Chapter 60 : Free to drift far away

Standing in front of her father's tomb, Amaya knelt down, her fingers trembling as she placed the white lilies gently at the base of the stone. She bowed her head, heart heavy, while Daniel mirrored her actions, rising slowly as Amaya remained on the ground, her gaze locked onto the engraved name Leon Sapphirus.

"It's been ten years, papa, ten long years without you by my side, and nine months since I last stood here," she whispered, her voice trembling like a fragile leaf in the wind. A gentle breeze swept through the cemetery, swaying her hair and dress, causing her eyelashes to flutter like the wings of a butterfly. "I don't even know how I'm surviving. The choices I made—I can't tell if they were right or wrong. All I feel is the weight of my failures, the disappointment I brought you in these nine months."

As she folded her legs beneath her, tracing the letters of her father's name with trembling fingers, her eyes glistened with unshed tears, reflecting a deep ocean of grief and confusion. "Thank you, papa, for choosing Sid as my partner, my Band-aid in this unbearable pain. But, papa, the wound your departure left is so deep that even he can't heal it. He carries his own regrets, and I can see the hurt in his eyes every time he looks at me." Her voice cracked, raw and vulnerable, as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I miss you so much. I just wish I could hear your voice one more time, to tell me that I'm still your little girl, even when I feel so lost."

Amaya slowly dropped her hand, her fingertips grazing the cool, damp earth as she stared up at the vast sky, a serene blue stretching endlessly above her. For a moment, she looked calm and free, as if the weight of the world had lifted. But then, her expression shifted, the calmness giving way to a storm of emotions swirling within her. "Who am I kidding?" she murmured, her voice trembling like the leaves in the gentle breeze. "It's not like you'll return after hearing me beg you to come back. So today, I'm going to free you, Papa. You're free to go now. Wherever you want to go, you're free to drift far away from me."

Her voice cracked, and she felt warm liquid rolling down her cheeks. "I know I was selfish by holding you here for my own sake, and I know, today too, I'm selfish by letting you go for my own sake." Amaya stood up, her hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall. She took a deep, trembling breath, her heart racing as she confessed, "If I hold onto you more, it'll hurt Sid a lot and… surely Zeya too. I never saw Sid's eyes as relieved as they were when I said I want to move on, I want to change. I want to see Sid happy, and I don't want to hurt Zeya like I hurt Sid."

A cold, strong wind swept through the cemetery, causing Amaya to shiver and sway slightly, the chill biting at her skin. "I'm sorry, but I'm letting you go," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. "I promise you, in my next life, I'll never let you go and hold you so tightly even if I have to, I'll make fate kneel in." Just then, a gust of wind picked up, swirling around her, and Daniel's eyes widened slightly as he watched a delicate flower petal dance away. In that moment, Amaya's necklace snapped, the sound of the chain breaking echoing like a final farewell as her ring tumbled to the ground, a symbol of the bond that was now being set free.

Suddenly, Seth collided with a group of men in the bustling hallway, his phone slipping from his grasp and crashing to the floor. As he bent down, his gaze fell upon a ring that had rolled away. He instinctively touched his neck, feeling the sudden snap of his necklace string. His heart raced as he picked up the ring, lowering his gaze, his eyes darkening with anger seeing it shattered.

"What the hell?!?" the man who had bumped into him barked, irritation etched on his face as he glared at Seth. "Watch where you're going, punk! You got a death wish or something?!?" His voice dripped with menace, and a smirk crept onto his face as he spotted the girl's ring in Seth's hand. "What? A ring for a bitch?"

Seth's jaw tightened, fury boiling inside him. Without a moment's hesitation, he swung his fist and landed a punch squarely on the man's jaw, his face a mask of rage. "You bastard! What did you call her?!?" he growled, teeth gritted, eyes blazing with fire.

"Looks like this year's juniors think they can talk back!" another man shouted, launching a fist that connected with Seth's face. Pain shot through him, but it only fueled his anger. He retaliated, swinging hard and connecting with the man's cheek, the satisfying crunch of breaking teeth echoing in the air.

"Seriously?!?" a third man yelled, his foot striking Seth in the chest, sending him stumbling back. "You think you can raise your hands against seniors, huh?" The first two men seized Seth, their grips like iron, but just then, Fred burst onto the scene, fury radiating from him as he kicked the two men away. "How dare you gang up on my friend!" Fred shouted, his voice a thunderclap as he swung at the boys, ready to defend Seth with every ounce of strength he had.

"Back off, or you'll regret it," Fred warned, his eyes narrowing, the air thick with tension as they prepared for a fight.

"Eek!" Fred flinched as Elli poured Dettol over his wounds, the sharp sting making his eyes widen in shock. "You deserve it!" she snapped, her teeth gritted in determination as she pressed harder on the wounds, causing him to scream in agony. Zeya felt a shiver run down her spine, her heart aching for Fred. Her gaze drifted to Seth, who sat in a daze in front of her, his eyes fixated on the broken pieces of his necklace and ring.

