Chapter 4

Author's note

The song I used to write this chapter is: Just missing you by Emma Heesters.

I'll let you know when to play it ;-)

"Andre, Henry and Ashley... meet Marly". Jamal said. There was thick silence. The expression on our faces said everything. "Or perhaps you've met already?" He realized a little too late.

"Jamal you know her too?" Andre said looking entertained, he was putting on that smile he puts on whenever trouble is brewing. Does this guy not know the right time to smile? I shot him an angry look then faced Jamal.

"What the fuck is this Jamal!" Exasperated me asked.

"I'm supposed to be asking you guys cause I'm the lost one here" Jamal gave a surprised look.

"I'll ask you one more time... What the fuck is this?" I said through clenched teeth.

"I swear to God, Marly I never knew you guys had met" he said in a pleading voice.

I looked at him shaking my head, I looked at Henry and saw that he was about to say something but I didn't wait to hear it. I angrily turned around and made my way towards the exit door.

"Marlini!" Henry yelled out.

"Marly wait up, at least let me drive you back" Jamal begged, then I heard him running after me.

"Thanks, I don't want a ride, I have feet... for walking". I said when he reached me, trying my best to cool down and walking was the best option right now.

"Marlini I'm sorry, it was obvious back there that I had no clue about anything" he begged me.

"I understand but I just need to be alone now. Please leave me" I said softly turning my face away to avoid seeing the pitiful look on his face.

"Alright, I'll leave you alone" he said before leaving.

What did I do to deserve such ridicule? These people don't even know me that well so why will they treat me in such an ill manner.

I didn't want the incident to disturb me so listening to music was the ideal thing to do.

The moment I got to my room I slumped on my bed looking up at the ceiling hopelessly.

Rosa wasn't around, I didn't even feel like talking to anyone and grabbing my book to start my weekly assessment seemed like a great idea. Not long after, I slept off.

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Play the song now :-D

It's been a month since school began, I hadn't established any serious friendship. Jamal and I saw from time to time, this time he was really careful not to mess things up. Henry and I waved at each other whenever we met and that was all. As for Andre... Nothing changed but I noticed that he was always around my vicinity. Ashley only glared at me but never blocked my way.

My family members called me only when it was necessary but I was getting used to it. It looked like my life was gradually becoming boring, no fun activities or surprises. In summary, I didn't expect this stage of my life to be like this.

I was on my way to attend my first lecture of the day when my phone rang.

Mum? Why was mum calling me? She only called me when there was an emergency.

I quickly picked the call, silently hoping all was well.

"Marlini...." Her voice faded as I heard her sniff and I immediately knew she was crying. My mother was a strong woman so anything that'll make her cry must have really gotten to her. I was already at the verge of tears just from hearing her cry.

"Mum, please tell me everything is okay" tears were already flowing from my eyes and my voice was shaking. I ran towards the rest room and leaned by the entrance.

"Your father's dead" she didn't beat about the bush, she just went straight to the point. I could hear her crying audibly now.

The whole world came to a complete stop, I stopped breathing for a moment and it felt like time stopped too. My legs couldn't hold me up any longer so they gave way and I slid down with my back against the wall. The tears were now flowing uncontrollably.

"Mum, it's not true right?" I said with a pleading voice.

"I'm so sorry honey, I wish I could say that but I can't..." she too was crying profusely. It hurt me even more to see that she was hurting badly.

I hung up so she could get herself and I could process this bad news. I guess I was wrong because it was impossible to process it. I stared blankly at the wall thinking about my Dad and how he smiled at me the day I was leaving. If I had known that that would have been the last time I was going to see his face I wouldn't have let go of him when we hugged each other.

Many memories of us kept floating through my head and I fell to the ground trying to stifle my sob, I was now moaning in pain and rolling on the floor. I and my Dad were so close... I couldn't even say goodbye, this can't be real.

I suddenly felt a hand around me pulling me up. My vision was blurred with tears so I couldn't see the person properly but I knew it was a guy.

At this point, I didn't care who it was, I just needed a shoulder to cry on. The guy drew me close to him and I wrapped my arms around him squeezing him tightly and burying my face in his chest in an attempt to muffle my groan.

"It's gonna be fine" he said, the voice sounded familiar but I couldn't place it.

We stayed like that for about 20 minutes, I had already soaked his t-shirt with my tears and I felt really bad about so I tried to get ahold of myself. After a lot of effort I was able to detach myself from him.

"Do you want to go back to your dorm?" The fella asked me caringly. I was so grateful this person was understandable.

