Helanie:
"This is to freedom and justice," Penn raised his glass of juice, making us all laugh at him. It had been a week, and things had gotten better.
Jenny didn’t face any punishnt because it was self-defense. The details of the case were kept under the rug at our request, from and Jenny. But Evaline’s na was ntioned because Lamar wanted it there and for his sister to get justice.
We t up at the café today to enjoy our freedom. I an, they didn’t know yet that my journey had only just begun.
"Lamar!" Benita arrived with a hand on her chest. "I’m so happy your sister got justice. Not everyone has a brother like you who never lets it go and sohow puts the culprit in his place."
She had such a fake vibe to her. Or maybe it was because I didn’t like her. So everything she did seed fake to .
"Thank you," Lamar replied to her with a mild smile. He knew about this woman and how she always preached about being the purest and pointing out flaws in others.
"And Jenny!" Then she pouted, looking so fake. I rember when she told us Gavin had co here with his other girlfriend. I swear she purposely didn’t say Jenny’s na. She knew her na but acted like she didn’t.
"How are you feeling now? It’s not easy to have your mate attack you to hide his truth," she made Jenny feel so uncomfortable.
We wanted everyone to stop coming up to us and reminding us of every single detail they heard in the news.
"At least she gave him karma," I stood up for Jenny, who hadn’t been able to say a word. Her brother smiled at while Gavin and Lamar kept glaring at Benita.
"True," Benita’s smile faded before she said, "Jenny, you must know the other two victims whose identities were kept safe?"
I stared at her in disbelief. Was she really here to get inside information?
"Their identities are protected for a reason. So thoughtless people will co asking them about their experience despite the fact that it would make them uncomfortable," If she was a smart woman as she claid to be, she would have known Penn was teasing her.
But she didn’t.
She sighed and nodded, "So people just love gossip. But tell the girls, if they want soone to love them like a mother, co to ."
I rolled my eyes and looked away while Gavin and Lamar elbowed each other.
"A mommy love?" Lamar comnted, and the look on Benita’s face was hilarious. She was offended, but Lamar was also too much.
"I was just saying," he shrugged, while Benita left the table.
"Hey, not even a woman with a child?" Jenny complained to Lamar, whose mood changed into sothing entirely different when watching Jenny.
Now that he knew Jenny wasn’t playing us and she did help us behind our backs, Lamar was kind of waiting for the mont to make a move again.
This was our first etup after the case, so it would take ti for the two to move forward with their relationship. But I was happy for them.
"What happened to your other friend?" Penn asked, rubbing his hands at the sight of the croissant.
"Lucy is now Sydney 2.0," Lamar groaned while Gavin took a deep breath. Even when we criticized Lucy, Gavin would hardly say anything or share his opinions.
I could tell he was blaming himself for her change in behavior.
"She’ll co around. Soon, Sydney will be done with her and then Lucy will have a great awakening," I comnted with a clenched jaw. But how would I ever forget what she said about ?
I kept wondering, is that what she thinks of ?
"Jenny, how are your parents?" Gavin quickly changed the subject.
"Dad wants to spend so ti with to redeem himself, but I just can’t—it’s not just about . He needs to open his mind and think about others too. And until then—I don’t think I can look at my father differently than before," she sighed, her words coming out with deep breaths. Penn quickly wrapped his arm around his sister’s shoulder and gave her a warm hug before they started eating again.
Now that silence had settled in, I couldn’t help but feel that today was different from the last seven days.
The academy classes were continuing without any interruptions, except we were just getting ready for a big upcoming test.
All the teams would compete against each other and I wanted my team to win at any cost. But then I was afraid—what if any of my friends’ teams lose?
That was the biggest problem.
"So, Helanie—" Penn cleared his throat as the others got up to go to the restroom. Jenny felt much safer when Gavin and Lamar were on her side, so Penn could stay behind .
"How is your training with Rudy going?" Penn asked, looking down at his food.
"We’re having fun. You should see Lamar and Gavin get under Rudy’s skin," I laughed but also made sure to let him know it wasn’t just and Rudy spending ti alone. Even though I didn’t have to explain to him who I was spending ti with, I just didn’t want any unnecessary rumors.
"Hmmm, that’s good," his response was cold, "When you win, he’ll want a treat."
He joked, even though I could tell he was in a bad mood about the whole training thing.
"Yeah, Lamar and Gavin will have to take him to a club," I added, feeling like I was doing sothing wrong. Giving too many explanations might give Penn the wrong idea too.
I swear, I was being so careful.
"Okay, are you two done too?" Lamar arrived with Gavin and Jenny and asked us. We got up to leave while Penn stayed behind to pay.
He had asked us all out for dinner as a treat for his sister’s freedom.
"You two are weird," Jenny comnted at Lamar and Gavin, who had their arms around each other’s shoulders like childhood friends.
We were leaving the café, laughing and giggling when soone almost bumped into us while coming inside.
"Oh, I’m so sorry—" The guy lifted his head to apologize with a smile when my blood ran cold.
I could recognize his face very clearly. The way he had co on top of that night—he was one of them.
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