DISEASE

CHAPTER 3

CLAIRE POV

It's been a week since I received the acceptance letter from the Seattle University. I have not informed about this to anyone, but today I plan on telling this to everyone including my friends. Carol is leaving for New York today, so all my friends including my brother are going to drop her off at the airport. I glance at the clock, sighing I get up from my bed and start my morning routine.

I finish my final touches by applying some concealer and a lip gloss. The bruise on my right cheek is healing but sure is going to leave a scar. I pick my bag and the gift I have prepared for Carol and leave my room. When I reach downstairs, I see my dad drinking his coffee while reading a newspaper and my mom preparing breakfast. Maybe my dad felt my presence so he looked up and gave me a warm smile, "good morning princess" he says and gets up to give me hug which I return. "Good morning dad" I reply and we break the hug and walk towards the kitchen. "Morning mum" I give a back hug to my mom and kiss her cheek. "Morning sweetheart, breakfast is ready" my mom says and she arranges the food on the counter top. My brother comes and plops himself next to me and we all eat the breakfast with a few talks.

Simon and I left the house and were on our way to carols house. Simon has been quite since morning which is unusual. I tried to talk to him but he only answers to my questions and does not start a conversation. It was my clue to stop talking and not make him feel uncomfortable so decided to keep my mouth shut. Seeing his behaviour, my confidence level has reduced to one level, I dont know how hes going to react when I say about me moving to another university. I stare out of the window and I see that we were near carols house. About a minute later Simon pulls up at the front gate and we see Carol biding her goodbyes to her parents and her siblings. I can already see myself in the same situation but not the same reactions. Carols parents were sending her off happily but my parents wont. They will shed a few tears which will break me so I hope they don't. Im broken from my stance when Simon opens the door for me and signals me to get off. I do so and we help carol to shift her belongings at the back of the car. Something told me that this unusual behaviour of Simon is because of Carol leaving the city. I sit at the backseat and Carol takes the front passenger seat. During the ride to the airport I notice Carol and Simon exchanging a few glances but other than that the ride was dead silent.

When we reach the airport, I see Ace and Dan already waiting for us. After getting carols bag out, we were all having a small conversation but Simon was sick silent and I started to get irritated but I maintained my patience. Last five minutes before carol leaves I decided to drop the bomb. I clear my throat and their head snap towards me. I take a deep nervous breath, "I've got accepted in the Seattle university and I will be leaving within the next 3 days" I say loud enough for them to hear and fiddle with my fingers waiting for their response. All were wide-eyed but Simons expression had a mixture of shock, angry, confused and betrayed. I feel the guilt building up inside me and I avoid eye contact with my brother before I was engulfed in a hug by Carol. "I'm so happy for you. All the best and you have made a great decision" she whispers and moves back. Aces expression changes to a sad one but was covered up to a happy one when I saw him. Dan was out of words so he just nodded towards me. Simons expression did not change one bit.

It was time for Carol to leave so she was biding her goodbyes to everyone. Simon was the last so she gave him a hug to which Simon responded as if his life depends. When they broke the hug Simon did something that made my eyes go wide and Carol to blush. He freaking kissed her cheeks! Ace and Dan were talking to themselves so they did not see this. God, I knew he liked carol and something more is gonna happen when Carol comes back to the town. Carol disappears into the crowd and we all leave the airport after the sending off.

On our way back to home I glace a few times at Simon and see that hes either clenching his jaw or tighten his grip on the staring wheel. Im so nervous to face him and the guilt inside me of not informing him before eats me up and I know its one of the reason he is angry. He hasn't spoken a word yet and I don't know what scene is gonna unfold in our house and in front of our parents. I wanted to have a calm talk about this with mom and dad but seeing the situation right now I'm sure its gonna happen the opposite.

When we reach home, Simon just got out and slammed the door shut and barged into the house. This was not a good sign for a calm talk. I got out of the car and went inside the house to see Simon on the couch sitting with a red face and arms crossed. Dad is just staring and mom is frowning. I sigh and sit next to Simon to which he moves away from me. "Simon..."I began but was cut off from his voice. "Just shut up Claire, dont talk". I was taken a back from his harsh tone and slumped down. I know not even a single person in this house is going to accept my decision but that does not change my decision and I have made up my mind. I get up from the couch and go towards my parents who were staring at us as if we were drunk because my brother had never used such a tone on me till now.

"Mom and dad, I'm really sorry for informing you guys this late. I had applied for some universities a week back and I got accepted by the Seattle University. I know you guys are not happy that I did not inform you before but I had to. I don't wanna continue studying here especially after what I have been through. The whole city knows about the incident and I have no courage to face them. That's why I decided to study in another city. Don't worry about my fee cause the university accepted me based on my studies and my scholarship. I want this mom, so please let me start a new life. I will be leaving within the next 3 days. The college has provided me a dorm, so dont worry about my staying in a new city. Please let me do this, for my sake". I finish up before they can even say something and go to my room. I lock the door behind and fall on my bed with tears flowing and fell asleep.

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HEY LOVELY PEOPLE,

SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. I WAS BUSY WITH MY SCHOOL WORK. HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER.

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