It had already been 20mins since Tina took her seat beside her friends but had barely said anything. Her mind seemed to be afar though there was so much rumpus in the hall. The look on her face screamed there was something on her mind but neither of her friends could lay hands on what it was– and neither was she opening up.
“Hey,” Roxy nudged her arm, drawing the former’s attention to herself. “Are you okay? You’ve been spacing out since you took your seat.” She asked with creased brows– her concern evident on her face,. Meanwhile, Bella gazed skeptically at Tina as she filled her mouth with a bite of sandwich not sure what was on the former’s mind either.
Staring into the latter eyes, the only thing that came to Tina’s mind was Phidel’s words. Should she tell her friend or not? A voice rang in her head but then, she shove it off inwardly– knowing it was not going to solve matters in any way; at least not now.
“Well– it’s nothing.” She managed to say, allowing her gaze to travel back to her meal but then, Roxy was just not going to take that for an answer. Given the fact that the former wasn’t able to make it to their morning class. Besides, She wasn’t someone who easily gets trailed by minor issues.
“Are you expecting me to accept that answer?” Roxy blunted– not happy with her friend’s sudden change in attitude. She felt the latter has been keeping things away from them and this was starting to create some sense of awkwardness which she was starting to feel uncomfortable with it.
Moreover, she thought they said to talk about Phidelia’s reappearance but the former seemed more silent on it which was more disturbing. Despite what happened between them.
“God knows where you had been, Tina.” She continued. “We’ve all been worried about you and what did we get for in turn? Silence?” She added but the former did not barge.
A scoff intuitively escaped Roxy’s lips as she seemed to get what was going on. “Is this about your parents or what happened between Phidelia and yourself?” She questioned. Tina instinctively froze the moment the words hit her– her hand mid-air as she was about to have another bite of her sandwich.
As if on an impulse, she banged the sandwich on her plate, making the tray almost turn over– traveling a glare Roxy’s way in the process.
“Come on guys, ” Bella on noticing the anger bracing intervened. “Let's take a chill pill and calm down.” She added, trying to calm the waters.
“I don’t want to hear about any of them.” Tina sneered with so much indignation, not giving a damn about whatever Bella had to say. Without warning, she jolted to her feet and scampered off.
“Tina–“ Bella hastily called as she deftly turned on her seat while her gaze tailed after her friend. On an impulse, she paused– allowing her gaze to travel back to Roxy as she threw her the scornful look. “You should know when to keep that mouth shut.” She rebuked and went after Tina.
Involuntarily, Roxy rolled her eyes but found herself alone by the table– she rushed after them.
Meanwhile, tempers were also beginning to heat up around Phidel’s table too. Rowan had asked of Phidel whom he thought to be Phidelia’s whereabout since the morning class but the latter had no interest at all in telling him.
Rowan, on the other hand, wasn’t buying her silence. But then, the former was beginning to get irritated with his persistent and possessive boyfriend attitude. Moreover, they weren’t a thing and she wasn’t going to spell out every step of hers to him. Not in his wildest imagination.
“Can you stop bugging me already?” She muttered, pausing mid-way between her meals as she threw him a glare.
An unsettled silence instinctively filed around the table while the eyes of their friends shifted between both of them as they weren’t expecting her sudden outburst. Phidelia was no different either– she stood over her sister’s shoulder; quite trailed with her action.
“Come on Phil, he is just worried.” She muttered with a creased brow as she laid a hand on her shoulder. But the former was least concerned.
“For God’s sake Phidelia, I was worried about you.” Rowan snapped in, seeing no reason why she should be acting up. Besides, it’s new about her missing class. To top it all, she had literally been acting out of herself which Rowan found new as well. Given the chance of dangers; she could be putting herself in – anybody in his position would be as worried as he was.
But before he could say more, Phidel jerked to her full length while everybody’s gaze followed her. “ I’m not who you think I am.” She said, narrowing her gaze towards the former.
Phidelia, on the other hand, froze at her sister’s words while the others stared at her with a quizzical gaze– not sure what she meant by what she said. Without any further explanations whatsoever, She scampered off.
“Phidel–” The former called after her sister as she turned on her feet– going after her in the process. “Hey,” Phidelia called as they got to the hallway– step passing her sister while she came to the center of the path; bringing the former to an abrupt halt. “Did you know what you just did?” She inquired.
“Of course.” She poured out the words; as if she had had enough playing calm and tolerant.
At that moment, few students who were strolling by noticed the awkward situation of Phidel standing and just staring in an empty space. “What’s with her?” She heard them say.
Involuntarily, she swiftly lurked around then back to her sister. Without a word, she scampered off.
********
Hurrying through the hallways, Tina's mind ran wild on all that had taken place just within the morning. But what taunted her the most was Phidel’s words. What did she mean? Did she find out what they did with the footage? What’s she up to?
This and more questions left her in dilemma. For a moment, she felt like her world was gradually coming down. She had managed to escape Bella and Roxy just to be with herself– at least to get her mind back and think of what to do next especially with Phidelia.
From her analysis, she knew the latter had changed a lot. But that was not all– there was something about her that gives her the impression that she is not who she says she is.
Tina was still with her thoughts as she rounded the corner leading to the library when she felt her body collide with something hard which made her books fall.
“Ah, sorry.” They both grumbled as they went on their knees to gather them.