The Pain

"Guess you didn't meet her?" He snickered, straightening his back as he sat upright. Both Mimie and Crystal gazed sceptically at Jayden then to Philip. "Don't tell me you...."

"Yes Mimie." Philip snapped in. "I went to the airport. And guess what?" He gave a wry grin. "She was gone." He added, the grin on his face turning to a doleful expression. "I didn't even get the chance to tell her how I feel. To tell her how much I love her and how sorry I am for not being able to protect her." He paused for some seconds and the tears that he had been holding back for so long finally dropped. "Maybe if I had done just that. Maybe if i had spoken to her for once, she wouldn't have left." He sniffed as he instinctively wiped the tears with his hand,avoiding eye contact with his friends.

Mimie, Crystal and Jayden were dumbfounded. They felt guilty and also bad for Philip. "Mm–" Mimie drew closer to him rubbing her hand on his back. "I think you should calm down Phil–" She muttered.

Crystal on the other hand, stared at him with looks that screamed her sympathy. "You should drink this to calm yourself." She slowly pushed her lemonade over to him and glanced at Jayden who draped his hands over her shoulder; rubbing her arm, encouragingly.

Just then, the bell went off. All the students in the hall started to move out in pairs and in groups. "We should get going guys–" Mimie sprung up.

Jayden and Crystal nodded, getting up on their feet but Philip still remained seated. "Aren't you going to class?" Crystal queried.

"I think you guys should go first." He looked up at them. "I'm really not in the mood. I will have some rest at the infirmary. Help me make an excuse to Mrs. Whiteman."

Crystal deftly glanced at Jayden on Philip's words, etched. Mimie stared thoughtfully at him and sighed, settling back on the seat beside him. "And do you think this is want Lucretia would like you doing?" She calmly uttered, trying to get him to reason with her.

Philip looked thoughtfully at her. Thinking on her words, she was right. "This was the least he could do for Lucretia." He grumbled mentally to himself. "Alright." He faked a smile.

Mimie smiled back and they both sprung up. "Let's go." He mumbled and they took the lead, followed by Crystal and Jayden. They strolled through the corridors to the hallway and after some few minutes got to their class. The playful chatters from the students when they got to the door was evident enough that their Language teacher was not yet in.

Jayden pushed the door opened and they all glided in. Crystal and Jayden were the first to take the row to their desk. Mimie mildly pattered Philip's shoulder before tailing after Crystal and Jayden.

Philip was about to move to his desk when he got eye with Daisy then suddenly remembered that he sits opposite desk with her. He let out a wanly sigh, lurking around for an empty seat. Just then, he spotted Eugene and Mike two desks away from Daisy. They were so engulfed in their conversation and had not yet noticed him.

He scoffed and sauntered off. When he was about to get to his seat, Daisy hastily picked her bag from his desk, thinking he was coming over but then he walked passed her. She glanced at his back, hurt; It felt like a dagger stuck in heart.

Mike and Eugene were still on their conversation when he walked up to them. "Hey Phil" Mike hastily uttered on seeing him.

"Where have you been man?" Eugene also mumbled. "We've been searching for you all over the school. You....."

Philip mildly hit his arm, ignoring what he was mumbling about. "Scott over." He roughly shoved him over and sat beside them with a sullen expression on. Mike and Eugene glanced quizzically at each other, confused. "What's with him?" Mike whispered and Eugene shrugged.

Just then, their teacher trod into the class. The students who were standing around quickly rushed to their seats and the class immediately fell silent.

"Turn to page 107 of your Language textbook." She announced, dropping her handout on her table.

The students quickly rummaged through their bags and picked up the said textbook, placing it on their desk as they turned the pages.

"Corazon should do as the privilege of reading it out to us." She glanced into the textbook as Corazon stood up to do the reading.

The entire class buried their heads in the book as she started with the read. "VOCABULARY. 1. Paranoia- It is the feeling that you're being threatened in some way such as....." She went on with everyone listening attentively with the exception of Philip who had his eyes fixed at Lucretia's empty seat. Flashbacks of their time together started running through his mind's eye.

Mrs. Whiteman noticed his distracted state and called out to him but he was totally drown in his subconscious mind. "Philip?" She called once again and Eugene nudged him on the ribs, drawing him back to reality. Lurking around, he saw the curious eyes of his colleagues fixed on him.

"Are you here with us Phil–?" Mrs. Whiteman questioned sceptically.

"Yes ma'am–" He stuttered.

"You should pay more attention then." She turned her concentration back to the book and the lesson went on. The rest of the school hours passed by with no special happenings except Mike, Mimie, Crystal, Jayden, Mike and Eugene being worried about Philip but there was nothing they could do to help him.

Krriinngg....

The bell rang and the whole school was thrown into rumpus with all the students sauntering out of their classrooms with playful chatters.

Philip packed his books into his bag and stood up, shoving it over his shoulder. Without another word, he strolled off. Mike and Eugene hastily snatched their bags and went after him.

"Were you about to leave without us?" Eugene muttered as they caught up with him; rounding the corner through the corridor.

Mimie, Crystal and Jayden stared at their backs as they faded through the exit and let out an inaudible sigh. "I feel bad seeing him like that." Mimie uttered as she stood up, picking her bag.

"Me too." Crystal also sprung up from her desk and so did Jayden. "I feel like I was part of their separation." She added. "Perhaps if I had not listened to Lucretia and told him earlier about her transferring, this wouldn't have happened."

"Come on– girls." Jayden snapped in, draping his hand over their shoulders as he came in between them. "Stop brooding over spoilt milk. This might perhaps be the best way to have them understand their feelings. Don't you think?" He glanced quizzically at their faces.

"Well– maybe." Mimie shrugged and Jayden chhuckled. "I think we should get going now." he added and they strolled out of the class.