10 BETTY'S DISCOVERY

Aimscious instinctively turned away from Mart with her back, facing– her face furrowed with a brooding gaze. In a way, she felt happy within her soul but yet, the thought of Lilia made her crave with sadness– because she didn't want to hurt her. She felt it's inappropriate since she was the first to had confessed her crush on him.

"Mart" She softly called which made him glance up at her back, all ears.

"I know how you feel towards me but I can't accept your love. " She expressed and continued "I...." but then, her words felt choked in her throats as tears flowed down her eyes.

"You have to accept Lilia's proposal–She had ,had a crush on you since first grade and always dreamt of the day she accept her. I can't do this..."She explained.

Mart feigned a sigh and chanced closer, he instinctively held her hands and slowly turned her towards him. Her heart fluttered just when their eyes met and she felt an unknown rush over her body.

"Is you I love, Aims." He mumbled. She stared at his eyes and her heart said otherwise from what she had earlier exuded.

He drew her a little closer to his chest and kissed her hands. "If only you feel the same way towards me, then don't think about Lilia. I know what to do about her issue."

With that, she hugged him in tears and whispered.

"l ... love ... you ...too Mart."

Aimscious have also had secret feelings towards him but after Lilia had verbalized hers to her knowledge, she promised to forego what she had and help her out to win him over.

Mart was delighted by her confession– unable to hold back, he spontaneously kissed her forehead to which she smiled. Lilia had earlier tailed them and from a distance, she kept watch from the tress were she hid– seeing what was happening, she glowered with anger, gnashing her teeth in fury and cursed them.

With that, she sneaked back home, furious.

After some time together, Mart took Aimscious home since its already late. She was extremely happy that she spent half of the night thinking and smiling to herself.

RADIANT STAR INTERNATIONAL

Kling.....!, Kling...!!, Kling.....!!!! ,

the school bell went off – Its already lunch time. All the students jump out ,screaming and shouting. Lilia dashed to the washroom; in an effort to meet the bullies so to finalise their plot against Aimscious but unknowingly for them, Betty was already in there.

She instinctively hid as quiet as she could hid just when she heard her sister's name. She listened on with rapt attention as the small group elaborate their plan. Sure they had left, she slowly opened the door of the washroom she was in and sauntered out.

Betty was so shocked – she couldn't believe what she had earlier heard.

"Wasn't that Lilia, Aimscious' best friend?She thought to herself but her subconscious mind just couldn't comprehend. "But why will she like to hurt her?– Why will she want to do such a thing? "She cried.

"I've got to warn Aimscious anyway before its too late"

With that, she rushed out of the restroom,scanning through each class and corridor, in search of her sister. She searched all over the canteen but couldn't find her. Fortunately enough, she found her in the rehearsal hall with Mart. She sped over, almost breathless.

Aimscious flinched at her sudden rush in that she almost sped off as well.

"Gosh, Betty–You startled me" She cried. "Hey, what's it?– Why are you breathing heavily like that?; Was someone chasing you?" She asked, gazing over her shoulder expectantly in an effort to lay hands on what she was running from. But then, Betty's stuttering voice drew her attention.

"No, no , Aims–There's no one after me" She said, gasping for breath. "I've actually been searching everywhere for you but couldn't find you. Luckily enough, I found you here." She explained which made Aims and Mart glance at each other and back at her with furrowed brows.

"Why? –whatever it is, can't it wait till closing?" She verbalized their confusion.

" No Aims , it can't, your life is in danger." She shouted after fully regaining control over herself.Mart and Aimscious looked at each other stunned.

"What do you mean by her life is in danger? who wants to hurt her" Mart stuttered with darted eyes and a creased brow.

Betty who was already in tears and shaking, asked in a rhetorical manner.

"Will you believe me even if i tell you?"

"why not, spill it out." They answered in unison.

"Is Lilia!! – Aims , I heard them. Every single thing they said; I was in the washroom when they entered..."

She went ahead and told them everything she had heard. But just as she had assumed, Aimscious didn't believe her. She chortled, folding her arms over her chest.

" Betty, i'm sure you didn't hear whatever it is well. Lilia will never hurt me." She objected. " We've been best friends since childhood....What are you trying to insinuate?"

"You've got to believe me sis, I know what am talking about– Please be careful of her" She cried with a tensed gaze. Her frustration and fear, evident in her eyes.

"You're unbelievable, Betty– Just leave me alone, it's getting irritating " She furiously exclaimed and stormed off, leaving Mart and Betty behind.

Betty stared at her sister's back and suddenly felt numb with echoes of the ruthless plans of Lilia and her newly found friends, haunting her consciousness. She trembled, almost falling to which Mart held her up, serving as a source of support.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked and she instinctively nodded, the tears in her eyes, dropped down her cheeks.

"Please, help me talk to her– She's really in danger" She pleaded. "I know how she feels about this but please let her know that i'm her sister and I'll not allow any evil to befall her."

"Don't worry, i'll talk to her." He assured after which he helped her out of the hall and they all returned back to their respective class.

SCHOOL BUS

School was over,Aimscious and her siblings got on the bus. Betty and Nicole settled next to each other, sharing a pair of seat while Aimscious isolated herself from them, taking a seat a meter away from them– quietly, brooding over the earlier incident. Nicole looked at Betty and slightly tilted his head.

"Dont worry , I'll talk to her." He mumbled and she bobbed her head in response. Not wasting anymore time, he steadily moved over to where Aimscious was and gently massaged her shoulder as he settled beside her which made her glance up at her.

On, noticing him, she feigned a smile.

" Hey, why are you like this today? –Is it because of what transpired between you and Betty today?" He asked and she instinctively turned hyper.

"But why should she think evil of Lilia" She retorted. "She had been my friend from childhood and she's more like a sister to me– Lilia isn't a bad person" She went to the defence.

Nicole, knowing fully well how to calm her, smiled.

"Aims, Betty here, was just worried about you dear– don't misunderstand her reaction." He explained. With a few more words, he calmed her and promised a giant teddy bear after their final exams to which she gave up the fuss and smiled, hugging her brother.

" It's okay, I've forgiven her now" She replied. They both turned to Betty and smiled to which she instinctively returned the smile as well.

Soon, the bus pulled over in front of their house and they alighted, rushing into the house.

MR. SIMON'S MANSION

Mr. Simon settled in the sofa with a scheming gaze, planning on how to deal with the Nelson family. He instinctively ordered Mr. Felix, his secretary in.

“Are you done with the investigation I asked you to do." He spontaneously asked just when the young man entered.

“Yes sir– The entire Nelson family arrives home by 6pm ; so we can take action from there" Felix replied to which a sinister smile curled at the corners on Simon's lips.

“Good! , set that family on fire two days from now" He ordered, a sneer lingered on his face.