As the trio and the group of rowdy boys arrived at the playing field, they quickly fell into their usual routine, kicking the ball around and making a ruckus as they normally would. The plan was working perfectly – the school guard was focused on the commotion, his attention completely diverted from the main entrance.
Suddenly, one of the rebel boys gave the ball a particularly hard kick, sending it sailing over the school's perimeter fence and out onto the street beyond. The boy's eyes widened, and he quickly turned to the others.
"Uh oh, guys, I think I kicked it too far!" he exclaimed.
The group immediately sprang into action, rushing towards the gate to retrieve the errant ball. Damian took the lead, waving frantically at the guard.
"Hey, sir! Our ball went over the fence, can you help us get it back?" he called out, his voice laced with feigned concern.
The guard, already flustered by the chaos, hurried over to the gate, keys in hand. "Alright, alright, hold on. I'll go get it for you."
As the guard unlocked the gate and stepped outside, Leo, Lisea, and Alexander seized their opportunity. They quickly slipped away from the group, darting towards the forest and disappearing into the trees.
However, just as they were about to cross the tree line, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. Lisea's eyes widened as she recognized Damian, a sly grin plastered across his face.
"Do you forget our deal?" Damian said, blocking their path. "You need to choose one of us to come with you, and I think you may be in a hurry because the guard is about to return."
Lisea looked around, quickly scanning the group of boys. Her gaze settled on a petite girl with short, dark hair. "You," she said, pointing at the girl. "You're coming with us."
The girl's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly nodded and hurried to join Lisea, Leo, and Alexander.
Damian frowned, clearly disappointed that he wasn't the one chosen. "Fine, have it your way. But don't forget your little friend and you will be challenged."
Lisea ignored him, turning to the group. "Let's go, we don't have much time."
Earlier, Emelia said, "So I need to go to school. Don't forget to hide from my parents."
Mahina's brow furrowed in confusion. "But where?" she asked.
Emelia's expression turned serious. "You'll have to stay here, in my room. My parents can't know you're here. They would never understand, and it would just cause more trouble."
Mahina's eyes widened, and she felt a twinge of unease. "But I don't want to be a burden. And what if they find me?"
Emelia placed a reassuring hand on Mahina's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll make sure they don't. And you're not a burden - you're my friend, and I want to help you. Just stay here and rest. I'll come back as soon as I can."
"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it." With that, she quietly slipped out of the room, leaving Mahina alone with her thoughts."Emelia gave her a confident smile
As her friend left for school, Mahina remained in the unfamiliar room, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease. She knew she needed to stay hidden, so every time she heard a sound, she quickly darted into the closet, holding her breath as footsteps passed by.
The hours ticked by slowly, and Mahina's muscles began to ache from the cramped confines of the closet. She longed to stretch her legs, but the fear of being discovered kept her rooted in place.
Just as Mahina was starting to feel restless, she heard the sound of the bedroom door creaking open. Her heart pounded as she heard the unmistakable footsteps of an adult – Emelia's mother, no doubt.
Mahina held her breath, pressing herself deeper into the recesses of the closet. She could hear the woman's voice calling out, "Emelia? is it you?"
Mahina cringed, hoping and praying that the woman wouldn't discover her hiding spot. The seconds felt like an eternity as the mother moved around the room, seemingly searching for something.
Suddenly, the closet door swung open, and Mahina found herself staring up at Emelia's mother, her eyes wide with shock.
"Who are you?" the woman demanded, her voice laced with a mixture of surprise and suspicion. "What are you doing in my daughter's closet?"
Mahina's mind raced as she tried to come up with a plausible explanation, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
The woman's brow furrowed, and she reached down, grabbing Mahina's arm and pulling her out of the closet. "Answer me, Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
Mahina's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to find the right words. "I... I'm a friend of Emelia's," she managed to say, her voice trembling. "I was just... hiding."
The woman's eyes narrowed, and she studied Mahina's face intently. "A friend, huh? Well, I don't recall my daughter mentioning you, and I certainly don't remember giving her permission to have anyone over."
Mahina's mind raced, trying to come up with a way to explain her presence without revealing too much. But before she could speak, the sound of the front door opening and closing echoed through the house.
"hello? it's the postman!" the voice called out.
Mahina's eyes widened, and she looked up at Emelia's mother, silently pleading with her not to say anything.
The woman's expression softened slightly, and she sighed. "We'll talk about this later," she said, before turning and leaving the room.
Mahina sagged with relief, her legs trembling as she stepped out of the closet. She knew she had only bought herself a brief reprieve, and that Emelia would have some serious explaining to do when she returned.
As Mahina waited anxiously for Emelia's return, she couldn't help but wonder how this situation would play out.
Mahina heard the sound of Emelia's mother's footsteps approaching the room once more. The woman paused in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
" ok now you told me the truth about who you are and why you're here," the woman said, her tone stern but not unkind.
As Mahina spoke, the woman listened intently, her expression shifting from one of skepticism to one of empathy. By the time Mahina had finished, the woman seemed to have a much better understanding of the gravity of the situation.
"I see," the woman said, her voice soft. "That's quite a remarkable story. And you say Emelia found you in the alleyway?"
Mahina nodded, her eyes downcast. "Yes, ma'am. I didn't know where else to go, and she... she was the only one who could help me."
The woman sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Well, I can't say I'm thrilled about this, but I understand why you felt you had no choice. And I can't just turn you away, knowing what you're going through."
Mahina looked up, her eyes widening with surprise. "You... you believe me?"
The woman nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I do. And I'm going to help you, in any way I can. But first, we need to have a talk with Emelia when she gets home."
Mahina felt a wave of relief wash over her, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for the woman's kindness and understanding. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know how I can ever repay you."
The woman waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about that right now. Let's just focus on getting you the help you need. And don't worry - I'll make sure Emelia doesn't get into any trouble for this."
With that, the woman turned and left the room, leaving Mahina alone once more. As she settled back onto the bed, Mahina couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Perhaps, with the help of Emelia and her family, she could finally uncover the truth about her past and find a way to move forward.
