A lot has happened over the past few months. Henry had no luck in finding Amanda because her loaning website was closed due to some reason. He explained to Margot and Julia that he stole the money due to some family problems and that he would return it as soon as possible but, it'd been months. The two girls would always give Henry death stares and he knew he had to find a hundred and five dollars for them. Not to mention, he also needed three hundred dollars to finish paying his school fees.
Magnus and Anthemon were okay, at least they kissed more often, nothing more than that. Magnus, in a way, had his mind off what the gossips said about Anthemon. He was focused on growing the relationship he shared with her and nothing could stop that. The love he had for her was just so much. So much so that, if anything bad were to happen to her, he would have himself to blame.
Elaine also changed how she approached the gossips, the gossip girls. Almost everyone in school called them 'The Gossip Girls' or 'The Gossips' now but they cared less. Elaine, after she found out that the cabin didn't belong to the mysterious man, found it hard to believe that he was actually dead but she couldn't prove that. She tried to find ways but there was no starting point to even begin with. Eventually, she gave up on everything and just painfully accepted that he was gone.
Back to the present day, Sabine stayed behind for break time or recess. She did real digging on Anthemon's life and the slightest of odd behaviours was noticed by her. She looked from the corner as Magnus and Anthemon engaged in a lovey-dovey chat. She overheard some part of the conversation and proceeded to sit on a table behind Anthemon. One thing leads to another and Sabine asks Anthemon when she would tell Magnus that she didn't actually like him.
"What are you talking about?", Anthemon replies, slightly shaking her head, smiling wryly.
"Anthemon", Sabine calls out, holding her hand placed on the table, "I know how it feels trying to act perfect and you don't have to do that anymore because… I understand you"
Anthemon sighs.
"Look, when Henry told the whole class about Magnus' crush on you, you didn't have to take on the risk of acting like you liked him back" Sabine says, looking at Anthemon who was looking down sadly. Anthemon's eyes start to tear up.
"I just had to", she replies, sniffling, "Look, you see how Henry is always bullying these students, it's just too much. No one decided to stand against him." Anthemon's voice was shaky and she continued as Sabine watched in sad and concerned silence.
"I have been this quiet girl, just living. And I don't like injustice but I don't know how to correct it. You see all these wrong things in the world and people are just accepting it because they don't believe their voice is powerful enough" Anthemon says, grabbing tightly onto Sabine's hand, "But I had to believe that myself was powerful enough, so I had to put Magnus' heart on the line", she says, trying to wipe away the tears.
Sabine looks at Anthemon for some time before hugging her, tightly.
"I understand", she whispers into Anthemon's ear.
At that moment, a bond was made. Anthemon and Sabine became close friends. Anthemon kept to herself most of the time. She didn't really relate with anyone but that had now changed.
"So I know you might not want to talk about it but…", Anthemon laughs nervously, "…I was wondering why some of the girls call you Ms. S"
"In case you're also wondering, it doesn't stand for Sabine", she replies
"Okay then what does it stand for?", Anthemon asks, eager to hear more.
Sabine paused for some time, wondering whether it was right to tell Anthemon that she once liked two people at the same time.
"The S is for simultaneous", Sabine says, smiling just a little. Anthemon bursts out in laughter.
"No! There has got to be some history behind that name", she says, still catching her breath from the laughter. She pauses and notices how Sabine looked down.
"Care to share?", she asks.
"Nope. But I'll tell you, I promise", Sabine replies.
Anthemon understands.
Margot had paused her whole , 'Juice of the Day' business. She shared with the class that their hot ten was dead so she was in mourning. She would act all soppy and sad in class but the gossips were around to cheer her up, supposedly. 'Hot ten' was the unofficial name they gave to this mystery man.
"Eating by yourself?", a voice asks from behind Magnus as he sat in the cafeteria enjoying his meal of beans with a side of cassava flakes, typically called 'gari' in Ghana of West Africa, some fried plantains and a boiled egg. He would usually have his food made from home by his mother, Nancy Pais who had Ghanaian origins. Otherwise, he would have food from the cafeteria.
Magnus turns around to see Mr. Light-Skinned and Bulky Henry, behind him. He scoffs. He was quite ripped for a teenager and it fit his all-bully character.
"Come on, I thought I apologized. What's that by the way?", he asks, looking at the food.
"It's food! Also, I never accepted your apology", Magnus snaps. Poor Henry thought he did these stuffs as jokes but this 'joke' of his has and would lead to a lot of pressing issues.
"Hey, calm down… okay, jeez"
Henry walks off and meets Julia on the way.
"Where's your girlfriend, bully?", Julia asks him sarcastically. She takes a peek at his fair chest which shown from the first open button of his shirt.
"Mind your business" he says, "I don't even have a girlfriend"
"Oh really, you and Sabine seem to match. What a bummer"
"Yeah", he replies, "I know right"
He scoffs and leaves. He knew that conversation was indirectly another warning shot for Henry to return the money, but was it really? Soon, break time is over and the students head to their various classes.
"Hey, were you crying?", Magnus asks, approaching Anthemon. He cups her cheek and rubs his thumb playfully on it. Anthemon is silent for some time.
