CHAPTER 29

Liam and Ria are happy as their parents escort them into the school. 

"I'm nervous!" Ria admitted. The school was filled with many students whom some were also being escorted in by their guardians.

Liam proudly held her sister's hand.

" You don't have to be nervous, you have me!" Liam assured her and Ria smiled.

" Thank you bro!" Ria said smiling.

Damon and Flora left after finishing all the formalities of admission.

" Bye kids, we love you!" Flora said to her children.

" We love you too!" Both Ria and Liam said waving at them. 

" Hello!" A boy sitting next to their desks greeted Ria. Ria smiled at him.

" Hello!" Ria answered back.

" My name is Christian Driller." The boy introduced himself.

" Nice to meet you, Chris! My name is Ria Rays!" Ria introduced herself and the little guy smirked.

Liam glared at Christian.

" She's my little twin sister, if you dare mess up with her, I'm going to break your limbs!" Liam warned and Ria giggled.

" Be warned, Christian!" Liam said with a straight face.

This school is mostly with elite students.

" Relax buddy, I was just getting to know your sister! Was surprised I've never seen you anywhere with a girl before! And your sister is really beautiful! I couldn't stop myself from saying high.

Liam has got very few friends and Christian is one of them that is why he didn't mind the small introduction.

" Well, I'm a little curious here! You said she's your little twin sister! I've never seen her until today! Where has she been all these years!" Christian asked with his brows furrowed.

" She was with our mom abroad as she worked there looking after our artistic studio, now she's back, Ria needs be back to school!" Liam said.

" It makes sense!" Christian said nodding his head in agreement.

" Hello, hi!" Another boy whispered to Ria who happen to wander her eyes around and met with his.

" Hi!" Ria whispered back.

Liam and Christian noted their whispered pleasantries and knitted their brows.

" Don't get involved with him!" Christian said.

" Why? he seems nice to me!" Ria said.

" Little sis, don't get involved with Kyan Mayner!" Liam warned.

" He's always in trouble!" Christian added.

" And speaking of trouble, he threw a stone at the principal's glass window last week and was suspended!" Another boy chipped in and took a seat at the front of them.

Ria looked at the boy confused.

" Hey buddy!" Christian greeted.

" Hey!"

"Ria, this is Martin Luther, our friend, he's always late for class!" Liam introduced and they all chuckled.

" Everyone! Back to your seats!" A middle aged woman walked in.

" Mrs Falcon, our class teacher, she teaches us literature!" Liam whispered to Ria.

The students quickly got to their sitting positions.

" Good morning students!" Her voice echoed in the classroom.

" Good morning Mrs Falcon!" The students chorused.

"Oh, we have a new student joining us. Darling, introduce yourself please!" Mrs Falcon pointed at Ria who nervously stood up.

" Hello!" Her small voice echoed.

" Hello!" Her classmates responded.

" I'm Ria Rays, glad to join you!" Ria said and was about to sit when a boy spoke.

" What's your dream carrier, Ms Rays!" Kyan voice echoed.

Ria glared at him and Kyan smirked at her.

" I don't dream!" Ria said and took back her seat while everyone laughed at her response.

" She's so full of herself!" A girl named Galla Monroe said with disdain.

" She's Liam's twin sister, Galla! Don't mess with her!" Galla's friend, Geisha Bronsus said.

" You've always wanted to be Liam's girlfriend, maybe you should make a step and befriend her sister first, that way you'll be getting closer to Liam!" Paula Deen said.

These three friends are the famous crew in the school, they've won in a lot of activities as a team.

Galla being the main star.

Galla is a very proud girl, she hates any girl who looks more beautiful than her, she likes bragging being the minister's daughter and her mother being a lawyer. 

" Open your exercise books, we are learning adjectives!" Mrs Falcon voiced out.

...

Shirley and Josh were finally done with their meal.

" It's pretty late, I should let you have rest now, we have a long day tomorrow." Josh said.

