~~~~~ CLASS >>>>>

Two hours later the lectures ended

All their classmates have left including Richard, Leo, Jack and Mason

Poppy and Oliver were the ones still remaining

Oliver sat down on his desk and bowed down his head on his table

Poppy who just got back from the washroom came back into the classroom to leave for her house but she saw Oliver still in class

She walked up to him and tapped his back

Oliver rose up his head, he was already his tears, his tears dripped like a tap water, his face was already puffy and reddish

Poppy was shocked to see him in that state, she opened her bag and took a handkerchief

She wiped his tears with the white handkerchief and draw a chair to his side and sat beside him

" I have been noticing you since morning, and your tears confirm my suspicions, what happened? Why are you crying?" She questioned

" It's nothing serious" He replied

" That's a lie, if it is not serious you won't be crying profusely, you can share your pains with me, I'm all here for you" She responded

" It's my mom, she has a brain tumor, he is in serious pains, she is in grade 3 and it's getting worst I don't want to lose  her" He replied and burst into uncontrollably tears

Poppy eyes flow with tears as well, she felt his pain

" Calm down Ollie, we will find a solution, and yes, my dad's hospital helps people who are in need of medical, I will ask my brother, he will be able to help....

" Just stop crying, everything will be okay, I know how it feels to lose someone special to us, nothing will happen to your mom" She added petting his back

She cleaned his tears again with the handkerchief and he stopped crying

" Thank you so much" He said and hugged her unexpectedly

She was stunned as his body met hers, she just tapped his back

He hugged her holding her hair tightly, his tears touched her dress but she was unbothered because she knew his pains

When he saw she felt uncomfortable

He broke the hug

" I'm so sorry, I should have.....

" I understand you don't have to explain" She said

" I need to go now my dad must be waiting for me" He replied and stood up with his bag

" I will like to see your mom, I will drop you home" She responded

" You can't go to my house" He quickly replied

" Why?" She asked

" It's because you won't like the environment, and you will be uncomfortable there" He replied

" That's not an excuse" She assured him

" Are you sure?" He asked

" Of course I'm sure, Shall we" She said

" Yes let's go" He faced her

And they both left the class to the parking lot, where they got into the car and they went out of the college premises

^^OLIVER'S HOUSE**

He lived in a rural area usually known as village

The streets was filled with beggars who slept on the floor

As the car approached the beggars ran to the car to beg for alms

Poppy was so pained, she couldn't believe her eyes

The beggars dressed in rags and tattered clothes, they looked like someone who hasn't bathed for many years

They faces was covered with dirt and shoes were all torned

The beggars rushed to the car, while some ran after their car for alms

She was emotional downcast, her face was full of sadness

She looked at Oliver who was also looking at her expression

" I told you before not to follow me here, this is not a place for you" He said

" We are all the same, they are human like us, but we rich people are selfish and mannerless, we should be helping them but the rich doesn't care about the less privileged people, they shouldn't be living on the streets like this" She said as tears flow from her eyes

" You are different from other rich people, you even became my friend knowing full where who I am" He replied

" I'm so unhappy about what I am seeing" She responded

" Everyone here is unhappy of their situation but they can't do anything about it" He said

" This is my house" He pointed at a small building

The house has a farming ranch land next to it

The building is covered unwanted weeds

Poppy and Oliver got down from the car and some beggars rushed to them but Oliver covered Poppy's body with his so they wouldn't touch or stain her dress

They were so close that they could feel their breath

Their eyes locked with each other, Oliver stared into her eyes feeling lost in it

When the beggars got nothing from them so they left

Oliver was still lost into her eyes then Poppy coughed out

" Ohh they left" Oliver said moving away from her

" Yes a while ago" She replied

" Let's go" He said and they both went up

When they got in,

The living room was small with just a mini tv and two chairs

They were living in a room self, they just have a room, living room and kitchen with a toilet

" You can sit down I will bring my dad" He replied dropped his bag on the chair and left for the room

Poppy sat down without caring about how the chair looks then she saw a picture of Oliver

She stood up and went towards the picture, when she got there she picked the picture up and grinned

It was a picture of when he was young

" He is more cute when he was younger" She said with a beaming smile

Then she heard a movement behind her, she dropped the picture down and turned back

" Good afternoon sir" She greeted

" Good afternoon daughter" Oliver's mother replied

" Dad, she is the friend I always talk about" Oliver responded

" I don't think I remember" Oliver's mother said

" Don't worry sir, you will get better soon" She replied and went closer to him

" You have a sweet voice" Oliver's mother said

" Thanks sir" She replied holding his hand

" I promise you sir, you will be okay soon" She added and smiled softly

Oliver grinned back at her

" I will be on my way sir" She said

" Thank care daughter, Oliver get her something to eat" Oliver's mother replied

Oliver escorted his mother into the room back

After some while Oliver came out

" You need to eat something before you leave" He said

" I'm already late, when next I come I will eat something" She replied and they both left

When they got outside Oliver opened the car door for her and she smiled and bided her farewell

She got into the car and her buddy drove off

As she was about to leave the environment, she saw a familiar face

She winds down her car window and she saw Richard distributing food items for to the beggars

She opened her down and got down

She approached him and he was surprised to see her

" What are you doing here?" He asked

He gave his driver the item to talk to Poppy

" I came here to drop Oliver, his house is not too far from here" She replied

" And what are you doing here?" She asked

" I always come here to distribute food items every month" He replied

" Wow that is amazing" She responded

" You should help me" He said and they both started giving the beggar many food items

After a while the package finished

" See you tomorrow in school" Poppy said

" See you too" Richard replied

They waved at each other and left in their various cars

➰➰➰➰

<<< EDWARD'S-EMPIRE** EVENING, 9PM**

Cindy was still in her office, working on the files

She checked the time but she ignored it because she was working on the last file

By 9:30pm she was done, she switched of the computer, carried her bag and left her office

^^^^^OUTSIDE~~~~

She got out of the building and a car halt at the front of her

The window was winded down and it was Maxwell

" You again" Cindy snapped

To be continued

" Yes me, get into the car" He said

" Is this a joke or what?" She asked

" It's late already and I just want to give you a lift" He replied

" How do you know I was here, are you a stalker?" She asked

" I told you I'm not a stalker