I am not leaving her...

Fountain High School.

Bertha hanged her backpack over her left shoulder while walking to class. She opened the can juice in her hand and sipped once before someone snatched it from her hand. She looked up and saw Gideon smirking at her.

''Hey. You?''

''What is with that face? You don't look too happy to see me'' Gideon chuckled.

''That is exactly true'' Bertha said and saw him drinking it. ''That's mine, you, idiot''

Gideon looked at her lip gloss that remained on the can and sipped it again before saying to her, ''we just had an indirect kiss, Berth. Be careful, the next time might just be lip to lip''

Gideon opened her palm and wrapped her fingers around the can before turning to go. he saw Sandra looking at them from a distance and greeted her, ''hello Sandra''

''Oo, hi, Gideon'' Sandra said and looked at Bertha with an interesting grin.

''Is not what you think'' Bertha said as she walked to the trashcan to throw the juice away.

''I didn't say anything''

''Don't look at me like that'' Bertha started walking away and Sandra hurried to catch up with her.

''How am I looking at you? Hey, why am I not surprised with this sudden development?''

''I said it is not what you think it is''

''Why are you yelling at me?''

''I'm sorry. I just… I just don't get it. why is he doing this to me?''

''He likes you. I'm surprised you didn't know about his feelings. Everyone knew he's had feelings for you since our first year. You were probably the only clueless person''

Bertha stopped walking and turned to face Sandra. ''What are you talking about?''

''Hey, Bertha. Don't tell me you didn't notice his behaviour towards you?''

''You mean how he used to bully me and call me fat?'' Bertha asked, throwing her hands in the air.

''Bertha, think about it. Do you remember Peter and Damian?''

''His co-bullies?''

''His enemies at school at that time''

''Those boys suddenly changed schools. Have you bothered to find out why that happened?''

''That has nothing to do with me''

''I bet it does. Listen, I don't know much about what really happened but Peter, you know he used to be my neighbour, right?''

''Get to the point, Sandra?''

''Well, the day Peter was moving out with his parents, he said he was being punished for trying to hit on you''

Bertha frowned. ''This doesn't make sense''

''I know, and the only one who knows the full story is Gideon because he was the one who made the boys to change schools. Why don't you ask him?''

''Never. What happened is all in the past. I don't want to talk about people who are no longer in my life, let's go to class already''

Inayah and Clara were chatting when the two entered the class. Bertha walked to her desk and pulled the chair out angrily.

''Sandy, what is wrong with her? Who spit in her biscuits this early morning?'' Inayah asked.

''I don't know'' Sandra said and looked towards Gideon. Inayah followed her gaze and chuckled sarcastically. She picked up her book and got down from her desk and went over to hit Gideon's head with it.

''Ayah, what is wrong with you?'' Gideon shouted as he looked at Inayah.

''Leave my friend alone!'' Inayah said and went back to her desk.

'My head is very precious; you know''

''Then, don't mess with Berth. She is angry because of you, right?''

''What did I do?''

''Don't think I haven't noticed what is going on''

''He likes your friend'' Noah said, turning to face Inayah.

''If you hurt her; you are dead meat'' Inayah warned before sitting down when she saw the teacher coming in.

….

Club Zen.

Private Room.

Lilian sipped her glass of whiskey as she looked at Jasper and asked, ''so you and Inayah?''

''I am not letting her go'' Jasper said immediately.

''I know and I am not here to tell you to let her go. She is a smart girl. She will figure out what's best for her but, I am going to keep my eyes on her. If you hurt her, I will not stand and watch it''

''She likes you a lot. Not sure what kind of karma that is for me''

''I know. And I like her too. She told me to come clean with you''

''About what?''

''She is quiet something. I can't believe I opened up to her so easily'' Lilian said and chuckled.

''She makes you want to open up to her''

''Thanks to her, I don't have to be in continual guilt for leaving you''

''Lilian, you don't have to explain anything to me. I was being selfish. I realised I didn't really understand you and what you were going through''

''She was right. Inayah told me that she believes you're a rationale person and won't put it to heart as long as I come clean. Jasper, I'm sorry for leaving you like that. I should have explained myself, I allowed you to wallow in guilt and caused you pain. I'm sorry''

''Is okay''

''I'm worried about you though. Inayah is just 18 years. You will be 28 this year. That makes you 10 years older than her''

''I know, but you don't have to worry about that. I won't rush it. I'm taking it slow with her. I won't cause her any harm''

Lilian smiled. ''You've really changed a lot from the last time we met. I guess no one can escape from the Inayah syndrome''

''You too, you look more relaxed and beautiful''

''Really?''

''Yes. This of course is from a friendly view and nothing else''

''I know. Jasper, please protect Ayah. You have a lot of enemies and if they find out that she has a special connection to you; she will be in danger. You know how people in our world are. Inayah might be in danger if your relationship with her becomes known''

''I know. You don't have to worry about that''

''I can't believe one silly girl has come to change our lives this much. I hope you don't see me as a threat but, Ayah is not yours alone. She is now my special person too. We should hang out more. I've missed us, with Ayah of course. Before someone writes a nasty article about us. Has Ayah seen your real face? She will be blown away by your beauty'' Lilian became more relaxed as she spoke.

''She has been she is not blown away yet. She treats me same way she treats everyone. She is quite strange. She doesn't even fear me'' Jasper suddenly thought about the first time they met. It still felt like it was only yesterday.

''Really? Whoa. Then, is going to be hard seducing her. Women will do anything just to see your face but she is not even fazed by it? Is it because she is a teenager? She is stranger than I thought''

''That's what makes her special''

''Do you realised you look happy at the mention of her name?''

''Really?'' Jasper chuckled.

''I should tell my mom about us. She will be happy to know we've made up''

….

Hanna's Eatery.

Table 6.

''It's left with two days to the PTA ceremony. Gideon, do you have what I asked for?'' Inayah asked as she crossed the date on the calendar.

''Yes, this drone is not like the other drones in the market. I specially asked for it. It can connect to everywhere in the school and also record even the tiniest most insignificant thing around its sphere'' Gideon boasted. He placed the box on the table and opened the drone for them to see.

''This is why having rich friends is good'' Sandra commented.

''This is an iPad I bought recently. We can use this to hack into the school system. The IP can't be easily detected'' Noah said to them.

''Give it to me. I will install a new software and spread it with virus in it tonight'' Clara said and took the iPad from Noah.

''I have the list of all the numbers of the parents coming that day'' Bertha also removed her phone which contained the names of the parents.

Inayah nodded her head. ''I think we are ready then''

''Yes'' Gideon nodded his head.

''Remember, no one must know about this before that day'' Inayah warned them again.

''Of course'' Noah added and looked at Inayah, meeting her gaze.

''It's almost 10:30PM, we 're done here, right? I have to go home early. My brother is working on night duty'' Bertha said, picking her bag from the table.

''You're going home alone?'' Inayah asked.

''Yes, is not like this is my first time. I will walk a bit and then take a taxi if I'm tired''

''That won't do'' Inayah said and turned to Noah, ''Noah, can you send Bertha home? I would be less worried then''

''Yes. Yesterday, there was news about kidnappings lately. It's not safe for a girl to walk alone'' Clara added.