Calling Secrets

Chapter 17 - Issues

The test? I wrote rubbish. Yes, I did.
How do you expect me to write something meaningful when my mind is all over the place?
Sophia and Kharo kept throwing concerned glances at my direction.

After the test, I was packing my things when Sophia, Kharo and Daniel surrounded me. I ignored them till I finished packing. I leaned back into my chair.
"Now what?" I ask.
"No, now what Juanita? What is wrong with you?" Kharo asks, crossing her arms. I roll my eyes.

"Look, I'm not in the mood for all this" I start to hang my bag to leave.

"I heard Cassandra confronted you at the hallway earlier. I'm sorry about that." Daniel says to me.

"I swear, that girl is getting on my nerves Daniel. If you don't chain that dog, I'll do it myself" I reply as I push out my chair and stand up to leave, but Kharo stubbornly grabbed my arm.

"What's that mark on your face?"
She asks, pointing at the slap mark from Mr Lawal.

"Nothing" I curtly reply.

"Anita you can't keep answering nothing to everything." Sophia whines.

"Can you guys just leave me alone?" I roll my eyes as I make my way out of the class.

"Juanita! Stop it. Tell us what happened. We're here for you" Sophia grabs my arm this time.

"God!" I face palm with my free arm. "Can't you hear? Sophia? Kharo? Leave me alone! I want to be alone, besides it's none of y'all's fucking business." I snap.
I walk out of the class with rage, only to bump into Patrick.
I roll my eyes and walk away, but the annoying pest grabs my arm, for the third time in one day.

"Juanita" he smiles in what should look like a dreamy smile, but it looked more like an imbecilic smile.

"Don't be unfortunate Patrick" I was surprised at how calm I was.

"I hardly see you these days. Where have you--" he gasps. "Is that a slap mark on your cheek? Who dared to hit you?"

"Patrick let go of my arm"

"Come on Juanita, you never let me spend time with you. I like you and my parents have enough money-"

I push him to the wall.
"Leave me! Ah! I do not have any interest in you and never will. I'm tired of seeing your sick face approaching me all the time. No one cares about your parents' money and no one wants to be with such a bratty child! It's disgusting" I scoff and walk away from him. I see some of his friends at the other end of the hall, probably laughing at something they think is funny.

"What are you guys laughing at?" He yells
"She just rejected you for the umpteenth time" a friend of his replies.
"Relax, these things take time"
I roll my eyes.

The Fool never learns.

I was leaving, but I had no idea where I was going to. I just settled down at a quiet corner in the school premises.

"Juanita, can we talk?" I don't need to look up to see it is Daniel.

"About what?"

"Your behavior, I don't understand you today. Why are you just angry at everyone? You have shouted at Sophia at least two good times today. Juanita she's hurt, you made her cry-"

"She's hurt? She's hurt?" I laugh a humorless laugh. "Hurt is an understatement for how I feel everyday. But do I show it all the time? No! No one cares if you are hurt! I'm sorry I hurt her but I don't know! I just have to let my anger out somehow." I reply.

"That's okay, I'm here, you can let it all out on me" He shrugs.

"I am so angry! This day has been horrible for me, first I wake up happy, then I walk into my room, only to see that monster, he threatened to kill my mother, Daniel" I break in sobs. "I had a heated argument with him and he hit me on the face." Daniel gives me a look, a combination of surprise and anger.
"Yes. I was so mad, I spent the morning crying, then I remembered the test we were to have today, I got dressed and came to school, only to be confronted by that annoying girlfriend of yours, I can't even remember anything she was saying to me, but I'm sure it was concerning you. I didn't even realize when I couldn't take it anymore and I snapped. This day has been hell so far" I sigh and bury my face in my palms. I feel him move closer to me and wraps his arm around me. I rest my head on his chest and cry my eyes out. The tears I've been holding since I came to school.