A/N: Heyy! Sorry I took so long to update. Been busy with school and all. Well, I don't know about y'all, but for me, it's the last day of school! In other words, starting from tomorrow, it's vacation time! ((: Hope y'all are okay and doing well. And hope that y'all will enjoy this chapter too. ((: InfinityEstel - where are you?
Disclaimer: As usual.
Chapter 1
I will not be late again. I will hurry and walk faster next time.
I will not be late again. I will hurry and walk faster next time.
I will not be late again. I will hurry and walk faster next time.
I will not be late again. I will hurry and walk faster next time.
I will not be late again. I will hurry and walk faster next time.
I will not be late again. I will hurry
He scribbled furiously on that mini paper. It was so small he had to squeeze his usually big handwriting with huge spaces, into tiny ones. He could have sworn the words were written not for his teacher, but the ants to read.
His hand was getting tired and sore by now, but he could not stop. It was not because he did not want to stop, but he was not allowed to stop. With the watchful eye of the teacher right at the front of the classroom, he was not able to even hesitate for one second. This kind of punishment to a five-year-old kid just because he was late? It is pure torture!
But he dared not make a single sound. He did not want more lines to write. Currently he had only another twenty sentences more or so to go, and he would not want it to become a three-digit number.
Just then the bell rang. Everyone got up to leave, but he stayed put. After all, he had to. He scribbled faster than before, hoping he would finish it in time to have his recess. But as he was writing the last ten sentences, dark shadows fell upon his paper. His heart sank. He did not have to look up to know who they were.
"Ahh… I see you writing down sentences again. When was the last time you had to do this again? Let me think… was it… yesterday?" The voice he recgonised as the biggest bully in class, Duane. He heard laughters following the comment, but he ignored them. It was Duane and his gang again.
"So, Rylan, or should I say Ryles, how are you coping with that? Yesterday it was fifty sentences, if I did not remember it wrongly, and today's, what, hundred?" The taunt rang in his ear. "Need Mummy to help you with it, dear cutie Ryles?" Another burst of laughter, but he still let it pass. He was following his father's instructions: Ignore all teases and look away. That was Golden Rule No 1.
"Oh wait" the laughter stopped "we forgot! He has no Mummy, eh? He has none! His Mummy has returned to Egypt!" More laughing fits. Rylan was starting to panic now. He had ignored them but they still would not stop. What was he to do now? Then he remembered. Stay calm. Be cool. Never pick a fight, no matter the insults. That was Papa's second Golden Rule.
But the jeers continued. "Never mind… no Mama is still okay, right? You still have Papa don't you?" Duane Wilder said.
Then a boy, whom Rylan guessed to be Eric Moore, pointed out. "No, Duane, his Papa wouldn't come to help him. His Papa would rather die, wouldn't he? Anyway, his Papa is useless… heard he got injured, didn't he? Some kinda thing on his neck."
Immediately Rylan's hand snapped up. "How did you know?" He whispered fiercely.
"Ooh, ooh… he's finally speaking! I thought he was mute!" Duane laughed along with the gang.
"How did you know?" Rylan repeated his question through clenched teeth, not wanting to let it slide.
"Oh dear cutie pie Ryles… we're sorry you're a bit slow... Don't you know that the whole school already knows about it? Perhaps you're a little too slow about it… but I don't exactly mind breaking the news to you." Duane leaned in closer till they were face to face, only centimeters away from one another, as though telling a secret that can only be shared between the two. "Even the principal knows about it now."
Shock was all Rylan could feel. It was all he could do not to widen his eyes, but he still remained his stand. Glaring back at the bully he saw before him, he wouldn't back down till they left. He watched as the gang left the classroom, laughing heartily as usual. He was speechless. How could the news spread ever so quickly? That incident happened, when was it, only last week!
Scribbling the remaining sentences he had left, he quickly got up, handed in the paper and left, though not before another long lecture from his teacher. Sighing, he strode out of the classroom, and broke into a sprint when he was out of his teacher's sight. How he wished that the first lesson today was Art! He knew Ms Roderick wouldn't be so hard on him; she would just let the matter rest. Was today an unlucky day for him? Perhaps he should set a special date on his calendar: Tuesday the 10th was unlucky for him, and he should watch out.
Rushing into the canteen, he hoped that he still had enough time for some snacks. That little chat with Duane and gang took up more time than he had expected. He glanced up at the clock. It showed fifteen to nine. Oh no, I've got only 5 minutes! He thought.
He ran into the canteen where everyone was hurrying out. As they rushed out, all of them couldn't help but halt to take a second glance at the boy who was going in the other direction. Then realization dawned upon them all. He was the one, as they would refer him to, and whisper to one another, gossiping in low voices and constantly pointing at him.
He tried to ignore them by pretending that everything was alright, but it was hard for him to conceal his pain. Yes, he never had any friends before, and now it didn't make a difference in that. But at least he didn't have had people alienating him! He was aching inside, but he brushed it aside.
After buying his sandwich, Rylan immediately walked to the nearest table, sat down and began to eat. He tried so hard to not notice the stares he was garnering; instead he focused on his food, but there was, in fact, nothing fascinating about egg mayo in between two slices of bread. He was starting to lose his patience.
Then finally he lost it. He decided it was the last straw when a boy stood beside him, sneering and snickering and refusing to walk away.
He lashed out.
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I lived for you and me
And now I've really come to see
That life would be much better
Once you're gone
I know that I can take no more, it ain't no lie
I wanna see you out that door
Baby bye, bye, bye
- N'Sync
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She knocked on his door before entering. He did not even look up. She didn't care. She could not care any longer. Without a word she placed the envelope before him. She had spent last night typing this letter, and now it was time.
