Chapter song:
What we had by Sody
••☆••
ZEPHYR ROYAL ACADEMY.
That Monday morning was just like any other, the weekend hangover, of course, with all the sucking subjects that start the week.
"Baby ..." Marieh happily rushed out of her car on seeing Amir. She didn't bother to park the car well just so she could catch up with him.
"Again , with the baby shit " Amir turned immediately, complaining.
Marieh giggled . She cuffed her hand around his arm, both continued up the stairs and entered the school building.
Marieh's hair neatly straighted with sparkling hair clips on the side, exposing her beautiful side profile .
With a perfectly fitting white uniform long sleeved shirt , a short maroon tennis like skirt and versace heals with lace short stocks on her feet.
Anir on the side was ragidly dressed, his maroon trousers, white shirt no tie , his uniform coat on, and white sneakers on his feet.
He didn't look like he had put in much effort in dressing yet handsomly rocking it.
With her on his arm, Amir couldn't help feeling he was always winning big.
They were stealing people's attention as they marched down the hallway like it was a runway .
Babi, at the end of the hallway standing in front of her locker , smiled, watching them approach her.
" Amir..." Some dudes called.
Marieh and Amir turned, staring back , Marieh rolled her eyes .
" i will catch up." Amir smiled.
Marieh dropped her hand from his , continuing to Babi .
"Typical Barbie and ken," Babi said as soon as Marieh reached.
" Please," Marieh giggled , looking back to Amir, who took the opposite direction with the guys that called him.
Marieh sighed, turning back to Babi, whose whole focus was on her phone .
"This fucker" Babi angrily said, shutting her locker closed.
"Who..." Marieh asked.
"What?" Babi turned to Marieh confused.
"Who is pissing you off?, and literally consuming your thoughts" Marieh asked.
" your whole mind is with your phone " Marieh added.
" Nothing much " Babi sighed sliding the phone in her uniform coat.
Babi's braids were held up , perfectly put in her uniform, with long stockings slightly above her knees and sneakers.
The two walking ahead together.
" Why did you lie " Babi asked
" about " Marieh asked
" your engagement with Darnel "Babi quietly said.
Marieh sighed heavily .
"I didn't lie . I just left out that part " Marieh said.
" same thing " Babi insisted.
"Marieh, i wouldn't have minded if it was some other dude. This is my cousin we talking about "Babi concernedly said.
" i get it , but B. I am your best friend too. Can't you see it from my perspective? " Marieh said .
" you know how Amir gets when he is angry. So i can't just drop it on him " Marieh nervously said
" Alright " Babi sighed.
" i will tell him when the time is right " Marieh assured.
The two stepped into class , heading straight to the back , Kalvin and Matt seated at the extremely back .
Nathan seated in the same raw as Kalvin in the chair before , with his head down on table sleeping.
Marieh sat directly next to Matt leaving an empty seat besides her.
Babi gently knocked at Nathan's table seating directly next to him
Nathan raised his head , looking at Babi with a smile.
"Did you not get enough sleep?" Babi asked as Nathan stretched while yawning
"I slept late , helping dad with the restaurants ledgers. You know he loves doing it personally. " Nathan said.
Amir walked into class taking a seat next to Marieh.
" how was farm work " Nathan asked .
" Great " Babi unbotheredly replied, her head bent down to his phone taking all her attention .
She kept on refreshing the chat no response despite all the messages she had sent.
" are you expecting a text " Nathan asked observing her .
" Huh.....no.." Babi sighed putting the phone down.
Nathan bit his jaws watching how distracted and bothered Babi was , though she was trying to hide it .
" you should invite them again. It was great hanging out with them " Matt said to Marieh.
Nathan and Babi were attracted to the conversation with Matt's statement.
" will you be okay with that Babi " Marieh asked.
" what " Babi turned to the back asking .
" with Darnel and William hanging out with us again " Kalvin said .
" will Darnel's presence won't make you uncomfortable " Marieh concernedly asked.
"No..." Babi said in crowded thoughts .
" of course not. I can't continue blaming him for mom's decisions " Babi added.
Nathan uncomfortably nibbled his lips , gazing at Babi .
" are you inviting them again today " Babi eagerly asked Marieh.
" its what we were suggesting " Matt said.
" go ahead " Babi said.
" what about you Nathan" Amir ssked
" What " Nathan frowned
" are you cool with Darnel and William hanging with us " Amir asked.
