Meeting again at the hospital

''That is what I missed about you. Your unrelentless arrogance.'' The girl called Sandra said and clapped her hands.

''Same, here. Sandra, even I missed you.'' Inayah flashed a smile.

''See you around, psycho!'' Sandra smirked and pulled the chair out of the desk just opposite Inayah and sat down.

Inayah looked at the empty desk two rows away from her and sighed. She paced out looking at the empty desk.

''Hey, you're pacing out again.'' Clara snapped her finger making Inayah come back to her senses.

When she looked towards the door, she saw Bertha entering into the class. They looked at each other and the latter went straight to her desk which was just in front of Sandra.

''Are you alright, Ayah. You were pacing out.'' Clara asked again.

''Was I?'' Inayah chuckled.

''Yes!''

''Clara, accompany me somewhere after school.'' Inayah turned to face Clara.

''I think I know where already.''

''Where?''

''You're going to see him, right?''

''I should, since I'm back.''

''I really admire your tenacity. Why don't people see this soft side of you like I do?'' Clara asked and they heard noise at the door and turned.

''Who is this fine meat entering our class, Ayah?'' Clara exclaimed.

Inayah turned and saw Noah walking towards them. ''Oh, you. What are you doing here?''

''Inayah, I finally found you.'' Noah said as he stood in front of her.

''Is that not the guy we saw at the beach with Inayah?'' Selina asked as they looked at them from their desks.

''Yes. He is the one, but what is he doing in our school?'' Joy looked at Samantha.

''Maybe he transferred to our school'' Selina said and cussed, ''I knew that bitch was up to something. She must have known he was coming to our school so she seduced him to get him on her side.''

Noah looked at Inayah and smiled. ''I searched literally everywhere for you.''

Clara cleared her throat and whispered, ''who is he, Ayah?''

''He is the one I went to the beach with. Where we saw Samantha and her minions.'' Inayah whispered back.

''I see. He is quite a catch!'' Clara said and Inayah shook her head.

''Noah, meet my cousin Clara. Clara, this is Noah.'' Inayah did a quick introduction.

''Hi, Clara!'' Noah took Clara's hand and kissed her fingers making her blush.

''Hi!'' Clara flushed.

''What are you doing here?'' Inayah asked.

''Oh, did I not tell you? I attend school here now.''

''You attend school here? When?''

''Yes. Oh, so I found out you are quite popular in this school. I will have to disturb you to show me around here.''

Inayah tensed up as his words echoed inside her head and she felt a sense of déjà vu again. She clenched her fists and frowned deeply.

''Ayah, are you alright?'' Clara asked as she looked at Inayah's paled face.

Inayah suddenly stood up. ''Excuse me!'' She said and ran out of the classroom.

Her behaviour made the students surprised.

.....

Ladies Washroom.

Inayah washed her face and looked at the mirror. Her face was still a little pale. ''What is wrong with me? Why do I keep feeling this way around him?''

The door opened and Samantha entered the washroom. She walked over to Inayah and asked. ''Inayah, I saw you run out of the class. Oh my God, your face is so pale. You look flustered.'' She moved closer to touch Inayah's face and the former stepped back.

''I'm fine. Excuse me.'' Inayah said and left the washroom.

Samantha's gaze turned sinister as she muttered to herself. ''Something is definitely not right. I must find out.''

When Clara and Noah saw Inayah coming out of the washroom, they rushed over to her.

''Ayah, what is wrong? Are you sick?'' Clara asked.

''Should we go to the hospital?'' Noah asked.

''No, I'm fine. Let's go back to class.''

''Are you sure? You don't look too good.'' Noah looked at her with a worried gaze.

''I'm fine. Let's go.'' Inayah insisted.

''The class teacher asked about you. Let's go.'' Clara held her hand and they walked away. Noah who was behind them frowned. He found her behaviour strange.

.....

Inayah's house.

''Thanks Aunt!'' Inayah said as she got down from the car.

''Inayah, wait...'' Miss. Gladys got down with her. She turned to look at the mansion suspiciously..

''What is it aunt?'' Inayah asked.

''Have you experienced anything strange lately? I mean, how are your neighbours treating you? Are you on good terms with them?''

Inayah could tell her Aunt was worried about her. ''Nobody pays attention to me. Well, except that faceless demon in the mansion there.''

''Faceless demon?" Miss Gladys asked.

''Aunt, the more I think about it, the angrier I become.'' Inayah tussled her hair, messing it up.

''Darling, what happened?''

