chapter four

Author's POV

first period was few minutes to the time giving the returning students to catch up on the old days. it was a big spacious class with two standing air conditioner at attention at the side of the class. Each desk looked polished and prestine with exposed metal part of the wood glimmering with the kiss of the light penetrating the window.

Talian and Ella had set their things down but went to speak to their other friends, particularly Talia who was crowded already.

"how was your vacation"

"did you see any celebrity"

"or meet one in person"

Ella has spoken to the few in just a few minutes and was standing aside forgotten while Taliana bathed in the attention. There were times she wished she was like Taliana instead of been jealous. Though they just met on Jss1, they maintained their bond until their ss2. What she lacked was communication skills which her friend had. she knew she was not bad looking but couldn't maintain a conversation for more than a minute. At time she would be pushed by Taliana to give her speech in class but there was the first time that she performed badly, that happened once, other time she was excellent.

After the last period before break, the two friends were walking off to get their break when they spotted an enemy. Linda, the slay girl of their set from art class walking majestically with her little minions.

"let's go Talia", Ella grabbed her friend's hand to drag her away but Linda stepped in front of them

"na na na, don't walk out on me when I'm doing you a favor of speaking to me", she said, twisting her braids around her index. Taliana rose an eyebrow hearing her statement.

"remind me what you are again? because I think I forgot" said Taliana, dragging Ella away.

"I hope you're with your extra cash because I think somebody is about to leave the cafeteria empty handed"

on hearing that, Taliana stopped but Ella dragged her "Talia let's go, please"

"what do you mean by that?" Taliana asked Linda

"Ella I heard daddy's broke, how possible Is that?" Linda mocked asked, her friends mock gasping.

Ella's head was bowed, her eyes feeling heavy and face hot.

"Ella? what's she talking about? Asked Taliana suddenly.

"oh you didn't know? her daddy's company has gone....." she didn't complete here sentence but made a silly face while gesturing with her hand a crumpling object before bursting in to laughter and walking off with her friends.

Taliana turned to her friend's spot but found no one."Ella!!" she ran after her and finally caught up with her making her way to the toilet.

In there Ella bursted into shot spurts of tears."she's a witch".

Taliana froze seeing her friends miserable with tears and not knowing what to do. Last time she saw her that way, she had lost her mother, it had freaked her out so much that her mood was so sore after visiting her friend's mom on her sick bed with no chance of getting up.

she was afraid of losing her own parents as well. Daddy Chris was seated by the side of her bed that cold evening. He noticed there was something wrong with his daughter.

" care to tell me why you've locked yourself up ever since I saw you?"

"Daddy..." she began sobbing into her pillow. Chris sat close to her on the bed while she dragged herself up from the bed to sit up.

"what's wrong? anything went wrong in school?"

"Actually dad, Ella's mum is sick" she said, receiving a muffled expression from Chris.

"sick?"

"yes daddy, sick, really sick. really really sick to no hope of getting up, ever".

"I never heard of anything -"

"she had cancer and didn't know until an advance stage "

"I'm sorry about your friend, I -"

"the problem is... I'm scared dad. I can't imagine losing you or mom" she said amidst tears, her eyes met up with her dad who found the fear hidden there in them.

"you're not losing us. let me tell you something ", he picked her hands and blew warm air into them.

"you know everything has got it's time to come and to go and that happens to us too".

Taliana didn't like the sound of that and dug her head into her father's chest." no no, you're worsening how I feel, dad".

"shh" he hushed her, drawing her away from his body

" but that should not deter you from doing what you want, it should be your cue to be independent and to stand on your own. To make use of what you were taught to push ahead. Life is not always candy and rose, sometimes sore things happens and you should always be prepared for it. Bad things differ in every individual, not everyone experience the same level of it. And I've always believe you can, you're a strong woman like your mother. you'll fulfill your dreams of being a high tech engineer with or without is okay?" he encouraged.

Taliana inhaled air and nodded to his words. " I feel a little lighter" she said.

" a little lighter?" Chris joked with a rose eyebrows

she laughed softly and nodded. "so much lighter" both laughed, falling into a hug.

"I love you, dad" She said passionately.

" I love you infinity more"

" and please tell mom that I love her so much".

Taliana pulled her friend into that same hug, praying that what ever bothered her was going to vanish but it didn't as the girl sobbed more uncontrollably.

"Ella what's going on?" she asked in a whisper. not looking at anyone's face made it possible for Ella to say it.

"my dad's company is going bankrupt, the business had since been collapsing" hearing that, Taliana finally realized how strong her friends was over that long period.

"I'm sorry" Taliana hugged her more tightly. "but you know what my father told me?"

"what?"

"he said that though tough time like this, we should defined ourselves and I believe in you".