Ahsid was late for her tuition but thankfully, there wasn't much of a hue and cry about it. At class, she could not seem to pay any attention. Her mind wandered off to the accident, Dane and his katana and the world hidden before their eyes. She looked at her friends around her. Did they even know how some people were probably protecting them from harm and their services would never be appreciated? Would Ethan or Allison turn their backs on this hidden world? Would.....

"Ahsid, would you please tell me the answer to this question?"

Ahsid jerked up.

"I..."

The teacher looked at her.

"Yes, I know you weren't paying attention. I did not expect such tardiness from you. Let's see how you solve this question."

"Sir, could you please repeat the question?"

The class burst out laughing.

"Ahsid, the question is on the board."

More giggles erupted. Ahsid felt her face turning red.

What happens when a ketone and isopropyl alcohol are reacted in the presence of aluminium tertiary butoxide? Of all the days, Professor Smith had to ask her.

She cleared her throat," A secondary alcohol and acetone are formed as there is a hydride transfer and formation of a coordinated bond. It is basically an MPV reduction."

The class was shell shocked.

Professor Smith replied,"We were discussing this problem for about half an hour, child. But you just simply gave the answer."

Ahsid gave a weak smile. "Oh, I was actually paying attention, Sir."

"Well, I don't know what to think anymore about you,"rued the Professor,"and try to at least look as if you are listening."

When class got over, she hurried away to catch some transport.

"Hey, Ahsid..."called out Ethan.

"Oh, hey!"

"You did some amazing damage control there."

Ahsid gave a weak grin.

"So, can you tell me what's bothering you?"

"Bothering me? Nothing's bothering me."

Ethan sighed. "Fine, maybe you will tell me later."

Ahsid looked gratefully at Ethan. "Thank you, really, Ethan."

He nodded and let her go, fully aware that Ahsid was just not in the right mood.

"Where were you? Not one call, not one text as to where you were," roared Mrs Ejrehkum.

"I am sorry Mom, I.."

"Enough Ahsid, we care for you so much and have given you a lot of freedom. We expect at least one call as to where you are and you deliberately switched off your phone."

"Dad, I forgot. I had things on my mind." Ahsid cursed inwardly. Perhaps Dane had fiddled with her cell.

"Sure, soon you will forget us too," chided her Mum.

"Mom...."

"Enough, Ahsid, you tell us where you were."

"In tuition. Where else would I go?"

"Weren't you with Sienna?"

Ahsid bit her lip.

"We came separately."

"Well, she is in the hospital. She hasn't woken up yet. There was an accident."

Ahsid feigned surprise. But the next words were a bombshell.

"Her parents said that she was with you in the bus."

Ahsid vehemently denied this. "No Dad, Sienna's parents are wrong. I changed my mind at the last minute."

Ahsid could not tell her parents the truth. If they came to know about Dane, they would think something was off and forbid her from leaving the house. She just could not tell them that she too had been a victim. How was she to explain the absence of any bruise? How was she to explain that she did not want to hurt them and could take care of herself?

"Just go,"said her mother.

Why did they never listen to her? Ahsid found tears trying to evade her eyes. She stayed in her room the entire evening. She called up Emily to chat with her but ended up listening about Emily's silly boyfriend problems. Frustrated by the lack of a listener and being unable to vent her feelings, Ahsid found herself crawled up in the corner of her verandah, weeping profusely, waiting for twelve o'clock. She swore silently to herself.

It was difficult to go on...