''That faceless demon there, I don't even know him, yet, he treats me like a stalker. He asked somebody to buy my house because he hates having stalkers near him. Aunt, is there logic in this?''

''Ayah, that faceless man is a very powerful man. He owns half of companies in the city. Their family has connections with the state government and even outside the country. Inayah, aunt is worried about you. How about you pack and come live with Clara and I?'' Miss Gladys had used her connections as a lawyer to look into the mansion and found out it belonged to Jasper Miles.

''Mum, I told her but she is so stubborn about it.'' Clara peeped out of the car and spoke.

''Aunt, you don't have to worry about that. I intend to stay far away from him as possible. I didn't know he was that powerful.''

''Mum, who is he anyway?''

''He is Jasper Miles!''

Clara's eyes almost bulked out as she asked. ''That Jasper Miles who is always on TV with the mask on? That Jasper Miles whose face is rumoured to be so beautiful? That Jasper Miles?''

''Is that true? He is that same man?'' Inayah turned to ask her aunt.

''Yes. Actually, his secretary contacted me asking about your house.'' Miss Gladys opened up.

She had received several calls from the Butler asking about the house.

''What? He won't give up, right? Aunt, you know how hard I fought for this house; I am not going to sell this house. It is the only thing I have left now.''

''I know, that's why I refused to meet him. I didn't accept his invitation to a meeting.''

''But, Ayah, from what I've heard, that man is very dangerous. He even has connections with the thugs. Maybe, you should just come with us.'' Clara suggested.

''No. This is my house and I am not leaving. If he wants to kick me out; then I would love to watch him try. Aunt, don't worry. I can't be that easily bullied. I will protect myself and you.'' Inayah said confidently.

''Just protect yourself. You are the one in danger. Mum, let's go. I'm hungry.'' Clara rolled her eyes.

''I have to go to my part time job. Aunt, don't worry about me.''

''Don't act rashly and if anything happens; call me immediately.'' Miss. Gladys was still worried about her.

''I will. Your number is on speed dial.''

Miss. Gladys smiled and hugged Inayah before getting into the car.

Inayah watched them leave before she went into her house.

....

Hanna's diner.

Bertha finished changing into her uniform and went out to stand next to Inayah at behind the counter.

''You really apt your game.'' Inayah commented, referring to how Bertha stayed away from her at school.

''I told you, this time around I'm going to stay away from anything related to you. You are the definition of trouble.''

''But, you're the one who told everyone that I came back, right?''

Bertha smiled and turned to meet her gaze, ''really? Don't be so sure about that. Did you see me saying it with my mouth?''

Inayah cocked her brow and creased her middle of her forehead. ''Then why were you awkward with me when I first came?''

''You're a ticking time bomb, no one knows when you will explode. I was just being careful. Besides, I still feel goosebumps around you ever since that night.''

''Tell me something Bertha, do you really think I pushed Gideon down that night?''

Bertha looked at her with a complicated gaze as she asked back, ''tell me. Did you really push him down that night?''

Inayah exhaled. "Forget it. Why am I even asking you when I can't even remember what really happened that night?''

Bertha turned away and they both became busy when customers entered the diner.

...

Mrs. Hanna waited for the girls to come out of the diner before she closed it for the night. She turned to them. ''Okay, girls. Tomorrow, you don't need to come to work since I would be travelling. Take this time to study. Inayah, go to the library and read. I heard you have a test to write before you're fully accepted back into the school?''

''Don't worry. I might not look like it but, I'm a genius you know. Ask Beth!''

''Mrs. Hanna, don't worry about her. I want her to fail anyways.''

''Miss, don't you feel a bit sad towards this classmate of yours?'' Inayah looked at Bertha.

''No. And that brings me back to my first question since the day you returned. Why did you come back? So thick-skinned and foolish!''

''Whoa! Hasn't anyone ever told you that your words are so harsh?''

''As compared to my words; yours are the real deal. I'm going. Bye, Mrs. Hanna.''

''Bye, Bertha. Be careful on the road.''

''Sure.'' Bertha turned and glared at Inayah before going.

''Mrs. Hanna, did you see that? She glared at me. Wow! I should just…''

''Come, I will take you home.''

''No. Is still early. I want to walk home, you know, get some fresh air.''

''Whatever, just be careful and make sure you go home early.'' Mrs. Hanna said, going over to her car.

Inayah waited until she was gone before she took a different route and started walking away.

After she was gone, Bertha came out of her hiding and sighed. She looked at the phone in her hand and shook her head.

''It's none of your business, Bertha!''