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W I N T E R

I walk into the school with a heavy feeling. I don't even know what I am feeling right now. I look around my surrounding to see whether they are staring at me.

They don't.

Everything is okay. I sigh thinking what happened yesterday. I feel like yesterday was a whole different rollercoaster. Only I didn't want to ride on that. But still, I am happy I did. I think what happened yesterday has not spread. Yet.

Today started with being a hectic day. My mom has been coughing a lot. I thought I would take a leave today because dad goes to office. I have to take care of mom, but like a caring mother she is, she refused.

“Winter!” Ethan comes running towards me with some sweats dripping from his head. I look at his outfit to see that he has just come from his football practice, which is unfortunately held early in the morning. Today I forgot we are going to have a tournament. I think I have already started growing old now.

“Ethan,” I begin. “Why are you running like that? I am not going anywhere, you see.”

“I know I know I know,” Ethan rasp. “When are you going to tell me what happened yesterday. I had been calling you like crazy.”

Oh… wait, my phone? Where the hell did my phone go? I remember bringing it to John's house, but I don't remember coming home with the phone. Shit I lose it. Or maybe Xavier has it and forgot to give it to me.

“…ter Winter!!!” I roll my eyes and shakes my head for being so careless.

“Right. I lose it,” Ethan rolls his eyes.

“Well, I have never seen a person behaving so lightly when they lose a phone of theirs,” Ethan exclaims.

“Or maybe Xavier has it,” I see Ethan in shock with mouth opening wide.

“How wait, why would Xavier have your phone?” Ethan ask. “Were you with him last night?” Of course I totally forgot that I have a hell lot of story to explain to my best friend.

So, I do it.

“What the fuck!” Everyone halts and looks toward us. I roll my eyes and starts picking up my pace. Ethan follows behind me, still dumbfounded.

“Gosh! What should I say now! Dang it! I am going crazy right now. Becky! Gosh this bitch!” Ethan stops walking, and I too stop and face him. “I am sorry I wasn't there when you needed me the most.”

“Ethan it ain't your fault,” I feel bad seeing Ethan hurt and guilty right now. “I know if I had told you, you would have been there without a second thought helping me. But things were hectic yesterday. I wasn't even in my right mind. Everything was so messed up. I am so sorry.”

“It's okay,” I look down, feeling awful that I have forgotten that I had a best friend worrying about me. “It ain't your fault, too. You know I will be there for you, right?"

“I know,” I feel a tear roll down from my right eye. I feel so lucky right now to have a best friend like him. “And you mister should also remember that I am here for you too.”

We both hug each other without caring about the people's eyes on our back.

__________

I walk inside the classroom expecting to see Xavier already sat on my seat.

Expectation is the root of heartache.

Well yeah, this is the case right now. I walk toward my empty seat. Most of the footballer has to skip the class today. Yup, the tournament was crucial since it was between three schools.

I look outside the window to see that most of the students are rushing to their respective class. Mrs. Park comes inside the classroom and looks at my direction.

Well now what have I done. Yesterday, just because I sort of complained to god that I don't have fun or eventful day that happened. But today I have thankfully not made that mistake. I came prepared. I thanked god for a good family, the food I have eaten till this day, and for the important people in my life.

“Ms. Grace,” My heart accelerates from Mrs. Park calling me. “The headmaster wishes to see you.” Right, I forgot to realize that the cops will inform our headmaster.

“Okay madam,” I walk out of the classroom, leaving the students in the classroom with suspense.

I reach towards the headmaster's office. I take a deep breath to prepare myself for everything that is coming. I open the door and step inside to be greeted by a pin drop silence.

“Mrs. Grace,” What the hell.

“Ms. Grace sir,” I look towards our school's president who is horizontally challenged and is now carrying a confused frown. “I am not married, you know. You said Mrs. Grace sir, which means you know what I mean.” I foolishly stutter.

The large office fills with our headmaster's chuckle. At least I know he is not mad with me.

“Oh! You know everyone, I mean the teacher here are all married. It just happens sometimes with me. You see one day…,” It is that our school's president is a fan of story telling. So, the next 30 minutes were spent with him telling his old story and me laughing awkwardly to his funny story. “Hehe… Well coming to the business I want to tell you that what you and Xavier did was a very heroic act and the cops and the society wants to thank you both for saving many girl's lives by giving you both each an appreciation's trophy.

“You see I was going to tell Xavier too, but he is absent, so I am going to tell him through the phone now,” Xavier is absent. Is he sick? “You see I am not surprised that he is absent, what I am surprised is you came here. I thought you both would be absent today after your hectic day last night. Well, the date is not fixed because of the tight schedule of the school, so we will find a day and tell you two. Oh, by the way, I am proud of both of you. You see, what you two did have impacted a lot in other's lives. Well done, my kid.”

I smile at our kind-hearted school's president and nods my head. “Thank you sir.” He stands up and open his drawer and takes out a rectangular thing which I now see is my phone. He gives it to me and I again thank him.

With that, I leave the office with a good mood. I switch on my phone, which has been switched off.

57 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜.
72 𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜.

Well, I think I have become famous overnight. I see the majority of the messages is from Xavier. I call him instead of reading the messages.

“Hello Winter! Where are you? Are you okay? You know I am there for you, right?” I frown, not knowing what this chaos is about. “Just tell me where you are.”

“Hello Xavier,” The line goes silent, so I continue. “You okay? What're you talking about?”

“I guess you don't know,”

“What do you mean?”

“Your mum is in hospital,”