Chapter 5 Raymond's fight with his Friends

As the morning sun ascended in the sky, casting a warm glow over the elegant staircase as Precious descended with an air of grace. Frederick, his mouth half-full with a piece of bread, greeted her warmly.

"Princess, good morning," he said, his smile warm despite his attempt at chewing and talking simultaneously. "Why don't you join me?" he asked. He seized another slice of bread, his fingers itching to take a bite right away.

She moved towards the dining area with a lack of enthusiasm, pulling out a chair and settled down. Her gaze fixed on the food before her, unmoved by Frederick's attempts to be nice.

"Are you feeling okay, Princess?" Frederick asked. "Is there anything else you want?"

Precious ignored him and focused on the pieces of bread on the table. Not long after, Michelle returned with a tray containing a jug of juice and three cups, placing them on the table. She poured the juice, serving Precious first, then Frederick, and finally herself. Then she settled back in her chair, joining the others at the table.

Frederick cleared his throat, gathering his courage to speak. "You see, I want you to know that I deeply regret what I did to you in the past, my dear. And I sincerely apologize for everything. I'm really sorry, Precious," Frederick expressed, his voice filled with genuine remorse.

However, Precious disregarded his words again, remaining focused on her food.

"But you know what? I can still make up for my shortcomings, if you'd allow me. I'll set things right, I promise. In fact, now that I've returned, I'm never going to leave again. I'm staying here," Frederick assured.

"Good for you," Precious responded, her smile lacking warmth.

Frederick smiled back, even though he knew her smile wasn't genuine. "Well, how about this Saturday? We should all go out... My treat... My schedule is free anyway... How about you, Michelle?" he suggested.

"Of course, I'll come along. That will be so much fun," Michelle replied readily, a genuine smile lighting up her face.

Frederick continued, "You know, I'm genuinely pleased you reconciled with your mom yesterday. I just hope we can mend things too."

Unperturbed, Precious nonchalantly grabbed a piece of bread, devouring it without a flicker of emotion.

"But I won't give up," Frederick persisted, undeterred. "I believe the day will come when we'll be civil with each other again."

Precious responded with a mocking smile before finishing her breakfast and heading off to school.

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Precious entered the class with a spring in her step, her heart soaring as she was greeted by the cheers and waves of her classmates. She made her way to her seat with a smile, ready for another day of learning.

Kayden couldn't believe his eyes. The same girl who had treated him with disdain the day before was actually his classmate. His amazement deepened as she gracefully approached a chair just a couple of steps away from his own.

Her poise and the respect everyone accorded her only heightened his admiration. He mustered the courage with an hesitant smile. "Hi."

Precious turned her face to him, her eyes cold and distant before turning away. The smile faded from Kayden's lips as he looked down, feeling humiliated.

Just as the atmosphere in the classroom began to settle, Dr. Cardenas entered the room, her expression serious. The energy shifted instantly as every student turned their attention towards her.

"I'm sure you will all be wondering why you had to see me today," she began, her voice firm.

"Your examination is around the corner. I want to advise you to suspend all your activities for now and take the opportunity to study those subjects you are struggling with very seriously," she admonished, her gaze sweeping over the room, making eye contact with each student.

"It shouldn't be taken lightly. It takes focus and strict actions to pass those kinds of examinations... And as the head of your department, all I can say is that I wish you all the best in the world" she concluded before finally exiting the room. The room fell silent as her message sank in.

Kelvin swiveled around in his seat to face Raymond. "What now, buddy? Are we giving up the match?" he questioned, his voice a blend of concern. "It's the final match, remember? We can't quit just now... Are we just going to allow ourselves to be subdued by our opponents?"

Raymond's silence hung heavy in the air, creating an unsettling feeling over the group.

Carlos abandoned his seat in the second row, striding purposefully to the fourth row where Raymond sat. "Don't tell us you're entertaining that idea of yours, Raymond," he implored, his voice urgent.

"We've invested a lot in this match. Have you forgotten? Are we just going to let all our efforts go down the drain?" Kelvin added.

"Hey, you guys should calm down. I never said anything, so where are those ideas coming from?" Raymond finally broke his silence.

