Chapter 5 Five

After uttering these words firmly, she turned to Raya, took her hand and led her outside with determination.

Once outside, Raya, amused by the spectacle she had just witnessed, couldn't help asking the question:

- Was this really necessary?

- Of course it was, so they won't be looking after your business anymore.

- To prevent another scandal similar to this one, I've got to find a way to repair the bike so it'll be ready before tomorrow.

- We'll go and fix it after school. I'll go with you.

Once the day's classes were over, Louisa took the bicycle and carefully placed it in the trunk of her car. She then drove Raya to the repair shop.

In a flamboyant Lamborghini, Gregory felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction. Never before had he experienced such indifference from a girl, and Raya had managed to hurt him more than anyone else. Although she didn't meet his usual aesthetic standards, her behavior towards him affected him in unexpected ways. Ignoring Gregory in this way only inflamed his heart, aggravating his malaise. He cherished the hope that she would come and offer to share a meal with him during the break, an ideal opportunity to break the ice and get closer to her. Unfortunately, his hopes quickly evaporated, and none of this materialized.

- I really feel sorry for you, Grégory. Look at what's happened: you made her famous in the space of a single morning. Now everyone's talking about her, and to top it all off, she didn't even come to offer to share a meal with you during the break. She even has time to take her bike in for repairs! What are you going to do now? I can see you're losing this bet. If you fail, everyone will know about it and you'll be seen as a coward. You've failed to approach the girl everyone considers the least attractive, plumpest and most destitute in the school. It's a really delicate situation for you... laughed Eric, who was sitting next to him.

- I'll never get bored until my goal is achieved. Gregory isn't someone who'll let himself be pushed around, and he always achieves his goals - just wait and see.

Monsieur Morphon, Raya's father, waited with palpable anxiety for his daughter's return. The hours had passed, and he was beginning to feel increasingly anxious, especially as his daughter was unreachable on her phone. Sitting in the courtyard, his thoughts racing, he scanned the road, hoping to catch a glimpse of Raya's familiar silhouette.

Suddenly, the sound of a sports car being driven drew his attention. A Porsche, gleaming in the last rays of sunlight, pulled into the driveway of their home. Monsieur Morphon, surprised and slightly worried, instinctively rose from his seat. He didn't usually rub shoulders with the class of people who could afford to drive such a vehicle, and the idea of a stranger entering their property only made him more uneasy.

Just then, the car door opened, and Louisa got out first, closely followed by Raya. When he caught sight of his daughter's face, a mixture of relief and concern took hold of him.

- Raya... are you all right?" he asked, his voice full of melancholy tenderness as he approached her. He hugged her tightly, as if to make sure she was really there, close to him. You worried me a lot today," he added, his heart overflowing with affection and protection.

- I'm sorry, Dad. One of the tires on my bike went flat, and my friend kindly accompanied me to get it fixed.

- Good evening, sir," Louisa greeted with a smile.

- Good evening, my daughter. It was very kind of you to come to your friend's aid," replied the father with a grateful look.

- It's nothing, sir. I'm only helping my friend. I must leave you now," she announced as she climbed into her car.

- Be careful on the road," Raya shouted, waving goodbye.

After Louisa had left, Monsieur Morfon took the bicycle from Raya's hands.

- Why were you out of touch?" asked her father as they crossed the threshold of the house.

- My phone was out of battery, so I'm really sorry I worried you," Raya replied in a penitent tone.

- The important thing is that you're home safe and sound," retorted her father, a hint of relief in his voice. Go and get changed before the food gets cold.

Raya nodded and headed down the long corridor to her room. Although small, her room was carefully arranged, with everything in its place.

After a few minutes' effort to change, she reappeared and joined her father, who was already waiting for her at the table. She sat down opposite him, sharing a moment of calm after the worry she had caused.

- Can you explain how your tire got a flat?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

- I don't understand how it happened either, Dad," she replied, her voice betraying a mixture of confusion and concern.

- Could you tell me exactly when it happened? he insisted, trying to understand the circumstances.

- It happened this morning, on my way to school," she explained, lowering her eyes as if reliving the scene.

- And how did you manage to get to school after that?" he questioned, concerned for her safety and well-being.

- Well... a boy from the senior class kindly dropped me off, she confessed with some hesitation, as if she feared her father's reaction.

- A boy? When did you start making boy friends?" he asked, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in his voice, intrigued by this new facet of his daughter's social life.

- It's not a friend, it's just someone who bumped into me while I was pushing my bike. He was kind enough to offer me a lift in his car. If I had refused his offer, I would inevitably have been late for my check-up, and I didn't have any money on me to take a cab.

- I'm so sorry, darling. Your transfer here happened so quickly that I didn't have time to prepare properly. Hang in there a little longer, and we'll find a solution to this problem.

- What are you talking about, Dad? I'm so happy to have this bike! Before, when we were away, I had to walk to school. So there's really nothing to worry about. My friend even helped me fix it, which was a great relief.

- Your friend is really very nice. It's rare to see rich kids with big cars making friends with kids who are less fortunate.

- I promise you that soon I'll find a way out of this poverty, my dear Dad.

- I hope with all my heart that this will happen. I know your mom is watching over us and is very happy where she is now.