THE VALENTINE'S DAY CONTRACT

The Rebuild

Elara walked into the school premises, her chin up, her eyes forward and her shoulders high.

“Oh, there she goes again, walking like she deserves to be here” someone said

Then Elara stopped and walked up to the girl

“Daring to say who belongs and who doesn’t? maybe you should figure out where your brain is, I’m sure it’s not where it belongs,” Elara said and walked away, leaving the girl high, but dry.

She walked into her class, then took a seat. The lecturer was teaching and she was listening, quietly, focused, then he started asking questions. And she was basically the only one answering, River wanted to join the fun, but he was too busy to care.

“This is an unexpected shift from you, Elara. Keep it up,” the man smiled and left the class. Whispers flew round the class, but River didn’t care. He went silent, whenever lectures were over, he’d stand up and leave, without hesitation, it got Andrew wondering.

Meanwhile Clara noticed the change in Elara, but she was too busy obsessing over River to care, what a cheap thrill. Elara was too busy fixing herself that she didn’t care who was watching her change.

Days passed by, Elara and River grew more and more distant, Clara became more obsessed, then people started trying to get closer to Elara, so she could put them through in what she knew. She didn’t hesitate to do that because she had no grudge against them, but she wasn’t forgiving them either.

One fateful day, Elara didn’t see River all day to give him a cold shoulder, he was too busy at the library to care where she was.

“Yo, brother… you good?” Andrew asked, his voice cutting through the silence.

“Yeah, I am,” River stated simply, not looking up from the computer

“I mean, you and Elara, your spark with her is disappearing,” Andrew said with a calmer voice

“When she’s done fixing herself up, I’ll apologise. I won’t be the one to break the process,” he replied opening up a bunch of files

“Are you okay? Dude, you’re here to find true love, right? Now, you found someone who genuinely cares and you’re waiting for her to fix herself. Can you hear yourself? You sound like an illiterate, to be frank. Come on, it was just a little fight,” Andrew scolded

River started closing the files because he could feel a presence like Elara’s coming closer. “Seems like she’s doing just fine without me, okay?”

“weren’t you working, before I came?” Andrew asked

“She’s here” he whispered then she entered. He didn’t flinch; he just acted like he was busy.

“Please, excuse us,” Elara said then Andrew left, after giving River a thumbs up sign.

“We’ve gotta talk,” Elara said

“About what?” his tone dismissing

“About us,” she replied and sat

“Us? What us?” he asked

“We’re growing apart. I know I shouldn't have been so harsh, but anytime I try to apologise or, start up a talk, something dismisses us, till we got to this stage. We now pass each other without saying hi or what’s up, we’re falling apart, and it’s killing me, even if I think it’s not,” she said, her eyes trying not to meet his

“So, you miss me?” River asked

“Yes, I do… I’ll admit,” She replied, then he pulled her in

“Say that again,” he urged playfully

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she blushed, then he hugged her

“I love you,” he whispered, not audible enough for her to hear.

After breaking the hug, he took her hand and led her out of the library. Elara wasn’t a bit embarrassed about River being her best friend, but Clara was annoyed seeing the way River held Elara’s hand like she mattered.

Clara launched forward at River and Elara, then pulled them apart

“You obsessed little dirty pig; how dare you try to steal my man?” Clara yelled, people passed by, pulling out their phones. “You think he’ll fancy someone as dirty as you?”

Elara had enough of Clara’s nonsense. She moved her hand instinctively at Clara’s face and slapped her hard. “You don’t get to define who I am, not anymore.” River smiled inwardly in satisfaction, but his outward expression was cold.

“Baby, she slapped me,” Clara said to River

“Serves you right, besides… I am not your baby,” River replied

“You’re choosing her? Her?” Clara asked annoyed

“Apparently, I am… got a problem with that?” he asked. “I see you do, but I don’t care. Besides I will settle down with who I want,” he added

“River, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Elara replied about to leave when Clara pushed her.

River moved instinctively when she did. He reached out and caught Elara, then pulled her to balance, and in the process of doing that, their lips met. His arms slid around her waist and hers pressed to his chest and the people around them started chanting. ‘Stay!’, ‘stay!’, ‘stay!’.

Then they pulled away and he whispered softly in her ears, “I love you,” and again, she didn’t hear.

Things changed. Times changed. Elara changed. The crowd, they also changed. The only one who didn’t change was Elara’s family, they were same old harsh people.

Clara paced about the sitting room, anger burning through her eyes. She and her mother were waiting for Elara to come back. Luckily, she came back with River.

“let’s forget about what happened at school,” Elara said

“Yeah?” he asked casually

“Yes, it was a mistake,” Elara replied about to leave, but he pulled her back

“How ‘bout we make it intentional,” he smirked

“River, behave yourself… goodnight.” She hugged him, and when she opened the door, Clara slapped her, sending her backwards into River’s arm

River was shocked. “You good?” as he steadied her, Clara slapped her again

Then.

River snapped. “What is wrong with you!”

He held Elara to keep her steady, then Elara slapped Clara.

“Don’t you ever, lay you filthy hands on what’s mine. Tired of living already?” he asked, then let go of Elara after giving her the liberty to do as she pleased to Clara. And she did just that. What did she do?

She slapped Clara.

Hard across the face.

Twice.

Clara staggered backwards a bit, stunned. Elara had never hit her before.

“You slapped me?” Clara asked, her hand still resting across her face

“Yes, I did, and I will keep slapping you, till you remember your place!” Elara yelled, Clara tried to slap her, but Elara caught her hand mid-air, threw it backwards and slapped her.

Clara staggered backwards a bit, her hand on her cheeks, her head facing down

“Stop testing my patience, now get out of my sight,” Elara said sternly, then Clara stormed off with cheeks as red as fully ripped cherry

“You’re amazing, Elara. All you needed was for your elasticity to reach its limit and when it did, you broke, and when you broke, you didn’t stay broken, you picked up the pieces and glued them back together… that power girl style,” River said, hands in pocket

“Thanks River, but there’s something off about you, it almost seems like you knew I’ll snap one day and I did, so what’s your secret?” Elara asked

He hesitated a bit. “I saw it in you; you always spoke with confidence around me. And the sound of your laughter just made me know that you will shatter, maybe slap me, Clara and other people in anger or probably yell in pain, but you let it all out and taught the people who needed tutoring on who they’re messing with, and that’s why I….” just as he was about to confess his feelings, his manager called

“I gotta take this, so I’ll see you tomorrow,” River said

“Goodnight, River. Sleep tight,” he turned around and left.

Elara smiled and went to her room, without glancing at Clara. She had River by her side now, so she was rest assured that she’ll be fine.