WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 78: The End of a Semester

Chapter 78: The End of a Semester

The long-awaited examinations came and were gone like a flash. Most of the students who had procrastinated their reading regretted their actions.

They should have tried their best to read. Some had thought.

They should have started reading earlier. Some of them thought too.

Some weren’t bothered about the examinations or what their results would be. All they wanted was the break that would come after it. Most of them had planned to visit their families in the city. Only a few would be staying back and among those few is Rhea.

She has begun to think of what her first break in Seavora would be like. Louie would be traveling with his family. Rhea doesn’t know what April and Maia’s plans are yet.

The thought of spending the break alone, made her wish that there wouldn’t be any break at all. Seavora was a bit boring to her. Maybe that was because it was just a small developing city.

For the other breaks she had had so far, she had enjoyed them although most of the time she had spent just a few days of those breaks in the city she knew, only to finish it in a new city, which was typically because of her father’s work.

What if it happens again? Rhea wondered. What if they have to move again?

This should be the first time she had spent a longer time in a particular school after her mother’s demise. The last time she did that was the first six months after her mother’s death.

Rhea stood up from her seat and walked to the window. Today is their last day in school, after which she won’t be seeing most of her classmates until a new session begins. This also was going to be their last day and semester in grade 10 and they would be moving to grade 11.

Rhea was very happy. She can’t wait to finish high school and go to the university. Seavora has only one University and she would be going there.

At first, Rhea had no plans to attend the university. She wanted to go to a university in a bigger city.

Maybe one of the cities her father had worked in and she loved.

But now, with a new task of being the Aqua shouldered on her. She doesn’t think leaving Seavora was a good idea.

"What are you thinking about?" Louie asked.

He had been standing and watching her for a while now.

Rhea turned to face him. "Don’t you think the weather is nice? I am going to miss the rain."

Louie stared at her. "You are going to miss the rain? That is what you’ve been thinking about?"

Rhea smiled. Of course not. She just thought about that now. She just loves the not-too-cold weather.

She shook her head. "I wasn’t thinking about that. I was thinking about life after high school."

"That would be in two years. Why are you thinking about that now?"

Rhea shrugged. Maybe she wants to prepare for it.

"I don’t know. I guess I can’t wait to leave high school. You haven’t told me when you are leaving."

"In two days," Louie answered. "Have you spoken to April and Maia yet? Do you know their schedule for the holiday?"

Rhea shook her head. She hasn’t spoken to Maia and April yet.

"Do you want me to speak to them for..."

Rhea shook her head. "No, please. I should do that myself. I will speak to them before school closes."

Louie nodded. "It’s time for lunch. We should head to the cafeteria."

They left the class and went to the cafeteria together.

"Celia would be out of school next year. What is her plan for university?" Louie asked.

Rhea realized they had not spoken about that yet.

Maybe Celia has spoken to their father about it. She can’t say. But she hasn’t spoken to her. Rhea sighed. She has been so busy with her new life that she was beginning to neglect her family without knowing that. Celia’s birthday is on its way too.

"Rhea?" Louie called and she looked at him.

"Do you think I have not been a good sister and daughter?"

Louie wasn’t expecting that question; it caught him by surprise.

"What do you mean? Why would you say that?"

"I used to be concerned about my family’s affair but now... I always forget their special days. I did not try to spend time with them either. We used to spend a lot of time together."

"That is because you are..."

Louie groaned. What is he supposed to say? He can’t tell her that being busy was the reason she neglected her family. That isn’t enough reason to neglect one’s family. Is it?

"You just have a lot going on with you, Rhea," Louie finally said. "And these things are bigger than you that they overwhelm you."

Is she overwhelmed? Rhea wondered.

"And you did not forget their special days. You celebrated your dad’s birthday and he was happy."

Rhea sighed. She might have celebrated her father’s birthday but that doesn’t mean she remembered. Celia was the one who reminded and followed her up.

With Celia’s birthday coming up in a few months, she needs to constantly remind herself or she might forget about it too.

