A sinister smile instinctively swept Phidel’s face; seeing how her target has directly been met. Claire on the other hand couldn't help glancing at Phidel as a flush of shock shimmered across her face.
Tina instantly came to a halt together with her friends, following the burning sensation from the impact of the ball. Her lips spontaneously curved in with a scoff but were instantly replaced with a glare as her face contorted with rage. Her looks screamed the howling anger which was building up within as she slowly turned to the culprit.
“Mind playing your games with me?” Phidel muttered with a mocking smile as Tina’s gaze met hers. “Guess the fun or what do you think?” She added, giving Tina the daring vibes as she stared expectantly at her reaction.
Tina could from all angles– feel her anger welling up within but then the character before her had from the moment she stepped into the school left a nagging feeling on her; which had refused to let her mind at rest. Her presence alone was a treat in disguise.
“I think you should let it be Tina,” Bella whispered to her friend as she placed a hand on her shoulder– her eyes fixed on Phidel who stood at a distance away from them.
Tina, in turn, glanced at Bella with the corners of her eye– throwing Phidel the last glare before scampering to the exist with her ego seriously bruised while her friends tailed after her.
Phidel stared at their backs, her smiles slowly dropping into a mere glare as she watched them round the corners of the exit but then, the ruckus of students asking Claire if she was okay made her turn deftly to her direction.
“Hey, are you okay?” She queried, darting over to Claire who had Phidelia staring worriedly at her with creased brows. The latter instinctively glanced at her sister with pressed lips and steady eyes as a sigh escaped her lips.
“Don't worry,” Phidel whispered to her– not making the words audible so as not to attract attention to herself. “Come on Claire.” She uttered, hooking Claire’s arm as she lead her to the bench with Phidelia following suit. Nearing it, they settled in with Phidel and Phidelia on both sides whilst Claire sat in between. Phidel swiftly reached out for the first aid kit seated beside the bench and started treating the latter.
“Are you not afraid of getting into trouble?” Phidelia questioned, staring at her sister as she addressed Claire’s bleeding nose.
“And who says I am?” Phidel answered on an impulse with her gaze fixed on what she was doing– not even realizing when the words escaped her lips but Claire’s creased brows spontaneously made it dawn on her.
“Ah..” She stuttered, literally lost on words.“I mean does it hurt?” She finally managed to say, gesturing her gaze on the nose while she tried to escape being tagged as acting weird.
“Well, a little.” Claire answered with a cling, “It's my fault anyway.” She added, staring down at her feet as Phidel was done attending to her. “But thanks for the help.” She hastily added, glancing up at the latter. “Anyway, are you okay?” She affirmed.
Phidel was yet to answer her question when Rowan staggered into the court together with their sports teacher. “Everyone, come on–gather around.” He blunted, clapping his hands in the process as he announced his presence; beckoning the students.
Phidel instinctively rubbed Claire’s back– her lips curving into an assuring smile as they both jolted to their full length.
“You guys should go ahead,” Phidelia uttered, pressing her palms on the bench as she watched Phidel and Claire. “I’ll just wait here and watch you guys play.” She added.
Phidel who was lagging a bit behind nodded her response and hurried off, draping a hand around Claire’s shoulders. Joining in the line of students, Phidel took a stand beside Rowan who deftly glanced at her. His brows furrowed–finding something a bit off about Phidel.
“Are you okay?” He inquired.
“Yes.” She spontaneously bobbed her head in response as a smile swept her face. He skeptically tilted his head as he slowly allowed his gaze to travel back to the front where the teacher stood–giving instructions. Taking another look around, he realized Tina and her group weren't around.
A puzzled look instantly drew on his face; not sure where they could be at the moment as Tina never use to miss out on basketball practice – being it her favorite sport.
“Hey, seen Tina around?” He asked, turning her gaze to Phidel.
“No, she probably went out or something,” Phidel answered, her attention divided between Rowan and the teacher with some sense of indifference which the former found new.
“Did something happen between you two?” Rowan questioned with steady eye contact, coupled with slightly raised eyebrows and hunched shoulders. “Did she..”
“No,” Phidel hastily snapped in, causing Rowan to pause in between his words. “Nothing happened, she might probably be feeling unwell.” She added and Rowan bobbed his head skeptically, giving the matter rest.
The next 30mins found them passing and shooting balls between boys and girls while Phidelia sat cheering for them.
******
It was around noon when the bell rang for a lunch break. All the students staggered out of the basketball court into the hallway in quite a ruckus– everyone moving to the changing room to change back into their uniforms.
Phidelia followed Phidel and Claire as usual as Rowan saw them midway to the girls changing room which was in the opposite hallway with the boys.
“See you girls in the cafeteria.” He said as he waved at them and scampered off.
“Alright.” Phidel, Phidelia, and Claire muttered over their shoulders and shuffled into the changing room.
When Claire had moved to her locker to change–leaving Phidel to hers, Phidelia leaned her shoulder against the locker which was next to her sister's; watching as she slammed her locker opened picking out her uniform.
“I think Rowan likes you,” Phidel grumbled, slowly closing her locker as she started undressing. “I can tell from his eyes.” She added.
Phidelia instinctively chuckled at the absurdness of her sister's outburst. Not in any way buying this piece of assumption. “We’re just friends Phidel.” She highlighted–not particularly sure about what she just said. “Or perhaps a one-sided love.” She added, her voice dropping to a grumble.
Phidel stared at her sister and sighed; about to say something when Claire joined them. Phidel who had by now finished dressing deftly glanced at her, swallowing on her words.
“Who are you talking to?” Claire asked.
“Well, no one.” She muttered, picking up her bag. “Let's go. ” She added and they hurried off.
Back in the cafeteria, Tina and her friends sat around their usual table –in hunched posture and with a distressful look on as she fidgeted with her food; a rollercoaster of thoughts running through her mind as she wondered how to act before the supposed Phidelia and whether to buy her cock and bull story.
But then, one thing was strange about her. “Why is she not saying anything about the incident?” She felt something was off about her and she needed to find out so as not to be a pushover in her hands. She needed to gain control over her sooner than later– and that doesn't matter how she managed to be alive but this meant good for her too if given the thought but then, she needs to ascertain her facts.