TWO SOULS, ONE UMBRELLA

SECRET

VIEVE PEREZ HILTON

l really hate P.E. class. I have a hard time keeping up with everyone.

"Good afternoon, class. I'm Ma'am Cat, your P.E. teacher. The first thing we'll do is a warm-up exercise before we start the activity."

We did the warm-up exercises, following Ma'am Cat's movements. After that, she explained the activity.

"Now, you'll run a course with obstacles. Whoever finishes the fastest gets the highest score," Ma'am Cat explained.

When I heard her last statement, I suddenly felt motivated.

High score, I'll get it.

lt started. I stood there watching my classmates run one by one. Then Gwen approached me.

"Vieve, you should just ask for an excuse so you don't have to do this," Gwen whispered.

"I can't. I can get a high score here, I need to do my best," I said seriously.

"What are you saying? Your score more important than yourself? Have you forgotten what happened before?" Gwen said seriously, still in a low voice.

"Yes, but this is just one time. Don't tell Mom, promise?!"

"You're so stubborn. Suit yourself. If something happens..."

"Okay, okay."

"Great job, Young Master! You have the highest time so far," Ma'am Cat praised. "Hilton, you're next." She called me.

"Yes, Ma'am."

I took a deep breath when I heard Ma'am Cat say,

"Ready, get set, go!"

l ran fast, went through the mud, crawled, squeezed through the tires on the track, and ran back. I could feel my heart racing, I was breathless. When Ma'am Cat stopped the timer, I looked at her seriously.

"1 minute," she said.

"Ah... Ma'am... Can... I... go... to the restroom?" I asked, catching my breath.

"Of course."

l didn't go to the restroom right away. I went to the classroom first, and got what I needed from my bag. Before going to the restroom, I locked myself in a cubicle and sat on the toilet. I was taking my medication to calm myself, but I could still hear my heart pounding. It wouldn't stop.

ZEPHYR BLACKWOOD

1 hour later...

I looked at my classmates, one was missing. That girl, where is she?

"Where's Hilton? Why hasn't she come back yet?" Ma'am Cat asked.

"Um... She wasn't feeling well and went to the clinic," said her friend.

"Okay, I'll announce the winner. It's Young Master, with 37 seconds!" Ma'am Cat announced.

*Clapping*

"Well done, Young Master. Now, go back to your classroom, it's the last period."

We went back to the classroom. I still hadn't seen that girl, but I noticed her bag was open and the contents were messy. It wasn't like that before? Does this mean she came here before going to the restroom or clinic? Wait, why am I thinking about her?

I just sat at my table. The last teacher arrived to teach us. She still hasn't come back.

*Ring bell*

Class was over, but she didn't show up. I noticed her friend closing her bag and taking it. She hurried out of the classroom. I got curious about where she was going, so I followed her. I saw her enter the girls' restroom. I didn't think too much about it.

I was about to leave when I heard someone cough. When I turned around, I saw her supporting that girl, who was coughing incessantly. What happened?

VIEVE PEREZ HILTON

l couldn't control my cough anymore, so I texted Gwen about where I was so she could help. I couldn't stop coughing, I was having trouble breathing.

lnstead of taking me to the hospital, I just told her to take me home because my medicine was there. After a few minutes, I felt a little better. I sat on the sofa, Gwen was sitting there.

"How are you feeling?" Gwen asked.

"I'm feeling a little better, thank you,"

Gwen smiled, but it seemed like she was annoyed.

"Why?"

"I TOLD YOU, YOU'RE SO STUBBORN! YOU ALMOST DIED!" Gwen shouted.

"I'm sorry. I thought I was okay, but I wasn't," I said sadly.

"Oh, by the way, Zephyr won. You came in third," Gwen said.

"Seriously? I never liked P.E. I'm weak at it," I said sadly.

"Just don't do that again, or I'll really tell Aunt," Gwen threatened.

"Okay, okay. I'll just make an excuse," I said.

Even though Gwen is like this, I can count on her. She's the only one who knows my secret. She's the only one I can rely on now.

___(•~•)___

While walking to the bus, I saw a familiar face. So I stared at it carefully. When I recognized who it was, I was surprised by what they were doing to him.

What is that?! Is that Ethan? What's he doing here? And those people, who are they? Why are they doing that to Ethan?

l had many questions in my mind, but I only knew one thing. They were bad people because Ethan was talking to them, and those men were hurting him while they talked.

When I saw them get into a black car with Ethan, I watched the car drive away. I didn't know whether to help or not. I chose to just walk to the bus.

No, Vieve, you said you don't want trouble. You shouldn't get involved in fights between men. Besides, you can't beat them, so it's better to just ignore it...

When I was near the bus, I stopped. I remembered Ethan's pained face. My feet moved on their own, I ran to follow the black car as soon as I saw it. I'm only doing this now. I shouldn't interfere, but when I saw Ethan's scared eyes, I couldn't help but feel guilty. So it's better to help than to turn a blind eye like before. I don't want that to happen again.