Love Is Second Best — Chapter 9: SCARS KEEPER

Carmella's POV

"Wow, I never thought you'd be earlier than the usual." Hope greeted me as soon as she saw me within the vicinity of our school on the way to our room.

"Oh, Hi Hope!" I stopped walking as soon I saw her rushing towards me, smiling as she waved her hands. Hope saw me along the hallway on our way to our Math class. It is almost quarter to seven in the morning when she also rushed into our room.

"I never thought you'll be arriving a bit late."

"Uh, yeah. I honestly didn't want this. My dad's car went broken in the middle of the street. I have to hire a cab and wait for it to reach here. My, what a way to start my day." She looked haggard as early as this but she's still looking so beautiful. She's a bit worn out but her smile is never fading away, even a little.

"I hope it will be fixed soon." I answered as I walked next to her. We slowed down a bit when we saw that we were already near the room.

"Yeah. I think she went to a repair shop to be fixed this afternoon so that he could fetch me later. You know how hard it is to commute, right?"

"Let's wish for the best." I smiled. When we're at the front door of our room, she held my hand as she took a deep breath. She smiled with confidence as he held her chin up high.

"Are you ready for the math exam?" She cheerfully asked, but her tone is more of being very motivational this time around. I just nodded in response. When our classmates saw the both of us, they can't help but whisper among themselves as they started to create a buzz again. She never cared anyway. She's always the girl who would often promote peace rather than conflict inside our room.

"Hello dear classmates!" Hope went in front while the teacher was coming nearer to our room. I could see that most of our classmates focused their attention to her calm, authoritative voice. Even the ones sitting on the back also stopped to look at her because of a certain announcement she's about to say to all of us.

"Let's all do our best in our math exams. Let us focus more on studying and avoid negativity at all times." I can see that those classmates who talked against my back went quiet in an instant. We all went back to our seats when our Math teacher finally arrived.

"We can do this! Thank you!" She added as she also left the front to make way for our math teacher who just went inside the room. I could see that our teacher is so grateful to her.

"Good morning, Mr. Lancey!" We all chorused. He smiled and let us take our seats.

"Good morning class! Please get your test papers here so that we could start productively." I can feel that everyone is pressured as of the moment. Not everyone gets a perfect score in our math exams. Our teacher is the kind that usually gives tricky problem-solving questions. The questions alone were quite confusing but I can feel that I am more than ready. When I received my test paper being passed from the front going backwards, I started to grip my pen as I grinned silently.

Let the test begin...

That day went really tough for almost everyone of us, that included Hope who seemed to be sad after we finished our two tests.

"That's quite unfair."

"Huh? Why?" I responded, feeling curious this time.

"The two exams were really tough. I admit I had a hard time answering the last four problem-solving questions in math. Also, the enumeration part to the other exam."

"Maybe, you're not used to the way they give tests here in the Philippines."

"Yup. I sometimes find everything really weird. No worries, I am also enjoying everything and I am learning from it as well. How about you?" She faced me as if studying my expression on how I would answer her questions.

I sighed as I looked at her eyes. Sometimes, the way she would look at me would make me feel guilty for not being honest to her.

"I guess I am used to the kinds of exams that's why it is not hard for me to cope up. Well, I admit the test in Math is a difficult one." I simply responded. She smiled as if feeling relieved.

"Good thing I am not the only one who considers it to be difficult." She smiled at last.

"You're not a normal person if you think Mr. Lancey's exams are just easy." I chuckled as I looked at her amused reaction. "You got a point there." She replied as we did the high-five.

"The test results will be out two days from now so let's just be patient." I assured her.

"I will. I guess the only choice that we have is to wait for the results."

"Are you going home right now?" She asked as she held my hand. I glanced around and I could see our other classmates whispering to each other. I think not all of them like the sight of us being good friends.

"Nope. I will go to the library again to study. You?"

"Of course I'll go with you, dear." Hope answered honestly. I am trying my best not to look awkward. I hope she's not feeling that I am being sarcastic at her today. I need to study more than she does. I badly needed to get the top by hook or by crook. I am getting the hang of being on top, so I will always get it if I will be more serious when it comes to studying this time around.

I started to walk and yet my knee is still hurting that's why I have to slow down. I frowned as I bit my lower lip, walking ahead of her.

"C-Carmella?" When I turned my back, I noticed that Hope had been looking at me from my feet going up and eventually meeting my gaze.

"Yes?" I answered, smiling. I can instantly see the worried look on her face.

"I can see that you're not walking properly. A-Are you alright?" I felt as if my heart suddenly stopped.

"Why do you think I would not be fine? Of course. I think it is because I stumbled on the ground and both of my knees were badly affected." I tried closing my fists secretly as I faced her.

I am not planning to tell her what happened. It's a secret that me and my mom should only know about. What happened last night should be only kept to myself.

"I never thought you're that careless." She's a bit worried but frank at the same time."

"You know what? You're silly." I answered between chuckles.

"I hope you're doing fine." She held my hand again as if guiding me to sit down on one of the tables inside the library. She gently examined my bruises as she raised my skirt a bit. Good thing my skirt is two inches below my knee that's why it is somehow covered. She looked horrified and worried at the same time.

"Gosh, that looked terrible. Have you cleaned this already?" I bitterly chuckled as soon as I saw her reaction.

Honestly speaking, I can't even look at my knee because of the scars and bruises in one. I stopped dreaming of having a flawless, perfect skin because of my mom.

"Yup. Please don't worry, Hope. I am really fine. Don't look at me with the way I walk. This will just heal soon."

I heard her sigh as she looked me in the eyes again. I am avoiding it as much as possible because I don't want to accept sympathy from anyone. I don't want to think that my rival worries about me. That will only make me feel bad about myself. That would only make me think that I am weak and a crybaby.

"Maybe we should start studying so that we can go home early." I added as I stood up, making my way as quickly as I could to one of the library aisles. I can feel that Hope is quietly following me. I guess she understood that we need to focus this time. That we need to read books rather than talk in a whispery tone most of the time.

I glanced at her. When she caught me stealing a glance at her, she smiled right away. I hope she'll not think of it as my way of being sarcastic to her starting today.

Her reaction changed when she felt her phone vibrate from her pocket. "Excuse me," she mouthed at me. "Sure," I whispered back as I continued reading the book that I picked for studying. I saw her leaning on one of the library shelves as she hides herself at the sight of our librarian.

Good thing she has a natural, soft-spoken voice that's why speaking quietly is more of a skill for her. She held her phone on her left hand as her right covers the lower part of her phone.

"Yes," She said in a whispering tone as she nodded. She looked at me and smiled a bit. "Yeah, she's here, too." I was surprised when I realized I was the one that they meant. Is it Hope's father speaking to her?

"Wow! That's a relief, dad. Sure, I'll tell her right away. Please take care on your way here. Love you!" She ended the call right away. I was right, too.

"Gosh! Good thing dad was able to get the car from the repair shop just in time."

"That's a relief!" I exclaimed that some of the students shushed us from becoming noisy all of a sudden. We both giggled as quietly as we could. We also did a high-five.

"Daddy even asked if you're here with me. I told her we're still in the library. He told me that since we're only blocks away, we'll drop you off in front of your house."

Wow! Is this my lucky day today?