chest tighter for the lungs not to do their proper job.
"I would've... continued with distancing him....." Babi mumbled in between tears .
She placed her hand on her chest , soothing herself in painful cries.
" Then...i .. wouldn't hurt ... like this...."
The soothing wasn't helping with reducing the pain trapped in her chest, tearing her part.
*
Unlike other normal mornings , this one was quite different for Babi.
Her vibe was totally off and less vibrant than usual. Her mood was low and so quiet zoned out in her mind.
"Are you okay?" Marieh asked as they walked out down the hallway to their class.
" You have asked me that throughout our journey from home. " Babi replied.
" You keep on saying you're okay, but you don't seem it. That's why she won't stop worrying, " Neacky replied.
" You guys go ahead , i have some assignments to handle of Wilfred," Babi said , immediately taking a different direction.
Marieh sighed, watching Babi walk away .
" i think i am to blame," Marieh quietly said.
" Why , did you say something that got to her that much?" Neacky asked
Marieh exhaled deeply.
" It's nothing," Marieh said , continuing to her class .
Marieh took full responsibility for Babi's mood , she understood that it could be from the conversation they had the previous night .
Babi knocked at Professor Wilfred's office and opened the door, entering right after .
" Mcweesly," Wilfred called soon as she entered.
" Did we have an appointment?" He asked.
" No," Babi replied, giving herself a seat before his table .
" i am hoping you would give me some work. To help you with research, go through your students' essays. Anything, " Babi added.
Wilfred leaned backwards, quietly looking at Babi.
"What is it?" Wilfred softly asked.
" Do you want to talk about it?" he added.
" i am okay . " Babi said .
Wilfred sighed, keeping his eyes on her.
" You need a destruction, i need help with those," Wilfred said, pointing at piled papers on the trolley in the corner of his office.
Babi stood up, walking over to the corner.
"Read through them , edit and write an improved summary of each," Wilfred said , his head bent down to the workload before him.
" When do you need them?" Babi asked.
" With how troubled you look , i am sure you will be faster than usual," Wilfred said.
" Thank you," Babi said as she matched out of his office with a bunch of papers.
Babi's shoulders had collapsed down , her head tilled down, not like how it normally stood tall on her shoulders.
Her legs froze at the door of her classroom. Her eyes on Darnel, who had turned his chair backwards and engaged in what looked like deep funny conversation with Marieh.
' I like him, and i am going to pursue my feelings for him.'
Marieh's words rang in her head again.
Babi observed Darnel, his body all turned to Marieh , his face was bright with a wide smile talking to her.
His eyes hadn't left her happy face, not even for a single minute.
Babi's heart sank , her heart racing as she held the papers in her hands tightly.
Fearful imaginations ran through her head, making her more anxious.
Babi dragged her feet backwards on to bump into someone's chest behind her .
" Uh..." she jumped a bit startled.
Babi hurriedly turned, staring at the one standing closely behind her.
The tall dark skinned , well-built guy before her bore a smile on his face .
" Don't they look good together?" The guy commented his eyes on Marieh and Darnel.
Babi turned, looking back at them, then quickly back to the guy .
" Why do you look like you're fleeing, though, Skylar?" He smiled , his eyes on her face .
"London..." Babi stammered, shocked by his presence.
" Babi," Nathan loudly called from class . He grabbed everyone's attention, all looking at the door .
Babi turned, looking back in class. From Nathan, she looked at Darnel, who was staring at her as well.
Darnel raised his eyes from Babi to the unfamiliar body closely behind her .
" Quarteback...." Matt and Kalvin called .
Walked closer to the door, flashing a wide smile and waving at them.
" Whooa....Ah...." the girls in class shouted.
Darnel observed the attention and influence of his presence to almost everyone in class and then looked at him again.
London stepped back, looking at Babi, who was staring at him too.
" Are you entering, or we stick to your original plan?" London smiled.
Babi looked inside to Marieh, who bore a wide chicky smile, then back to London.
London smiled , and he reached for the papers in her hands carrying them.
He held Babi's hand , majestically walking away with her.
" WHOAH..." The class was left shouting and cheering for them.
" What's with fuss?" Darnel asked immediately.
"They are our homecoming Queen and King," Kalvin said .
Darnel looked back at the door, Amir entering the class .
" Did i just see London with Babi?" Amir immediately asked, talking his seat .
" Yes," Nathan replied
" he is back to shake things up," Amir chuckled.
" What do you mean?" Darnel asked with a frown.
" Are they thing?" Darnel added.
Amir laughed, observing Darnel.
"They are not a thing yet," Kalvin smiled.
" yet," Darnel emphasised.
"Hmm..." Marieh smiled
"The whole school ships them . Thats why they have already announced the homecoming Queen and King even before the homecoming, " Marieh added.
"The first day Babi transferred here , London asked her out," Amir narrated.
" And it's not just any London. But the London " Marieh smiled.
" he is one of the popular boys here, ranked among the most handsome, the quarterback and president debate club," Marieh added.
" Did Babi say yes when he asked her out?" Darnel asked.
" No..." they all laughed.
" but London wasn't phased. He kept on publicly pursuing her and making himself known that he wanted her so that no guy would go after her," Amir said.
"Oh, he made vice president of the debate club , saved he, and all of us seats at all his games," Kalvin said.
" Or the time he confessed his feelings after winning the match in front of the whole school. That was cute. " Marieh smiled.
"So," Darnel asked.
" Ah.. Babi, she has firlted and gone along." Amir smiled.
" we all believe she could have some feelings for him. I mean, she has never accepted all his gifts and gestures. " Amir added.
" she has kept on feeding him with small green lights . " Matt added.
Darnel scoffed, leaning backwards.
" it's her thing to string her admirers along and close," Darnel commented underneath his breath his eyes on Nathan.
Nathan was bothered and worried . He kept on looking back at the door and at Babi's empty seat.
" Why haven't i seen him around." Darnel asked.
"He got a leg injury in the middle of last semester. The doctors had said he wouldn't play football again, " Marieh said .
" The parents wouldn't allow that, so he was taken for rehabilitation in Europe," Marieh added.
" Do you think he is back?" Nathan asked .
"I don't know . " Matt replied.
" Babi should know. " Matt added.
" i wish he was back." Marieh smiled .
" Babi had said she would give him a chance once he is back," Marieh added.
" WHAT....." The boys were shocked all turning, looking at Marieh.
" You're kidding, right?" Nathan demanded.
" No," Marieh said.
"He is a nice guy and loves her crazily. " Marieh said.
" i am sure Babi noticed she liked him during the time he got the injury," Marieh said.
" Talk about it , she visited his home almost every evening after school. She was the most worried for him, " Matt said.
Amir smiled, staring at Darnel, who was listening with a scowl on his face .
"I much prefer London with Babi to the mysterious J," Marieh said .
Darnel bit his jaws angrily. Nervousness and fear wrapped his heart and body .
His head was filled with questions he didn't have answers to.
Darnel turned facing front with the teacher entering class.
Darnel's leg was shaking continuously. He was uneasy and unsettled. He turned, looking at Babi's empty seat .
"Fuck this ..." Darnel deeply exhaled. He stood up rushing out of the classroom.
Everyone turned looking at Darnel disappear out the door .
Marieh, Nathan, Kalvin and Matt were confused at Darnel's rush out of class looking so desperate.
Amir smirked, he bent his head down only to widely smile and chuckle quietly.