Everything I wanted her to know.

Group Study.

  Most days I would get a call from Evangeline. She would ask me the questions that she had doubts on and I would help her. She would not take much of my time and gradually we started to text and discuss the answers to the problems. She seemed genuinely interested in studies and was someone who really needed help for her studies. So, I instinctively invited her to the group study. Later I thought to myself that I should have rather consulted the others, especially Natasha as she might get wrong idea about it.

So, I decided to give her a call. I start the conversation, "Hey Natasha, I was wondering if it will be alright if someone else joins the group study. Well, the thing is I have already invited someone from our class to come study with us. I hope you are fine with it."

She replied, "Yeah. It's alright. The more, the merrier. Plus, it would be kind to help anyone who is struggling with their studies." I felt relieved after knowing that Natasha was fine with me calling Evangeline. Or so I thought then.

Later on the day of the group study, Natasha looked quite angry with me when she met Evangeline. The three of us were the first to arrive there and were waiting for Ryan and Claudia. At that time, I could sense extreme discomfort in the conversation between the two girls. It went something like Natasha constantly firing questions at Evangeline and Evangeline trying to defend herself. I knew then that I had to talk to Natasha well and resolve the issue. 

So I excused us for a moment and went to a corner in the cafe. Natasha seemed way to mad when I tried to explain the entire situation to her. Although it was not the best time but I sarcastically asked her, " So, are you more angry about the fact that I invited her or the fact that she has my number ?"

Apparently it was not the best move as she got even angrier and stopped talking to me. So, I had to spend the next 10 minutes trying to convince her to forgive me. I said, "I know that I should have told you the entire details earlier. But I didn't think that it was such a big deal. So, please can we stop fighting about it. I know it was a big mistake. So, I will do anything to make up for it. So, can we just treat her like an other classmate and just help her study along with Claudia and Ryan."

She replied, "Okay. But I have a condition."

I immediately replied, "Whatever you say without even listening to her condition."

She said, " So, my condition is that you will take us all to a visit during the vacation and you will pay for all of us. I am feeling a bit merciful so I will give you the right to choose when and where."

After that we went towards the table and waited for Claudia and Ryan with Evangeline. This time the conversation was not fiery, but just some normal school stuffs. After a while, Ryan and Claudia arrived. Then we started to study. We all helped each other with our strongest subjects and learnt our weakest subjects. It was very productive time and everyone was really focused in their studies.

After we completed studying and everyone was packing their bags and ready to go, Natasha stood up and said that she had an announcement to make. She said, "Since, all of you came here and helped us to study, I and Raphael will organize a trip for us. You won't have to pay. We will organize it all. Won't we Raphael? "

"Yes." , I replied.

I felt a bit relieved that I won't have to take care of the entire cost of the trip. I was feeling quite relaxed after that until Natasha approached me and whispered into my ears, "Ignore whatever I said earlier in front of everyone. It's you who will be taking care of all the expenses. Consider it as a punishment for trying to deceive me."

It felt as if someone ha put a bag full of stone over my head. That moment I realized what adults faced in their daily life.

After we got out of the cafe, I approached Ryan and asked him, "So, did you ask her out? "

He replied in a cheerful way, "Yes, and she said that she would love to go out with me. I did just as you said and went to her directly and asked her out. It was quite a chemical explosion in my brain, but the result of that felt good."

He added, "By the way, can I bring her to the trip. Please, it would be a really great time and I can introduce all of you to her. It would be a really good thing for relationship. Don't worry about the expenses. If you allow her to come, I will pay half of the entire expenses and the remaining half can be handled by Natasha and you."

Although I didn't think that it was such a good idea to invite a stranger to the trip, but I thought that it would be alright because he would help me with the expenses. I agreed to his idea and said, "Okay. Let's discuss about the date and place after the vacations begin."

He agreed easily and all of us headed our own way. Later in the evening, I got a message from Evangeline where she thanked me and stated that it was a really helpful thing that we had done.

The next couple of days were hefty as the examinations were in progress. It was a stressful time and the most stressful time was not that spent studying at home, but the moment of silence before the examination started. It was the moment when the paper was in front of us turned upside down and we had to wait for the bell to ring to begin the exams. And in the same way, the exams went. Everyone seemed happy and satisfied with what they had done in their exams. And finally the examinations ended, the results were far behind and we had about 15 days vacation on our hands.

After the exams ended, I went home and immediately jumped onto my bed with my face down on the pillow to calm myself down and feel relaxed. Nothing notable happened that day. And the next day was the long awaited start of the vacation.

(Next Chapter : Vacation. )