Scandal of Grace

24

Chapter Twenty four -

"Be around people that make you want to be a better person, who make you feel good, make you laugh, and remind you what's important in life."
- Germany Kent

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After arranging my stuff and laying my bed all alone - Claudia had ran off into her room earlier - in the midst of the turmoil within me, I tried to really stay calm which was near impossible. I knew what it felt like to be taken for granted. I knew it made you feel like poop and worthless all at once. You begun to question your existence.

And Claudia was definitely the last person I wanted feeling that way. Was that how love felt? That you shared in another person's hurts and pains because It killed me that she thought I didn't appreciate her presence. Why would she think that? With what effrontery? Ugh. So frustrating. Claudia, it's so frustrating.

"Are you talking to me?" Lara said from her bed, where she's reading a book. If she's a book lover, then we would get along. I had met her, Olive and Acacia in the room when I entered. Olive and Acacia only dropped their bags and went 'sightseeing'. The fifth roommate had not been here at all so I had no idea who she was. Now, I was left with Lara in the room.

"What?"

"I think I heard you say frustrating."

I didn't even know I said that out. I was totally affected by this situation and I felt so helpless.

"Not really." I decided to give a vague response and changed the topic maybe I would be distracted from my problems a little bit. "What are you reading?"

"It's Purple Hibiscus." She answered me.

"I've read it, about two months ago. We're going to be using it in Literature class next session. Are you also in humanities?"

"Okay no. I was in the sciences. My younger brother used this book last session too. He just graduated from high school."

"Oh. So you're?" My curiosity was surely a major character flaw.

She laughed a little before answering. "I'll be resuming my second year in the university next month, studying Bio-chemistry. I came home for our three months break."

"Wow. You have a really petite stature. I only heard someone call your name some time ago and it stuck. I had no idea."

She waved it off. "It's not like I'm old o. But your own looks can be deceiving too. Look at you! You look like you're my older sister!" We both laughed at that. She focused on her reading and when I returned back to cleaning the locker apportioned to me, the bitter feeling started creeping in again.

I had to check on Claudia now.

Through the years we'd been coming for the teen and youth camp, we'd always been beside each other and I'd had no reason to really mix with other roommates because she was always there bubbling around me.

She would tell me stuff and made me feel comfortable. Above all, she made me feel alive. She couldn't break my back now. I would try my hardest not to break hers. She really meant a lot to me. She was my best friend.

Walking to her room was like lifting bricks with my feet and that made the situation scarier even though it's just a few steps away from mine. The door was ajar and soft music  was coming from inside. I knocked even though it was opened. It was rude to barge into other people's rooms without their permission. One thing I'd learnt since I was little.

"Yes?" a soft voice said.

"Is Claudia in there?"

"Grace?" That's Claudia's voice. I knew how she called my name, how my name rolled off her tongue with ease. Then she sniffed. Was she really crying now?