HIDDEN SECRET

THE APOLOGY I DIDN'T EXPECT

Chapter 4: The Apology I Didn't Expect

The bright Monday morning sun shone through Pricy's bedroom window.

She stretched lazily and yawned.

"Wow..."

Her eyes landed on the clock.

"What?!"

She nearly jumped out of bed.

"I'm late!"

Within minutes she had showered, dressed, and grabbed her school bag.

"Mum, I can't eat! I'll be late for school!"

Mrs. Williams poked her head out from the kitchen.

"At least take some coffee and rice cakes."

"Okay!"

Pricy stuffed them into her bag and dashed outside.

Unfortunately...

She had already missed the school bus.

"Great. Just great."

---

Halfway to school, she spotted a familiar figure.

"Betty!"

Her best friend turned around.

"Good morning!"

"Morning."

Betty suddenly narrowed her eyes.

"Did you rush your bath again?"

"What?"

"You still have soap behind your ear."

Pricy quickly wiped it away.

"Oh."

Then she pointed.

"You have some on your hair too."

For a moment they stared at each other.

Then both girls burst into laughter.

"Let's go before we're even later!"

---

By the time they arrived, English class had already started.

Luckily, Mr. Ben had stepped outside to answer a phone call.

"This is our chance," Betty whispered.

The girls quietly slipped inside and took their seats.

Unfortunately...

The moment Mr. Ben returned, his sharp eyes landed on them.

"The two girls who entered my class late."

The entire classroom turned.

"Stand up."

Betty immediately stood.

Pricy stood slowly.

Then suddenly—

"Pricy!"

She turned.

"What?"

Before she could react, somebody tied a cardigan around her waist and gently pulled her toward the classroom door.

Pricy froze.

Her eyes widened.

"Mike?!"

"What else would make you look this shocked?"

She frowned.

"Why is your cardigan around my waist?"

Mike pointed behind her.

"Check your skirt."

Confused, Pricy looked.

Then her entire body froze.

A small blood stain.

Her face instantly turned bright red.

"Oh my God..."

Mike rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"You didn't notice?"

Pricy wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

She had never been so embarrassed.

"Well... I wasn't expecting it today."

Mike looked away respectfully.

"Good thing I noticed."

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Then Pricy remembered something important.

"My phone."

Mike sighed dramatically.

"Seriously?"

"My phone."

"You almost forgot to thank me."

"My phone first."

Mike stared at her.

Then laughed.

"You really don't change."

He pulled out her repaired phone and handed it over.

Pricy's eyes widened.

It looked brand new.

"You repaired it?"

"Of course."

She held it carefully.

For a brief moment, her heart softened.

But only for a brief moment.

"Thanks."

Mike's eyebrows rose.

"Did I hear that correctly?"

"Don't get used to it."

He laughed.

---

After changing and returning from the restroom, Pricy headed back toward class.

Along the way she noticed a strange scene.

A boy was holding a girl's bag hostage.

The girl looked ready to cry.

"Give it back!"

"No."

Pricy folded her arms.

Interesting.

The boy suddenly noticed her watching.

"Hey."

Pricy sighed.

Here we go again.

"Who are you?"

"Why are you staring at me?"

"Where are you from?"

Pricy blinked.

"Do you always ask a hundred questions per second?"

The girl secretly hid behind a nearby wall.

Watching.

The boy crossed his arms.

"Answer one then."

Pricy smirked.

"I only stare at strange things."

His jaw dropped.

"What?"

"Or things that are worse."

The hidden girl almost laughed.

The boy looked offended.

"Have you looked in a mirror lately?"

"Oh?"

Pricy spun around dramatically.

"How do I look?"

The boy accidentally stared for too long.

Beautiful.

Very beautiful.

Realizing what he was doing, he quickly looked away.

"Horrible."

Pricy grinned.

"Expected answer from someone like you."

The argument was about to explode when another voice interrupted.

"Sam."

Both turned.

Mike.

The moment Sam saw him, he immediately pointed at Pricy.

"This crazy girl is insulting me!"

Mike looked between them.

Then laughed.

"You picked a fight with her?"

"You know her?"

"Unfortunately."

Pricy's eyes narrowed.

Unfortunately? well,

"Birds of the same feather flock together."

Sam clenched his fists.

"Say that again."

Pricy smiled.

"What are you going to do?"

Sam rushed forward.

Big mistake.

Within seconds, Pricy twisted his fingers.

"Ouch!"

The girl behind the wall gasped.

Mike tried—and failed—not to laugh.

Mike did you just laugh at me?

He was about to fall when Mike held him.

Mike leave me, let me give this girl a taste of what she deserves.

Well sam I would advise you not to go, just let her be. It would be too embarrassing to see a girl beat you up.

Leave me please sam said as he was punched forward to face pricy.

He reached her face and could not lift a finger.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Sam immediately hid behind Mike.

"She's a monster!"

Pricy grabbed the stolen bag from him.

Then handed it to its owner.

The terrified girl stared at her like she had just witnessed a superhero.

Pricy was about leaving as Jane came out of her hiding place

"Thank you."

"No problem."

"Can we be friends?"

Pricy blinked.

"What?"

The girl nervously offered money.

Pricy's face instantly darkened.

"You think friendship can be bought?"

"N-No!"

"Keep your money."

Without another word, she walked away.

The girl watched her leave.

For some reason...

She wanted to know more about the mysterious girl named Pricy.

