WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 41: How Did She Get Close to Them?

Chapter 41: How Did She Get Close to Them?

It was lunch break soon, and Rhea was happy she could finally get some rest away from studying. She left the class with Maia, and they headed to the cafeteria together. They went to get their lunch first before finding a table close to the window.

They sat down and Rhea began to eat. Maia did not eat. Instead, she looked around for Alan and Reece.

"They don’t eat at the cafeteria. Do they?" She asked.

"Who?" Rhea asked.

"Alan and Reece."

"I can’t say. I haven’t seen them at the cafeteria before."

Maia sighed. She had thought they would come to the cafeteria so the four of them would eat together.

"Why are you so concerned about them?" Rhea asked.

She was curious to know why Maia was interested in those two strange boys.

Maia smiled. "They are nice."

Rhea was shocked. Who is nice? Alan and Reece?

She shook her head. "I do not think you know what you are saying. Those two are..."

Rhea noticed Alan and Reece walk into the cafeteria and she stopped talking.

What are they doing here?

Most of their classmates who had seen them had begun to leave the cafeteria. Those who were left were the ones who had not seen them yet or were not among their classmates.

"Talk of the devils," Rhea mumbled.

"What did you say?"

Rhea pointed to the door. "They are here. The ones you have been waiting for."

Maia turned to see who Rhea was talking about. When she saw Alan and Reece, she smiled.

"Over here," she mumbled waving at them.

Rhea groaned. Why is Maia calling them?

"You are not telling them to join us. Are you?" She asked.

"Of course I am. They can sit with us."

Rhea frowned. Why is Maia not asking her opinion before calling them over?

"I do not want to sit with them," she said.

Maia furrowed her brows. "Why?"

Rhea sighed. How is she supposed to tell Maia that she just doesn’t want to sit with them?

She doesn’t need to have a valid reason for that. Their strange attitude is enough reason.

Maia waited for Rhea’s response but she got none. She noticed she was lost in thought, and she flicked her finger across her face.

Rhea blinked. "Wh... What?"

"Are you okay?"

Rhea nodded. "I am fine."

"Are you sure? Do you want me to tell them not to sit with us?"

Rhea knew if she said she did not want Alan and Reece to sit with them, Maia would think she disliked them but that wasn’t the case. She was just not comfortable with their strange attitudes.

She sighed. "I can’t say no. Can I?" She murmured. "It doesn’t matter. They can sit with us if they like."

Despite telling Maia she wasn’t uncomfortable with Alan and Reece sitting with them, she still hoped and prayed they would not come.

Her prayer was answered. Alan and Reece chose a different table far away from theirs. Maia did not try to change their mind either.

Silence lingered between them, and they focused on eating their food. Rhea felt like Maia was angry with her. Maybe because she was against Alan and Reece eating with them in the first place.

What if she isn’t angry? Rhea thought. Maybe she is the one overthinking everything.

She decided to confirm it. "Maia?" She called and Maia looked up. "Why are you suddenly quiet?"

Maia smiled and shrugged. "Nothing."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I am."

Rhea concluded she was angry with her and was only trying to hide it.

But what is her relationship with them? She thought.

She is so comfortable with them. Rhea thinks she knows them.

Rhea sighed. She wasn’t going to think about it anymore. She wasn’t going to say anything either. She just hoped that the lunch break would be over soon and she could return to class.

The rest of their meals were eaten in silence. Maia finished first and stood up.

"I am going to see my mom. We will meet in class," she said and Rhea nodded.

She wasn’t going to offer to go with Maia; the silence between them was already killing her.

"See you in class," she answered.

Maia picked up her tray and left. Rhea, watching Maia leave, breathed a sigh of relief.

She could finally breathe properly. She went ahead to eat her food feeling so bored. She wished Louie was here with her. She would not have felt this bored. She decided to text him.

Hi, bestie. Rhea texted.

She waited for Louie to respond to her message but he did not.

Maybe he is busy. She thought.

She dropped her phone on the table, staring at the dishes in front of her.

She wasn’t halfway done with her food. She had lost her appetite a few minutes ago. She stared at her phone hoping there would be a response.

Luck was on her side. Louie texted her back. How is school today? Hope you are not bored?

Rhea was happy. She had thought about what to do with the rest of her lunch break which was thirty minutes away from being over.

I am so bored, Louie. I wish you had come to school today. She texted back.

I am too. I am also so bored here but I don’t have a choice. I won’t be spending much time with you. There is a meeting in ten minutes. Louie replied.

Rhea whined. She was thinking of spending those thirty minutes chatting with Louie, but now she has to find something else to do after Louie stops chatting with her.

She sighed. She might have to think of that later.

She texted Louie back. It doesn’t matter how short the time is. I am glad I get to chat with you.

Louie was very happy to hear that. He decided he was going to call her. He could talk to her for a few minutes before she leaves the cafeteria, or her phone will be confiscated if she is on the phone on the school premises.

Where are you? Are you still in the cafeteria? Can I call you? He texted.

You can. I won’t be leaving the cafeteria soon. Rhea replied.

Reading her message, Louie called her immediately.

"Louie!" she exclaimed, her voice full of joy. "I have missed you so much.

"I miss you too. Tell me what has happened in school today. Did you get bullied?"

Rhea chuckled. "I almost got bullied by Sasha. She..."

"Why did you not call me to tell me? You promised to."

Rhea smiled. "It was just a minor issue I could handle by myself. I wasn’t bullied per se," Rhea said. "She was only trying to get Alan’s attention by trying to fall me down and then pretending to help me up when Alan was watching. She was trying to be a good person."

"Did Alan notice her?"

"You know the answer. He did not look at her. She was angry about it. She also tried to sit close to him in class today, but Reece stopped her. He made the new student sit behind them instead."

"There was a new student today?" Louie asked.

"Yes, there was."

"Are we not writing our examinations in a few weeks?" Louie was curious.

"Well, I think the school has a reason for accepting her, just like they did in my case. She is pretty good though. She sings well. She is Miss Leslie’s daughter. Her name is Maia."

Louie was surprised. He did not expect Miss Leslie to be married and if she is, her child or children should be in elementary school.

"I can’t believe she already has such a grown-up daughter. She looks so young."

Rhea nodded in agreement. "I can’t agree less. Maia is a pretty nice person. You will like her when you see her."

"You seem close to her already."

"Well..." Rhea sighed. "I knew her before she joined our school."

"You do?"

Rhea nodded. "I do. Do you remember the guests I said we had at home?"

"Yes, I do."

"It was Miss Leslie and her daughter."

"Are you family friends? Why did you not recognize her soon?"

"She is my father’s friend in high school I guess. I wasn’t familiar with her in that aspect until she visited our home."

Louie smiled. "You finally have a female friend."

"Well, I don’t think it will be for long."

"Why did you say that?"

"Do you know who her friends are?"

"Who are they?"

"Make a guess."

Louie furrowed his brows. Who could they be?

From Rhea’s words, he could tell she wasn’t comfortable with Maia’s new friends.

Louie decided to take a wide guess. If Rhea doesn’t like Maia’s new friends. Then it has to be Sasha and Dahlia and maybe Maya.

They have always bullied her.

"Sasha and her friends?"

"No. They are not the ones."

Louie furrowed his brows. If it is not Sasha and her friends. Who could they be?

"Just tell me already. I can’t guess."

"The strange boys," Rhea mumbled in a low voice.

"Alan and Reece?"

Rhea nodded. "Yes."

Louie was surprised. How did she get close to them?