The Third Wheel

The Third Wheel - Part 11

Sophie took a glance at her golden watch. It was six-thirty in the morning. She studied her surroundings. The school yard was very big for such a normal high school like Scarlet High. She was leaning against a tree that has been there since the school was built, and its leaves were shading her, even though it was too early for her to be hit by sunlight. She listened to the sounds of the leaves as it was blown by the cool morning air, as if it was whispering to her. The sweet scent of flowers filled up her nostrils. The chirping of birds could be heard in the air. She closed her eyes, letting out a breath of calm as she drink up everything that she was feeling right now. How she wished that she could sink into the sounds right now. Suddenly, she felt a vibration at her side pocket. She let out a sigh, disappointed by the mood destroyer which was her phone. She took her phone out of her pocket, and studied the caller's name. John. She sighed again. What does he want, now? she thought. Wasn't it enough for him to pester her with questions when he picked her up? Sure, she may have come to school earlier than she would have, but why was it necessary to ask petty questions like has she slept well or not? she thought again. As she walked towards the school building, she became calmer again. She could understand why John was worried of her well-being. She tried to look normal, but maybe she did not hid it well enough. She could not sleep the whole night after getting a surprise visit from that 'someone'. Based on their conversation, it seems that John did not know about the surprise visit from the 'someone'. She relayed back to the visit last night.

 Last night...

 Both sat there on the sofa at the living room of Sophie's condo, silent. Even though there were two teacups filled with hot tea, it remained untouched. It was as if they were making a game. Whoever took a sip first, they lose for showing nervousness over the tense atmosphere. Yet, when the person took a sip before Sophie, he sipped it like an old man enjoying his tea. A long and blissful sip. Sophie remained there, her face blank as she studied the person in front of her. Phillip Bradford put down his cup, and looked Sophie. "You're not going to drink your tea, Sophie?" he asked her with a light tone. Sophie didn't say anything, but she picked up her tea to take a sip. When she did put down her cup, she met eyes with her eldest brother. She knew her brother liked to intimidate people in his line of work. But this isn't work. This is a 'bonding' time with his dear little sister. Yet, his blue-green eyes were piercing through her sapphire blue eyes. Sophie remained calm, and tried to break the tension between them. "What are you doing here, Phillip? I don't think you are not here for just a 'bonding' time with me" she said. 

 Phillip let out a dry laugh. "Why? Is it too much for you to believe that your brother is here to visit you in your humble condo?" he replied, his tone a touch sarcastic. Sophie flinched at his tone but said nothing. Phillip realised this, and his expression turned softer, and his tone too. "You're right, I'm here to discuss something with you. Considering it's late, I'll keep it brief" he said as Sophie stayed silent. "Grandfather, correction, Chairman, wants you to know that he has added another condition for you to live by yourself" Phillip continued on. Sophie made an irritated face as he said this. "What more does he want now? I've already became a top student in a normal high school for not going to private, I attend a 'family' weekly dinner with him, training myself to become a 'somebody' in the corporation and being in the same country as him, all for the exchange of me living alone in this condominium" she said, her tone getting higher as she went on. Phillip remained undeterred by her outburst, instead he tried to continue on, as if she didn't interrupt him before. "He wants you to refrain yourself from making a relationship with a male" he said. Sophie became speechless. Now he wants to involve himself in my personal life? she thought. But she remained calm. "What do you mean?" she said testily. "Considering that you are in an appropriate age to have someone special in your life, he discourages you to act by yourself. He wants to train you to become a proper lady for your future partner" Phillip replied her obligingly. "So you mean to say that my life partner will be chosen by him, and in order for me to be considered a proper partner, I must not have any special relationship with any man?" she said weakly. 

