Jealousy

"That's the daughter of the school PTA president Laurence. Min Ah her name is. She was abroad and joined the school this year with us. She is our age. In class C," Emily came running with information.

"How come we never saw her before?" Taaliyah asked the girls.

"Guess we were too busy in our own world having fun we actually know nobody from other classes.

"Everyone keep watch on her," Taaliyah ordered the girls.

"Yes," everyone agreed.

"Why?" Emily asked.

"Just to know about her, she looks like a trouble maker," Taaliyah said.

"She is," Ester agreed.

"Yes I heard she makes the boys in her class do homework for her, get drinks from the canteen and always book extra pizza puff for her and eat it herself," Emily shared more.

"People are possed by her then," Hera said and looked at the girls. At the right time, they saw her walking out of the class room holding two pizza puffs and a strawberry milk in her hand. They looked at her and stood like they don't care in front of the class in the veranda and suddenly she stopped in front of their class and walked inside. Taaliyah's heart rose. Derek. Her aim is Derek. She was sure. The girls hurried and moved towards the window. Derek was writing something at that time. Min Ah sat on the desk of Taaliyah. She had this pretty smile on her face.

"Here," she handed him. "Let's share," she said. Derek stopped writing and looked at her. He was actually completing Taaliyah's homework she had forgotten and Taaliyah did not have the clue that he is writing for her too. Min Ah placed the drink on his desk and handed the chicken pizza puff. He did not deny it.

"Thanks," he said it and took them. The boys watched the two with jealousy and so did the girls. Taaliyah and her girl gang did not like it.

"Taaliyah," they called her. Taaliyah pretended to be cool and smiled.

"Who would not like free food, its Derek, he will never fall for her,"

"Then look at it, they are exchanging conversation," Taaliyah peeped through the window immediately and walked back to the door. Danny was watching this incident. Danny from Division B. He took Min Ah as his motivation and role model.

Taaliyah stood in front of the door wondering how to interrupt the conversations and the girls pushed her in. "What no," Taaliyah said. But everyone saw her. She then walked in to not cause herself any embarrassment. She walked towards the shelf and pretended to take a book out. She then walked back to her desk. "Excuse me," she interrupted then. The girls watching these from the window were excited and laughing. "Do you mind?" she said and pretended to use the rack under the desk.

"Ofcourse," Min Ah got up.

"Taaliyah, I guess you are looking for this," Derek said and handed her Maths note. She actually was not.

"Oh yes," she said. she smiled. "I was wondering where I left it,"

"It's done," he said. She had no idea what it meant but to put on with her act she kept going forward.

"Thank you Ray Ray," Derek was drinking the milk Min Ah drank and he choked hearing her calling him Ray Ray," that was the first time he had ever heard her call something other than Derek. He laughed.

"Don't mention," he said. Min Ah stood there awkwardly watching their interaction and did not like it.

"Okay, I will leave then," she said. "Keep the paper I gave you, you will do it anyway," she winked and left.

"What paper?" Taaliyah asked immediately.

"Err...." he did not know what to say. They stood looking at each other. Taaliyah grew suspicious of him and Derek for no reason panicked. He had sweat running down his temples. The girls rushed in. Min Ah left with a smile on her face. Victorious smile. "Taaliyah," Derek called "Wait." But she ignored and left.

Days passed. Seasons changed, lesson got harder, kids went crazy, exams were nearing. The end of the academic year. Taaliyah and Derek could not believe that it's going to be an year in the new school. Then one fine day, this happened.

"Taaliyah," a voice called her shivering while Taaliyah was sitting on top of the desk spending time with her friends after having lunch. Fred and Derek had gone out to play with other boys in the class. Those who remained in the class turned towards her. Taaliyah did not understand. Few boys ran out of the class to inform the others. Tall and handsome Danny known for his skills in basketball stood before her holding her favourite apple juice and a bag of orange packet lays. Taaliyah looked at the girls and people who were watching her. Danny looked a little tensed.

"Hey," he greeted her.

"Ok, hey," she said looking confused. "What is it?" she asked him.

"Nothing," he shrugged and smiled as he finally looked at her face. She had a vibrant character but he was not like that. Silent, shy but super awesome in sports.

"Do we know each other apart from basketball games?" she aksed him doubtfully.

"No, but I remember seeing you in between the games, you once screamed my name and asked me to shoot a 3 pointer. Remember?" he asked her.

"Oh yes," she recalled immediately. He had the ball and had no one around so she Prince screamed at him to shoot but she could not believe that he did because she said so. Taaliyah laughed. "That's great, you have great capabilities to concentrate and multitask all at the same time," she appreciated.

"Consider this as me thanking you for it, we won the game that day," he said. Taaliyah smiled and took the drink from his hand. "This too," but she felt burdened to take all the items. She smiled. "It's...." but before she even completed it Emily reached out he hand.

"Am her friend, you mind if it take, she definitely is going to reject it," she said and took them from Danny's hands. She shot a look at Emily for doing it.

"It's fine," Danny said.

Taliyah smiled but did not notice that Derek had rushed back when he heard the news and stood watching it from the door. He could not believe what he saw. Taaliyah accepting the gift he offered. He walked towards her. "What are you doing here Danny? Teacher had asked me to not let anyone enter the classroom, you better leave before the bell rings," Derek warned Danny.

"I just wanted to say a word to her, am done here, leaving," he said and looked at Taaliyah's again. "Take care,"

'Take care my ass,' Derek said inside his head. Taaliyah did not say anything and waited for Danny to exit the class.

"What the hell was that?" Derek over reacted.

"What? Nothing. That guy came and thanked for telling him to do a 3 pointer during the match time,"

"Who asked you to do that?" he aksed.

"That was during the game of course us winning mattered," she said.

"Why did you accept this?" he pointed at the apple juice. "And those," he pointed at the bag of chips.

"I did not, the girls," she replied.

"Don't accept things from strangers," he warned her.

"Oh as if you don't, did you not get the stuff from Min Ah?" she asked back when he said that.

"Are you trying to get back at me?" he asked. "Really?"

"No am not, am just saying," she said but he did not let her complete he sentence.

"Don't do it again, or I will have to report to teacher as the class leader," he threatened her.

"Oh come on," she said. "This is too much. Then I will too, am a leader too," she said.

"Then try,"

"I will, I have proof that you exchanged phone number," she said it out loud. He turned pale and embarrassed. "I did not do anything like that, am decent," but it only triggered him.

"Why are they fighting like a couple who are jealous?" Ester murmured to the girls.

"I know,' Bhoomi replied.

"I don't think they realize that," Emily commented.

"They have been friends for long time and must be thinking this is natural," Here said.

"But this is cute anyway," Bhoomi said and giggled.

"Okay, Enough," Fred interrupted. "Leave it, let it go,"

"No," Derek said. He stormed out of the class. Taaliyah could not believe it. He did it and I had to accept it, but when somebody came to me and that's not even an approach like Min Ah, but he does not like it, what the hell!' she spoke inside her head. People walked away and went back to their works.

"Oh this is so not cool, so unfair," Taaliyah got pissed and sat with arms crossed against her search. "Happy?" she asked looking at the girls.

"What? We did nothing," they said in once voice. together. Taaliyah shook her head and got up. She walked out of the classroom. And she went to their usual place. But something unexpected happened in her way. She walked through shelves and found him. But she was shocked. Her heart dropped.