CHAPTER 31 BLURRED VISION
School was finally over. The atmosphere was suddenly filled with cheers, loud talks and shouts of students trooping out of their various classes.
Loretta picked her bag and sauntered to her feet. She instinctively tuned to Desmond who was still getting his bag.
"Desmond " She called which drew his attention. "Paola, Bianca and I will take the lead. My dad 's driver is already in to pick us up" She stated. "Or you'll like us to drop you at home ?"
He swiftly tilted his head. " Oh, no, thanks– I'll pick the school bus" He announced. "Got to drop off at the grocery shop to get some things for my mum so you just take the lead. I'll be fine..."
"Are you sure? " She asked and nodded with a smile.
" Yeah, go ahead– I'm alright " He insisted.
Loretta sighed. "Alright, see you later then– Bye" She waved at him and trod of with her friends.
Gisella glanced at them and swiftly turned back to her stuff as soon as she noticed them approaching. She didn't want Desmond to think she was stalking him or Loretta creating a scene.
" What does she think she is doing?", Bianca whispered to her friends.
" Do I care what's she is doing?– Just forget about her and let's go have some fun." Paola answered. Just then, Loretta opted.
" Hey, wait – Girls, what do you say, if we play our last game with her before leaving since we won't be seeing her ever again?" She queried with a smile.
Bianca and Paola gazed at each other then back at her with a cheerful smile.
" Yes, we're in" They chorused.
" Alright, let's go for it." Loretta replied with a grin.
Desmond picked his bag, about to leave when Martin's voice called from behind.
" Hey, Desmond– wait for up"
" Martin?– what are you still doing here?" He asked. "I thought you left for training?"
" Yeah, I had to but didn't because you've not been coming lately." He stated. "Coach Eugene had been asking of you." He held his shoulder with a sigh. "What's wrong with you lately, Desmond? – You can still tell me"
" You won't understand even if I let it out, Martin." He eluded. " But don't worry, I'll join you guys very soon...."
Martin wasn't ready to let it go but had no option than to give up since he hesitated.
" Um, okay, if you've said so– We'll go together when you are ready then." He announced which made Desmond frown.
" Are you sure you want to wait until I'm ready?– But why?"
" Yeah, why not? After all we are friends and your worries should be mine as well, okay?" He tapped him with a cheerful smile which made him smile back.
" Alright, let's go home" He answered. Just when they turned to leave, he noticed Loretta and her friends with Gisella.
Loretta intentionally bumped into her, which made her lose her balance. She fell to the floor.
"Ouch, what's that for, Lore....?", Gisella cried.
" Did I hear someone mention my name?", Loretta queried, swiftly searching around in a pretentious manner.
" No, Lore, it might be the wind exploring its talent as always ", Paola replied with a chuckle.
" Yeah, you're right, Paola. The atmosphere is really enchanted with its gracious exhibition", Bianca added and they all laughed.
Gisella sat on the floor with tears in her eyes as she stared at them, astonished. Loretta drew closer to her and held up her chin with a smile.
" You better watch where you're going the next time, Gisel and stop getting in the way of others. Its really irritating you know?" She stated after which she drenched her with the bottle of water in her hand.
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" How dare you, Lore?" Desmond roared; a sense of anger lingered in his eyes as he sped towards them. But was suddenly held back by Martin.
"Let go off me, Marthin" He howled.
" Hold yourself together, Desmond. This doesn't concern you in anyway, dear friend." He exclaimed. "Have you forgotten how she disgraced you in front of the whole class, warning you not to show yourself infont of her ever again?– Huh? "
Desmond stared at him without a word. Martin drew closer to him and held his shoulder.
" So now, tell me– what are you going to do over there? Get yourself disgraced again?" He queried. Desmond gazed at him and back at Gisel with rapid breath.
" Wise up, dear friend– Just forget about her and move on. She's not worthy of your care , sacrifice and love ." He explained.
" Let's go girls."Loretta called, dashing out of the class, chuckling with her friends following suit.
Desmond paused for awhile and stared on with darting eyes. He sighed.
" I guess you're right, Martin. Let's go–" He replied and trod out of the class.
Gisella glanced up at them in tears as they trod past her towards the door. Desmond stopped at the door , gazed back at her for awhile and strolled out.
Suddenly, she felt a sharp sound in her ears.
" Ouch, my ears" She groaned. "What's that sound?" She stuttered. Just then, a vision of a girl being chased by an unknown person, flashed before her eyes. It wasn't a long vision– It swiftly faded away in a blink. She saw what it was but couldn't make out the identity of the girl or the person chasing her.
" Who could that be ?– why was she being chased by that man?" She queried but had no answers to them. "Gosh, this can't be good." She cried. " Why couldn't I make out the identity of that girl nor the person following her?", she wondered with a depressed look as she slowly got off the floor and settled back in her desk.
" This vision is so strange–I've never had any like this before." She sighed. "What should I do now?I'm so confused." She added, nervous.
" Fight now or lose both yourself and the love of your life." a voice instinctively echoed behind her. She jolted, her eye swiftly glanced across the class.
" Who is there?" she queried but found no one around her except herself. Gisella got frightened; she hurriedly picked up her bag and dashed out of the class.
" I wish you find out soon before things get worst, Gisel." The young lady from the cemetery appeared at the door, watching Gisel's back as she exit the corridor to the main gate. She sighed and vanished from there.