WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 77: Dahlia and Maya Apologized

Chapter 77: Dahlia and Maya Apologized

It’s been a week since Sasha got a suspension and Rhea has stopped receiving any threatening messages. Her locker had no rotten fruits or painted dolls either and that was relaxing. The school was peaceful too. Not just for Rhea but also for everyone who was a victim of Sasha’s bully.

The school wasn’t only peaceful, it was quiet too. With just a week left before examinations start, every student has been busy reading and preparing. Most students spend extra time at school after their normal closing time to read.

Rhea and Louie were one of those students. Rhea needed to stay back because she has been absentminded in most of her classes in the last couple of weeks. Louie stayed back to help her out.

Maia and April always stayed back too, not only because they needed extra time to study but also because they wanted to spend more time with Rhea. With Louie willing to help Rhea with her studies, she was confident of success.

It was another day again and as usual, Louie, Maia, and April stayed back at school to help Rhea study. Their extra class would be starting at four. With about thirty minutes left before their study time, they decided to get some snacks.

They headed to the cafeteria to get some snacks and drinks before going back to class. On their way back to class, they saw Dahlia.

Her suspension had ended a few days ago but she hasn’t resumed school yet. Seeing her in school was surprising to Rhea and the rest. Dahlia wasn’t alone. Beside her was Maya.

What are they doing in school? Rhea wondered.

Although Dahlia’s suspension had already ended, Maya still had two days before her suspension was over.

"Isn’t that Dahlia and Maya?" Maia whispered.

"Why are they in school?" April asked. "I think they are coming to us."

"Do you think they are coming to see you, Rhea?" Louie asked.

"I don’t know."

Rhea shrugged. What if they just want to walk past them?

Dahlia and Maya walked up to them and stopped.

"Hi, Rhea," Dahlia waved.

"Hi," Maya waved too.

"Hi," Rhea waved back.

Dahlia waved at the rest before speaking to Rhea. "We would like to see you."

"You want to see me?"

"We just want to speak to you for a few minutes?" Maya answered.

Rhea stared at them. Why do they want to speak to her?

"Please," Maya said.

"You should go," Louie whispered.

He could tell that they wanted to apologize to her, though he didn’t know if it was going to be a sincere one or Sasha’s kind.

"Fine," Rhea answered. "But where do you want to see me? I am not going anywhere private with you."

"We don’t have to go anywhere private," Dahlia answered.

"We can just move away a bit," Maya added.

Rhea followed Dahlia and Maya and they stopped just some distance away from Louie, Maia, and April.

"Rhea?" Louie called. "You will have to meet us in class." Maia furrowed her brows. "I have a plan," Louie whispered.

Rhea nodded. "See you in class."

She wishes they would stay back though.

Louie, Maia, and April left and Rhea faced Dahlia and Maya.

"I am here now," she said. "I hope you will be quick about it. I need to go back to the classroom to study."

"Rhea," Dahlia began. "We want to apologize for bullying you in the past weeks. We are..."

Rhea furrowed her brows. We? Why is Dahlia apologizing on behalf of Maya? Shouldn’t she do that herself?

"Why are you the one apologizing?" Rhea asked. "I told you not to."

Dahlia nodded. "I know you did but..."

"But what?" Rhea asked. "Were you the one who tried to push me down the stairs? Were you the one who kept Sasha’s name a secret but called yours when it was obvious Sasha was the one who planned everything?"

Dahlia sighed. She is not saying that Rhea is wrong. But that doesn’t mean that she should not apologize to her. After all, she once bullied her also. She also planned against Rhea. If Sasha had not changedthe plan, she would have carried the first plan out with Maya.

"I still need to tell you that I am sorry. I used to bully you and..."

"Dahlia, if there is anyone who should apologize, it should be her," Rhea pointed at Maya

Maya who had been quiet since the conversation began finally spoke up.

"I am sorry too, Rhea. I was going to apologize after Dahlia is done with hers."

Rhea sighed. She should have apologized first. Not Dahlia.

"I know I have done a lot of bad things to you. And I am sorry."

