JEOPARDY: The Cursed Soldier.

13. Her Cursed Fate 1

It was another Tuesday afternoon, and as usual, Angela was ranting about something with her minions, as Ivan sat with his arm around her, while the other hand was tracing circles on her bare thigh. And there was Kayla, standing beside their seat, wondering if she should just let herself zone out or not.

"I'm having mixed feelings about this... Being prom Queen is right there between: beneath me—" Angela gestured with her manicured hand. "—and the ideal thing. But competing with anyone for the title is just outrageous."

"We should cancel prom," Abby announced. The rest of the girls turned to her like she had just sprouted another head.

"I can't cancel prom, Abby. It's the high school rite of passage. I didn't beg my parents to bring me to school, only to ruin the experience. But I don't—" Angela suddenly stopped when something unusual happened.

Something was vibrating in Angela's vicinity.

Ivan stopped his tracing. All eyes followed the vibrations to... Ivan's jeans. Noticing it at the same time as everyone, he moved his body and revealed a vibrating phone from his pocket.

It was at that moment that Kayla realized that in her one month there; she had seen every phone ring, except Ivan's. Which she immediately found quite strange. Especially for someone so charismatic and well-known.

Kayla wasn't alone on that. Everyone on that bench looked shocked by such a simple thing. They all stared as he looked at the phone screen and then pressed on it to halt the vibrations.

"Who is it? Why did you hang up?" Angela was still looking at the phone with raised eyebrows.

"No one important. I'll check on them later."

No sooner had he finished his answer than the phone vibrated again. Only this time, for a shorter duration.

Again, he looked at his phone, making sure to angle it away from all the prying eyes, especially Angela's.

Kayla heard his heart stop for a moment before it sped up as he made that single glance at the phone, frowned, and then turned it off.

"Is everything okay?" Angela leaned into him and placed her hand over his racing heart.

Ivan sighed and met Angela's worried but curious eyes with a small forced smile. "Not sure. But I've to go and make sure."

"Go? Where?" Angela pressed harder at Ivan's chest when he tried to get up.

"Home. That was my mother... There seems to be a problem at the house. I need to go and make sure everything is fine." Ivan entwined his fingers with Angela's and lifted their joined hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "I'll call you the moment I know what's going on."

"I'm coming with you." Angela got up, her minions with her.

"That's not a good idea, babe. I don't know what is going on there... and taking you there in such... circumstance is not wise." He paused, got up, and pulled Angela to him. In a gentler tone, he continued, "This is not how I want you to meet my family." He paused. "Just trust me on this one, okay?"

"Okay! Fine! But I can't let you leave alone. You're worried. You can't drive under such... duress." Just like that, Angela's eyes fell on Kayla. Kayla knew what Angela would say before she said it and her stomach tightened. "Kayla will drive you to your house."

"I don't—" Ivan started, but Angela interrupted him.

"I'm not changing my mind. What kind of girlfriend would let her man drive, stressed and helpless, when she can do something about it?" Angela batted her eyelashes at him. "Do it for me."