CHAPTER 78: I CAN’T HOLD IT IN!

Meanwhile, at the school, Victoria and Jamaila remained in the swimming pool...more like swimming their worries and troubles away.

With the absence of any student chatter in the background, it was obvious that the academy had closed for the day. The final bell had long since echoed through the empty halls, announcing the end of classes. Of course, it wasn’t uncommon for a few students to stay behind to take care of personal or extracurricular activities, but judging by the sheer quietness of the entire environment, it felt as though only Victoria and Jamaila remained in the school grounds.

It was already quite late, though the sun hadn’t fully set yet. Still, nightfall was only a few hours away.

"Are you not planning to go home?" Victoria asked softly, resting her back against the tiled edge of the swimming pool. Her arms floated lazily on the water’s surface.

"Not yet," Jamaila murmured in response, letting her head fall back against the cool stone wall as she closed her eyes. "I’m not ready to face the drama waiting for me at home...not after the huge one I already had in school today."

Victoria glanced over at her in silence, studying the subtle tension in Jamaila’s face. Just then, a whisper slithered into her ear.

"Well... she didn’t tell the truth earlier about Auren and Nicole, did she? The truth is, she actually caught those two screwing each other," Leo’s invisible voice murmured into Victoria’s ear, making her eyes widen in shock. She quickly masked her expression, maintaining a calm exterior as if she hadn’t heard anything at all.

"I left the scene early, so I don’t know if they threatened her or not," Leo continued. "But judging by the way she’s acting... I think they did."

Victoria slowly turned back to Jamaila. "What exactly happened at Auren’s office though?" she asked, arching a curious brow. Her voice was calm, but her gaze was sharp, laced with silent concern.

Jamaila stiffened.

A chill ran down her spine as she raised her gaze to meet Victoria’s. "I... I already told you guys, didn’t I?" she stammered, forcing a small laugh that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I said Nicole removed my hijab."

She swallowed hard and quickly added, "Uhm... I’ll be going home now, Victoria." Her voice trembled slightly as she moved toward the steps of the pool.

"When are you going?" Victoria asked, watching her with a thoughtful expression. "Aren’t your brothers supposed to be waiting for you outside? Or have they already left?"

"I already texted them. I told them I was swimming, so they’re waiting," Victoria replied with a smile, making no move to rush.

Jamaila began drying herself hurriedly, her hands fumbling slightly with the towel.

"How about we drop you off?" Victoria offered gently.

"There’s no need for that, Victoria," Jamaila replied quickly....too quickly. Her tone carried a flicker of fear. "I’ll take the bus. My parents don’t like me keeping friends. If they find out, they’ll get angry... really angry."

Victoria frowned slightly but didn’t push. "Then we won’t drop you right in front of your house," she said with a gentle firmness. "We can just stop a few minutes away. You can walk the rest of the way."

She climbed out of the pool and began drying herself off as she continued, "Besides, have you forgotten that you still need to get your hijab? That’s one of the reasons you’re still in school at this time, right? You were waiting for Rose to send the money, but I doubt she will tonight. That girl probably passed out already from drinking... maybe even drugs. She sells them, after all, so it’s no surprise she uses them too."

Victoria turned and offered a soft smile. "I’ll just get you a new hijab from the mall. Then I’ll drop you off.....somewhere safe."

Jamaila stood still for a moment, visibly caught between emotions. Eventually, she nodded quietly and continued getting dressed, her voice barely audible. "Thank you... really."

"Are you trying to get closer to her?" Leo asked, curiosity etched into his tone.

"I made friends with all of them just to get closer, didn’t I?" Victoria murmured under her breath, her voice low but firm in response to Leo’s question. Her eyes remained fixed on the water’s gentle ripples. "Since Jamaila is here... I might as well start with her. Even if these friends I’ve made don’t directly lead me to the origin of the virus, they’ll still be useful once I find it."

"Well, girl... whatever," Leo replied with a dramatic sigh, his voice fading into the silence of Victoria’s mind.

