Sardius scrolled into the classroom. His hair was trimmed low, his uniform, neatly ironed. Her shoes were shining like the sun in the sky. When he smiled, he was darn enchanting. Everything about him was looking superb. Every girl he ever walked past shot him a misty, teary look. He was the typical type of a charming young, little prince.
"Woah, is this you Sardius?" Ashley gaped at him in surprise.
Sardius smiled at her as he walked up to Michael who couldn't control his laughter on seeing his friend in a new look.
"What happened Sardius? What's with this look?" Michael asked.
"People change, remember." Sardius chuckled.
Michael laughed again. "Was this why you haven't been in school?"
"Not exactly." Sardius shook his head. "I've been mentally drained......,"
Michael couldn't in his laughter, he kept slapping his tummy like his father would.
"I don't think it's funny Micheal." Ashley couldn't fathom why he was laughing.
"Did you hear that? He said he was mentally drained!"
Ashley shot him a placid look.
"Did Chrysolite know? Cause she has been worried sick about you. She came to your house the other day, did you see her?"
"She did see me and she was aware. Where's she anyway?"
"Wait till she sees you, she will be so shocked."
Truth be told, Chrysolite was so shocked but that didn't stop her from calling Sardius fowl names. "Now, can you explain to me why you've been absent from school?" Chrysolite asked him as soon as he sat down on his seat.
Sardius only grinned.
"I didn't ask you to smile. Just answer the question." She said.
"Just leave him be, Chrysolite," Ashley said to her.
But Chrysolite would never listen, she reached out to hit him, Sardius caught her hand in mid-air and pushed it back. Chrysolite was more shocked at his behavior. Sardius stood up and pushed her out of his way then he walked out of the classroom.
"You should let him be, Chrysolite." Ashley stopped her from going after him. All the while, Michael was amused by his friend's new behavior.
Miss Laurel was in class marking the attendance sheet when Mary walked into the classroom. Her eyes had become so big that she looked so ugly. Her long hair was packed in a scattered ponytail. Her uniform was wrinkled with a few years here and there.
"Looks like someone has taken your place," Michael whispered to Sardiuwhomat he nearly barfed.
"Was this how I was?" Sardius grew pale.
"You didn't have the big eyes though." Michael covered his mouth halfway, chuckling as he did so.
"I don't look like that, Michael. But, why is she like this?"
"She just went from having a home to being homeless." Michael was enjoying himself.
"Wait, I don't understand. What happened to her?" Sardius shot him a questioning look.
"Oh, you weren't informed. Mary lost her friendship with Chrysolite, that's why Chrysolite is sitting with Ashley now." Micheal whispered to which Sardius took a peek.
"Really? Tell me about it." Sardius seems pleased.
"I'll tell you about it later."
Miss Laurel gave Mary a skeptical look. This time, Miss Laurel was dressed in a beige suit and heels. It's "to match" day, the three musketeers had mocked her outfit.
"Why are you coming to school at this hour?" The teacher glanced at her wristwatch, it was almost ten thirty.
Mary gave her a hard stare then continued to walk down to her seat which was now at the back. "Hold it right there? Am I not talking to you!" Miss Laurel ordered.
Mary turned and faced her class teacher.
"I'm so sorry I'm late." She apologized.
"That's what you do every day." Miss Laurel said sarcastically.
"Yesterday was Sunday, Miss Laurel." Mary corrected.
"Like I don't know. Why are you coming in at this hour? Or did you "take" another something?"
Mary-Jane giggled and shouted. "I think she did. This time around, she's being paid." Mary-Jane shouted while her squad laughed at that.
"Be quiet! You're no different either," Miss Laurel cautioned.
"Miss Laurel, I'm better off than her!" Mary-Jane protested.
It was well known that if a pupil did come late to school, there was probably trouble at home. Such pupils would be taken to the school's counseling, then, the parents would likely be contacted. Most pupils found the school's counselor clingy and too knowing, they didn't like to go to her. Better still, others prefer confiding in their class teacher than in their school counselor.
Michael later told Sardius about the events that had happened in school while he was away from school.
"So, Mary lost a good friend over a wristwatch?" Sardius chuckled.
They were in the cafeteria eating lunch. Their school was training them for middle school since they were in their final year at the elementary level. Ashley and Chrysolite sat away from them two seats away. They were watching Mary sit alone, eating miserably. Chrysolite felt so sad for her, Mary must be feeling all lonely. Something in Chrysolite told her to go to Mary.
Chrysolite picked up her tray of food and walked herself to Mary's table, Ashley was really surprised including Michael and Sardius.