Nathan quietly stared at Babi like he was probbing for the answer from her face.
Babi's head was down her attention taken by her phone again.
" its cool " Nathan finally replied
Marieh happily smiled , leaning backwards and reaching for her phone immediately texting .
The professor marched into the class everyone uprightly sitting and facing forward.
Babi deeply exhaled, her face not hiding the sadness she was feeling .
"Good morning." The professor greeted the class.
"Good morning." The class replied.
"Before we start, let's first welcome our new student in the class." He said looking towards the door .
" Come in " The professor asked.
The whole class turned looking at the door anxiously waiting for the person to come in.
Babi wasn't too interested in who was entering , her eyes back to her phone down on her thighs.
"Great." Kalvin laughed.
" Unbelievable " Amir commented chuckling with Marieh and Matt.
Nathan frowned , with disbelief staring at the new student before the class . The whole class clamouring.
" Silence " the professor ordered.
"Please introduce yourself." The professor added.
"Darnel Grayson ." He deeply said .
Babi paused, flabbergasted of what she had just heard. Slowy in disbelief, she raised her head looking forward.
Babi's eyes popped out very amused and extremely dumbstruck.
It was definitely him , she wasn't hilusinating him . Darnel stood before the class , in the school uniform hands in his pockets.
His lips pulled into a wide smile staring at Babi .
Nathan deeply exhaled angrily, staring at Babi and Darnel respectively.
"Where would you feel comfortable sitting?" The professor asked.
Darnel looked at the empty seat at the front raw , what was supposed to be his designated seat , then looked at the back in the corner.
Where Amir, Marieh, Matt ,Kalvin, Babi and Nathan are seated.
" the seat on window " Darnel replied.
The seat was directly next to Babi and before Amir , with a girl sitting in it .
"Lynn, would you mind exchanging seats with Darnel?" the professor asked .
" No," the girl smiled , carrying her belongings and standing to take the front seat .
" Thank you," the professor said as Darnel walked over to take his new seat .
They were all extremely surprised , seeing him here was the last possible thing any of them expected.
Babi and the rest turned looking at him the second her sat .
Darnel with a wide smile turned his eyes meeting Babi's. He was relishing Babi's stunned face .
"Are you fine?" Marieh quietly asked.
Darnel chuckled lightly, looking at her.
" Wow.." Marieh exhaled leaning back .
Everyone's attention was taken again by the professor who began teaching.
Darnel continuosly turned staring at Babi and Babi mean while couldn't focus .
She couldn't shake the surprise off , she too would continuously turn staring at him.
" Darnel " Marieh whispered.
Darnel turned, looking back .
With the head motion, she asked him to meet her out . Immediately, she stood up, walking out of the class through the back door .
Darnel sighed , and he stood up following suit . Amir confusedly furrowed watching him go out as well .
Nathan looked at Babi who was watching Darnel move out following Marieh.
" What are you doing here?" Marieh anxiously asked once they were in the hallway distant from their class
Darnel scoffed, deeply exhaled.
" Is this why you called me out ? Is it so urgent that you wouldn't wait for class end?" Darnel asked.
" Darnel," Marieh called .
" Why are you anxious?" Darnel sighed.
Before Marieh replied , Darnel walked past her , his hands in his pockets.
" Darnel," Marieh called
" Come on," Darnel replied.
Marieh deply inhaled , hurriedly she walked catching up with him .
Darnel led the way to the swimmers' locker rooms .
" i can't enter there," Marieh disgustedly said .
" It's empty, " Darnel said, opening the locker rooms , Marieh entered, and Darnel followed suit, shutting the door .
" i would really appreciate it if we went back to having some distance between us. Yes, it's okay for you to hang with my friends here and there but not joining the academy as well " Marieh said.
"Let me first make myself clear, I didn't decide to come to school and choose these classes because of you," Darnel said bluntly.
"No?" She asked.
"No," Darnel bluntly assured.
" If you are worried, i might disclose our engagement, then you're wasting your time. Its one thing i don't want anyone to know either " Darnel added.
Marieh exhaled deeply , yet still nervous in thoughts.
" did your mother allow this to make us grow more closer " Marieh asked
" no , she is against it " Darnel said .
" Marieh " Darnel sighed in frustration.
"I loathe this engagement more than you do . So be rest assured my being here has nothing to do with it " Darnel said.
"You have your private life here and your friends and that i respect and won't tapper with . Keep on doing you and i will do me " Darnel added.
