Office Hours

31 | the l o s t

| Z O Y A |

     SITTING IN THE CAFETERIA WITH MALIQUE, Zoya was still in a state of shock.

"Malique, we need to talk-"

Malique cut her off with a glare.

Zoya pursed her lips and looked away to Pia and Jacob who were approaching the table and laughing with each other.

Wiping away her smile, Pia sat beside Malique. "Don't start."

"Yu good ino, bro," Malique said, not bothering to kiss her like he usually would.

Pia sighed and kissed him on the lips, telling him she loved him until his hardened expression softened.

Watching them, Zoya's mouth dropped.

If man is not Satan, there is no Satan!

Seeing Zoya's dumbfounded expression, Pia's brows pulled together. "You okay, Zoya?"

Zoya looked at Malique who was glaring at her. The foreboding stare held such a threat, Zoya couldn't come clean even if she wanted to.

Clearing her throat, she looked back at Pia with a smile. A smile that said everything was more than fine and dandy.

"Yea, of course," Zoya said, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt.

Pia smiled, believing Zoya's façade. It caused a more weighty burden to rest on Zoya's shoulders.

"Oh, okay," Pia said. "I know your next class doesn't start until thirty minutes, so can you help me with this project real quick?"

"Sure."

While Zoya helped Pia with her project, Malique and Jacob spoke. Zoya could feel herself profusely sweating. It felt like she had a label on her forehead that read, 'I'm keeping a dark secret'. She hoped Pia couldn't see it. Or anyone else, for that matter. She needed to talk to her cousin first.

"I'd probably fail school if you weren't here," Pia joked. "You always help whenever I need-" Pia's words were cut off by an authoritative voice on the intercom.

"Good afternoon, Wesriveria Tigers! In light of recent events, school will be ending half-day. Please stop what you're doing and immediately return to your dorms or homes in an orderly fashion," said Wesriveria's dean.

"Thank God!" Jacob exclaimed and happily jumped to his feet. "I didn't want to be here anyway."

"What's happening?" Zoya asked, trying to decipher the words coming from nearby conversations.

"Not sure," Pia said and grabbed her phone. After a brief moment of gathering her things while scrolling, Pia gasped.

"What is it?" asked Zoya while throwing her bag over her shoulder.

"There's an active shooter at Meadowbrook."

"WHAT?!" Jacob loudly exclaimed.

Zoya's heart skipped a beat.

Around her, students must have learned the shocking news too. There was instant mass hysteria while everyone tried to evacuate the school.

Zoya couldn't focus on them or even herself. Worry seized her, leaving her in a catatonic state. She knew she should have got up and run like her panicking schoolmates, but she was unable to.

All she could think about was Caden.

Was he okay?

He had to be okay. He needed to be okay.