Chapter 6 LILIA'S PROPOSAL

• As usual as always, Lilia was in front of the school entrance, waiting for Aims' arrival when the school bus pulled up right in front of her. Just when she alighted, Lilia hugged her and swiftly asked.
• "How was your weekend dear? – Hope dad wasn't disturbed with what happened at the garden the last time?
• Aimscious smiled "No dear, everything is normal at home. Dad is already at the farm , busy as usual with his work– No need to get worked up with that incident." She answered, taking the lead as Lilia followed, adjusting her bag over her shoulder.
• "But hey, how is the family doing ?–Is mum gone ?" Aimscious asked just when she closed up on her.
• "No dear, she got things to do here so she's going to stay a little longer but hey..." She smiled. "You got to help me out with something."
• Her words instinctively caused her to pause in her steps. She deftly glanced back at the girl playing innocent beside her and feigned a smile to which Lilia smiled back with a sheepish grin.
• "You crazy girl , what are you up to this time? –I know you when you start sounding like this." Her expectant gaze kneely fixed on her which made her feign, shyly.
• "Well....you know, I told you about my crush on Mart" She begun but then, paused. "Um, I want you to help me propose to him." She added on an impulse which made Aimscious gasp, chocking on her words.
• Lilia spontaneously rubbed her back as she coughed. Finally getting a hold of herself, she exclaimed.
• "What?– tell me you are just joking" She stared into her eyes with a surprised look.
• "No, i'm not Aims– I'm serious here." She affirmed as she held her hand, begging. Aims wasn't so comfortable with it but didn't know what to do either. Lilia was her best and closest friend, whom she wouldn't like to hurt or let her down. Disagreeing to help was definitely a no, option for her.
• " Okay, dear girlfriend– tell me what your Highness want me to do for her." She mumbled with a bow.
• Lilia happily hugged her. " Yes ! " She sequel with laughter and Aimscious laughed.
• "Okay, so..." She begun but then, the bell suddenly rang. "Oh shit!" She cried
• "Okay, will tell you what to do later but hey thanks. Let go before Miss. Precious comes around, you know what it means right?" She swiftly added and they both giggled and rushed off to the class.
• Just when they approached the entrance, they met Mart who was also yet to join the class.
• "Hey Mart!" Aims instinctively called, drawing his attention on them. Lilia instantly froze, blushing.
• "Hi, Aims– Li, how are you?" He answered with an infectious smile as he paused, waiting at the entrance. Aimscious spontaneously pinched Lilia from her day dream just when they closed up on him.
• "Ouch .... " She shouted, glancing back at Aimscious. "What's that for?–why did you pinch me so hard?" She cried.
• Ignoring her question with a sheepish smile, she turned to Mart and answered. "Fine Mart and you?" Her voice was pitched high with a chuckle.
• "Never mind, Lilia here– Come on, let's get in before our teacher comes to meet us here." She hinted.
• Mart nodded his approval and they all sauntered in with Mart, a distance ahead.
• "Gosh, Aims– what you did was so embarrassing. Why do that infront of him" Lilia whispered and didn't spare sharing an accusing gaze which made her shutter with a sheepish smile.
• "Sorry" She eluded, which brought Mart's gaze on them. They all just smiled and settled in their respective desk. Lilia turned to Aims and said , 
• " Don't forget, I'll get back at you for the pinch–that was so embarrassing."
• Aims looked back at her teasingly and settled in her desk. Soon, their teacher arrived and the class went silent .
• In an hour time, the bell rang for lunch break. Their teachers voice finally echoed her last announcement.
• " Class is over but don't forget next week is cultural heritage so from tomorrow, you'll be divided into groups to prepare. bye."
• Everyone became happy with the announcement which threw the class in a rumpus with some jumping all over with joy and others, chatting.
• Cultural heritage is one of the annual school programs, where they dress in their various traditional attire, perform and exhibit various cultural values like, dance, traditions etc.
• There was going to be activities like ,poetry recitals, 
• drama and dance.
• " Is so much fun to witness these activities–I can't wait to be part of this, next week" Aimscious stated. With the said of that, Lilia pulled her out of the class, all cheerful.
• "Aims, you promised to help me out with my proposal." She finally announced.
• Yeah, yeah , I did but take your time. What's the rush for?" She affirmed.
