Sweet Cherries

Chapter 30

Her door was already open, and when I looked inside, I saw body on the floor, with a gun lying beside . . . . . . "Aliaaa?" was all I could say.
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Daniela POV

After we posted bail, we were quickly released. My lawyer, Attorney Mareveles, arrived just in time to take care of the payment. I hurriedly took the keys to her car.

I had to go to Alia because I wanted to apologize. I drove fast to her condo, eager to make things right.

I parked the car and rushed into the building. As I was running, I accidentally bumped into someone. "Ouch!" she exclaimed. I realized it was Micah, but I didn't stop to help her and I don't want her to recognize me. I just wanted to get away from her.

Fortunately, the elevator was still there, so I got on and reached Alia's floor quickly. I knew which unit was hers because of Patrick.

I tried the doorknob, and while it wasn't locked, there was a metal bar blocking it. I kicked the door hard, and luckily, it broke open, allowing me to enter Alia's condo.

"Alia?" I called out, and a moment later, she came out of one of the rooms. She looked shocked and scared. "D-Daniela?" she said, surprised to see me.

I wanted to go to her, but I held back. "Alia, I'm sorry," I said, realizing tears were streaming down my face. I knelt down in front of her. "I'm really sorry, Alia. I didn't mean to hurt you," I begged.

I had my reasons for what I did, and I truly regretted it. I didn't fully understand why I acted that way; maybe it was just because I loved Alia so much and wanted her in my life.

Flashback

During my high school days, I moved from one school to another frequently because my family kept changing houses. One of the reasons for my constant transfers was that I was being bullied. Each time I thought a new school would be a fresh start, but the bullying followed me, making it difficult to find a sense of belonging.

I transferred to the school where Alia was studying. On my first day, I was completely unfamiliar with the layout and dynamics of the place.

A professor kindly escorted me to my classroom. As soon as I stepped inside, my attention was immediately drawn to a girl wearing glasses. Her beauty was undeniable.

"Good morning, class! We have a new transferee student," the professor announced. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to me, making me feel self-conscious. "Uh, Daniela? Please introduce yourself," the professor encouraged with a smile.

"Ehem," I cleared my throat before speaking. "A-ahm, I'm Daniela Cortez Gutierrez, 15 years old. I hope to become friends with all of you," I introduced myself, feeling a bit nervous.

Suddenly, a boy at the back shouted, "You're ugly, HAHAHAHA!" His friends joined in, laughing at my expense. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, but I fought to hold them back.

"Boys!" the professor scolded the boys at the back, and they quieted down. "Uh, Daniela, I'm sorry. You can sit at the back next to Alonzo," the professor said, giving me a gentle pat on the back.

Just then, a girl raised her hand. To my surprise, it was the same girl who had caught my attention earlier.

She smiled at me and pointed to the seat where the professor had directed me. At that moment, I realized I was smiling back at her, completely captivated by her beauty. She was just so stunning!

I walked closer to her. "Hi, I'm Amelia, but you can call me Alia for short," she greeted me with a bright smile, extending her hand for a handshake.