Chapter sixteen

At that moment, back in Phora High:

*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*... The school bell rings.

"Whew... Finally, school is over." Alex says stretching himself out.

"Okay class, remember your homework. And prepare adequately for tomorrow's pop quiz." The teacher announces.

"Teacher, it's not a pop quiz if we already know about it." A random student informs.

"Oh! Then... Just learn for anything."

The class jumps into chaos as students start to rush out, run over to their friends and other students gush into the class for their friends.

'Hmmm, I wonder how Adam is doing. He didn't return to class for any of the lessons. Guess I will have to help him catch up. I wonder if he is still...'

"Excuse me." A female voice interrupts his thoughts.

"Oh, hello. You are Mary, right? If you are here for Adam, he didn't return to class since he was taken to the clinic."

"Thanks for the info." She turns around to leave but then her eyes meet Edna.

"Let me guess..." Alex conjectures. "...you are also here for Adam." Edna nods in a shy way. "*Sign* Adam you bastard!"

"What was that?" Mary asks.

"Oh, nothing. Just thought out loud. Say... I was on my way to check up on him. You two can tag along if interested."

"Oh, why not."

"Sure."

The trio leaves the class and heads for the clinic. In a few minutes, they get to the clinic door. Mary takes the initiative and knocks. They receive no response. She knocks again, and this time a calm familiar male voice responds.

"Come in, please."

They walk into the clinic and meet Adam seated on the clinic bed with his back facing them and looking out the open window.

"Adam, are you feeling better?" Mary asks standing by the door.

"Yes. Thank you for your care." Adam says and turns and like a knockout punch, he strikes their hearts with shock, ecstasy, and for the guy, envy as he smiles. Like those cliché moments, the wind blows in through the window and his hair dives in it and floats like an eagle. The trio coming back to their senses pick up their dropped jaws and then approach him.

The question that was running wild in all their minds finally broke free:

"Since when did you s-smile?" They ask simultaneously.

"Really? I'm smiling?" He raises his hand to have a feel of his face to elucidate but Edna holds his hand down with her face still blank with shock, almost drooling.

"Stop Adam. You are just perfect." She says as if under a charm.

"DUDE!" Alex screams with disappointment. "How could you? You never told me you could smile! With that b-beautiful smile you can line up all the hot chicks in school and I can finally...finally get to hang out with sexy girls." He kneels by one of the beds and shrouds his face on it then starts to lament.

"Tsk! Pervert," Mary says. "But really, Adam, since when did you start smiling?" Adam shrugs his shoulder in response.

*Ring* *Ring* Mary's phone rings. She picks it up and answers. She listens to the caller for a few seconds and then responds:

"Will be there. (To the people present) Sorry. That was my parents. They are here. Adam, mind exporting me? We can get your bag from your class on the way."

"Sure." He answers and gets off the cot ready to leave.

"But-but what about...?"

"Is there a problem, Edna?" Mary asks the shy stuttering girl.

Disappointed, she replies, "No."

"You can tag along if you want." Adam chimes in. Her face shimmers as she hears the invite and then nods in agreement. But Mary doesn't look so pleased.

The three leave the room and leave Alex behind.

"F*ck that guy!" Alex cusses. "Didn't even see me hear. Well, I guess I will just follow then." He walks out and follows.

Moments pass and they stop by for his bag. They head for the school's exist. The moment they get out, right before them, an ash four-seated pickup truck is parked by the road in front of the parking lot.

Mary waves her hand and then shouts:

"MOM! DAD!" They hear and Hannah gets out of the car to meet her.

"Hello, dear. (To her occupants) Are you Mary's friends?"

Simultaneously they respond,

"Yes."

"Mom, what's with all the stuff in the trunk?"

"Oh. About that... Adam, my name is Hannah, and the man in the car is Louis, my husband. We are very good friends of your parents and I don't know if they informed you, but you will be spending the next few maybe weeks with us."

As if hearing the bestest news of her life, Mary shrieks with excitement but for Edna, she is struck with shock, almost as if she is in a movie.

"Okay," Adam responds to Hannah's news with calmness.

"Seriously! Adam you just can't listen to what strangers say." Edna scolds.

"Ouch!" Hannah reacts.

"No offence, ma'am." Edna apologizes.

"Oh... But Hannah is not an outsider. I know her."

"How exactly?"

"She smells familiar, I guess. Plus... Arghhh!" Adam shrieks with pain as he holds the side of his head. All rush to him in worry. "I'm-I'm fine. Don't worry?"

"Okay then..." Alex sounds and pulls Adam away. "Dude is the rumour actually true." Adam blurred, he doesn't respond. "Hey-hey-hey..."

"You mean me being engaged to Mary? That isn't true."

"Then why are you... "

*BEEP* *BEEP* Louis interrupts with the car's horn.

"OH, SORRY HUN!" Hannah shouts to apologize. "Kids let's hurry."

"Okay. Bye Edna."Adam says.

They start moving towards the truck but then stop in their tracks when the school's intercom announces:

"Adam White, you are to see the Dean in his office right now."

"Me? What did I do now? Haven't... Arghhhh!" He gets the headache again. And again, all rush to him. "Sorry. I will be fine though. I forgot I have a punishment to take care of. I am really scatterbrained today. The Dean says I have to clean the library before I leave the school grounds. So please, you can go on ahead. I will find my way."

"Do you know where we stay, Adam?" Hannah asks.

"Mom! Mom! Can I stay behind and help him finish up then walk him home?"

"Oh, good idea dear. Just remember to come back early. Bye."

"Bye, mom." Hannah leaves for the truck and then heads home with Louis.

"I want to help out too." Edna lets out.

"Huh?" Mary sounds.

"I mean we-we want to help out. You guys are in a hurry, right? Adam is also not at a hundred percent, so the more hands the faster."

"Wait a minute. I don't remember signing up for anything. Just let me be in my perplexity." He tries to stroll off but then stops. "But then again... I don't want to leave two defenceless girls alone with a dude. Especially him! Who knows what can happen."

"Okay then. But first, I have to meet the Dean. Who knows, he might just change his mind."