Chapter 18: Loss

When Tifara reentered the city, she scanned her surroundings with a frown. She felt a little disappointed when Saul didn't show up to reunite with her. Man…I can't believe Saul isn't with me today, she thought, looking down below her. I wonder if he was still with Calpurnia or what? If he was, what were he and Calpurnia doin' there? Now really I have to know that.

She continuously fought through the crowd until she bumped into David's uncle exiting the small caffeine store. "Ah!" She looked up at him and touched him. "Oh, I'm so sorry, sir. It was my fault. I should've paid attention to my surroundings."

David's uncle turned to Tifara and just raised his hand near his face. "Oh, it's alright, ma'am. I'm just as guilty as you are, as I didn't pay attention to my surroundings either. So don't worry about it."

After he opened his eyes, he recognized her face. "Hey, you're that kid from yesterday, right?"

"Mhn," Tifara responded, shaking her head.

"Well, then how are you?"

"I'm doin' fine, sir. How are you?"

"I'm doing fine as well." David's uncle noticed Saul wasn't present with Tifara, wondering where he went. "Hey, weren't you with that boy yesterday?"

Tifara widened her eyes and opened her eyes broad. "Ah!" Then she closed her mouth and moved her eyes left, crossing her arms with a frown. "He was for the past two days but he didn't show up this evening."

David's uncle frowned at Tifara and placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. I'm sure you'll get to walk with him tomorrow."

Tifara turned to David's uncle and uncrossed her arms, smiling at him. "Yea, of course I will, sir."

"And may I ask you a couple questions before I return to the bookstore?"

"Why, yes, sure. Anything."

"My nephew told me that you and David didn't get along with one another in your Homeroom Period class. Is that true?"

Tifara sighed and moved her eyes left. "That…is unfortunately true. I tried to get along with him and be his friend, yet he stubbornly refuses to do so."

"Uh-huh. I see…" He took a look around sideways and leaned forward, whispering, "and did you really show off your panties at school?"

"Ah!" Tifara's eyes widened and her cheeks reddened when she heard that. "Oh, no-no-no! Not at all, sir!" She placed her hands forward and moved her hands sideways a couple times. "You see…" Tifara looked sideways and leaned forward, explaining everything in a whisper.

David's uncle shook his head in understanding. "Oh, I see…now I understand you. Look, I'll try to get David to befriend you and be nice to you."

Tifara widened her eyes. "Oh, really? You really mean that? I mean, I'll be happy to become David's friend."

"Oh, yea. I really mean it. I believe you're not a bad person as people say you are."

"Oh, thank you, sir!" Tifara exclaimed.

"No problem, Tifara!" David's uncle waved his hand at Tifara, while crossing the street.

Tifara widened her eyes when she saw an incoming car heading towards David's uncle. She took a couple steps and put her hand out forward. "Sir, look out!"

"Huh?!" David's uncle curiously asked, quickly turning to the car when the car lights were shining on him.

But Tifara was too late. The car hit David's uncle and pushed him hard to the ground. People around her were walking towards him, either taking pictures or recording the event, chattering with one another.

Tifara quickly ran towards him and kneeled down on the ground. She frowned at and shook him, when he didn't move a muscle, lying there with his eyes closed. "Sir?! Sir?! Siiiir?!"

But David's uncle didn't hear Tifara's cry. She gave him her blank stare before she turned to the crowd. "Somebody call the ambulance, please! Somebody call the ambulance! Someone's life is in immediate danger!"

She turned to him one last time before the ambulance arrived. She screamed sir a couple times. But he still hadn't answered her and remained unconscious.

Once the ambulance arrived to pick up David's uncle, she stood there and watched the ambulance leave with David beside his uncle. Poor David, she thought with a frown. I hope his uncle gets healed soon. I'll pray for him when I return home.

"Tifara!" Yulogia's voice shouted to her right.

"Huh? Yulogia?" Tifara curiously turned left and saw Yulogia and her parents run towards her.

As soon as they got to her, they gave her a group hug. Tifara stood there for a moment before she hugged them back. Then the hug was broken up and Tifara and her family stared at one another.