Rhea stared at Maya. Is she supposed to believe that Maya’s apology is sincere? At least she can trust Dahlia’s. She has apologized twice.

Although Rhea did not trust Dahlia’s first apology, she had no reason not to trust this one. Dahlia’s face said it all.

"We are sorry, Rhea," Dahlia added.

Would it be a good thing to trust them? Rhea wondered. What if they begin to threaten her like Sasha did?

"Why not give them the benefit of the doubt?" Sapphire asked. "What if they’ve changed?"

What if it is all a lie? Rhea wondered.

"That would be their problem, not yours," Sapphire answered

Rhea shook her head. She can’t trust them.

"I am not asking you to trust them or become close to them. I just want you to forgive them so they can stop disturbing you. Whatever they do after that, should be their problem. You justhave to be vigilant."

Rhea sighed. Sapphire is right after all. It doesn’t matter if she trusts them but what matters is that she forgives them and clears her mind. Examinations are fast approaching and she needs her mind to be clear of any obstacles.

"I forgive you," Rhea said. "I have forgiven you for a long time. I just hope you have learned your lesson from what happened and you will change."

Dahlia smiled. "Thank you, Rhea."

Maya was surprised. She had not expected Rhea to forgive her so easily. Not after she tried to push her down the stairs. She wouldn’t have done that if it was her.

"I am really sorry," Maya apologized again.

This time she was remorseful. She had apologized the first time because Will asked her to but now, she is apologizing because she had realized that Rhea has a pure heart towards them and she shouldn’t have bullied her in the first place.

Rhea smiled. "You’ve already apologized and I have forgiven you. I think I should go now. My friends are waiting for me."

Dahlia nodded. "You should."

Rhea left and Maya faced Dahlia. "She said she has forgiven us."

Dahlia nodded. "That is what she said."

"Do you think she meant it? Or is she afraid we might bully her again?"

"I did not see any fear in her eyes. If she said she forgives us, then she has. Why are you acting so surprised?"

"I did not expect her to forgive us so easily," Maya answered.

"Not everyone holds grudges like we do," Dahlia answered. "Will is right after all. Rhea has such a good heart. We should stop bullying her."

Maya nodded. She couldn’t agree less. In fact, she won’t be bullying anyone again.

Her dad had warned her against getting any suspension for any reason until she graduated.

"I won’t bully anyone anymore," she mumbled. "I won’t make friends with Sasha either."

Dahlia nodded. She has promised herself that too.

"Me too," she answered. "After Will told me what she did to Rhea after she apologized to her, I really do not want to make friends with her anymore."

"Let’s be good girls from now on," Maya said and Dahlia nodded.

They should be.

Dahlia stared at her wristwatch. "I have to head back home. My dad will be home soon."

"I am heading home too," Maya said. "I have to go study."

They left the school together, talking about random things. Rhea and her friends who had been watching them finally came out of their hiding place.

"I think they meant it," April said.

Maia nodded. "I think so too. From their conversation. I think they will turn a new leaf."

Rhea smiled. It was a good thing Louie suggested that they hide and listen to the conversation between her, Dahlia, and Maya.

After she left them, they pretended to leave but hid themselves to listen to her conversation with them. Louie was worried that Dahlia and Maya would only pretend to apologize if they saw them but if they were not there, Rhea would be able to know if their apologies were real or not.

After Rhea’s conversation with them, they had drawn her into the classroom they were in, so she could listen to their conversations too.

Neither Dahlia nor Maya noticed what had happened. Rhea was happy about that.

"It’s a good thing they have decided to turn a new leaf, " Louie said. "But I hope it lasts."

"Why do you say that?" Maia asked.

"We can only believe they have changed when their master finally returns," Louie answered.

Maya nodded. "I get that now."

Silence lingered between them for a while.

"Did you say Kristen is coming to study with us?" Rhea asked.

Maya nodded. "He should be on his way."

"What subject are we going to start with when Kristen comes?" Louie asked.

"Mathematics," Rhea, Maia, and April answered in unison.

If there is any subject giving them nightmares, that would be Mathematics.