Chapter Fifty-Three
The next day, I was studying with Nel, he was teaching me and clearing my doubts whenever I asked him to. This arrangement has been going on for a long time now. Every night, right after my professor left after teaching, he would take my test and ask me what I learned today. He asked for a detailed assessment so that nothing gets left behind. Thus, that's what I was doing right now.
We both jerked a little when the doorbell rang announcing a visitor. Our restaurant had already been closed for two hours by now so it was unexpected. Nel told me to continue reading and that he looked for the door, while I resumed my studies. I was halfway when someone appeared in my peripheral vision. I looked up to find Shirley standing in the doorway.
Behind him, Nel gave me a look before he walked away.
"Viri." Shirley said. I stood up and she walked over to me. "Mike got rusticated from our school." Shirley said. I'm a little frantic now.
"Somebody posted a video of his confession through an anonymous number, about him and his drugs and our principal took action. His parents were called in today for further inquiry. He had been expelled from our school." She told me with a tremor in her voice. I did not know if she knew that I took that video or not. Neither I knew why she was telling me this in person instead of calling me about it.
"Really?" I asked, trying to act shocked. If she did not know that it was not me then I will keep it that way. Nobody needed to know about it except for me.
She sauntered toward me and hugged me. "Why did you do it?" She asked.
My shock was felt in my bones. She knew.
I hugged her tightly, squeezing her before telling her the truth. "Because of you." Both of us pulled back.
"Because of me?" Shirley asked with confusion all over her face. I nodded my head and stroked her hair. My big, strong sister had tears in her eyes.
"You were always there when I needed you, but I could never be there when you needed me. You sacrificed everything for me, to make things fair for me and yet you did not get your own fair justice." I told her.
"Mike gave you a life-long scar and was living free and happy. Whatever he did to me was another thing but he turned you into a life stock for selling to gain drugs. He not only let those drug dealers kidnap you but he broke your trust. Just like I ... broke your trust." I told her, getting worked up.
"And you did not deserve that." I told her.
"But if anybody finds out then your whole school can be destroyed. You know that his parents are rich enough." She insisted. Tears leaked through her eyes.
"And so what if they are?" I asked her. Grabbing her both shoulders, I stared dead into her eyes.
"Shirley. Yesterday, I realised something. When I went to submit my assignment, I realised that I might not be able to give my exams. There is a big chance that might happen. However, how bad could it be?" I asked her.
"My brother is hunting for me because of what I did. And whether I like it or not ..." I closed my eyes. "That is going to happen one day. I can't hide from him forever." I told her, opening my eyes. "Then there is almost a certainty that I might not continue my studies." I said before I let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Whom may I be bluffing, that is only what is going to happen. And that day, I will put all of this behind me. Everything." I said, letting her go.
"What is Mike going to do then? Get me expelled too? Whether I like it or not, my future is the same. Sooner or later. So, if he decides to do something to me now, it would not matter." I said.
"But, you, Shirley? You have a whole future in front of you. A future full of a bright career, family and happy life. And the path to do that won't have to be a painful one. If you had done this then Mike would have come after you but now, his only target, if any, will be ME. Not you." I explained it to her.
"Now, you don't have to live with a scar. You don't have to live knowing you never got justice for yourself. Now, you do not have to see Mike's face every day in the hallway, corridor, cafeteria or the whole school and be reminded of that horrifying night. A night that you so bravely got through." I told her.
"But you-" Shirley began but I interrupted her.
"You have done so much for me Shirley. In this short time, we were both together, you have done so much for me. You never backed down once whenever I needed your help. Never once, hesitated from a challenge when it came to me. God, you even fought with my brother for me. So, now. Now it was my time to return that favour. For all the sacrifice and all the struggles you went through for me." I sighed feeling the gravity of how much she had sacrificed for me.
"So, don't feel guilty. Shirley. If you want to return this favour then give your best to become the person that you always wanted to be. Fight for the life that you deserve and want. Work bloody hard for it and just ... be happy. That would be enough for me." I told her. Looking in the distance, I finally asked for the last thing that I wanted from her.
"And if possible. If you ever, in your whole life, feel that I am worth forgiving, then forgive me." I whispered.
"From making us both friends from sisters." And I felt tears rush down my face as Shirley hugged me.
"There is nothing to forgive Viri. We were never friends. We were always sisters and will remain one." She said and I felt relief flood in my veins as we both cried in each other's arms.