"Exactly, bro. How do you expect us to calm down when you're not even saying anything? We took your silence as a response," Vincent asserted, his eyes narrowing with intensity.

"Alright, fine... Well, if you must know, I've already made a decision..." He paused deliberately, allowing the suspense to settle in, his friends hanging on his every word. "We're not backing out of the match," he declared firmly, his words cutting through the tension like a knife.

Relief flooded his friends' faces, their faith in Raymond reaffirmed.

Carlos grinned, his admiration evident as he extended his hand, shaking Raymond's with a firm grip. "Now, that's what I call leadership."

"But what about Precious? Now that our exam is approaching, do you think she'll come with us?" Vincent asked.

Raymond reassured as he donned a determined look. "Don't worry. I'll find a way to persuade her. She's coming with us."

Having heard that, a collective sigh of relief washed over the group.

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During the lunch break, amidst the lively chatter and laughter, Precious emerged from the classroom, her textbooks clutched tightly to her chest. With purposeful strides, she headed towards the library.

Raymond, aware of her destination, hurriedly maneuvered his way through the sea of students, intercepting her on her way.

"Where are you going?" he inquired.

Her eyes flicked from her textbook to Raymond's face, "Isn't it obvious?... To the library, of course."

"Aren't you coming to watch us at the field?" Raymond asked, hopeful.

"You know I can't do that right now. I still need to study," Precious replied firmly.

"But you can always study after the match, right? Just this one favor from you."

"I've made my decision, Raymond. You can't force me," she said with a stern expression.

"I'm sorry, I just thought I could change your mind... But it's Okay, we'll manage," Raymond said, his disappointment evident as Precious walked away.

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(Returning to his friends, Raymond wore a defeated expression. his footsteps dragging slightly as if burdened by the weight of his disappointment.)

"Judging by the look on your face, she turned you down, am I right?" Jackson observed.

Raymond's silence confirmed their suspicions.

"I knew it. I knew she was going to turn you down again," Jackson added.

"So what now, buddy? Is the game still on?" Carlos asked curiously, not giving up.

"I don't know anymore," Raymond replied, his tone melancholic, uncertainty clouding his eyes.

"Wait, what do you mean by you don't know, man? Are we just going to give up? Is that it?" Kelvin exclaimed, his frustration evident.

"You know what, guys? I'm sorry. At this point, I don't think I can continue with this anymore. I suggest we quit right now while there's still time. It's better to quit than to lose the match," Raymond suggested.

"That's your perspective, Raymond," Carlos declared firmly. "You believe that without Precious, our victory is impossible. But you're mistaken. We can achieve this even without her. To be clear, it's far better to persevere until the very end than to yield. Surrendering would only invite contempt from others."

"Very well then, but under one condition," Raymond conceded. "I'll participate in the match, but don't anticipate me scoring any goals. I'll simply pass the ball to one of you, and you'll handle the rest."

"Agreed, it's a deal," Carlos compromised, accepting Raymond's terms, and they continued their preparations.

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Meanwhile, in the library, Precious's irritation flared as she collided with Kayden, who was on the hunt for an available seat. "What on earth?" she exclaimed, her vexation evident as she stared at her fallen books and then back at Kayden.

"It's you again... Why am I not surprised? You seem to be the only one capable of such clumsiness. I'm sure you're doing this on purpose."

"I'm sorry, but that's not true. It wasn't my intention to bump into you... Wait, let me get these for you," Kayden bent down, gathering the books, attempting to diffuse the tension as he handed them back to her.

"Yeah, you're right," she said sarcastically. "That's what people tend to say when they can't admit their mistakes," she added, unyielding in her stance.

"Alright, I'm sorry. I won't repeat that again," he apologized, his smile polite, hoping to diffuse the tension.

"Well, I don't need your apology," she retorted, dismissing his sincerity as she walked away, finding a seat behind Kayden.

A few minutes later, strange sounds emanated from Precious, catching Kayden's attention. Concerned, he approached her. To his surprise, she was drenched in sweat.

"Are you Okay?"

"What do you care?" she snapped, glaring at him, a drop of sweat falling onto her book.