With gentle hands, Zeya applied Dettol on Seth's wound, her heart heavy with concern. She tenderly placed a Band-Aid on the cuts on his cheeks and forehead, her fingers brushing softly against his skin. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice laced with worry as she studied his silent expression, searching for any sign of reassurance. Seth shook his head slowly, the weight of his emotions evident as he tucked the broken pieces of his necklace and ring into his pants, a defeated gesture. "It's nothing. Don't tell Ama about it—"

"Zeya." The sudden voice startled both of them, and they turned to see Tina standing behind Zeya. "Oh, Tina, what happened?" Zeya asked, her tone shifting to one of curiosity as she walked away from Seth. Tina's gaze darted to Seth, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson as she struggled to find her words. "Ahem!" Zeya coughed, trying to break the spell that seemed to have enveloped Tina. "Uh... umm... that... that note, I was wondering if I could get your note." Her stammering only deepened the colour on her face, and the atmosphere crackled with amusement seeing her expression.

Sophia, Demi, and Somiya exchanged knowing glances, their eyebrows raised and teasing smiles dancing on their lips as they observed the scene unfold. Fred and Elli shared a look of surprise, their eyes widening in disbelief, while they licked their lips, barely able to suppress the grins threatening to break free. The air was thick with anticipation, laughter lingering just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to erupt. "Sure. Wait a minute," Zeya replied, walking towards Seth to grab her bag.

Sophia jumped from her seat and walked toward Tina with purpose, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Tina Wilson, right?" she asked, her voice playfully teasing. Tina nodded, her ears flushing a deep red. Everyone licked their lips, their eyes glued to the unfolding interaction. "So, how did you become close with Zeya?" Sophia pressed, her curiosity evident.

Tina's face turned crimson, her heart racing as she whispered, "She and Seth helped me in the bathroom when I had a girl's problem." Sophia's eyes lit up, a grin spreading across her face. "Oh, Seth helped her during her menstruation!" she exclaimed, laughter bubbling in her voice. Sophia leaned closer to Tina, her eyes again sparkling with mischief. "So, Tina, how did Seth charm you? By showing his abs?" she teased, a playful smirk on her face.

Tina's face flushed a deep red as she stammered, "He didn't charm me! He just.. helped me bring pads." Sophia laughed, clearly enjoying Tina's embarrassment. "Oh, come on! You can't fool me. I saw the way you looked at him. Are you sure you're not secretly planning to open a joint premium bank account with him?"

The group erupted in laughter, and Tina buried her face in her hands, mortified. "Stop it! It's nothing like that!"

Just then, Zeya stepped in, her tone light yet firm. "Alright, everyone, let's not scare her off! Seth's not that special to her, right, Tina~?" she said with a wink, teasing Tina with a playful smile. Seeing Tina embarrassed, Zeya stopped teasing her and apologised, "Sorry and please don't mind us. Here, you can return it tomorrow," Zeya said with a warm smile, handing her notes to Tina.

"Thank you!" Tina beamed, bowing her head slightly before turning to leave. But just as she stepped away, a burst of laughter erupted behind her. Tina turned around to see Sophia and Elli playfully slapping Seth on the shoulder, while the others laughed hysterically. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Seth, annoyed and flustered, lashing out at everyone, the teasing atmosphere wrapping around them like a cozy blanket of laughter.

"It was their friends who beat Alex, Ben and Jeremy!"

A tense atmosphere hung in the air as a group of boys loomed in front of Sophia, Elli, Somiya, and Demi, their hands gripping hockey sticks like weapons ready for battle. The sun cast harsh shadows on their faces, highlighting the determination mixed with fear in Sophia's eyes. She quickly grabbed Somiya's wrist, pulling her behind her, a protective instinct kicking in.

Elli mirrored her actions, her grip on Demi's wrist firm and reassuring. "Sofy…" she breathed, her voice laced with urgency as she tightened her hold. "Got it," Sophia replied, her own heart pounding in her chest as she steadied herself, squeezing Somiya's hand for strength.

With a shared glance of resolve, they stepped forward, excitement coursing through their veins. Suddenly, in a swift motion, both girls yanked Somiya and Demi from their hiding places and bolted toward the group of boys. The world around them blurred as they ran, the sound of their sneakers pounding against the streets echoing in their ears.

As they charged toward the boys, with a powerful push, they launched Somiya and Demi away like cannonballs, sending them flying to safety with startled expressions. In a seamless motion, they planted their feet firmly between the boys' legs, their bodies coiled like springs, ready to strike.

With a fierce determination, they unleashed a flurry of kicks, catching the boys completely off guard. The air was thick with the sounds of grunts and surprised gasps as the boys stumbled back, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief.

"Call the boys!" The girls shouted in unison, their voices sharp and commanding as they snatched the hockey sticks from the boys' hands. Just as they prepared to launch their next attack, their fierce resolve faltered for a moment, the sight of more boys approaching from the other side sending a chill down their spines. The tension in the air thickened, and they exchanged a quick glance, knowing that this wasn't the fight they could handle alone.