Rene... is angry
The west-blowing breeze caressed Aliyah's face. But judging from the pace at which she was running, it was slapping her.
Aliyah ran through the pavement and finally reached the Dralun bridge. This bridge, built upon the Bourlet lake, was a destination to the north of Lorelei High School.
Aliyah felt immense pressure with every step she took. Will Rene still be there? If she was, then how will she manage to bring her back? Even if she brought her back, then what will she say and enter the school?
As her thoughts trailed over to the aftermath, she unintentionally climbed the bridge. And as her thoughts trailed elsewhere, she spotted a figure down the Lake.
Aliyah yelled from the bottom of her lungs, and the blond figure across the lake turned to look at her.
A pair of emerald blue eyes turned back, tucking her messy hair beneath her ears, squinting her eyes to look at the class representative who yelled her name from the bridge.
Rene couldn't clearly see the other girl at the bridge though the girl stood hiding the sun behind her. All she could see was silk-brown hair glowing with the sun's rays behind, and it almost looked as if the heat rays were coming from her.
She knew who that Pecan-brown hair belonged to. Everybody knew.
She sighed and turned around.
Watching Rene's moves, Aliyah's mind was put to distress. Rene had always run when she caught her skipping classes. She never wanted to hear the overbearing leader's advice.
But right now was so different. She didn't run, and she didn't look like she cared. Rene's eyes, which Aliyah could see distinctly, were null, and apathetic. Emotionless. Something was terribly wrong.
This scared the all-rounder head girl. And maybe that's why her feet took off even before she knew it. Maybe that's why she yelled, even though she knew Rene would never listen.
(Young) Aliyah
Stay there, Rene!
(Young) Aliyah
I'm coming!!
She ran all the way down the bridge to see the girl playing stone skipping.
Rene threw the pebble into the lake, and it skimmed five times. Aliyah was impressed, but she knew she had to focus elsewhere.
(Young) Aliyah
Why are you here?
She asked, sitting next to her on the golden green grass. The hot ground made her realise that they were in the middle of summer. A new year.
Rene
You came here without knowing that?
RENE - A classmate of Aliyah
"People just don't understand how hard it is when studying and school is not your passion and forte."
AGE: 16
HOBBIES: Blogging, Vlogging, and non-stop talking.
'WHAT or WHO HAVE YOU ALWAYS LOVED?'
'Peace. But it doesn't exist, just like love.'
Aliyah didn't understand her words.
(Young) Aliyah
What do you mean?
She paused, glancing at her watch.
(Young) Aliyah
would I know why you're here? Also, we're running out of time. Physics session would start soon.
Rene
Then why do you always search for me?
(Young) Aliyah
What do you mean why? I'm worried and--
Rene's scream set Aliyah by surprise. She didn't expect her to yell at her.
Rene
All you care about are your stupid grades and your stupid reputation!!
Rene
You're not worried about me!
Rene
None of you are worried about me!
Seeing Aliyah's puzzled face, Rene sighed. But the sigh soon turned into a sob.
Aliyah whispered her name.
She didn't know why Rene was crying, let alone know how to comfort her.
(Young) Aliyah
Tell me what's wrong...
Rene
Why should I tell you?
Her words were responded with silence. Aliyah was at loss for words.
Rene
You don't know what going on.
Rene
You don't know what I'm going through
Rene
Even after I told you everything!!
(Young) Aliyah
What did you tell---
Rene
Do you know why you forgot or why you don't remember the words I told you?
Rene
BECAUSE YOU NEVER LISTENED
Rene
And here I thought I had someone
She whispered the last words slowly.
It is indeed true that Rene shared most of her stuff with Aliyah. The way she's feeling, the way her life was. But Aliyah let it pass. Because that's how most people feel. It's true that Aliyah has never felt anything like that, but she tried to be as compassionate as she could, because she had other things going on in her life too.
And she didn't know why Rene was acting out like this. So being the teenager she is, she said what she could.
(Young) Aliyah
Please, Rene, I understand what you're going through but... it's time for class.
