Chapter 2 Emergency Call

Aster packed her car in one of the university garage far away from her lecture hall for that day. She can't afford to let her classmates know that she owns a car as there were already rumors going around about her being a slut as she has no other choice than to take Arby with her to the university.

"Oh my!, I'm damn late" she gasped checking her wristwatch on her left hand. She picked up her phone from her purse, and dialed a number. Rang for some seconds, the call was finally picked.

"Hello Aster" said the masculine voice from the other end.

"Hey Kyle, are you free right now?"

"No Aster, I'm pretty busy at the moment. I guess you'll have to take Arby together with you."

Aster sighed frustratingly and alighted from her car. She went to the other side, and dropped Arby from the car as well carrying his baby bag containing a spare diaper and other necessities of his with her.

"Baby, we have to go now but please, don't make noise when we get there." she pleaded with her brother and he giggled like he understood what she said.

Getting to her lecture hall, she entered through the back door of the hall to prevent her lecturer from seeing her. Hell no!. She'll be in for an earful if he should ever see her, not even when she's carrying Arby with her. She sat at the back on a vacant chair, and noiselessly placed Arby beside her. She brought out her book from her bag and began listening to the lecture without the lecturer noticing her sudden presence.

A text message suddenly popped up on her phone. She opened her phone inbox and found out the message came from Kyle.

"Hope you weren't found out?" it read and she replied shortly with a no.

Having God on her side, Arby didn't cry that day till the lecture ended.

"Thank God!" she sighed when everyone began exiting the class. She was having just a three hour class that day and it just came to an end.

Unfortunately, before she exited the classroom, one of her mates informed her that the lecturer said to see him in his office before she leaves.

"Gosh!. What happened just now?. Did I do anything wrong?" she asked herself but couldn't come to a conclusion on why the lecturer was asking for her.

She dialed Kyle's number to ask him if he's through as she didn't want to go to the lecturer's office with Arby.

"I'm in the laboratory, we're having practicals" came the reply.

"Hope there's no problem?" he asked.

"Oh no!. Don't worry" Aster said. She didn't want to distract him from what he's doing. Kyle has been her very best friend since college and she trust him so much.

After herself and her siblings, he's the next and only person she trusts. He had been very supportive and caring since the death of her parents. Whenever she has a class, he would assist her with Arby by babysitting him till she arrives. Though, only when he's free or less busy.

With no other choice, Aster headed to the lecturer's office with her brother. On her way, everyone she passed by gave her scornful glances but she didn't care as long as they didn't cross her path. Moreover, she didn't do anything to be ashamed of neither is she going to explain herself to anyone. She deemed them undeserving of her explanation as they already made conclusions and labelled her as they want. Only Kyle knows the fact that Arby is her brother and not her child.

She knocked at the lecturer's office door lightly and was given the permission to make her way in.

"Good day sir." she showed curtsey as she stood in front of his table. For some minutes, the leturner didn't reply her. Instead, he was busy going through some notes on his table.

"E..ere..mmnnn" Arby's incoherent words made him look up at her and Aster smiled inwardly and rolled her eyes.

"For heaven's sake, I have something else to do. Why is this guy waisting my precious time" she had thought not knowing that her brother would do the magic.

"Miss Alan" the lecturer began speaking to her averting his gaze from her to her brother, then back to her.

"Yes sir, that's my name" Aster replied simply staring intently at him. She tried to know what he was thinking by looking more intently at his face, but was not able to. His face was totally expressionless.

"Why did you come late and why did you bring your baby to the class." he asked to her surprise.

"Oh heaven!, I never knew he was aware about my arrival" she bit her lip nervously thinking of what to say and how to reply him.

"Answer my question miss!" the lecturer's voice sounded angry.

"Emm.emm... I......" she struggled with her words and the lecturer interrupted her now standing on his feet.

"Which gut did you have to bring a kid to class?. I pretended not to see you earlier in order to avoid embarrassing you. If there's no one to stay with your baby, you can leave him in a daycare. Moreover, what about his father?. Shouldn't he take responsibility for his child?. At least just till you finish lesson for the day in case he's lazy to babysit him."

Aster felt bad at the words of the lecturer. She didn't expect him to talk so much to that extent. For heaven's sake, he's a lecturer!. If other students speak the way he spoke, does he have to be so plonky too?.

One thing she can never do is put her baby brother in the care of someone she doesn't know, not to talk of putting him in a daycare as her siblings safety and well-being is her first priority.

If not because of her dream of being well and fully educated, she would have stopped her education for her sibling's sake. She had always wanted to study law abroad, but it seemed impossible as she couldn't cope with the stress, so she had to go for a less tiring course. At least, till her children grow to be more independent.

"I'm sorry sir" that was all she could utter. She can't make a promise of not bringing him to class a next time.

"Sorry?!" the lecturer moved closer to her eye raping her in the process.

"Did you just say sorry?!" he asked more like a yell. Aster didn't say a word, she only kept her head low with her eyes glued to the floor.

"Well, sorry or not, it's your mark that's at stake. The attendance was marked before you entered earlier and you know what that means." he said turning his back to her and placed his hand on his table.

"Sir, please let this go just this time. I'll try my best to make things right." she pleaded with sincerity.

"Hmmmn. make things right. I really love that phrase you used". "Make things right" he repeated slowly, word for word. Almost in a whisper.

"How about you make things right starting now?" he moved closer to her again and rubbed his finger on her chin seductively. Slowly, sweetly, he cupped her cheeks not minding that she's carrying a baby. He bent his head closer to her face, and tried to kiss her.

Aster jerked her hands away from his and moved some steps backwards.

"Mr Carl, when I said I'll make things right, I didn't mean giving my body to you. Never would I do that.

"I repeat never!" she glared at him angrily and stormed out of his office.

"Shameless!" she mumbled fiercely almost biting her tongue.

On reaching where her car was parked, she met Kyle resting on the car. He was waiting for her.

"Aster, what happened?. Were you caught?" Kyle was concerned.

"Let's get into the car for now. We'll talk on the way."

"Don't worry, I'll drive." he offered.

They both entered the car, and Kyle ignited the car engine. Then Aster's phone began ringing.

"Is this Miss Alan Aster?" a voice asked immediately she received the call.

"Yes. Who is speaking please?"

"I'm a nurse at the school infirmary of Skyhall Group of Schools. I just checked the emergency file of Karla Alan and found this number. I'm calling to inform you that she's coughing out blood and needs to be transferred to the main hospital."

"What?. What happened to Karla?" Aster yelled looking at Kyle and Kyle furrowed his brows oblivious of the situation. However, he knows that something bad must have happened.

            
            

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