• Soon they arrived at the Canteen and settled over an empty table close to the window.
• "So what's your plan?" Aimscious was the first to talk. Lilia instinctively leaned over the table which made her hunch over as well.
• " Ok, so this is what you do– You tell Mart to come meet you at the volleyball court after school and then give this card to him." She handed over a white envelop to her.
• "I will take it from there" Aimscious swiftly glanced at the thing in her hand and back at her friend.
• "Is that all you need?"
• "Yeah" she nodded with a smile. 
• "Okay dear, I'll do it for you but you owe me an ice cream for that."
• She teased, playing with her cheeks. They all bursted with laughter.
• "Let eat now, I'm already starving" Aimscious added.
• After eating , they went back to their class. 
• Aimscious went to Mart over his desk, gave the card to him and returned to her desk without uttering a word.
• "What is this ? He asked, gazing at Aims' direction.
• "I don't know, someone asked me to give it to you. And hey, I nearly forgot, please kindly escort me to the volleyball court after class , will you?"
• Without hesitation, he sharply answered with a broad smile. "Yeah I will dear."
• Aims on the other hand, didn't know why he was so happy about that but became glad, at least he made her work much simple and easier.
• Soon school was over, Aims hastily glided over to Mart who was still packing up his stuff into his bag.
• "Mart , shall we?" She asked.
• "Yeah, I'm all done here" He quickly replied.
• She turned to Lilia who was watching from a distance and blinked a signal– Lilia hastened out without a word.
• Mart followed Aims to the volleyball court. When they got to the entrance , she asked him to take the lead as she excused herself to quickly attend to something.
• VOLLEYBALL COURT
• Aimscious stood in a corner at the court, watching him. He looked a little deserted with quick glances around as he got to the middle of the court, confused. Soon, Aims saw Lilia approaching him with a parcel. She watched them quietly without making a sound.
• "Hi, Mart" She smiled as he closed up on him. He looked a bit surprised but swiftly masked it up, returning her smile.
• "I'm glad you came." Lilia added which verbalised his confusion.
• " Well... I don't understand anything now? It was Aims who asked me to escort her here so how come you are here?"
• "Um..." She stuttered with a sheepish grin, her lips curved in a half smile. " Actually, I was the one who asked her to bring you here– I just wanted to express my feeling towards you." She explained, not waiting for him to say a word, she swiftly added.
• "I ... love... you ... Mart."
• The court was suddenly thrown into a state of complete silence which lasted for almost a minute. Mart, after recovering from his shock, slowly broke the silence.
• " I understand how you feel Li but i'm sorry to tell you this– i don't feel the same way you do towards me. I only take you as a friend and a sister. That's all; sorry for making you misinterpret my love. I already love someone else." He explained.
• "No, Mart, I can't let anyone have you– I really do love you. Please.." She stuttered, near tears.
• "Please, let's stop talking about this. It's already late– let's go home now. I'm sure your dad is already her to pick you"
• Not waiting for her to say anymore, he turned to leave. Lilia stared at his back with burning rage.
• " Are you walking out on me because of that bitch!– Who's she!; What does she have that I can't give you?" She barked which made Mart pause in his steps, his gaze swiftly traveled back at her.
• "Don't you dare call her a bitch, Lilia – Is Aimscious I love and not you so please, respect my love for her. She may not be as wealthy as you but that's what my heart seek for." He drummed home his point and stormed out. Lilia gazed at his back in tears.
• With shock, Aims quickly dashed out of the court and joined her siblings for the bus; completely lost in thought of what she just heard and witnessed;
• She never knew all along Mart had a crush on her. She finally understood why he was so happy to accompany her to the court when she hinted.
• On the bus, she saw Li, coming out of the court in tears as she raced to the gate where her dad use to park. Aims was so shuttered and started crying. Nicole and Betty who shared seats with her instinctively held her worriedly and asked.
• "Why, Aims , what's wrong with you?– Why are you crying?"
• All she could do was just drown in tears without uttering a word. She spontaneously hugged them and buried her face in their embrace.
• "Hey, what's going on?" Nicole asked again, gazing up at Betty who just shrugged. Noticing she wasn't ready to talk, they allowed her pour out her heart in tears.
• The bus pulled over at their house and they alighted. Aims fled into her room , locked the door and cried all night.