𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰𝒔 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅| 3

19: Ice and Vapour

"My tears are always frozen
I can see the air I breathe.
All I need is to remember
How it was to feel alive."
-Aurora
*

The first week was over and the entire series of events had separated the very good schools from the weak ones. We were down to our final competition... And it was against Castron highschool.

Deja Vu all over again.

I paled when I saw the finalists, the candidates we were going up against. Giwa Falade's name resounded within me like a thunderclap.

I gulped, tightened my trembling hands into a fist. A lot was riding on this, I had to win. I had to win. I had to win. I had to-

I froze. I felt her presence come to a halt beside me.

A shiver shot down my spine. My ears perked up. The hairs on my skin rose and a slight tremour quaked my nerves. I could actually smell the toxicity in the air.

"So, they placed me among the finalists again, hmm?" She mused to herself, gazing up at the notice board, right beside me.

I couldn't move. I couldn't move because... Because... She was there. Right there beside me.

"Ohhh! Giwa! Of course you'd be among the finalists!" An over excited voice hyped her up. "You're the best! I keep telling you!"

"Yes. I am the best, afterall." She muttered her agreement coyly, pride, rising the alto of her voice.

She was there. She was there. She was right there. And I was inhaling acid and there was ice in my lungs and... And...

She left... She tsked, turned and walked away... Without acknowledging me or my existence. Not even sparing me a glance.

Was I that invisible?

I remembered the birthday card she sent to me last year and blood roared in my ears.

My fingers dug into my palms. It wasn't even about the scholarship anymore. It was about making sure I didn't lose to Giwa.

"But I want to stay with you, in your room! The girls in my room are mean!"

I whirled around at the childish squeaky voice only to see Toni, cute little Toni, in a heated conversation with her older brother.

"Toni, I'm a guy. The authorities won't allow it."

"I'm your sister! And you're headboy."

"Toni, you have to get settled before the evening seminar starts. Please, don't make this hard for me."

"My roommates are mean!" She was crying now, attracting a lot of attention, waving her tiny arms and stamping her feet. "They called me a cow and tried to polish my face!"

"Use the defense maneuver I thought you."

"Jahsehhhh!" She whined, an angry pout etched on her face as she stamped her feet even louder in annoyance. "I want to go where you go!"

I decided I'd had enough.

I approached them warily. "Hey.."

They both froze. Jahseh looked at me, exasperation in his eyes, but he bit his lip into a tired grin. "Hey, Asa."

I smiled at him, then at Toni. "Hi, Toni."

She shrieked and hid behind her brother. "That's Ice Witch!" She whispered to her brother, sure that I hadn't heard her.

Jahseh sighed, there were tired bags around his eyes and he looked like he needed some rest.

"Let me take her."