Novels by Ruphina Raphael

“So where did Mari say we should meet her”. I ask as I catch up with Andrea outside the Engineering building after my last lecture for the day”. “She just texted me to call her when we get to the basketball court”. She answers and then asks, “Didn’t she send you a text?” “I guess so. I couldn't tell my battery is flat”. “You forgot to charge your phone?” “Yeah, I slept off while reading that book. So are we going to take a shuttle or we should walk?” “I would prefer a shuttle so that we can get there quicker”. I only nod and flag down an approaching shuttle.I tell the driver —who is an elderly man— our destination and he agrees to take us there. There are a few passengers in the shuttle too.I and Andrea enter and we sit at the last

ANNALIA’S POVI go into the bathroom to perform my nightly routines. Matteo and Adrian had already left a few minutes back.Matteo had told me that after waiting for a while without seeing us and also calling back Andrea trying to get through but it wasn't reachable, they had decided to come search for us.Levi and Mariquita wanted to join them too but because of Mariquita’s test tomorrow, they prevented her from doing so and sent her with Levi to his place so that she could get some shuteye.They had to go pick up Mariquita from his place first and then go home.I giggle as I recall him telling me about how stubborn Mariquita was after she heard the idea of she going to Levi’s place. “She made a big fuss about it”. Matteo had said as he let out a big laugh.He and Adrian coming to search for us was the sweetest thing ever. Not everyone would have done

“Here, you should give me your bag, I'd help you carry it”. Annalia tells me as she releases me from her hold.I shake my head, obviously refusing. She still takes it from my shoulder anyway and I let her. I am too tired to struggle. “Your phone?” She asks as she spreads her palm. I look at my hand, forgetting that I still had the phone in my palm. “How about I just throw it away instead, so no one would be able to contact me. Then I'd move very far away from here. “Tsk, now you aren't making any sense right now. I understand that you are upset right now, but you shouldn't just spew anything you feel like”. She says softly and takes my phone from me, putting it inside the bag. “Now let's keep walking, we've got people waiting for us at home. That is if they haven't left yet”. She whispers the last part.W

ANDREA “You are right, you are the best”. I almost let out a short. “My grandfather would beg to differ”. I say sarcastically and give her a small smirk. She just smiles. “His opinion doesn't matter at all”.I don't say anything to her and look at the sky. “There is no moon tonight”. “Yeah just stars”. I say and we go silent, just looking at the sky. I take a glance at Annalia and look back at the sky smiling.She is right when she says that just by looking at the stars you instantly get comforted and feel relaxed.I feel her arm around me and I lightly rest my head on her shoulder.She raises her free hand and spreads her palm, closing it after a few seconds. I giggle at what she just did.She brings her closed palms near my face and opens it. I hear a sigh. &ld

“What is the matter with the both of you?” I ask as they occupy the vacant booth. “Oh, us, nothing at all”. Adrian says and goes on to pick a smoothie from the tray on the table.He takes a sip and then frowns. “Uhm Anna, this isn't what I asked for. You got me a different smoothie”. “What do you mean, isn't that your pineapple-coconut smoothie?” I ask visibly confused. I am sure that I bought one pineapple-coconut smoothie, especially for Adrian. The cups are all the same but have different straws and Adrian’s own has a blue straw. I remember because I had to keep his separately. I look at Mariquita’s smoothie and then at Andrea’s own. “Andrea, that's Addie’s smoothie you are taking”. I say and Adrian glares at Andrea.She looks up from Levi's phone which she is holding. ”Oh, no wonder it tasted pretty weird”. She says as she cringes. I let at out a laugh, so does Matteo and Mariquita. Levi just looks at us, not getting what is going on. “I know that you did this intentio

16 “Here is your jersey Annalia, welcome to ELITES FORCE volleyball team”. My coach says as he hands over the jersey to me and gives me a handshake. I take the jersey from him and shake his hand vigorously. “Thank you so much, sir. Thank you so so much”. I say with a lot of excitement, still managing to compose myself in front of him. “Here is our schedule, I hope that you'd follow through”. He hands me a piece of paper and my eyes scan through it. There are days for exercises and also days for practice. “You need to be on time for the exercises and also practice. Tardiness would not be tolerated at all”. He speaks to me without humour in his tone. I nod my head. “I will try my best sir...” He puts his hand up signalling me to stop my statement halfway. “I do not want you to ‘try’ your best Annalia, I want you to do more than your best. Do I make myself clear young lady?” “Yes sir, I will do more than my best”. “That’s more like it. You can leave now”. I gently le