*****

Later, after they had dressed and gathered their belongings, Victoria and Jamaila stepped out of the now-silent school building to meet Victoria’s brothers waiting beside their sleek black car.

"Hey, sister!" Theo was the first to speak, immediately pulling Victoria into a warm, brotherly embrace. "I can see why you decided to swim for so long. You’ve got company today."

"I already figured as much," Callum chimed in, chuckling softly as his gaze briefly flicked toward Jamaila. "I hope you’re good?"

"We really need to head home now though," Lucian added, his tone more urgent than the others. "Father and Mother have been calling me non-stop."

"Please, can we drop Jamaila off at her house?" Victoria asked with a warm smile. "Besides, I’d also like us to branch at the mall real quick to pick up something."

"We’ll do just that, Victoria," Theo replied kindly, nodding his head. He turned to the others. "No arguments."

"But Mom and Dad...." Lucian began with a raised brow, only to immediately fall silent when Theo shot him a sharp, warning glare.

"Get in, girls," Theo added, gesturing toward the car.

Victoria and Jamaila exchanged a glance before climbing into the vehicle. Moments later, the car rolled out of the school compound, quiet except for the hum of the engine.

*****

After what felt like forever, night had fully descended. The car eventually pulled up at a quiet street, just a few minutes away from Jamaila’s house.

They had stopped at the mall as promised, where she had purchased a replacement hijab for Jamaila, which now rested neatly over her head.

"Thank you so much, Victoria. Thank you, Alphas," Jamaila said with a soft smile as she stepped out of the car. Her voice was filled with gratitude, but her eyes darted nervously down the dark, silent street. "I really appreciate this."

"You’re welcome, dear," Victoria replied, her smile gentle but her gaze quietly assessing Jamaila’s body language.

"You should head home quickly," Theo added, his arms folded across his chest as he looked around. "This street is way too quiet for comfort. Are you sure you don’t need us to speak to your parents? You don’t have a phone, so they might be worried sick by now. I’m not trying to judge your family, but some parents can be extremely strict. I know how ours are.....I’ve ignored about ten of their calls already. We’re definitely going to face a full-blown interrogation once we get back."

"It’s okay, Alphas. I understand what you mean," Jamaila replied, her smile still plastered onto her face, though the slight tremble in her voice betrayed her. "But my parents are cool. I’ll just tell them I got caught up in a group reading session at the library. That’ll calm them down."

Victoria watched her carefully. The words sounded rehearsed. There was fear in her eyes....subtle, but present.

"Alright then. If you say so. Goodnight, kid," Callum said with a light wave. "Go on and get home safely."

"And if your parents don’t buy the ’group study’ excuse....because even if you say they’re cool, they might still question it....just come see me at school tomorrow," Lucian added warmly. "I’ll have them talk to one of the teachers. I just need to tell Elder Brother Damien, and he’ll set up everything. There’s no need to be scared, alright?"

"Thank you so much," Jamaila replied with a polite bow, her voice barely above a whisper. "Goodnight, and please get home safe as well."

With that, she turned and began walking down the quiet road, her figure slowly swallowed by the darkness ahead.

Just as the car was about to drive off....

"I want to ease myself, brothers," Victoria suddenly said, halting the chauffeur before he could start the engine.

"What? This place is too quiet, little sister. Just hold it in. We’ll be home soon," Lucian replied, concern lining his voice as he turned back to look at her.

"I can’t hold it in!" Victoria shouted, tears brimming in her eyes. "Just two minutes, please! You don’t even have to leave the car. I’ll be back quickly, I promise."

Theo exhaled deeply, rubbing a hand over his face in frustration. "Fine, Victoria. Just go and do whatever. I already know we’re doomed tonight anyway," he muttered under his breath.

Without waiting for any more comments, Victoria stepped out of the car....her tearful expression quickly replaced by a smug, knowing smirk as she shut the door behind her.