" you don't want Amir to know , i will never tell him. You have feelings for him , i am still not stopping you " Darnel added.
Marieh quickly turned staring at him.
" What...you think i have feelings for Amir " Marieh asked.
" isn't that why your hiding the engagement from him. Besides its pretty obvious " Darnel said.
"I am scared that if i tell him about the engagement, he will distance himself. I don't want this to drift us apart" Marieh softly said.
" he also doesn't know i have a crush on him," Marieh admitted, taking a seat on the bench.
Darnel sighed , taking a seat on the opposite bench .
" Take it from me , he definitely has feelings for you too . " Darnel softly said .
Marieh scoffed with a wide smile.
" how do you know " Marieh smiled.
" i saw the way he was looking at you , the way he softness with you . He definitely has feelings for you . I am a guy i know " Darnel smiled.
Marieh laughed , leaning back on the locker rooms.
Darnel's assurance gave her a great relief and joy that was so short lived being consumed by sadness.
" But i can't have him," Marieh sadly said.
" i only like him from a far," She added.
" Why is that?" Darnel asked.
" Darnel , we are engaged. My love life and fate is already decided . There is no room for Amir " Marieh sadly said.
" Depends on how you want to see it " Darnel said.
" just imagine what will happen if my family knows i am dating him. Let a lone your family " Marieh said.
" i can't watch and bear knowing his life was ruined because of me " Marieh said.
" true " Darnel said.
" but they don't have to know " Darnel added, leaning forward.
"With our familes there is no room and will never be room for anything we desire. We are bond to walk a path already made . " Darnel said.
" so its up to us to forge another path along the one they designed " Darnel added.
"Unlike you , i found peace in not rebelling against them . I did , that way i would convince myself i am okay with what they ask so it would be less suffocating " Marieh softly said.
" That's why i was doing my best , with these arranged dates with you. I want to do my best with us. To make this our future marriage work and less suffocating for me, " Marieh added.
" but i am not asking you too. In fact, i don't even appreciate the effort you're putting in, " Darnel said.
Marieh exhaled deeply, staring in his blue eyes.
" i may not have the power to an end to our engagement, but i have the might to forge another path to my own happiness, and i am going to do just that," Darnel asserted.
Darnel was more than determined to be his own person despite the person his family wanted him to be .
" Is that why you have joined school?" Marieh asked.
"Yes," Darnel said.
" It's also fun watching Mother agitated by my decisions," Darnel said. Marieh lightly chuckled.
"Seems as you and i are headed towards being friends. The guys loved hanging with you and William . We shall be hanging out more often " Marieh smiled.
" That will be nice , " Darnel said.
" it will also get mother off our backs, buging us to go on dates," he added.
Marieh smiled, stretching her hand to Darnel. He stared at her hand then to her smily face with dimples.
" to being friends " Marieh smiled
" on one condition " Darnel smiled
" what " she smiled.
"You stop suppressing what you desire that including Amir " Darnel smiled.
Marieh covered her face with both her palm laughing.
" No " She laughed.
" there is no living with regrets even if it means going against your parents desires. " Darnel smiled.
" Sounds like you want to help." Marieh smiled
" Just say the word, and i will." Darnel smiled.
Marieh softly laughed.
" Alright, no living with regrets . I am to do as i desire. " Marieh smiled widely.
"Good." Darnel smiled.
Darnel stretched his hand to her , Marieh smiled gently sliding her fingers into his, shaking his hand.
" friends it is " Darnel smiled. Then retracting his hand .
" this is our first actual conversation for all the years i have known you " Marieh said as Darnel stood up.
" didn't know you could be this warm. You are usually cold and distant with me " Marieh added standing up as well.
" almost feels like i am with a totally different Darnel " Marieh added.
" maybe because we are now friends. Before we were strangers forced to be a thing " Darnel said.
"I must agree, i have also seen a different side to you " Darnel said , both getting out of the locker rooms.
" What side is that?" Marieh asked
" Before you were reserved, quiet , boring and predicitable . Now you're the total opposite, " Darnel said.
" What...." Marieh asked, sounding very offended , both bursting into laughter.
" don't feel like returning to class " Darnel exhaled.
" i know where we can go " Marieh smiled.
"And skip class, Miss perfect?" Darnel asked surprised.
"You really don't know me at all " Marieh laughed.