Kayden moved closer to see what she was reading. "Math?... I can assist you if you'd like," he offered.

"Thanks. But no thanks... So that you can prove you're better than me?... Never!... No matter what you do, I still remain the head of the class," her determination shining through.

"No, that's not what I'm trying to do. I'm not here to challenge your position, nor am I trying to prove anything. I sincerely want to help you, that's all."

Skeptical, she raised an eyebrow, questioning his motives. "And what do you expect in return?" she asked, her guard still firmly in place.

"Nothing," he replied. "Assisting you in achieving your goals is reward enough for me. If you knew me better, you'd understand I don't expect anything in return. I do it out of kindness, out of humanity."

She scoffed, unimpressed by his words. "Wow! Quite impressive. Such a genuinely good-natured looking guy... Sorry to say, I still stand firm in my decision. I won't seek help from someone like you, so please back off."

Kayden shrugged, accepting her decision, and returned to his seat, leaving Precious deep in concentration.

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The final whistle pierced the air, and the opposing team erupted in jubilation, their celebrations a stark contrast to the somber mood that enveloped Raymond and his teammates.

As the cheers faded and the victorious team and spectators dispersed, Raymond moved slowly towards a nearby chair, where he slumped, defeated. His elbows found their place on his thighs, and he buried his face in his hands.

"It's all your fault, Raymond!" Kelvin's accusation rang out as they approached him. "I can't believe you missed that goal," he added, venting his frustration.

Raymond lifted his head defensively, rising on his feet, "Really? Now it's my fault? I specifically told you not to pass me the ball for scoring. Wasn't that our agreement? Yet you still did."

"That's not the point," Kelvin retorted, his hand slicing the air as he pointed at Raymond. "The point is, you missed the goal even when the goalkeeper was off-guard. You weren't focused," he continued.

Raymond clenched his fists, feeling the sting of Kelvin's words. Carlos rushed beside Kelvin, attempting to calm him, but Kelvin's anger only escalated.

"You're a disgrace, Raymond. You don't deserve to be called a leader. You're just a weak-minded guy."

Kelvin's harsh words hit Raymond hard. In a moment of impulse, Raymond lashed out, punching Kelvin in the face, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground.

Carlos and the others quickly intervened, restraining Raymond. "Control yourself, man," Carlos warned, gripping Raymond tightly.

"You don't know what you're saying. Say that to me once more, and I might do something worse than this," Raymond yelled, his anger boiling over. He forcefully freed himself from their grasp and stormed off the field.

"You shouldn't have provoked him, Kelvin. You knew he was already upset, yet you pushed him," Carlos chided.

"But I was just speaking the truth. I didn't say anything wrong, did I? He wouldn't have reacted like that if he didn't feel guilty," Kelvin defended himself, managing to stand despite his injuries.

"And that's the consequence of speaking the truth," Carlos replied sternly.

"He just got lucky this time, that's all," Kelvin said, wiping the blood from his lips with a white handkerchief he retrieved from his pocket.

"Enough of this. Let's head back to the classroom," Vincent suggested, guiding them away from the field, leaving behind the residue of tension and conflict.

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As Kayden made his way back to the classroom, his lips moved silently, reciting a summary of the books he had read in the library to occupy his thoughts. Suddenly, his memory faltered, prompting him to retrieve a book from his bag while still walking.

Raymond, absorbed in his own thoughts and moving briskly from the opposite direction, accidentally collided with Kayden just as they reached the classroom entrance. Raymond's annoyance escalated when he saw the fallen book at Kayden's feet.

"Watch where you're going, will you?" he snapped irritably.

"I'm truly sorry," Kayden apologized, but Raymond simply turned away without acknowledging him further.

Kayden sighed, fixing his gaze on the empty space before him. "That was quite harsh," he muttered to himself. "He's quite cute, but too bad he's so rude," he added before picking up his book and entering the classroom.

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In the kitchen, Michelle found Nanny Christina washing the dishes, wearing a cheerful apron adorned with colorful patterns, a testament to her joyful spirit even during mundane chores.

"You're still here, Nanny. You should take a break; you've been working since morning. You'll only wear yourself out this way."

