Corn Poppy

AZALEA’S POV

Daffy was having his meal when I rushed in like a mad creature. Relief plunged me as I hugged him tightly.

I’m so happy he’s fine or how else should I continue to live my life without him?

“Sis”  He tapped my back and I released him. “Why are you crying? Is this my first surgery?”

I beat his back lightly, “Did you know how worried I was? I thought something must’ve happened you I”

My voice caught in my throat and guilt enveloped  me. A flash of that man’s cold, intense eyes invaded my mind. Fear tightened its grip around my heart, *Were you worrying about him when you had a crazy sex with that man you just killed?* My mind asked but I couldn’t answer.

“Lea!” Daffy snapped to my face jerking me awake. I have been hallucinating. How on earth can I get that man out of my brain.

I groaned. Daffy looked at me with a strange expression, “Lea what happened to you?”

I quickly composed myself, I can’t get Daffy worrying about me when he’s the one with heart disease, “I’m just a little bit out of it, it’s nothing”

He scooped the rice into his mouth as he asked, “I heard you were here yesterday but you disappeared when they ask you to go get medicine”

I coughed. “What?” How do I tell Daffy what I saw when I go get the medicine? No.

I forced a grin, hoping I would look more confident than the panic bubbling inside of me, I patted him, “You see I actually…..”

“You don’t have any cash on you that’s why you ran away?” Daffy interrupted making me stared at him with wide eyes. How can he just assume that? But it worked well for this situation so I quickly laughed in agreement, “Yes, Yes, I’m very short if money lately and”

I stopped. I had to tell Daffy the truth. I opened my mouth to breathe out those words that *I murdered someone* my eyes suddenly caught the beeping machine beside him.

I can’t say it. His condition is still critical, how can I such a thing? Painstakingly, I swallowed it back. Just then, Daffy’s phone beside the bed rang and he picked it. I was still celebrating the lie well fed  when he tossed the phone at me.

“Who?”

“Sis Poppy”

Damn!!! Poppy’s gonna fuckin kill me. “Hi Poppy, I….”

“Prepare your own funeral if you’re not here in the next 30 minutes before the class!” She commanded immediately and ended the call.

I glanced at Daffy, hoping he would understand. “I have to go now. I forgot to do Poppy’s assignment before rushing off yesterday”

“Does she still treat you that way?” Daffy sounded very sad. “Don’t worry, when I get out of hospital, we’ll go live alone then you won’t have to depend on her anymore”

My heart squeezed. I hugged him and turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.  “Promise me you’ll stay out of trouble sis. I can’t live alone without you, Promise me Lea?”

My heart thumped with emotions. Can I really promise that I won’t be in trouble?  “Daffy, I’m late for class, let’s talk later”

I held my tears as I walked hurriedly out of the hospital. I can’t promise. I don’t trust myself.

-PYRAMID COLLEGE-

“Well, Well,  if this isn’t my dear baby sister, to whom do I owe this pleasure?” Poppy’s voice echoed behind me as I got to the library scrambling to finish her assignments before the class.

I turned around immediately, “Poppy  I’m so sorry something….”

“Something came up so you have to get me some penalty points right?” She hissed. “Am I  responsible for your sick brother? I feed and let you live with me, is this what you do to repay me?”

I felt small before her and bowed my head in shame. Her bully friends walked in and joined the tirade, “Pops is your sister misbehaving? Did you want us to teach her a lesson?”

I looked up immediately with fear, “I’ll get the assignments done right now” I pleaded. Getting bullied is something I never want to experience in my school years.

Doing Poppy’s class assignment and copying notes for her is enough, all these bullies can actually push one to the brink of madness, I don’t want to get involved.

Poppy felt superior as she crossed her hand over chest and walked around me in circles while her bully friends pull my hair harshly. I could only bow my head and wait for their verdict. Still on this, one of them suddenly yanked my shirt and brushed her hand across my chest. I froze.

 She laughed arrogantly, “Girls you can’t believe Lea is not wearing a bra!”

My heart slammed. What the hell….? I was wearing one right? What on earth happened in that old mansion, I had been so shaken, I’d even forgot my bra?

Poppy and the other laughed, “Lea, did you really go to Daffy yesterday or you went somewhere else?”

“What?”  I jerked up when I heard this. “Em…. I..actually….”

“You actually used Daffy as an excuse to go meet your boyfriends?”  She barked, “So who gave you those love bites huh? Don’t tell me it’s from a nurse or a ghost from the morgue?” Poppy sneered.

I slowly touched my neck through the embarrassment and realized the marks the vampire I murdered were still on me.

In that moment I feel like crying. What will happen to me if the police comes for me later?

Poppy would only encourage them to take me away while Daffy might actually die in the hospital.

“Poppy, I….”

“Can you just say something and stop your I, I,I.?” Her friend yelled making panic raise to my tongue.

“I didn’t go to any boy” I lied, “Yesterday I was with Daffy until nightfall and I slept at the reception where I got these mosquito bites on me”

Lying was the only way out of it. If Poppy finds out the truth  or worse the police, I could loose everything, my mind, my dreams, and Daffy.

Poppy snapped to my face, “All thanks to you, I got whooping five penalty points!” She hissed, “A mosquito in a hospital?” Scoffs, “Lie all you want, I will soon catch you and your puppy lover” this being said, she walked away with her friends.

I packed the books to go get ready for class too. I missed all class yesterday, I can’t afford to miss another one today.  

I sighed and walked out of the library. A few steps to the class, my phone vibrated. I checked the message which reads; “DEAR CUSTOMER, YOUR LOAN REMAINS UNPAID. PAY IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID LEGAL ACTIONS”

Another wave of panic surged through me. Debt. Another problem.