"Come on," she smiled , taking the route existing the school building in the back .
Darnel widely smiled, walking with her to wherever she was taking him.
*
Everyone in class closed their books as soon as the siren went . Most stood up and vacating the class .
Babi and Amir looked at Marieh and Darnel's empty seats.
" where do you think they went " Kalvin asked.
" i don't know," Amir sighed , picking Marieh's books from the desk.
"Let's go." Nathan stood up, saying.
"Where?" Babi asked.
"Our next period," Nathan said.
"Nah, go ahead. I will look for Marieh first," Babi said, standing up.
"I will come along," Amir said .
" Let's go," Kalvin smiled , all of the marching out of the classroom.
" i can't believe he really joined school," Matt scoffed.
" Do you think William joined as well?" Nathan asked.
" Speak of the devil " Kalvin said , noticing William leave class with Neacky and Kim.
"Neacky " Kalvin loudly called.
Neacky, Kim and William turned looking back .
Kim immediately held Matt's hand on approaching them.
Matt , smiled carrying the books from her hands.
" Welcome to the Royal Academy." Kalvin smiled.
" You two joining was a shock," Matt said.
" i couldn't believe my eyes when i saw him being introduced in class " Neacky said.
William chuckled.
" Marieh is not picking " Babi who had been trying to call her said.
" Was she not in class " Kim asked
" She and Darnel, moved out amidst class " Amir said.
" Can you call Darnel, Will?" Babi asked.
William got this phone out the pocket immediately ringing Darnel.
"Darnel," William called, on Darnel answering the phone after a while.
"Are you with Marieh?" William asked.
"Okay," William said, hanging up.
"Is he with her ?" Babi asked immediately.
" Yes , at the old tavern in the woods," William said.
Amir quickly rushed ahead. The rest followed along Neacky, Kim and William joining as well.
" Does that mean we are skipping the next period " Kim asked with a sigh.
"Not you concerned about class , that should be Babi and Nathan's bar " Kalvin said as they existed the school building.
" Watch how you talk to my girlfriend," Matt said .
" Haha...." Kalvin jumped, laughing on narrally escaping from Matt's kick .
Others chuckling.
They walked further into the woods behind the school .
It was Marieh's uniforms, Darnel's coat, and shirt that welcomed them at the tavern poach.
Amir rushed close, picking up Marieh's clothes angrily and holding them up.
Babi's footsteps decreased like she wanted to turn back, doubting if it was even the right choice to look for them in the first place.
William turned staring back at Babi , who was filled with nervousness of what they were about to find.
" Is she completely naked?" Neacky asked. Her heals and socks were also at the poach.
"DARNEL,....AHHHH....FUCKK!" Marieh screamed from beyond the tavern.
" Be gentle.." Marieh's voice surfaced again.
" From the The lake," Nathan said.
Amir spearheaded, others following suit but not Babi . She was sceptical about going further than this .
Nathan stopped midway . He turned, looking back at Babi.
"Babi," Nathan called .
Babi deeply inhaled , finally deciding on taking a step further .
"DON'T YOU DARE," Marieh laughed a long with Darnel.
Babi came futher closer , Amir and the rest stood aside laughing eyes on Darnel and Marieh who standing up on the tied tire by the rope making a swing above the lake .
Amir exhaled in relief, this was way better than what he imagined they were doing .
Babi closely stared at both of them. Marieh was dressed in making black knicker and bra.
Darnel was in black boxers , both closely holding each other as they swang .
Marieh had her hands around Darnel's neck, and Darnel held her closely around her waist .
They were both laughing, having extreme fun.
" AH...." Marieh screamed, Darnel holding her more closely and tightly.
" HAHA....." The rest laughed.
" how did he manage to get her up the swing. She always feared " Neacky laughed.
"NO .. WAIT ..DDAR..NEL.." she screamed yet with laughter.
" HAA....HAHA " Darnel laughed.
Marieh held him tightly as Darnel carried her up. Marieh tied her legs around Darnel waist.
" FUCK..." Marieh screamed as Darnel jumped off the swing into the water with her .
Like a broken glass , Babi's heart shuttered in piece , her oxygen pumps constricted that she could no longer breathe well.
Watching Marieh and Darnel was like having a fish bone stuck in her throat.
She deeply exhaled, dragging her feet backwards frantically.
The moment she turned facing away from others , her eyebrows furrowed with tears in her eyes.
Unable to hide her pain anymore.