C16 THE SPY

RADIANT STAR INTERNATIONAL

Mart and Aimscious alighted at the school's entrance, while Vicky on the other hand watched them from the school's hall with disdain as they sauntered to the campus ,hand in hand, chattering and laughing.

" This is the last time you'll see a smile or laughter on your face in this school, Aims- Get ready for what's coming." She smirked and gave an odd smile. Turning on her feet, she trod off back to the class.

CLASSROOM

Vicky settled back in her desk with a sinister smile as she signaled her friends , Marta and Rita to over. They got to her desk and sat settled next to her.

“What's up girl? –why this sudden meeting?

Did you miss us already? ” Asked Rita, tickling and teasing her.

“ Stop it Rita, its tickling.” She laughed.

“It's Okay , Rita. Let's know the reason why she called before our teacher comes in.”

Martha cautioned.

“Okay– okay girls, we got another victim to deal with. Let's forget making Nina's life miserable in this school and let's focus on Aimscious . Lilia wants us to make her life miserable because of Mart.” Vicky explained.

Just as Marta was about to talk, they noticed Aimscious and Mart walk in.

“Hey guys, see who just got here” Rita exclaimed. “Miss. Aimscious Mart.” They teased and bursted out with a chuckle.

The whole class focused on her , laughing.

Aimscious felt embarrassed and rushed off to her desk with unshed tears. Mart on other hand stared with creased brow before sauntering over to console her– he patted her shoulder with a faint smile.

“It's okay, Aimscious– I'm here with you and will always be there for you. With that, she lifted her eyes and glanced at his face, a faint smile found it's way out of her saddened gaze.

“Thank you” She whispered. With their gaze turned towards the door, they noticed their teacher trod in. Mart returned to his desk and smiled back at Aimscious.

Aimscious with an unstable mind, sat in the class unable to concentrate– continuously reflecting on what occurred earlier.

After two hours of what seems like an endless lecture for Aimscious, the bell finally rang for lunch break. She jerked to her feet with tears soaked eyes– looking gloomy and sad. She hurried off to the washroom without Mart's notice.

Vicky glanced at Martha and Rita with a wink. They smiled and followed her.

WASHROOM

Aimscious after a minutes walk, finally trod into the washroom– She shut door, leaning over it just when she got in. The tears she fought back, freely trekked down her cheeks.

“Miss you guys, Betty–Nicole. I miss so much." She cried. “Why did you leave me here all alone– Why, why wasn't I the one who died; Why....!!”

She shouted and banged her hand on the wall which caused her to bleed.

CANTEEN

Mart looked all over for Aimscious but couldn't find her and this got him worried.

" Where could she be? " He mumbled. With that, he rushed from table to table, enquiring from their mates, if any of them had set eyes on her but to no avail. He got to one of the tables and saw Jemima, one of their mates.

" Jemima ” He exclaimed. “Have you seen Aims anywhere?– I've been looking for her all over" He asked , worried.

" Yes , I saw her going to the washroom earlier” She replied.

“Okay– thanks".He mumbled and dashed out towards the washroom.

WASHROOM

“Hey , Aims.” A voice called from the door.

She swiftly turned towards the familiar voice but then, she became stiff in her steps on noticing them– It was Vicky and her friends, Martha and Rita, the bullies in her class.

They slowly chanced towards her with a smile. Her face instinctively turned pale and her body felt numb, she felt a sudden weakness all over.

With that, she slowly paced back with fear until the wall behind her made her halt .

" Where do you think you are going?" They asked with a glare.

" Do you think you can run from us ?” Vicky exclaimed and laughed.

"What have I done to you?" She asked in a soft voice.

" You don't know?– Don't worry , you'll get to know after we're done with you.”Vicky replied. With that, they begun manhandling her.

Suddenly, they heard a voice shout from their back which flinched them out.

"Let .......her ....... go......" Mart shouted as he swiftly moved over to then. They panicked, seeing the look on his face and left her on the floor. Aimscious laid on the floor , bleeding from her nose and mouth as she kept groaning in pain.

"Leave ..... here...." He shouted in pain and anguish. Vicky looked at him and cursed him under his breath.

" Let's go girls ” She called. They turned and exit from there. Mart crunched beside her and helped her sit up.

" I'm sorry dear" He cried but Aims was too broken to utter a word– She trembled in tears and just fell in his bosom. After some minutes, he scooped her in his arms and rushed her to the the school's clinic. Mart stayed with her at the clinic until school was over.

" Wait for me over here, i'm going for our bags" He told her and sauntered off.

In few minutes, Mart came back with their bags and they left the clinic together.

MARKET

After an hour walk, Mart and Aimscious arrived at the market, exhausted.

"Good afternoon mum.” They both greeted Solidad.

"Good afternoon, how was school today? " She responded raising her head to look at them.

Solidad, shocked to see her daughter's bruised face, exclaimed. “What happened to your face, Aims?"

" Nothing mum" She swiftly replied. Solidad instinctively felt a sharp pain in her heart. She groaned and howled in pain.

“Ah, my.... heart..” She cried and fell to the ground, unconscious.

“ Mum!!" Aimscious shouted. The both rushed over to her.

" Mum– Mum, what's wrong with you !, please wake up! ” She exclaimed , shaking her violently but was of no use. Mart immediately dashed out for a cab which arrived in a sec and they rushed her to the hospital.

HOSPITAL

The cab pulled over at the hospital. Mart rushed in to call the nurses to which they came out with a stretcher to convey her in.

Quickly , they took her to one of the ward , placed an oxygen cap over her nose and started working on her. Mart and Aimscious stood in front of the ward restless. Aimscious suddenly broke in tears as the thought of losing her mother rushed in.

" I can't loose you too mum, please stay with me", she uttered amidst tears.

" Nothing will happen to her, she'll be fine" Mart replied consolingly and hugged her after which he made her sit.

Hours later, the doctor came out of the ward with a worried look. They quickly went up to him

" Is she fine now? – Has she regained consciousness? " They both asked in a breath.

" Yes, she's fine at the moment and will be discharged in three hours. But I want to have a word with both of you at the office now "The doctor replied.

" Alright" They responded and followed him to the office tensed.

OFFICE

" Have a sit "The doctor offered when they got in. With a worried and confused gaze, they spontaneously settled down.

" Thank you– but why do yo want to see us" Aimscious asked, impatiently.

" I want to update you on your mother's health. I just discovered that, your mother's heart had started failing her and i'm sorry to inform you that your she has a very short life to live." He completed his sentence with difficulty to which Aims and Mart gasped.

" What? –How....? " She exclaimed with a pale face completely shuttered.

" The only thing I can say is , be careful not to put her in a state of shock from now onwards" He cautioned and she broke down in tears , distressed.