The Sacred Pendant

Chapter 10

"What happened here?" Mr. John asked. "And what happened to your uniform?"
     Chi quickly looked at Celine, thinking Celine was still in the green warrior suit. But to her surprise and relief, Celine was back on her spot stained uniform.  They looked at each other and communicated subtly using their eyes.
That was close.
You bet!
"So?" Mr. John asked.
"I-I-I, " Celine stammered.
"We don't know, " Chi cut in.
"What do you mean by you don't know? What made that sound that terrified everyone?" Mr. John asked sternly.
"It was the wall; it broke down, " Chi said, pointing at the wall.
     Mr. John, who hadn't seen the wall before, opened his mouth in disbelief.
"What -"
"Excuse me, " A feminine voice said and everyone gave way for the proprietress. That was the first time Celine saw her. She was a short, plum woman with a toad-like face.
"What happened here?" She asked, looking from the fallen wall to Celine and Chi.
     Chi gave Celine a just be quiet, I'll handle this look and Celine nodded.
"Ma'am, we don't know either. The other toilets were occupied so we came here to ease ourselves and all of a sudden, the wall collapsed. I'm so terrified because I was standing so close to the wall. Just imagine what would have happened to me if the wall had fallen on me and not outside, " Chi said, acting terrified.
"The wall couldn't just have fallen and from the looks of it, it doesn't look like it did, " The proprietress said.
"I don't understand too, ma'am, " Chi said and the bell rang for recess over.
"Everyone get back to your classes. I'll call someone to check here later. This restroom is closed until we find out what happened here. I don't want any of my students getting hurt," The proprietress said.
     The students went back to their classes, wondering what could have happened. Celine and Chi didn't what for a second invitation. They quickly left the restroom.
"That was close, like really close, " Chi said when the coast was clear.
"True, we need to be careful. I need to be careful, " Celine said.
"We will discuss more later. When school closes, come to my class and we'll go home together, " Chi said.
"OK, " Celine said, nodding.
"OK then, bye, " Chi said and took the other bend to her classroom.
     Celine took a deep breath and walked hurriedly to her class.
     There was no teacher in the classroom when she came in. Everyone on was already in the classroom and most eyes turned to her as she came in. Celine walked hurriedly to the back. She took a glance at Don who was sitting with his legs crossed on his table before passing him.
     She remembered what Don told her about telling Mrs. Seun that she doesn't think she is worthy to be Don's partner.
I wish there was something I could do, Celine signed.
     She got to the back. Her broken and fallen chair was now standing. Celine stood, staring at the chair.
"Don't worry, I fixed it for you, " The light-skinned girl, who offered to help her earlier, said.
     Celine didn't believe her even though she looked sincere. She pressed her palm against the seat. It didn't fall. She shook it. It was firm. The girl laughed.
"Don't worry, Celine, you can trust me. There's no way I would play such a prank on you. I have my limits, " She said, grinning.
If I sit on this chair and end up crashing to the floor, I swear, I will blast a fireball at her so called friendly face, Celine thought.
     Celine sat down, not keeping her whole weight on the chair so that if it was a prank, she would still have the chance to quickly stand up. But it didn't fall. Celine held her breath and sat down completely. The chair stood firm. Then she relaxed and turned to the girl.
"I'm Divine, " She said, stretching out her hand towards Celine.
You truly are divine, Celine thought.
"Thanks a lot, Divine, " Celine said and shook her hand.
"You are welcome, " Divine said. "I know it was very embarrassing to lie on the floor like that, that's why I helped you fix your chair. And surprisingly, Don didn't even bother stopping me."
"Thanks once again. But at first it wasn't embarrassing. All I wanted to do was cry my eyes out, " Celine said.
"Hitting your bottom so hard on the floor and seeing everyone laugh at you, which one hitter you the most?" Divine asked pitifully.
Seeing Don laugh at me, Celine thought.
"Trust me, it's hitting my bottom on the floor, " Celine said and gave out a pretended laugh.
"It obvious you are lying, Celine, " Divine said and faced front, staring at the whiteboard.
Am I so predictable that everyone can tell when I'm lying?
     Celine looked at Don. His legs were still on the table and from the look on his face, Celine could tell he was thinking about something.
"I love you, Don, " Celine said softly. Don turned his head back and their eyes met.
OMG! Did he hear me? Celine thought, alarmed.
     Don looked at Celine and turned his head back to the front. Celine's heart began to beat rapidly. Her mind was racing, wondering why Don turned to look at her.
     Mrs. Seun came into the classroom.
"Good afternoon, ma'am, " Some students chorused. Celine was still busy staring at Don, thinking. Don dropped his legs from the table and sat up right.
"Now let's continue from where we stopped, " Mrs. Seun said.
     Don raised his hand and Mrs. Seun groaned frustratingly.
"Yes, Don, I know you don't want to be partners with Celine -only God knows why - but I've already told you that you will be partners with her whether you like it or not. So there's no need bring that topic up again, " Mrs. Seun said.
"Actually, Mrs. Seun, o raised my hand for the contrary. I do want Celine to be my partner, " Don said and Celine dropped her jaw surprised. Some of the girls whispered loudly to each other while some glared at Celine.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Mrs. Seun asked.
"No reason, I just want you to leave it like that, " Don said.
"Good, " Mrs. Seun said.
     Celine stared at Don with her mouth wide open, bewildered.
Don wants me to be his partner. OMG! Don wants me to be his partner! Celine thought, excited. This is unbelievable. Oh my gosh! I'm literally going crazy right now.
     Don looked at Celine again and she quickly closed her mouth. Celine grinned but he just looked dully away.
That doesn't matter. All that matters is that I'm Don's partner! Celine thought, exuberant.
"You look happy to be partners with the same guy that disgraced and injured you, " Divine said to Celine.
"I have no hard feelings towards him. He must have done it for a good reason, " Celine said, grinning from ear to ear. Divine widened her eyes in surprise.
"Can you hear yourself? I don't think you can because if you could, you would have noticed the absurdity of your words, " She said.
What's her problem? Celine thought.
"I don't get. Is it a bad thing to be Don's partner? Trust me, it's like an achievement to me. In fact, it is an achievement!" Celine said happily.
"Gosh! You're so stupid! Being partners with Don an achievement? You are the same if not worse than those other girls that have a crush on him! I don't see what's so special about him that every girl is dying for him, " Divine said, irritated.
"Everything about him is special, " Celine defended. "Why don't you just admit the fact that you are jealous that you don't get to be Don's partner instead of ranting gibberish."
"Me? Jealous? Ranting gibberish? You know what, Celine?" Divine said angrily, "You've just made me regret fixing your chair." And she turned back to the whiteboard.
I don't care! Didn't ask you to help me fix it anyway, Celine thought. All I care about is that I'm going to be Don's partner and there's no way I'm blowing this up. Celine stared at Don, smiling dreamily. She made sure not to answer any question asked even though she knew it.