"Tifara, are you okay?!" Her mother asked.

"Yea, I'm fine, ma," Tifara responded. "How do you guys know where I am? I was 'bout to head home."

"We saw you on social media." Her father stated, pulling out his smartphone from his pocket, showing Tifara an online video. "Look!"

Tifara leaned forward and watched the video. "Oh…I see…" she then returned to her parents. "Mom, dad. Can I visit one of my classmate's uncle in the hospital tomorrow after school? I want to make sure if he's okay or not."

This is my greatest opportunity to get David to become my friend. His uncle said he'll get David to become my friend, and David will be there to visit him. I'm gonna make sure he's okay and is surviving the car crash. I want to get rid of David's loneliness. I gotta do this, y'know, she thought with her determined look on her face.

Tifara's parents looked at one another, then returned their attention to their daughter. "We'll see," Tifara's mother said, studying her surroundings, placing her hand on Tifara's arm. "We better get goin' and head home now, before the local news comes over to bother us."

"And once we get home, Tifara," her mother added. "We'll pray for that man who suffered from the car crash earlier tonight."

"Mhn." Tifara shook her head. As she, Tifara and the rest of the family head back home, Tifara's mother held her hand onto her arm while she chatted with her husband. Yulogia frowned when she stared at her sister. Then she returned her attention forward, when Tifara moved her eyes right with a frown.

Poor, David. First, he's lonely. And now his uncle's in critical condition, she thought when she looked up at the sky. I'm sure Elohim will help him survive through it.

****

When the fourth day of school arrived and the school bell rang, some students remained outside of the school building, and others including Tifara and her friends headed their way for the cafeteria. Sam and Dalila chatted with one another and focused on their surroundings concerning Tifara back and forth. May patted on her best friend's arm while she glared at those who behaved the same towards Tifara as before.

Tifara put her head down, gripped onto her necklace and closed her eyes tightly. Dear Lord, please help me, she thought as she lifted her head up, looking around with her serious, determined look on her face. She didn't allow rude people to put her down.

May turned to Tifara and smiled when she noticed Tifara's determined face. She returned to the crowd with her serious face. Alright, Tifara. Keep goin', she seriously thought. Elohim has got ya covered, so keep your faith in Him-and Him alone.

Tifara scanned her surroundings until her eyes spotted something that made her quietly gasp, widen her eyes and open her mouth. No freakin' way! Tifara thought with her twitchy eyes. It can't be! She saw Saul chatting and laughed with Calpurnia, while he walked towards the cafeteria.

I can't believe Calpurnia's with Saul…again…ugh! I literally can't believe Calpurnia's puttin' her grimey hands on my Saul! She angrily thought, glaring at Calpurnia. Well, jus' you wait until I make that dickhead pay. You'll see, Calpurnia. You'll-

"Awwwe, Calpurnia's with my Saul! No fair!" May cried when she frowned at Saul and Calpurnia.

Ah! What?! Tifara thought, leaning back, putting her hands out forward, opening her mouth. Oh, no-no-no! Not you too, May! I'm goin' to get you too! Jus' you watch!

When May turned to Tifara, she gave Tifara her condescending smirk on her face with her eyes closed. Tifara glared and growled at May. Oh! That's it! I'm ready to smack the shit out of that bitch!

Sam noticed this when he turned to what the girls were staring at and snapped, "Oh, no you guys don't!" Tifara and May turned to Sam.

"W-What do ya mean, Sam?!" Tifara asked. "We didn't do anything wrong. Honest."

"Oh, yea, sure," Sam said. "If y'all hadn't done anything wrong, why are y'all fightin' over Saul again?! I literally saw y'all gettin' ready to fight one another!"

"Well…um…uh…" Tifara and May tried to come up with an excuse, yet failed to come up with one.

"Look, when we get to the cafeteria, we will make sure we'll sit far away from those two. And I'll do anything I can to prevent y'all from even lookin' at him! I won't allow y'all to start fightin' over him, got it?!" Sam roared.

"Got it…" Tifara and May guiltily responded, putting their heads down.

"Good," Sam said as he turned to the cafeteria. "We're here."