"Don't worry about me, Michelle. I'll be fine. Besides, I enjoy keeping busy with these chores. As they say, 'an idle hand is a devil's workshop'. And as long as I'm with you, I'll never get tired of anything. I'm still young, aren't I?" Nanny Christina replied, attempting to inject humor into the conversation.

"Oh yes, you are," Michelle smiled warmly.

There was a moment of silence before Michelle spoke again.

"Thank you, Nanny," Michelle expressed her gratitude sincerely.

Nanny Christina met Michelle's cheerful gaze.

"For everything. For taking care of me, for loving me," Michelle's words were heartfelt, and they brought a genuine smile to the older woman's face.

"You don't need to thank me, Michelle. You know my story, don't you? I couldn't give my own husband a child, so my mother-in-law sent me away. I felt hopeless ever since then, until I met your mother. She offered me a job as a caregiver for you when you were just a baby. Your parents were always busy, so they didn't want you to feel neglected. That was when your mother approached me. I didn't have anyone else; even my own parents abandoned me. So when your parents passed away, I felt really sad for them, but I was happy at the same time...I was happy because you were still there. I couldn't bear leaving you all alone; I knew you needed me. You turned my life around. I became a mother again because of you. Even though I'm just your nanny, I love you so much as any mother would love her child. So if you're thanking me, you shouldn't. I should be thanking you instead," Nanny Christina revealed, her eyes filled with warmth and affection.

"Oh, Nanny, who says you're just a nanny to me? With all the years we've spent together, I've come to love you as my own mother. You're practically a mother to me. If only I could bring myself to call you 'mother,' then I would. But I've grown used to calling you 'Nanny.'"

"There's nothing wrong with that, my dear. Whether you call me mother or nanny, it doesn't make a difference to me because my love for you will never change."

Michelle replied with a warm smile, "And my love for you remains the same."

Suddenly, her expression clouded, catching Nanny Christina's attention.

"What's troubling you, dear? Why the sudden change in mood?"

"I just thought of Precious. Do you think she can ever find it in her heart to forgive Frederick?" she asked anxiously.

"Of course. Why would you doubt that?"

"I don't know; it just crossed my mind. I can't help but wonder, what if they never reconcile? What if our family never reunites?" Michelle voiced her fears.

"Stop that negativity. Why would you even think such things? I'm sure they'll patch things up soon. Don't be a pessimist,"

"I hope so," Michelle replied, trying to embrace optimism in the face of her worries.

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As the creaking door swung open, Precious stepped inside the house, greeted by the familiar scent of home. Her eyes, weary from the day's endeavors.

Approaching the stairs, her eyes met Michelle's, who had just emerged from the kitchen, her face lighting up with a maternal warmth.

"You're back, honey," her voice carried a melody of genuine affection as she approached her daughter.

"Mom," Precious responded, a small, genuine smile curving her lips. They closed the distance between them, their shared affection evident in the way they exchanged a tender kiss on the cheeks.

"How was your day, honey?" Michelle inquired, her fingers delicately tucking a loose strand of Precious's hair behind her ear. Her eyes held a blend of motherly concern and unwavering love.

"It went well, Mom."

"Good to hear," she nodded, her gaze lingering on Precious, her motherly instincts attuned to every nuance of her daughter's expression.

"By the way, where is Dad?" Precious asked, a spark of curiosity igniting her eyes.

"He just went out for a bit. I'm sure he'll be back soon... Why do you ask?" her tone tinged with curiosity.

"No reason. I was just asking," she shook her head slightly, her demeanor calm and composed.

"Hmm... Even if you don't want to admit it, I know you're still very much concerned about your dad," Michelle said, smiling.

"You're mistaken, Mom. I only asked about him because I noticed how quiet the atmosphere is," she replied, her eyes meeting Michelle's. "Don't you realize, Mom? Every time that man isn't around, the house always seems peaceful."

She could sense the quiet pain behind her mother's gaze, the worry that lingered in her heart. "Anyway, I'll just go inside."

She turned gracefully, leaving the conversation hanging in the air, avoiding another dispute between them.

"Go ahead," Michelle responded, wearing a sm