"Louie," Rhea called. "Celia’s birthday is coming up soon. I don’t want to forget it so I am telling you."

Louie nodded. "I am going to constantly remind you that. But you haven’t told me when though."

"October 10," Rhea answered. "Just a day before my mother’s death."

Louie furrowed his brows. Their mother died a day after Celia’s birthday? Was she able to celebrate it last year? He would like to know that.

"Last year’s birthday must have been a sad one for Celia," Louie said.

"It was," Rhea mumbled.

She has been selfish. She thought. But how come she is just realizing it now that she has been selfish to have put her family in a tight spot not to celebrate her birthday... Has she ever thought of how Celia would feel every time her birthday is fast approaching?

Last year they did not celebrate. No one remembered about it. Or maybe Celia and their father did but said nothing about it.

Rhea sniffed. Louie handed over a handkerchief to her and she wiped her tears. She had been in tears.

"Louie," she called. "Do you think Celia would forgive me?"

"Why would you say that?" Louie asked.

"I have been selfish," she mumbled. "I have been very selfish."

Rhea began to cry again. Both her father and Celia had tried their best to fill up the space of her mother in her life. From cooking to laundry to giving advice, Celia had not just been a big sister but also a mother. She has tried her best to protect her like a sister and a mother would do.

But what about her? Rhea thought. She let their world revolve around her but she did nothing in return for them.

"I have been selfish," she mumbled again.

Louie patted her on her shoulder. "You are not selfish, Rhea."

"I am," Rhea insisted. "Celia has tried her best for me but I..." She sucked in some air. "I have never tried my best for her. We did not celebrate Celia’s birthday last year, because of my mother’s death. No one talked about it either. Mine wasn’t celebrated last year either. Not because they did not talk about it. But because I did not want to celebrate it. Do you know what Celia did despite my insistence on no celebration?"

Louie shook his head. "I do not."

Rhea smiled. "She bought my favorite cake and brought it to my room. She played a birthday song that was sung by my mother some years back and also some wishes she made. Why did I not remember it this year, Louie? And insisted that no celebration?" Rhea began to cry again. "Do you know what happened after I listened to my mother’s voice again? I cried. Celia cried too but that changed everything. Now thinking back to it. I just realized that was the best birthday I have ever had. Why did I not remember all these?"

"It’s never too late," Louie answered. "You can still make it up to her."

"You think I can?" Rhea asked.

What if she can’t?

Louie nodded. "I think you can."

Rhea sighed. But how would she do that?

"I... I... What if I can’t?"

"Rhea," Louie called. "You just have to try your best. Just like you said, her birthday is coming up and the probability of her wanting to talk about it would be slim. You can start by making her celebrate it."

Rhea furrowed her brows. How would she do that?

"I have an idea," Louie said.

"You do?"

Louie nodded. "Yes. And I think it will work out. But first, you need to speak to your father about it."

Rhea nodded. She is willing to do anything as long as it makes Celia happy. That girl deserves the best!

"I will speak to him and get back to you," Rhea answered.

"Are you going to stop crying now and let’s go and eat?" Louie asked with a smile.

Rhea nodded. "Of course."

They went to the cafeteria to get some food to eat. There were few students in the cafeteria. Most parents had taken permission for their children because they needed to travel early.

With few students in the cafeteria, there was less noise and Rhea loved that.

"Have you heard? We will be going home immediately after lunch break ends" A student announced to his friends.

Their table was closer to Rhea and Louie’s and they heard him.

"Do you think he is telling the truth?" Louie asked.

Rhea shrugged. With just a few students in school and with nothing to do, he might be telling the truth.

The students did not lie. After their lunch break, they all returned to their homeroom and were spoken to by their homeroom teacher.

"See you next semester. Make sure to enjoy your break. And while you do that, remember to check out your results," Mr. Martins said to his students. "You can head home now."

Rhea took a deep breath. The long-awaited break is finally here but what will it be like?