PART 5

“Yes?” answered Mike’s father as he picked up the intercom.

“It’s Andrew. Is Mike home?”

“He hasn’t returned yet. Would you like to come up and wait for him?”

“No, thanks. I’ll try calling his cell.”

Andrew hung up, feeling powerless, unsure of what to do next. Johnny and Oscar had both texted him saying they hadn’t heard from Mike either. As he made his way to his friend’s house, he called Mike several times, but with no answer. He had visited every place he thought Mike might be, but it had all been a waste of time. Frustration built up inside him, and in a surge of anger, he punched the wall, causing blood to drip from his knuckles.

“Where the hell are you, Mike?”

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The long-awaited day for Zedd had finally arrived. He eagerly loaded the suitcases into the taxi that was waiting outside the building.

"With this, the last one. Come on, sis, it's now or never," Zedd said excitedly.

"You sure seem happy," Diana remarked as she came down the steps, adjusting her bag.

"Of course I am! They’re going to be able to operate on you, and once you’re better, we’ll come back, and I’ll take care of you."

"This kid has such an imagination."

"You were just like that when you were little," their mother said from behind her.

"Really?" Diana asked, surprised.

"You were even worse."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Come on, let's go!" Zedd jumped into the taxi.

"I'm coming," Diana replied with a playful salute, as if receiving orders from a captain, and followed her brother and mother into the car.

◎•◎•◎•◎•◎•◎•◎•◎•◎•◎•◎

At the same time, at the entrance of the school…

“What do you want?” Mike asked Andrew coldly and with disdain, noticing all their classmates gathered nearby with Emily.

“Where were you yesterday? I looked for you everywhere,” Andrew shot back, grabbing Mike by the shoulder as he tried to walk past without stopping.

“I did what you wanted. I met with Diana,” Mike halted, though he didn’t turn around, forced to stop by Andrew’ grip, which wasn’t visibly harsh but was firm.

“What happened?”

“Nothing I didn’t already know. By the way, Diana is all yours.” Mike turned slightly with a twisted smile. “If I had realized sooner what kind of person she was, I wouldn’t have wasted my time.”

Not even a second passed before Andrew, enraged by Mike’s words, landed a solid punch that knocked him to the ground.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Mike? Since when are you so blind to what’s right in front of you? I never thought your feelings were this cheap!”

“And what do you want me to do?!” Mike shouted, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, unable to look Andrew in the eye. “I’m dying inside from the rage, the jealousy, the pain! She doesn’t want me! She doesn’t like me! There’s nothing I can do!”

“That’s not true!” Emily suddenly shouted, stepping between the two. “Diana likes you, Mike. She’s liked you for a long time. Ever since the first time she saw you, you caught her attention.”

“Lies! She told me herself she didn’t want anything to do with me, that she doesn’t like effeminate guys, that—”

“Mike! She said all of that because she’s leaving!” Emily’s voice cracked as tears began to stream down her face. “She’s sick! They found a blood clot in her brain, and she has to have surgery.”

A heavy silence filled the air, thick with disbelief.

“She always talked to me about you,” Emily continued, her voice trembling. “She thought you were charming. She liked seeing you blush over silly things, how kind you were to other people. She admired how attentive you were, how clumsy and strong you could be. She wanted to tell you her feelings a long time ago, but she’s so shy… she could never do it. Everything she said to you was probably to make the separation easier. But Mike, she really likes you.”

“I… I have to talk to her!”

“She’s probably on her way to the airport by now. Her flight was this morning,” Andrew informed him, handing Mike his bag, which was still lying on the ground.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t go after her,” Emily chimed in with a playful smile, hands on her hips, as she saw Mike already losing hope.

“But… classes…”

“You’re such a goofball! They’re not going to fail you for missing the first classes of the term,” Emily sighed, amazed at Mike’s hesitation.

“Don’t worry, we’ll cover for you,” Oscar said, placing a reassuring hand on Mike’s shoulder.

“Guys…”

“Yes, yes, yes… we’re the best and all that,” Johnny interjected, pushing Mike forward. “You can thank us later. You don’t have much time.”

“My car’s nearby. I’ll drive us.” Andrew pulled the keys from his uniform pocket and signaled the plan.

Without another word, the three of them took off running, leaving their friends behind. Emily and the others watched them go, exchanging a knowing glance filled with silent encouragement.