" Yeah, thank you for coming, for once you made me lively!" Shirley said with a content smile.

" I guessed you never expected me to be that way!" Josh said with a smile.

" Why would you say that!" Shirley asked surprised.

" Our first meeting at the studio. You were looking at me like a complete stranger, in a very unfriendly manner!" Josh said and Shirley chuckled.

" I was touched by how you showed up in office and then you brought me home and tucked me in bed, at that hour, all the way from country Y!" Shirley said smiling.

" Really! Honestly, I would have done that to any other person, I care about others health, actually, I came to find you here to hand some documents which needed immediate action and then I was told you haven't reported in. I was taken aback, so I came to look for you at the work place and indeed I found you there overworking yourself." Josh said.

" What about the documents!" Shirley asked.

" Well, I had to look into them before I take a little rest. They were needed by seven today morning! A pretty lot of work that is why I had to look for you at that hour!" Josh informed.

" I don't know how much to thank you, you must be tired!" Shirley said concerned.

" Not much, I'm used to overworking, there are times I hardly sleep even for two hours, so, I can handle it. Don't worry!" Josh said.

" If you say so. But, I still want to make it up to you, for today!" Shirley said.

" Really, you don't have to bother, I'm just doing my duty!" Josh said.

" No, I still don't feel right about it, so, lunch on me tomorrow. There is a pretty good restaurant close to the studio, they serve really good steaks!" Shirley said and Josh chuckled.

" If you insist, miss! I hope you won't mind if I pay for the bills. It doesn't settle right with me, a beautiful lady like you paying bills while I'm there!" Josh said.

" You're flattering me Mr Manfred!"Shirley said blushing.

" Please, you can call me Josh or whatever you want just keep away the formalities, makes me feel old!" Josh said.

" Well then, to make it even, call me Shirley!" Shirley said.

" I hope you don't mind me saying that I find your name really cute, Shirley!" Josh teased and Shirley blushed.

" I don't, in fact, I find it really cute too!" Shirley said.

Josh stood up and helped Shirley stand up from her seat too. Shirley walks to the door besides Josh, silently. She opens the door for him.

" Thank you Josh, I really had a good time!" Shirley said.

" My pleasure! And you don't have to thank me, we are now friends!" Josh said.

" Yes friends!" Shirley said but then felt disappointed by the sound of it. Was she expecting something else?

She lingered by the door as Josh walked out. Josh turned after taking a few steps away from her door. He finds Shirley still standing there at the door staring back at him.

" Aren't you going back in?"Josh asked.

" I will, I'm waiting for you to leave first." Shirley said smiling at him.

Josh chuckled and walked back to where she was standing.

Then he wrapped his arms around her for a hug.

" Shirley, if you need anything from me, just ask!" Josh whispered in her ear before stepping back and kiss her forehead.

" Have a good night Josh!"Shirley wished him and goes back in locking her door.

She leaned on the door with her heart beating so first.

" No Shirley! Please don't get yourself into this!" Shirley echoed to herself.

Josh reached his car and started smiling. He really felt good spending time with Shirley. Something inside him was awaken after quite a long time.

None of them was ready to admit what it is.

...

...

Claire laid on the hospital bed with tears in her eyes. The scene of her rolling down the stairs kept rewinding in her mind ever since she woke up.

" Calm down my child, this is not the end of it!" Arena said to her daughter.

" Now Damon would not marry me! I lost my baby!" Claire cried more.

" It was an accident honey!" Mrs Rays said to console her.

" I've now lost everything! I don't want to leave anymore!" Claire claimed.

" Please don't say that sweety, I've already informed Damon, he's on his way here!" Mrs Rays said.

Before Claire could say anything, Damon and Flora walked in.

" Claire, I heard about what happened, I'm really sorry about it!" Damon said.

" What is she doing here! You brought her along to mock me!" Claire pointed at Flora.