His Secret Admirer

CHAPTER 5

Elijah POV

I saw Gina and the two other girls laughing like a witch in the hallway. I wondered what excites them so much early in the morning. I shook my head and fastened my pace towards the history class.

As I went into the class, I noticed something weird. I didn’t see Judith in her seat. She was supposed to be in the class before me, but where was she? I was about to look for her, but then I stopped as I saw Mr. Harris, our history teacher, step into the class.

“Mr. Penn, get back to your seat.” He ordered me. Damn it. I don’t have any other choice but to sit down. During the test, I stared at her empty chair continuously. Mr. Harris startled me at my seat as he tapped the desk to get my attention. “Focus, Mr. Penn.” He said, narrowing his eyes at me.

I can’t concentrate on the test. I don’t give a damn about who won world war two. I am worried about Judith. Did Gina have anything to do with this? Yesterday, my i***t friend, Steve, told Gina that Judith was my girlfriend. I have to check the truth right now.

“Mr. Penn, what are you doing? The test just started?” Mr. Harris asked, raising his voice at me. He looked a bit pissed off. “I am not feeling well today. I think I have to reschedule today’s test with you, Mr. Harris.” I said, picking up my bag from the floor. “Stop right there!” He said, stopping me as I reached the door.

“There would be no other time to take this test, Mr. Penn. So I suggest you get back to your seat.” Mr. Harris added. I stared back at him in disbelief. “I assume you didn’t want to disappoint your dad and failed this test, right?” He asked me with a challenging tone. He is threatening me.

I never let anyone control me except for my parents. “Do as your wish, sir.” I decided to ignore him and walked away.

************

I searched everywhere for Judith, but I still couldn’t find her. “Hey, have you seen Jones?” I asked the boy in the library. I noticed that he was also a regular visitor here. He must’ve seen Judith if she had come by.

He shook his head. “No, she hasn’t come here today.” He told me.  

My shoulders slumped down after hearing his answer. “Okay, then… Thanks.” I told him before I left the library. Where the hell is she? I already went to the basketball fields, garden, even canteen, the last place she would be at. When I was about to give up, I suddenly heard a rattling voice from the small room beside me. I am not sure I heard it correctly, so I put my ears on the door.

“Help…” I could faintly hear a small voice from inside. My eyes went wide as I recognized it was Judith’s voice. “Judith, is that you?” I knocked and asked, but there was no answer from inside.

I opened the door from outside, and Judith almost fell to the floor if I didn’t catch her.

She fainted in my chest. Her head was full of sweat. “Hey, can you hear me?” I asked, nudging her body. She was as dead as a corpse. I carefully lifted her up in my arms and headed towards the nursery room.

“Is she going to be okay?” I asked the nurse there. “Yes, no need to worry. She should be wake up after a bit.” She told me. I stared back at Judith. She looked a bit pale. Whoever did this to Judith, I would make them pay. That afternoon, I stayed with her in that room, changing the wet clothes on her forehead, making sure it was still cold. I felt a bit tired after looking for her earlier. I just needed a moment to close my eyes. When I was almost fell asleep, my phone suddenly rang.

“Son, where are you?” Dad called. He didn’t sound like he was in a good mood. My eyes went to Judith. “I’m with a friend,” I replied curtly. He never likes it when I am getting involved with a girl. Dad wants me to focus on my study. He would never allow me to date. “We need to talk. Come to my office now.” Dad said, then ended the call before I could say anything.

“Can you please look after her? I need to go somewhere.” I said to the nurse. She smiled at me. “Of course, Elijah. I will take care of your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend….” I quickly countered. “You keep on telling me that. But I could see that you cared so much about that girl.” She said, teasing me.

“Just take care of her, okay?” I then replied, brushing past her.  

***************

I hated it when Dad called me to his office. When we were at home, he was my dad. But when he was at school, he acted like a school principal. He never gave me special treatment, even though I was his son. This time he called me to meet him. He must’ve heard about what happened this morning during the history test.

I knocked twice at the glass door before he told me to come in. “Dad, umm… I mean, Mr. Penn, are you looking for me?” I said. “Yes, please… Sit here.” He said with a cold tone.

“I heard from Mr. Harris—“ I quickly cut him. “Dad, I have something more urgent.” He raised one hand to stop me. “Let me make something clear to you, Elijah.” He cleared his throat.

“You will be my successor one day. Do you realize that?” Dad repeated the same thing over and over again. I think this is the thousand times I heard about it. “What about Eric? I am not your only son.” I said, raising my voice. Eric is my little brother. He was better than me in his study, and he had shown interest in becoming the school principal. But dad never gave him any chance.

“That is out of the question. You were the oldest. You bear the responsibility to take care of your brother.” Dad replied. Sometimes I just can’t understand his way of thinking.

“Dad—“ he cuts me again. “I’ve already spoken to Mr. Harris. You can retake the test this afternoon. You might want to see him now if you don’t want to be late.” Dad said in a final tone. This isn’t speaking. He never gave me a chance to talk. With a broken heart, I walked out of his room.

**************

I ended up taking the history test in another class. I tried to finish the test as fast as I could. To be honest, I am only doing this for dad. I wished I could be with Judith in that room. I am still worried about her.

It only took me thirty minutes to finish the test, and after I submitted it to Mr. Harris, I went out without saying a single word to him.

“Elijah, wait!..” I heard footsteps coming from behind me. Gina grabbed my hand and spun me around. “Gina, what do you want from me?” I asked acidly at her. She smirked at me, and it pissed me even more.

She grabbed my collar, pulling me closer to her. “There’s no more escape this time, Elijah.” She said before she pressed her lips into mine.