 Phillip nodded at her statement. Sophie sighed, and it seemed to deflate everything in her. "I know where this is going. Political marriage, huh? Something that he wants to continue when he failed to do so with his own son?" she said bitterly. Phillip kept quiet at this, but Sophie swore that she saw Phillip's eyes flashed with agreement of her statement. They sat there, the atmosphere tense yet again. "Is that why you sent Scott to stop me from having some time with my friend, earlier?" Sophie suddenly spoke up. Phillip didn't answer, instead he stood up. "It's time for me to leave" he said, his expression unreadable. Sophie didn't say anything, her brother's notorious for ignoring remarks. As she see him open her condo door, he paused. He turned his head towards her. "I wasn't lying when I said that I wanted to see you" he said with a gentle tone, a tone that she hasn't heard since she was young. As he closed the door, Sophie sank to the floor, and felt hot tears building up in her eyes and travelled down her face.

 Present...

 Sophie shook her head as she relayed the event last night. She had to admit, she cares and loves her eldest brother, even though he already turned into someone else after what happened twelve years ago, blood was thicker than water, after all. Sophie felt sad that her relationship with him became distant among those years. As she walked nearer to the school entrance, she saw two figures. She could make out one of the two figures were John's, but she could not recognise the other one. As she walked nearer to them, she found out that it was Scott Kennedy. What is he doing here? she thought with a frown. It seems that they heard her because both looked up and watch her walk towards them. John was smiling, while Scott had a guilty look on his face. 

 "Sophie!" John said, waving at her as if he had too much sugar even though it was in the morning. "I was really worried of your safety considering that you were alone, but Scott here" he indicated to Scott, "will be accompanying you while I finish up my work in the staff room. Until the other students come to school, all right?" John said, giving her a puppy face. Sophie could not object, however, due to John's innocent expression. She forced a tight smile as she nodded at John's plea. John then left the two of them without even sensing that the atmosphere between Sophie and Scott were getting tense as seconds go by. Right, another tense atmosphere that I had to face, Sophie thought grimly. 

 She walked away from Scott and as she expected, he followed her. They remained that way until she stopped in front of the biology lab. "Will you stop following me? I'm not in the mood to entertain you right now" Sophie said with an irritated tone, and walked on before Scott could reply. She was halfway down the hall until Scott grabbed her arm. She paused, and gave him a cool look before trying release his grip. He tightened his grip, and pushed her to the lockers. Sophie, baffled, stood there, leaning on one of the lockers while Scott was in front of her, his arms surrounding her face to keep her from running away. "Sophie...Will you at least give me a chance?" Scott begged, his eyes tearful. Sophie remained unmoved, and she formed a single word, "No". Scott bit his lip, and looked at her with his grey eyes. "What if I try to make you mine?" he said, this time his tone firm.

 Sophie chuckled at this. "I already gave you the chance to do that, but you blew it. It's not my fault, Scott" she replied with a sarcastic tone. She saw a flash of anger in Scott's eyes and before she could react, he forced a kiss on her mouth. Sophie tried to fight back, but Scott's large build made her unable to do so. She was about to scream out when suddenly Scott was being pulled back by someone from behind. "Hey, chill, captain. You can't go on doing this" Samuel said while clutching onto Scott's shirt. Scott, his face red, glared at Samuel. Samuel put his hands up in surrender. "I wouldn't bother you if the lady did not look like she wants you to do that to her" Samuel said with a light tone. Scott's face fell, and he looked at Sophie. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have" Scott walked away from the both of them and paused midway. Without looking back, he said, "I'll try opening your heart to me, slowly this time. I will start doing so after I caught you in the Golden Event". As Scott left, Samuel let out a whistle. "Confident man, isn't he? Well, if he isn't how is he really going to get you again, President?" Samuel said, studying Sophie. Sophie's face was pale, and Samuel stepped nearer to her. She could smell the cologne and aftershave he was wearing. "You want me to help you to not get caught by him...?" he asked her. Before she could answer, though, they were interrupted by a voice.

 "That won't be necessary"

 TO BE CONTINUED