"Hmm?" He finally looked up and read the words printed on the cover of the envelope in surprise. "Wha-?"
"This, is my resignation letter." She said calmly.
He tried to register her words in shock. "B-But… you don't have to do this, you know. I mean –"
"I know you know mean, but I've already made up my mind. It's been three to four days, and that's long enough time for me to come up with a sensible and non-regrettable decision."
"But… that was personal life and this is work. You really want to mix these two together? I mean, where will you find a job later? Moreover, you're earning pretty much here. You really want to give it up because of what happened? Because of me?"
"I know, I know, but don't worry it's not because of you. I've decided to quit because I wanted to start afresh. I don't care about the pay. I'm sure I can get it elsewhere too, but… I must leave. I cannot bear to stay here any longer."
"But you're here for less than two weeks and –" he sucked in a deep breath "we both can start anew."
"Forget it. I've been hurt far enough and I can take no more."
He got up immediately and walked towards her. She turned away and inhaled deeply. "Give it up, Mr Wallace. I'm not going to allow myself to be deceived by you once more."
Ian Wallace took hold of her hand. "Is that what you really think of me? A liar?"
The only response he got was deep breaths. He continued. "I- I know I was wrong to… to abandon you there, but… I had too. It was too fast and… " he exhaled "frankly, I don't regret it at all. I only wish now that, we can start all over again and take things slowly one at a time."
She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. Then she opened them and pulled his hand away from her. She took a step forward so that her back was facing him. "No, Ian, as much as I want to, I can trust you no longer. But… do you really mean what you said?" A part of her was telling her not to give in, but the other was encouraging her to take up Ian's offer. She decided to hear what he had got to say first.
"Yes, I truly mean it."
"Then I… I really have no idea. You know, I'm really scared. I must confess that my love for you is still going strong; it has not weakened, but… but do you know how long I took to get over that incident last week? It is still painfully etched in my mind."
Just then, Ian's cell started vibrating and without a single warning he pressed the green button and put it to his ear. Meanwhile, Rebecca continued talking.
"I could not go through the pain again, you must know that. It is just too unbearable. I-I really don't know. I think I… I better leave. Perhaps the ache in my heart will heal faster then."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Yes… I… I'm absolutely sure." She forced herself to say the words, even though her heart longed for another. She must be strong and fierce, she told herself. She would not allow herself to be "duped" again, or so she thought.
"Tell me you're kidding." Ian's voice was grave.
"No, no, I'm not. I… I'm glad that you want me to stay but… I think I really can't, but –" As she turned around she started to develop serious doubts about the attention Ian spared her. "Ian?"
Ian Wallace's face was red. He was shaking violently, especially the hand that was holding his cell. He looked ghastly.
"Mr Wallace? Ian? Are you okay?" She asked, fear starting to creep into her.
"I… I must go now. Help me take over everything else, will you, please?" Ian grabbed his coat from his chair and turning to leave.
"What's going on?" Rebecca strode up from behind him and blocked his path. She stared up at him. "I'm not letting you leave till you tell me what's going on." She declared.
"I… Rylan has been into a fight." Those were the only words he could say.
Rebecca's expression was unreadable. She took in his words immediately and said, "Then I'm going with you. No 'but's."
Rylan watched as the discipline master called his father. He was feeling scared now, and was remorseful. The boy sitting beside him was sobbing furiously; Rylan wished he would just shut up. He was feeling vexed and frustrated. He had tried to plead with Mr Hughes not to call his Papa but Mr Hughes would not listen. But why? Hadn't he already known that he was wrong? Hadn't he already apologized and promised that he would never do such things again? Why must Mr Hughes still make the phone call?
He was worried for what was going to be in for him. His father had said he would arrive in 30 minutes' time and he was counting down now. Time was passing excruciating slowly for him. There were still 29 and a half minutes left.
He sat there, hands becoming cold and clammy. He was afraid of how his father would react. Would Ian be angry? Or would he understand the position Rylan was in just then? Would he even understand what Rylan was feeling?
Rylan swallowed hard. He prepared himself for the worst. He knew Ian was not the violent type, so for that he could let his mind rest. But he thought about the emotional part instead. Would he break his father's heart? He guessed so. He had not followed his father's instructions – the Golden Rules – and had done something both he and his father never expected him to do.
Minutes ticked by and the lump in his throat was swelling up. There was a constant pounding in his ear which grew louder every moment and he desperately tried to ignore. He let those snide remarks and passing comments slide past with much difficulty, and stared down at the carpet with interest – in pretence – to avoid those stares by either the staff or students who had been called in for detention classes. He tried to hide his shame but to no avail.
Alert! Alert! I've got a change of plans now! Yes... I meant to lie low for about another few more days but right now this is the perfect opportunity to rap him. I have my bait already, the perfectly-woven excuse that no child would not believe. Yess… it's time for some action. glees and claps happily
Just then, the bell on the door to the office jingled. It must be another student or teacher, Rylan thought. There was just no point in turning around to check; he had been doing so for thousands of times and none of which turned out to be his father.
"Yes?" He saw Mr Hughes stand up and look towards the direction of the door, peering through his glasses. "May I help you?"
"Ah yes, actually. I am here for Rylan Wallace." Came the pleasant voice.
Rylan's blood turned cold. He needed not to turn round to know who the visitor was. After living with that person for six years now, he could recgonise that voice as easily as knowing his way around his house blindfolded. His heart almost stopped.
Forcing himself to turn around, his heart sank as his worst fears were confirmed.
TBC... Now, please review!