"Is everything okay?", he asks, looking deep into her eyes which looked tired from tears. Sabine stares at them.
"It's fine", Anthemon replies, "Everything… is okay now". She forces a smile and Magnus noticed. He brushes it off and tells her that she is very beautiful, before heading over to his seat. They'd gone back to their original seats a day after the diary incident.
Magnus, in his seat, begins to think that Anthemon's attitude over the past few months has changed. There was a time where he told Anthemon he'd like to come over during the weekend, he indirectly said he'd want to kiss again sometime but that weekend, she said she was busy. Magnus understood but the same thing happened for about three times. What he heard from the gossips slowly began to creep in again.
After school, he tried to hold Anthemon's hand but she shifts away from him uncomfortably. He sees this but doesn't talk about it. They part ways and from a distance, he could see Anthemon waving Sabine. When did those two become friends? He wonders. He gets home, plops onto his bed and picks up his phone to text Anthemon but decides against it. Something was up but he didn't know how to address it. Some months ago, Anthemon complained about Sabine's weird uncomfortable behaviour towards her and now she was suddenly becoming friends with her. For him, that was a bit concerning.
"Hello. Who's this?", Henry asks. He received a phone call from an unknown number. Initially, he didn't want to pick up but wondered if it could be Amanda.
"Oh hey, Henry", the voice on the other end replies.
There was some level of nasality in the person's tone.
"Margot?"
"Yeah" she says, switching back to her normal voice, "You better get ready to pay up. You don't want any problem with the Gossip Girls"
She hangs up and Henry just falls onto his bed, thinking about everything. Soon, his parents call him for dinner.
Margot was standing outside her house after she hung up on Henry. She was pissed but a part of it was an act. Margot had managed to tell the gossips that she and Julia happened to know who the thief was. The girls who paid to see this 'hot ten' who was now dead, said that it was a good thing they caught the thief. The girls didn't really care about the money anymore and that was more than clear. Margot now just wanted the money for herself but Julia, didn't know this.
Magnus and Anthemon didn't really text as much as they would. Usually, Magnus would text to check up on her but it'd been a few days since he did. Magnus realized how close Sabine and Anthemon were getting. It bothered him but any time he'd ask Anthemon about it, she'd ask whether she's not allowed to have friends and Magnus would just leave it at that. Any time it was break, she'd be in class, just chatting with Sabine. He just cared for her and didn't want any bad thing to happen.
"Hey would you like to come over during the weekend?", Anthemon whispers to Sabine, "Maybe then you can tell me about the story of Ms. S"
Sabine chuckles. She as well sat on a mono desk to the right of Anthemon.
"Quiet!", the teacher commands. They weren't allowed to talk when class was in session and Anthemon was one to obey that rule. Magnus looks at the both of them from his seat. Sabine now sat next to Anthemon in class. Sabine sat on the first column from the front left and Anthemon sat on the next column to the right, both in the fourth row, whilst Magnus still sat close to the back of the first column, the fifth row, from the front right. Elaine sees that Anthemon and Sabine were getting closer each passing day and she couldn't help but get jealous. However, that traumatic experience, still lurked in her mind. She wanted to tell Sabine about it but she didn't. Eventually, Sabine agrees to come over to Anthemon's place during the weekend.
After school, Magnus saw Anthemon and Sabine walking together. She didn't even bother to walk with him anymore. He didn't address that and just decided to walk by himself. As he is about to leave the school gates, he hears someone speak to him.
"I know right"
"Oh Elaine! It's you"
"Yeah"
"What were you talking about exactly"
"Obviously Anthemon and Sabine. I've seen the way you look at them"
"Well, I can't stop her from having friends"
"Yeah you have a point"
"Weren't you and Sabine friends? What happened with you two?"
"Oh you still remember. I thought everyone must have forgotten since we were kids at the time"
"Well I haven't"
"Ha-ha", she sighs, "All I can say for now is that Sabine is a psychopath… it runs through the family"
"What do you mean?"
"That's all I can say for now, just that, make sure you're always keeping an eye on Anthemon okay"
"Okay then"
"Bye"
Elaine heads off and Magnus is now definitely convinced that something was fishy.
'It runs through the family'
What on earth did that mean? Magnus wonders.
Over the weekend, Sabine comes to Anthemon's house and she is met by Sylvia Tane, Anthemon's mum and Jonathan Tane, Anthemon's dad.
"Oh hello. I take it you're Anthemon's parents", Sabine says politely.
"Yes we are, is there any problem?", Mr. Jonathan asks.
"Sabine!" Anthemon calls out.
Anthemon comes outside and introduces Sabine to her parents who were quite shocked that she wasn't spending time with Magnus. They go inside and watch some TV whilst Anthemon and Sabine, head to her room.
"So, welcome to my house", Anthemon says
"It's an honour your majesty", Sabine says sarcastically, bowing down with respect.
The two burst into laughter. Sabine looks around her room and her eyes fall on a portrait of Anthemon and her parents.
"Is that Sylvia?", Sabine asks, looking at Anthemon's mum.
"How do you know my mother's name?"