The Link To Light, (Published).

part 8

The next day, Monday.

The quakers resume their lectures for the week.

"Can you help hold this? I'd like to get some project materials from my project mate." Mandy tossed her handbag towards Ifes after their last lecture for the day. They had had series upon series of lectures and now Mandy was feigning fatigue.

"No! I'm not helping you with that." 

"Like you have a choice." Mandy stuck out her tongue playfully and bolted to another direction. 

Ifes shrugged and returned her gaze to her desk as she continued packing up her course materials. She felt someone staring at her, then tilted her head to see Ryan's gaze fixed on her. She was supposed to be happy to see him, but there was something about the way he looked at her. He was staring, no, glaring at her with so much disdain. 

Oh, God, what is happening here? Why is he glowering at me like that?

She flashed him a grin; he only narrowed his eyes, shooting lasers from his eyes at her.

"Hi!" Her smile slowly faded away as he still didn't respond. She was perplexed to see what was unveiling before her. Why was he glowering at her like that? 

Wasn't he one of Mandy's squad of friends? For all she knew and remembered, she wasn't having any issues with either Mandy or her friends. What did she do to get such a disdainful look from him? 

She went close to him and held one of his hands. "What is the–?" 

"Take your filthy hands off me!" Ryan  barked, cutting her short mid-sentence as he slapped her hands away sharply. 

She gasped and drew back in fright. 

"Don't you dare come close to me in your ****ing life or I'll kill you!" He was fuming, hailstone and thunder.

She stood dumbfounded as Ryan poured out his threats and walked away. 

"Ifes!" She jerked when she felt a tap on her shoulders. 

She whirled around to see Mandy giving her a concerned look. "Oh! It's you?" 

"Yes, it's me." 

"You are back so soon?" 

Mandy gave her the look that read, "What are you saying?" 

"Umm! Never mind. Let's go." 

"Are you okay?" Mandy raised a brow questioningly. 

How was she supposed to answer that question? Should she go ahead and tell Mandy what she just experienced from one of her friends? With the way Mandy spoke of them, was it possible that she was going to hear and believe anything she told her? 

"Ifes!" 

"Y– yes?" Ifes stuttered.

"What happened to you in my absence?" 

Ifes forced a smile. "Nothing, let's go. The hall is almost empty." 

One look into her eyes and she knew Ifes was hiding something from her. Mandy grabbed her handbag and walked ahead of Ifes so Ifes could not see the look of disappointment on her face. 

I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough for her, so why should she trust me? Mandy thought.

Just when she was beginning to see Ifes as a sister, Ifes clearly showed her that she was not welcomed. She was a fool to think that even a Christian would give her a chance. As far as she knew, karma would continue to haunt her family and her for the rest of their lives. She used her handkerchief to quickly dab the moisture that collected in a film that glazed her brown eyes as they walked back to their dorm room in total silence. She swore never to go past her boundaries with Ifes or anyone else.