Wrong target, Fatal mistake

Goodbyes and Takeoff

“Diana!” Mina shouted as she rushed forward and threw her arms around her friend. Her body trembled slightly. “Diana, I know I made a mistake, and I regret it now. I’m sorry… really sorry. How could I ever think of calling off our friendship? I’m truly sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Diana wrapped her arms around Mina, holding her tightly for a moment before letting go. “It’s okay, Mina. I forgive you. I should be the one apologizing. I was the one who got you angry and let Tessa shake our friendship. I hope you didn’t forget what you said the other day, about keeping me updated on everything.” Her voice was calm but sincere, and her eyes softened with warmth.

Mina smiled through her tears. “How could I forget? I promise I’ll always stay in touch. I’m really going to miss you.”

“Me too. Even Mama will miss you. No one will play games with her anymore, especially Ludo. Don’t worry, anytime you call, or I call, I’ll always let her speak to you.” Diana gently brushed Mina’s hair from her face.

“I trust you. I’ll really miss Grandma too. I told you to learn Ludo, but you didn’t listen. If you had, you could play with Grandma, and she wouldn’t miss me so much, but you refused.”

“I hate that game. It’s boring. Don’t let me hold you up, Grandma will get used to playing by herself. I’ll really miss you.” Mina pouted slightly but hugged Diana again.

“I’ll miss you more. In fact… I’m already missing you.”

“Quick, Mina! You flatter me. Now go enter the car. Bye, I love you.”

“Bye! I love you too… and more!” Mina said, her voice cracking slightly, as she climbed into the waiting car.

“Wumzy, remember all the advice Mum and Dad gave you. Be a good girl,” Wumzy’s mother reminded, her hands resting gently on Wumzy’s shoulders.

“Yes, Mum. Don’t you trust your daughter? I’ll be a good girl, I promise. Love you, Mum. Love you, Dad. Muah!” Wumzy kissed her parents, feeling the warmth of their eyes on her.

“Love you more, my sweetheart,” Wumzy’s father said, ruffling her hair affectionately.

“Oh really? She’s your sweetheart—what does that make me then?” her mother teased playfully, feigning indignation.

“Of course you’re my heaven on earth. I love you so much,” Wumzy’s father said, smiling at his wife.

“Mum, you’re even jealous of me now. You’re something else. I’ll get in the car,” Wumzy laughed, shaking her head as she climbed into the vehicle.

“Bye, my baby. I love you,” her mother called after her, voice full of affection.

Wumzy’s father frowned slightly, and her mother added with a small laugh, “Of course I love you too, darling.”

“Tessa, Tessa, Tessa… how many times did I call you?” her mother asked, her voice gentle but firm.

“Three, Mum,” Tessa replied, brushing her hair behind her ear nervously.

“Good. You’re going now. I’m not telling you to join any bad group, and remember—you’re going there to study, not for anything else. Don’t think Mum isn’t watching, I have both eyes set on you.”

“I understand, Mum. I’ll make you proud,” Tessa promised, clutching her bag tightly.

“Better. Now enter the car, save Johnny, and remember, my eyes are on you.”

“I understand, Mum.” Tessa gave a small nod and entered the car, her steps careful as she slid in beside her friends.

“John, John… remember everything I told you at home. You’re going there to…” his mother paused.

“Study,” John finished for her, smiling slightly to ease her worry.

“You can go, John. And remember to tell us how things are going,” his father added, giving him a firm pat on the shoulder.

“Okay, Mum. Okay, Dad… can I go now?” John asked, adjusting his bag strap nervously.

“Of course, bye,” his parents said in unison, waving him off.

“Bye, Mum and Dad. I love you.” John entered the car as the driver started moving. The parents and teachers waved, and Wumzy, Tessa, Mina, and John waved back from the back seats, their fingers lingering in goodbye.

*****

“Number 11, number 11… oh, here.” Tessa said, sliding into the seat beside Mina, her gaze fixed deliberately.

“Oh… she’s sitting next to me. Heaven knows why she and I always cross paths. Maybe Diana was right about fate… whatever, as long as I don’t talk to her and she doesn’t make me angry,” Mina thought, tightening her grip on her bag.

“What a coincidence, we’re sitting right next to each other,” Tessa said, her tone teasing, but Mina stayed silent, her jaw set.

“Wait, Mina… you and Diana’s friendship is really like Bluetooth—you already reconnected. Let me mind my business so your madness doesn’t spill out. I know you’re holding it in,” Tessa added with a sly smirk, leaning back in her seat. Mina’s fingers twitched slightly, but she remained silent.

“All passengers should be in their seats. We’re taking off in 3, 2, 1…” the voice came over the speaker, and the airplane lifted smoothly into the sky, engines humming steadily.

“Ah! Ah!” Wumzy shouted as she almost tripped, but John grabbed her hand just in time.

“Thank you, John. Number 17—this is my seat. I’ve been looking for it. We’re sitting together!” Wumzy said, finally letting out a relieved sigh.

“Really?” John replied. “Wumzy, you’re going to miss Raphael so much. I bet he’s already thinking about you too.”

“Who?” Wumzy asked, pretending not to hear, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Why are you pretending? Of course I’m talking about Raphael… your boyfriend,” John teased, leaning closer.

“Oh, you mean my ex? We broke up two weeks ago. If I’m correct, he won’t care. Besides, he has someone else to keep him company—Esther. Let’s not talk about him. This is a long trip, and it’s my first time on a plane. I want to enjoy it and rest,” Wumzy said, her eyes scanning the clouds outside the window.

“Oh… your relationship didn’t even last a month, and you two were being lovey-dovey, making classmates jealous. Did he dump you, or did you…” John tried to ask, but Wumzy cut him off with a sharp look.

“What kind of dumb question is that? Of course I dumped him! A womanizer dating me and secretly dating Esther at the same time? What do you think I’d do—wait for him to dump me? Over my dead body!” she snapped, crossing her arms firmly.

“But…” John tried again, but Wumzy raised a hand, stopping him.

“No. We broke up, and I’m over it. Now let me rest. You should rest too, and stop asking me question after question. Please… for God’s sake, I’m begging you.” She leaned back, closing her eyes, letting out a deep breath.

*****

Hours later…

“Landing in 3, 2, 1,” the voice came over the speaker as the plane descended smoothly, wheels touching the tarmac with a gentle thud.

A few minutes later, John looked around in awe. “Oh gosh… I can’t believe this country is exactly like people said. Look how clean it is! This place must be almost germ-free. It seems so safe!”

“Oh, really? What did you expect?” Wumzy muttered, leaning back with a frown.

“See, whatever—clean or not clean, it’s not my problem now. Are we planning to stay in the airport like orphans? How long do we plan on waiting here?” Mina asked, tapping her foot impatiently.

“That’s true, Wumzy. I think you typed Sir Gabriel’s son's number on your phone. Can you please call him? We’ve been here for a few minutes. They told us to call when we arrived, not just wait,” Tessa urged, glancing around the busy terminal.

“Don’t you have the number? Why should I be the one to call? Let’s not argue—I know you guys. Whoever saved the number, call it. Let me try,” Wumzy replied, pulling her phone from her pocket.

“Ahh, look at her… if any of us had saved the number, would we even be asking you to call?” Mina remarked, shaking her head with a small smile.