WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 39: Troublesome Sasha

Chapter 39: Troublesome Sasha

Rhea rubbed her eyes slightly feeling so sleepy. All through the night, she had been watching the bluestone and wondering what she was supposed to do about it. The stone had been beaming all night, making her room so bright it was difficult to sleep.

Rhea was also afraid that Celia or their father would find out about it and question where she got it from. The thought of that had kept Rhea awake as she tried her best to at least reduce the brightness of the light if she could not put it off completely.

Rhea stared at the wall clock and sighed. It was a few minutes past six; it was already too late to catch some sleep.

She stood up from the bed and headed to the bathroom to take her bath and get ready for school. Luckily, the bluestone wasn’t beaming anymore; It had suddenly stopped beaming when the time was six.

Rhea took her bath and began to get dressed in her uniform. She was done in a few minutes and she sat in front of the mirror doing nothing.

She brought out her books to confirm if she had done her assignments, dude she was saying she had done them a day before. Rhea brought out a novel to read until she was ready to leave her room.

At seven, Rhea dropped the novel and took a deep breath. She had been flipping through the pages, not reading any of the pages; she wasn’t interested in reading it in the first place. Rhea returned the book to the shelf and picked up her bag.

She would be the one to call Celia this time. She thought with a smile.

She looked at her face in the mirror to ensure that her face wasn’t looking horrible. She made a few touches to her hair and headed to Celia’s room, clutching her bag to her back. She got to Celia’s room and knocked on the door.

"Dad?" Celia called. "I will be done soon."

"It’s not Dad," Rhea answered.

"Rhea? Is that you?" Celia asked in surprise.

"I am coming in," Rhea answered, opening the door. Rhea walked into the room and smiled. "Surprised?"

"Of course, I am," Celia answered. "Am I dreaming?" She moved closer to Rhea and touched her. "I am not dreaming. Why are you up so early today?"

Rhea shrugged. She could not sleep.

That is the reason she was ready earlier than her usual time, but she wasn’t going to tell Celia that.

"I guess luck was on my side today," she answered and Celia chuckled.

"Luck hasn’t been on..."

There was a knock on the door. "Celia?" Their father called.

"Yes, Dad. Good morning, Dad," Celia answered.

"Good morning, Dad," Rhea answered too.

"Is that you, Rhea? Did you wake up early today?" Their father asked.

Celia busted into laughter. "I am not the only one surprised," she whispered.

"It’s me, Dad. And yes I did wake up early today. But there are times I wake up very early right?" Rhea answered.

"Maybe a few times. I can hardly remember," Celia whispered.

"It’s a good thing both of you are ready for school. Come downstairs for breakfast. I will be dropping you off at school."

"Okay, Dad," they answered uniformly.

Their father left and Celia returned to getting her hair ready.

"I have some hair clips for you," Rhea answered. "I made them with seashells. I can’t believe I forgot to give them to you."

Celia smiled. "Thank goodness you remembered now." She stood in front of the mirror checking herself out. "Go get them now, Rhea. I will be using them on my hair."

Rhea nodded and headed to the door but stopped. "I hope you are not using the clips because of Myles."

Celia rolled her eyes. She had not thought about that. But now... She smiled. It won’t be a bad idea. Would it?

"Go get the clips quickly. We can’t keep Dad waiting." Celia urged Rhea.

Rhea went to her room to get the clips and then returned to Celia’s room to help her get her hair dressed.

"You haven’t told me what is going on between you and Myles," Rhea said as she added the last clip to Celia’s hair.

"I have told you so many times that nothing is going on between us."

"But you like him right?" Rhea continued.

"Can you stop asking questions and head downstairs for breakfast?"

Rhea smiled. "I think I know the answer."

Celia furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"

"We shouldn’t keep Dad waiting right? You said that."

Celia groaned. "This conversation is not over yet, trust me."

"I will be waiting," Rhea answered and they went to the dining room together.

They joined their father at the table and breakfast was served. They began to eat in silence. Rhea’s phone began to ring and she checked who the caller was. It was Louie.

Rhea blinked. She was supposed to call Louie yesterday and talk about this birthday.

How could she forget that?

"Dad, I have to pick up this call," she said, and her father nodded. Rhea stood up to pick up the call. "Hello, Louie."

"Hello, bestie," Louie answered. "Are you..."

"I am so sorry I did not call you yesterday like I promised. We had some guests in the house and I was so busy. I am so sorry for keeping you waiting."

Rhea had decided it was best she apologized before Louie mentioned it.

Louie sighed. "You do not have to be sorry," he answered.

He had thought Rhea had forgotten about his birthday preparation and he was a bit angry about that. He had kept the preparation on hold for her sake. But now that he knows she is busy with guests, he is no longer angry with her.

"I should be," Rhea answered.

She had lied to Louie about the guests being the reason she did not call. But the truth was that she forgot about it completely.

"You would be available today right?" Louie asked. "It’s two days remaining."

Rhea nodded. "Yes, I will. Are you in school already? Or on your way? I can meet you in school now."

Louie smiled. "You don’t have to. I won’t be coming to school today. I have to go to my father’s company. He already spoke to the Principal about it."

Rhea whined slightly. She won’t be seeing her best friend in school today.

"I am going to miss you, Louie."

"I will miss you too. I will come to pick you up after school," Louie answered. "Promise me you won’t get into trouble and if you do, you will call me."

Rhea chuckled. How will calling Louie help her after she is being bullied? She can only try her best not to get bullied.

"I will, Louie," she answered. "I have to go."

"Bye," Louie mumbled.

Rhea ended the call and returned to join Celia and her father at the dining table. They were done eating in a few minutes and they cleared the table. They did the dishes quickly and joined their father who was already waiting in the car.

He drove them to school and when he stopped in front of the gate, he kissed them goodbye.

"What do you want for dinner?" He asked.

"For me, anything will be fine," Rhea answered and Celia nodded in agreement.

Their father nodded and waved. "See you when you get back."

They waved at their father as he drove off. Rhea and Celia headed to their separate homeroom. On Rhea’s way to class, she met Sasha. She was standing by the hallway.

Rhea wondered who she was waiting for but when she saw Alan and Reece coming, she groaned.

Why did she not suspect? Is she trying to talk to them?

Rhea decided she would avoid Sasha, though she knew she wasn’t going to do anything to her with Alan and Reece just a distance away.

She moved closer to Sasha and looked away quickly, but Sasha, who had seen her coming, placed her leg on the road, and that made Rhea stumble, and she fell to the ground.

"Are you okay?" Sasha asked, looking so innocent.

Rhea furrowed her brows. What is going on? What is Sasha trying to do?

Sasha offered to help her up but Rhea was hesitant. It was obvious Sasha was the reason she fell.

Why did she suddenly want to help her up?

"No, thanks," Rhea answered as she tried to stand up herself.

Alan and Reece had gotten close to them now.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Sasha asked.

Sasha acted so concerned Rhea became confused about what was actually going on.

"Did you get bullied again?" Reece asked.

He was now standing in front of them. Alan had walked past them like he did not see them and that made Sasha angry. She had made Rhea fall down and tried to help her up to show Alan she could be a good girl.

She groaned. That was for nothing.

Rhea noticed how angry Sasha was as she stared at Alan walking away and she began to connect the dots.

She was just a tool for Sasha’s love.

Reece flicked his finger across Rhea’s face, and she blinked.

"Wh... What?"