Painful Smiles

“Either ways, I am very curious on what you told the math teacher, she changed coats” Claudia asked, taking another spoon of her Ice cream.

She noticed Michael seemed to be staring at some girls but he was actually observing the guy they were talking to.

“Let’s leave him alone, he has a thing for those type of girls” Claudia whispered to Paul, who giggled.

“Have you heard of a Mafia before?” Michael suddenly asked, taking Claudia aback.

**********

Next day at school, Claudia was thinking deeply about how Michael had forced she and Paul to go back home with an excuse it was going to rain and she needed to rest. It didn’t rain at all that day.

The question about a Mafia bothered her too. She too had noticed the van speeding around but didn’t get anything even though she noticed the logo.

She snapped back from her trance when the class door banged open. She had been in an empty room during prep because she wanted to give Wright space to finish his art project.

She turned around to see the jerk who was banging doors around and was surprised to see it was Mark.

“Long time dude” she said casually. Deep down she wondered what he had come to say. She was sure it wasn’t about Clara, he wasn’t stupid to ask her.

Turns outs, he was stupid.

“Where’s Clara?” was the first thing that spat out from his mouth when he stood face to face with her. Despite him knowing full well what she had passed through in the hands of Clara.

Of course, his mom, Mrs. Beatrice had been told everything by now of Clara needing psychological help. The best thing he, as a “boyfriend”, should do was apologize to the victim.

“I won’t repeat myself. Where did you and your crazy parents take Clara to?” he shouted.

Claudia’s eyes widened. It wasn’t the first time seeing him shout but it was sure the first seeing him can her parents “crazy”. His girlfriend’s parents.

She was offended with herself for once being friends and even once having a crush on such jerk.

“You take me for a joke, right? You think I won’t hurt you. Make you squeal again much worse than Clara did?” Mark shouted.

Claudia kept a straight-faced, “Hey, don’t cross the line. Or you’ll be the one squealing. Stop acting like a baby and call my parents if you are so concerned”.

She looked away from him and into her notes but he just yanked at her arm, painfully.

She had already been adjusting to such pain. Sadly. She howled at him and pushed him away to a desk. Before he could stand a chair came flying his way and stopped his attempt to get up.

“As crazy as your girlfriend. That’s what you are. What right do you have to bully me, you scrawny insect! What rights?!” she howled even louder.

Mark jumped to his feet and marched towards her menacingly, “You are just jealous that I like Clara and not you right?”.

Claudia wanted to puke, she kept her face close to his, “I don’t need to be jealous over a loser’s leftovers. You are the one who’s jealous that Clara may have interest in Michael and I so wish he does so you watch her dump you like the trash you are” she would have spit on his face but then two figures appeared behind Mark.

“I will kill you and that Michael when that would happens” Mark pointed.

Claudia smirked and walked to her seat, “Kill? Kill your stupidity and cowardice first?”.

Someone behind him shouted “Get out” and that was when Mark realized that their class teacher was in the classroom, along with Michael.

He looked horrified staring into Michael’s cold and angry eyes. Too angry unlike the usual days. He stomped out if the class in anger.

Claudia sat back on her chair ignoring the two. “Where’s that stubborn twin sister of yours?” the teacher asked.

“Clara was grounded ma. And taken to a doctor” she replied.

She noticed Michael had a confused look so she turned to him, “Yes, even I am confused sometimes why that monster is my twin sister”.

“Why is she grounded again?* the teacher asked again.

“As you said, she’s stubborn” Claudia shrugged. The teacher dropped her books on a desk and left the class.

Michael walked slowly to Claudia, “You mean twin? Twin sisters, you two?”.

Claudia nodded, “I’m ashamed”.

Michael shook his head and left. He didn’t know why it didn’t make sense to him. He had always doubted that Clara and Claudia were childhood friends as they seemed to be so apart.

If they were actually twin sisters then they’d need be needing a priest.

On his way out, he saw Wright coming towards him with paint all over his face. “What happened?” but Wright just fell to the ground besides him.

“All my work gone. All my designs. Everything gone. I did nothing to Clara or Mark but they had to repay me this way” he looked like he would cry.

Michael dashed to the art room and saw all of Wright’s paintings soaked in red ink and his paintbrushes broken.

A junior student was in the room and she looked terrified. “Who did this?” Michael asked her but she just shook her head too terrified to speak.

But Michael knew who. No other bastard than Mark, and of course with the help of the stupid Mega and Belle. They were troublesome as hell.

“He said that it would be blood next time. The paint would be blood” the junior student began crying.

Michael wanted to come close to console her but she seemed reluctant. He left afterwards. Wright wasn’t on the ground and was wailing to Claudia, who was already losing it.

“He needs to accompany Clara to a psychologist!” Claudia shouted from the room. Michael hurriedly shut the class door and made attempt to bolt it.

“Hey, Michael, let this door open. I’ll repair Mark’s head. He wants me too. Open up!” She banged at the door.

Michael successfully bolted it and left. He didn’t want another blood scene. From her or anybody else.

He couldn’t let the bastard go either. He needed some head repairs, so he’ll do the honors.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Author’s note:

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