Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Back at school, Daisy failed to talk or play with Michelle. Instead, they avoided each other for the rest of the day and it was really eating Michelle up. She's so used to the company of her friend, that she felt everything or anything she does is right since Daisy mostly overlooked her misdeeds. But this time was different. Daisy wanted to teach her that she can't behave or act anyhow just because they're friends.

Making the situation worse, she didn't wait for Michelle after school and this made Michelle slightly dejected. She tried putting a call through to her but she didn't pick up and she finally decided to go home alone since Roland would be going to thier mother's supermarket headquarters after school. He wanted to spend the rest of the day there.

Waiting for the driver to come pick her up, the scene of what transpired between her and Daisy played in her mind.

"Who's at fault?" she asked herself inwardly. "At least I told her to stop talking about Daniel but she didn't listen, she kept talking and talking".

"You didn't try to understand her but she has always understood you. She's just caring about you" her subconsciousness told her.

"I guess I'm at fault" she said out and her phone began ringing. It's was Desmond calling.

"Little Angel, where are you?" he asked over the phone the moment she picked the call.

"I'm at school waiting for the driver. It's getting late, but he hasn't arrived yet. I'm the only one left in the car park" she complained.

"I'm sorry angel, that's why I called. He just informed me he has a flat tyre and the repair would take a long time because there's no where he can repair it quickly around him" Desmond explained with the calmest of his voice and Michelle sighed. Can her brother ever be more good?. Forget it, he's just the best.

"Anyway, I'm coming over. Just wait a little more okay, I won't take long" he assured her.

"Alright bro!. I'm waiting". She replied happily. Speaking with he brother has been the only thing that can make her happy when ever she feels sad.

While waiting for her brother, she felt bored. Then she plugged her earphone into her phone to listen to her favorite music. Before she could place the set on her head, a hand reached out from behind her and dragged the wire backward making the earphone disconnected. It became useless as the wire got cut from the earphone with the amount of force the person dragged it with.

Michelle was stunned and annoyed by this action. She turned around to see who would try such with her. It was no other than Richard. He stood firmly with one of his hands in his pocket and a piece of the broken earphone in his other hand smiling.

"Are you out of your mind?" Michelle wanted to yell at him but turned back to her previous position. Talking to him would only make things worse for her.

Richard sat close to her on the bench she sat on and Michelle shifted a bit to make enough space between them, but he followed shifting towards her as well. She moved again and he also moved. And the action went on for sometime.

"What do you want?. Please I don't have time for your pranks right now" she finally spoke up.

"Yes!.That's the spirit. I wanted to hear your voice" Richard said patting Michelle's hair playfully.

"Get your hand off me. Are you stupid?, Do I look like I'm joking?. Please just stay away" she said. This time, she sounded fierce but silently, she prayed her brother would arrive just in time so she'll be free from Richard.

"Fine. I'll get my hand off you. It's like you didn't learn from your fall last time. I guess it didn't hurt you much. Right?" Richard said with a dangerous look. The last sentence Michelle said vexed him.

"And what's your problem?" Michelle stood up from where she sat and hissed. She turned to exit the car park, pending the time her brother would come, but Richard dragged her hair from behind with so much force making her feel pain.

"I warned you last time not to ignore me ever again but you didn't listen. You repeated the same thing in class today" he said still dragging her hair. That was when Michelle realized what Richard was talking about. After the disagreement with Daisy, she returned to the class and Richard asked her where she was coming from but she hissed at him and went to her seat.

"You don't have any right to know where I'm coming from. It's none of your business" Michelle said in pain, tears welling up in her eyes as Richard dragged her hair the more.

"Stop. It hurts!". The welled up tears finally dropped down her cheeks but Richard just laughed at her.

"Weakling!. Crying just because of I'm dragging her hair. What's the use of the martial art she learnt?" he mocked to Michelle's hearing. Upon hearing what Richard said, she turned around, her hair still in Richard's hand but now facing him. On the count of three, she took Richard unaware and kicked him hard on his knee cap. He released her hair, and held his knee cap in pain. It's totally unexpected.

"Troublemaker" Michelle said eyeing him coldly as she saw a car drive into the car park towards her. Immediately, she knew recognized the car.

"Finally!".

"Angel!. I'm here" Desmond said as he came out of the car after parking. He looked at Michelle and saw dried lines of tears on her face.

"What happened to you ?" he asked with so much concern and Michelle nodded sideways that nothing was wrong. Desmond looked at the person across his sister. Without telling him, he knew the boy at her back is the same Richard she talks about. He totally fits her description of him.

"I have to find out what's going on" he decided within himself. Desmond directed Michelle to wait for him in the car.

"I'm pressed I really need to ease myself" he said.

"Please, show me the way. He said to Richard, which he obliged.

Walking for some time, beyond Michelle's hearing. Desmond stopped walking.

"How has my sister offended you?" he asked out of the blue. Richard was shocked. Never had he thought of talking to Michelle's family. Damn it!. She even has an elder brother.

"What did you do to my sister?" he asked with so much fury, more or less like a roar. If only looks could kill, Richard would be six feet under the ground right away. But he wouldn't get intimated. He summoned courage to laugh wildly.

"You mean you're her brother?. Well, for your question, I guess it's because I find it fun. Really fun. The way she smirks when I hurt her, the way she yells when I make her angry, the way she cries when she's alone, just mention it. Total fun" Richard explained while he demonstrated with his hands.

"You need to see a psychologist. I guess you're psychologically imbalanced this moment. You derive fun in hurting a fellow human like you?". Desmond muttered so serious and left. He had thought of sorting things out with Richard, that's why he asked if Michelle have offended him in any way. But upon seeing Richard's reaction and hearing what he said, Desmond realized that won't be possible. He took a few steps away from Richard, and turned back abruptly to face him.

"I want today to be the last day you'll hurt my sister. You can hurt her again to know what I'll do" he half yelled and returned back to the garage after which he returned home with Michelle.

★★★★★

Bella entered the building the driver dropped her at after he left. She dropped her luggage in a room before taking a stroll round the house. Truth to be told, the building spelt wealth. Every item in the house, from the furnitures to the kitchen utensils and the interior design were classic and expensive.

"Thank my stars. I'll be free from trouble for a while" Bella thought as she prepared to take a shower and relax after a tiring day. Her father's debtors would not know where she's currently living. However, thinking of it, is she really free?, or her troubles just began. Time will tell.

She changed into her night gown and laid on the incredibly soft bed. It's been long she slept on one. Ever since her parents died, she sold all the valuable things that could fetch her money to pay off the debt. Now with Catherine's help, she'll be able to save and plan her life properly. Engrossed in her thoughts, she suddenly heard her phone ringing.

"Hello" she said politely. It could be a business call, so she didn't want to be rude.

"It's Catherine. How is your stay there?. Do you like the house?"

"More than like buddy. I love it." Isabella replied.

"That's good. Have you decided about my offer?" Catherine changed the topic.

"Not yet. I......"

"Deal? or no deal?". Catherine interrupted over the phone. She wanted to carry out her plan fast, so she decided to ask for Bella's final decision that night.

"Deal?... Or no deal?" she asked again authoritatively after a minute without response. Still no answer. Bella was thinking.