"Hey." Janice called while we are heading towards the waiting area outside the school.
"Hmm?" I asked.
"Can you walk now without any support?" She asked that made me confuse.
"Huh? Why? Do you want to leave now to watch Angelo?" I asked which made her frown.
"Are you crazy? Of course not. I won't leave you here alone. I'm just asking because for sure, if tita Miel learn about this, she may get mad." She explained.
She's right. Mom will get mad for sure.
"I forgot about that." I said then I hit my forehead.
"So, what are you planning to do?" She asked then she helped me sit in the bench when we arrived here in the waiting area.
"I actually haven't thought of any alibi yet." I answered then I looked at her. "I can't tell her the truth because that would make things worse." I added.
"Yeah, probably." She said then she heaved a sigh.
"I'll try to stand up alone." I said then I immediately stand up.
"Hey!" Janice shouted then she immediately stood up then she went towards me and held my arm to support me. "Be careful." She worriedly said.
"Don't worry." I said then I removed her hand in my arm.
"Just watch there. I'll try to walk alone. If something happens, that's when you're allowed to went closer to me. Okay?" I said but I saw her face, she's hesitant.
"Hey.. It's just a bruise. My leg hurts but I think I can walk now unlike a while ago. Besides, I trust you." I said that made her calm down.
"Okay." She said then she slowly went back to the bemch where she was sitting a while ago.
"Here we go." I said then I started to walk slowly.
I can manage to walk alone already. However, I can't stand to walk for a long time because every time that I'm stepping my right foot on the floor, my leg will suddenly hurt so I can't walk properly but I'm trying my best not to be so obvious about it.
"It's good that you can walk alone now but you still seems to having a hard time whenever you're stepping your right foot on the floor." Janice commented.
"It's okay." I said then I walk towards her. "I'll just stay in my room for the whole day and will treat this wound with an ice. I hope this will get better soon." I added. I was about to sit next to Janice when my driver came.
"He's here. Go on." She said then she helped me with my things.
We walk towards our family car. On the other hand, mang jose went out of the car and opened the door for me then we took my things from Janice.
"Thank you, ma'am." He said to Janice then he bowed at her.
"No worries." Janice said.
"Thank you, Janice. See you tomorrow." I said then I hugged her before getting in side the car.
Mang Jose went to the driver's seat then he started the car, a sign that we're going home already so I opened the window beside me and waved my hand to Janice. She waved back too, then she smiled at me.
You can do it, Miel.
**********************
"Mom! I'm home." I said when I entered our house.
"Oh, darling! You're here." She said then she went towards me that made me concious.
Thankfully, my school uniform is a bit longer than the usual length. It covered atleast half pf my bruise in my leg.
"Hi, mom!" I said then I kissed her in her cheek.
"I baked some cupcakes. Do you want to taste it?" She asked which made me excited.
"Really?!" I said with a sparkling eyes.
I really love pastries. However, mom's not good in baking because what she's good at is cooking main dishes so she often bake pasties to practice it. She wants to make good pastries whenever I'm craving so I will not buy on the bakeries outside anymore.
"Yup. Come and taste it." She said. She held me in my wrist and she dragged me in the kitchen out of excitement and it was hell. My face crumbled like a piece of paper. My leg hurts like hell.
"Here." Mom said then she faced me making me stop from frowning.
"Y-yeah. It looks delicious, Mom." I said.
"I really think that it's delicious too." She said then she took a cupcake with a chocolate icing then she took off its paper before giving it to me. "Here." she said then she lend me the cupcake.
I took it then I took a bite in it and.... I like it. She's already improving. Unlike her first try that I can't even stand on eating it because it tast bitter. She probably put something too much that made it taste like that. Anyway, What's important is now. It's really delicious
"How was it?" Mom asked excitedly.
"Hmmmm." I said while still chewing the cupcake.
"Hmmm?" She said, patiently waiting for my answer.
"It taste just fine." I answered.
"Huh? But Nani Lena said that it's delicious!" She complained.
"Of course she will tell you that so she won't hurt your feelings and won't get fired." I explained which made her frown.
"Nani Lena!" She shouted which made me surprise.
"Mom!" I called her while laughing.
"What?" She asked irritatedly. I was about to tell her that I'm just kidding when nani lena came.
"Yes, ma'am Mariella?" Nani lena called then she immediately bowed at mom so Mom looked at her seriously.
"Miel said that it's not delicious. Did you lie to me a while ago?" She asked.
"Huh? It's really delicious, Ma'am Mariella." Nani Lena defended herself.
"Mom!" I said then I held her in her arm. "I'm just kidding it's really delicious." I said.
"What?" She said then she glared at me. "You little brat!" She hissed then she jokingly strangled me using her arms.
"Did you know that I'm doing my best to make a perfect cupcakes just for you but all I got is you making fun of me?" She complained.
"I'm j-just kidding, Mom." I said while laughing. However, I accidentally stamped my right foot on the floor out of joy. I frowned in so much pain but I tried to remain standing.
"M-mom I want to eat more cupcakes." I said to make her stop because if she continue strangling me, my knees might give up and she'll notice my bruise.
"You like my cupcakes huh?" She said then she let go of me. "Go on. Eat more. I made all of this for you." She said then caressed my hair.
I forced a smile to her and took a cupcake to eat it. I am sweating hard because of what happened and mom is staring at me while I'm eating. It's like she noticed that something's wrong and she's figuring out what is it.
"Can you make red velvet next time, mom?" I asked to get her attention.
"I will." She plainly said.
"Ok---"that's if you'll tell me where the hell did you get this bruise." Mom interrupted then she held my arm.
"Let's go to the living area." She said then she helped me walk towards the Living room.
"Nani Lena, please get me an icepack." Mom ordered when we arrived in the living room.
"Yes, ma'am." Nani Lena said then she immediately went to the kitchen.
"Sit." Mom said then she helped me sit in the couch.
"What happened?" She asked worriedly.
"I-I just got an accident. But I am fine, mom." I answered.
"What accident?" She asked while looking at my leg.
"T-theres a bucket above the cubicle in the restroom and it fell on my leg that's why I got this." I explained.
"It's swelling." She said. "Does it hurt?" She asked.
"Y-yes." I answered.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked with her sad face.
"I just don't want you to worry. I'm sorry, Mom." I said then I looked down.
I'm really sorry, Mom. I lied. I just can't tell you about this. I don't want to get things worse.
"It's okay." She said.
"Ma'am, here's the icepack." Nani Lena suddenly said when she arrived here.
Mom took the icepack and ordered Nani Lena to continue doing what she's doing. Now, mom is looking at my leg again. She placed the icepack there softly. Then she looked at me.
"Are you really sure that it's just an accident?" She asked, still not fully convinced.
"Y-yes, Mom." I said then I smiled at her to ease her mind.
"Okay. But if I learned that there are students who are bullying you, I'll kick them out of the school immediately and without hesitation. It's mine, anyway." She declared while treating my wound.
"Okay, Mom." I simply said. It's all that I can say anyway.
"Okay. I'll help you go to your room. Let's go. You need to rest. We'll eat dinner in your room later." She said then she helped me get up.
She was holding my hand the whole time till we get inside my room. She helped me lay down in my bed then she sat beside my leg and she treated it again with the icepack.
"You can rest, now darling." She said so I closed my eyes till I fell asleep.