---

That afternoon, Pricy arrived at Betty's house.

The first thing she did was grab a bottle of drink.

Betty immediately noticed the cardigan.

"Why are you still wearing Mike's cardigan?"

Pricy froze.

"Oh."

Betty smiled.

"Oh?"

Pricy suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Why was she acting weird?

And why was Mike suddenly showing up in her thoughts every few minutes?

Betty watched her carefully.

Then smirked.

"You like him."

"What?!"

"I knew it."

"I do not!"

Before Betty could tease her further—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The girls froze.

Betty smiled.

"Speak of the devil."

Pricy's eyes widened.

"No way."

The door opened.

And Mike walked in.

---

The atmosphere instantly became awkward.

At least for Pricy.

Betty, however, was enjoying every second.

"Mike, welcome."

"Thanks."

She looks at Betty

How did he..wait! Did you invite him over

Betty suddenly stood.

Sorry I did

"Since both of you clearly need to talk, I'll leave."

"What?!" Pricy nearly shouted.

Betty ignored her.

"Have fun."

Then she disappeared into the kitchen.

Leaving them alone.

Pricy swallowed hard.

Why was her heart beating so fast?

Why was she nervous?

This was Mike.

The same annoying boy she had punched.

The same boy she had threatened.

The same boy she had almost broken.

"So..." Mike said.

"So..."

Silence.

"So how are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Good."

More silence.

Pricy wanted to disappear.

Finally Mike chuckled.

"You're surprisingly shy."

"I'm not shy."

"You are."

"I'm not."

Mike smiled.Mike sat down beside Pricy.

Immediately, Pricy shifted slightly away.

Mike noticed and smirked.

"Am I that scary?"

"No."

"Then why are you moving away?"

"I'm not moving away."

"You just did."

"I didn't."

Mike pointed at the empty space between them.

"Then what is this?"

Pricy looked at the space.

"Oh."

Mike laughed.

Pricy's face turned red.

Why was she suddenly nervous?

why was her heart beating so fast?

Mike leaned closer.

"Are you okay?"

Pricy immediately leaned back.

"I'm perfectly fine."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you sweating?"

"What?"

She touched her forehead.

Mike burst into laughter.

"I was joking."

"You i***t!"

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

Mike caught it effortlessly.

Betty secretly watched from the kitchen.

A wicked smile appeared on her face.

"Interesting."

Back in the living room, silence filled the air.

Mike looked at Pricy.

Pricy looked everywhere except Mike.

Mike sighed.

"Look at me."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to."

Mike chuckled.

"Liar."

Pricy's heart skipped.

There was something about the way he looked at her.

Something dangerous.

Something that made her want to look away.

And look again at the same time.

Mike's smile slowly disappeared.

"Pricy."

His voice became softer.

Immediately she looked at him.

For some reason...

She couldn't ignore that voice.

Mike scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I came here for one reason."

"What?"

"To apologize."

Pricy blinked.

The teasing expression on his face was gone.

For the first time...

He looked sincere.

"I'm sorry."

The room became quiet.

Mike continued.

"For breaking your phone."

"For being rude."

"For making your life difficult."

Pricy's eyes widened.

Nobody had ever apologized to her like that before.

Especially not a boy.

Especially not a handsome boy.

Especially not a handsome boy who looked at her as if she were the only person in the room.

Her heartbeat betrayed her.

Badly.

"Pricy?"

"Huh?"

"You're staring."

"What?!"

She quickly looked away.

Mike laughed.

"You were definitely staring."

"I was not!"

"You were."

"I wasn't!"

"You were."

"I wasn't!"

Betty almost choked on her drink in the kitchen.

These two were hopeless.

Pricy cleared her throat.

"Fine."

Mike waited.

"I'm sorry too."

His eyebrows rose.

"That's all?"

"No."

She sighed dramatically.

"I'm sorry for punching you."

Mike nodded.

"Good."

"And twisting your arm."

"Continue."

"And threatening your life."

"Continue."

"And embarrassing you in front of half the city."

Mike laughed.

"Only half?"

Pricy couldn't help laughing too.

The tension instantly disappeared.

Mike slowly stretched out his hand.

"So..."

"Friends?"

Pricy stared at his hand.

Then at his face.

Then at his hand again.

Betty peeked from the kitchen.

"Take the hand."

Pricy jumped.

"BETTY!"

Mike burst into laughter.

Pricy glared at her best friend.

Betty simply grinned.

"Don't mind me."

After a moment, Pricy finally placed her hand in Mike's.

The moment their fingers touched...

Both of them froze.

Something felt different.

Something neither of them could explain.

Mike smiled.

"Friends."

Pricy quickly pulled her hand away.

"Friends."

But unfortunately...

Her heart wasn't behaving like friends anymore.

As evening approached, Mike prepared to leave.

The three of them walked him outside.

"Our final exams are coming," Betty said.

Mike nodded.

"We should study harder."

"Definitely," Pricy agreed.

For a moment, the three stood together under the golden evening sky.

Then Mike looked at Pricy.

And smiled.

Not his teasing smile.

Not his arrogant smile.

A genuine one.

For some reason...

Pricy's heart skipped again.

"See you tomorrow."

"See you."

Mike turned and walked away.

Pricy watched him disappear into the distance.

Betty slowly moved beside her.

"So..."

"No."

"You like him."

"No."

"You totally do."

Pricy rolled her eyes.

But deep inside...

She wasn't so sure anymore.

To be continued...