"Yes, thanks but I wouldn't want to impose such inconvenience upon you. I'll go by myself" I managed to say wiping the tears away from eye with my sweater sleeve. I was so relieved when he lent me a handkerchief to clean my face.

"I'll drive you there" he said. I successfully dried my eyes and was about to protest when I looked up and realized that it was Andre. His eyes were so soft I almost didn't believe he was the one.

"Andre?" I whispered his name.

"I know you feel like punching me okay, but let me take you to your dorm first then you can kill me when you feel better" he said still looking at me with that pitiful look. I didn't even have the strength to say anything.

At this point I was ready to wake up from this dream cause nothing's making sense right now.

He slowly lifted me from the floor but I wasn't able to stand uprightly so he supported me by putting his hand around my waist holding me with care like I was going to break. We walked to the car in silence.

Andre helped me get into the front seat of the car then he went round to the driver's seat, got in and kick started the car.

We drove in silence and I sensed he didn't want to say anything because he thought I needed some alone time.

Although we were not in good terms but he deserved an explanation. He could have passed me like he didn't care but he actually stayed with me till I felt better and now he's taking me to my dorm.

I sighed heavily attracting his attention. "My Dad is dead" as I said it more tears escaped from eyes. I never realized how heavy that statement was until now. I placed my head in my hands as I tried to stop crying.

He didn't expect me to tell him why I was crying so he was caught off guard making him speechless.

"Fuck! I'm so sorry Marlini, I didn't know it was that serious" he maneuvered from the road to park at the front of the dormitory.

I raised my head up and nodded cause any word I utter will be accompanied by an army of tears.

He came out of the car to help me to my room. As we got into the room I didn't know when I held him tightly again so he wouldn't leave. I didn't want to be alone in the room since Rosa wasn't around.

"Don't worry I'm still here, I'm going no where" he assured me wrapping his arms around me.

"Let it all out Marlini, don't hold anything back" he encouraged.

"I didn't even get the chance to say a proper goodbye" that was the part that pained me most.

"it's gonna be fine" he tried to console me

"No! It can't be fine and you know it! It's so difficult to breath right now, why will he leave without letting me know" I was now struggling to leave his strong hold, I really wanted to smash something badly but he won't let me.

"Marlini... He too must have been struggling to live, he must have remembered you but death didn't allow him see you again" Andre was trying his best to keep me in place while I struggled to reach the lamp behind him but he noticed and quickly turned me around.

After much fight, I saw that it was effortless to fight with him. I broke down instead... This time I was gasping for breath and hiccuping at the same time. I just wanted to die with my dad, I was damn close to him and I didn't get to see him on his death bed?! I didn't even know what caused his death, how unfair was that.

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It was getting dark, Andre had stayed with me through out the whole day. I was totally exhausted from all the crying but I couldn't sleep cause I was scared of what I'll dream of. He too was tired but he didn't sleep.

I dragged my feet tiredly as Andre led me to my bed.

My screen came on; it was a message from Rosa.

I'm sleeping over at a friend's house tonight, I'm sorry I couldn't inform you since.

R.

"She's sleeping over at her friend's house" I dropped my phone on the bed.

"Your roommate?" He asked, worry evident in his voice and I nodded.

"You can't stay all by yourself here, you know that right? Do you have any female friend I can call to come spend the night with you?" He was really worried now.

"I have no friend here in school, my only friend is out of the country" I was talking about Veera.

"Will you come over to my apartment? You can trust me, I'm harmless" he was asking me to stay with him for the night?

"Can't you stay with me here?" I asked him cause I wasn't ready to leave this room.

"If that'll make you feel better" he gave me an encouraging smile and I could see it from his eyes that he was tired.

I wanted to know what killed my father but I don't have the stomach to ask my mom yet. I wondered if Jack and Amelia were there when he died. I needed answers but my body needed rest. Finally my body gave in to the sleep, Andre only closed his eyes the moment I did.

It was a tough night for me. I kept on waking up at different time intervals. Each time I wake up and remember what happened... It's like the pain is anew, I'll cry myself back to sleep. It kept happening till the next morning but Andre was there to see me through the pains.

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Author's note

Wow, this was a very sorrowful chapter for me to write. I cried many times while writing it.

Why don't we take a look at the bright side; Andre and Marly get to experience a moment together without killing themselves.

What do you think about this soft side of Andre?

Do you like his rude side or the caring side?

Air out your minds please and don't forget to vote.

I love you all

XOXOXO