Rene
I don't want to see you.
(Young) Aliyah
What's wrong with you?
(Young) Aliyah
Everybody goes through stuff. You are overreacting, and I do understand, but how can you just lash out at me like that?
Rene
I can, Aliyah! Do you even understand what you are doing to me?!
Rene
I keep on telling you the reason I'm like this is SCHOOL!
Rene
I keep telling you that you're draining my energy by persuading me to come to school when I don't want to!!
Aliyah was stunned. She never took Rene's words for that meaning.
Rene
I was trying to tell you that very politely, but you never listen, and you only care about you!
Both of them were standing by now, facing each other, looking into their eyes. Tears ran down Rene's cheeks, and Aliyah blinked, still not able to follow Rene's lash out.
(Young) Aliyah
I care about you, not only me!
(Young) Aliyah
I told you what happened at school when you were absent for an entire week! I shared my homework, so you would not fail classes, and I always tell the principal that you are getting better when you're not!!
Rene
HAVE I EVER ASKED YOU FOR IT?!
Rene
Have I ever asked you to share your homework?! No!!
Rene
Did you even know that I never copied the notes you gave me?
Rene
No, you don't!! Because you never cared in the first place!!
Rene
All you did was do what you thought a head girl would! And that's it!
(Young) Aliyah
I DIDN'T CHECK YOUR NOTES BECAUSE I TRUSTED THAT YOU WOULD TRUST ME AND FINISH IT!!
Even after her music teacher advised her not to.
(Young) Aliyah
That's why I told the principal---
Rene
OH YES, THE PRINCIPAL!!
Rene
Did you even know why I took a week off?!
(Young) Aliyah
You were slacking off!!
Aliyah gasped, and felt stupid for yelling after Rene spoke.
Rene
Yes, be sorry! My parents didn't say anything but YOU! Do you what you have done?!
Rene
Who do you think you are in my life? To decide what I should do?
Rene
Did you even know that I wasn't fully recovered when I came to school? The doctor suggested I take another week off, and my parents agreed!!
A pang of guilty hit Aliyah.
Rene
YOU COMPLAINED TO THE PRINCIPAL!!
Rene
WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING!!
(Young) Aliyah
I didn't complain, I just--
Rene
THEN WHY WAS HE SO ADAMANT IN GETTING ME TO SCHOOL?!
Rene
YOU KNOW THAT HE'S MY UNCLE!!
As soon as Rene uttered the words, nothing came out of Aliyah's throat.
All through this conversation, she had something to combat all of Rene's words but not that.
Aliyah stood defeated. Now it makes sense why the Principal acts very different when Rene was brought up.
Aliyah reports to him every time a student takes a week off, and he doesn't bother about them much. But Rene's case was different. He was eager to bring her back to school, and that's why Aliyah thought it was essential that she mentions Rene to him every once in a while. Because she was significant to him in some way. But never has she imagined him to be her uncle.
(Young) Aliyah
I'm sorry...
Aliyah apologized after a long pause. She didn't understand entirely, but she felt like she should.
Rene said holding back another streak of tears threatening to fall down her cheeks.
？？？
I hope you guys were able to hear each other's thoughts.
The call from Aliyah's phone interrupted their story time.
Aliyah
Yeah, yeah, I'll tell you after I take this one.
Aliyah said playfully pointing to her phone, letting her daughter's imagination rekindle.
Adira
You were such a bad person, I want to know who stopped the fight!
Her words got her Mother's attention.
Aliyah
What do mean I was a bad person?
She lifts her eyebrows, letting her daughter know that she was serious.
Adira bravely stated. She has found some courage after learning how reckless her mother was. Her mother wasn't perfect, and was also kind of stupid for not seeing Rene's feelings beforehand. This let her ease her boundary around Aliyah, who might have just been like her when she was younger!
Adira was amazed. She didn't expect her mother to laugh it off.
Adira
You know I'm joking, right?
Aliyah laughed, taking the call and greeting the other person.
Adira couldn't wait to hear the next part of the story.
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