“Stop denying it, Marga. That letter came from you, right? Tell me what else you know. I want to know the truth! You åttaçked me near the stairway. Why are you acting like you’re the one who’s badly hurt?”
Robert asked his daughter what she had gone to do at Carlos’ house since they had made plans to have dinner together. Cassie told her father that she had gone there to ask Carlos about something urgent.
“I was even going to tell you about it but…”
“But what?” Robert asked. “You went to ask him? Is it about the past again? How many times do we have to talk to you before you listen us?”
Cassie bowed her head down.
“If you’ll keep going out without asking for permission,” Robert went on. “And going against what we agreed on. If you’ll keep behaving that way, then I guess it’ll really be better for us to leave.”
“I don’t want to leave, dad,” Cassie pleaded.
“What?”
“I don’t want to leave, dad,” Cassie repeated.
“Cassie,” Mina admonished. “Please.”
“It’s final,” Robert declared. “Am not going to change my mind.”
Cassie gave her father a dumbfounded look. “You’re still making us leave even though I said I don’t want to go? Dad, aren’t you going to ask me why I don’t want to?”
“Cassie, I listened to you. I tried to understand. Now it’s your turn. To listen to me. And try to understand. This is for your own good.”
Cassie was crying now. “If you were really thinking about me, dad, then you wouldn’t insist on making us leave because that’s not what I want.”
“Cassie, that’s enough,” Mina admonished. “We shouldn’t be fighting. This will never get fixed if we keep talking to each other like this.” Mina asked Cassie to go to her room, and she went upstairs without another word.
In their bedroom, Mina tried to reason with Robert that it would be hard for Cassie to suddenly leave the country. She asked her husband to try and understand since she would lose her friends. Robert told Mina that it wouldn’t be a problem because she could make new friends there.
“I wish it was that easy,” Mina worried. “Lövê, she’ll find herself in a new environment. Let’s try to be calm in convincing her to agree to what we want.”
“Alright,” Robert agreed. “Let’s think about the best thing to do.”
Esther came in and handed Robert the documents she had found in Cassie’s room.
“How’s she doing, nanny?” Mina asked.
“She’s still not talking,” Esther revealed. “But don’t worry. Just give her a little time.”
Robert went through the documents and he was shocked.
“What is it?” Mina asked.
Robert showed her the torn document. “Cassie’s passport.”
The next morning, Cassie was all dressed up and ready for school. She was staring at the cryptic note in her room.
Robert barged in. “Cassie, what did you…”
Cassie quickly hid the note behind her.
Robert stared at her for a while. “What’s that?” he asked.
Cassie was silent, her head bowed down.
“Hand it over,” Robert ordered.
“Someone gave me a letter at school, dad,” Cassie said.
“Give it to me.”
Slowly, Cassie handed the note to her father.
Robert read it. “Cassie, what is this?” he asked. “First, you ruin your passport.”
Cassie noticed the torn passport, and she stared at it in horror.
“Now you wrote a letter so we couldn’t go,” Robert added. “Why?”
“Dad.” Cassie took the passport from her father and checked it out. “I didn’t ruin my passport. And am telling you the truth. Someone gave me the letter at school.”
Robert was doubtful. “Cassie, you don’t need to lie again. Am trying to understand you.”
Cassie was hurt by his father’s words. “Dad, it’s the truth,” she said. “Why do you choose to believe the worst in me? Am openly telling you that I don’t want to go for you to reconsider so why would I destroy my passport or make up a silly story?”
“Cassie…”
“I will go now, dad,” Cassie cut in. “I’m going to be late for school. Excuse me.”
Cassie asked her friends in school whether they had seen the person who had put the note in her locker. LJ told her that she had asked around but no one had seen anyone near her locker at that time. Fatima mentioned that someone could have slid it into her book in class.
Alvin came over. “I’m sorry but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” he began. “I think I know something about it.”
“What is it, Mr. Vin?” Cassie asked.
“I was in the locker area at that time, and I saw a girl.”
“Who’s that girl? Did you recognize her?”
“Um, she was pretty with wavy hair and very big eyes. And a bit rude.”
“Is it Marga?” Cassie said to herself. “Are you sure?” she asked Alvin.
“Uh, yes I am.”
Cassie showed him a photo of Marga on her phone. “Is this her?”
“Yes, that’s her. It’s her.”
At the Bartolome house, Daniela asked Carlos if some friends had visited him yesterday since there was some leftovers.
“I didn’t invite anyone over,” Carlos replied. “But Cassie did come over.”
“What? Cassie came here and you didn’t tell me? Why did you let her in here?”
“Cassie’s visit was unexpected. There was nothing I could have done. But she immediately left after Romina arrived.”
Daniela chuckled. “Of course. The mother had to show up too.”
“Will you please stop it, Daniela? The kid’s got a problem. Let’s just help her out.”
“Carlos, Cassie is the problem. She’s the center of it. Let’s stay away and let them handle their own problems.”
Cassie walked around campus with her friends. Fatima asked Cassie whether she believed Mr. Vin’s story.
LJ mentioned that it could probably be true. “Knowing Marga, if she could report a mosquito biting her, she could have done it,” LJ joked.
“Or she might have reported it to the principal but she got ignored,” Fatima added playfully. Both girls laughed. “Cassie, you aren’t laughing at our jokes anymore,” Fatima pointed out.
“Sorry Fatima,” Cassie said. “Am still thinking about what Mr. Vin told me. I just met him. Why would I believe him right away?”
“Well, you have a point,” LJ agreed.
“Also, it’s like he’s been following me,” Cassie revealed. “He was following me at the locker room area too. And when we were all hanging out earlier.”
“But is there a way for us to find out if Mr. Vin is telling us the truth?” Fatima asked.
“We can look into the incident report,” LJ suggested.
All three girls walked into the maintenance lounge. A moment later, Cassie asked the head of maintenance whether Marga had filed a complaint there.
The man checked some papers. “Yeah. She did the other day,” he said. “She was very angry about what happened. I already reprimanded the guy involved. He’s new here.”
Daniela met up with Savannah. “She came to my house of all places, that brat,” Daniela grumbled.
“But isn’t that your dad’s townhouse and not yours?” Savannah asked.
“Really, Savannah? You really think that’s a nice joke? You think it’s the perfect time to say that?”
“Well, yes. Because I think your problem’s simple, Danny girl.”
“Clearly you don’t know me, if you can say that. Everytime that Cassie asks Carlos for any help, it brings Romina and Carlos closer. She always shows up wherever her daughter is.”
“Oh, I see. If that’s the case, then Romina will be around your husband more often. It means we have to be more careful about your secret. One mistake, Danny girl, can bring them back together. How’s the guy who’s been pestering you?”
“Fortunately, he stopped. He might be busy with something else now. At least he won’t bother me anymore.”
“Okay, Danny girl, but remember. Whatever that happens, I always have your back.”
Romina told her husband that she didn’t think Cassie was making up stories about the letter she had said she had received. Robert told Mina that he didn’t know what to do anymore.
“First, she destroyed her passport, and now she wrote us a letter to stop us from leaving the country. What’s going on?”
“I know she has disobeyed us many times,” Mina said. “But she’s never lied to us. When she does something wrong, she admits it in the end. Robert, she even went to Carlos’ house because of this letter. She tried to ask him what it meant. Do you think Cassie will do that if it’s all just a lie?”
Robert stared at his wife for a while.
“It’s not that am defending Cassie,” Mina went on. “But this is a different situation now. Someone’s trying to give her a hint, and we have no idea who it is. And it’s obvious to me that person has bad intentions. Robert, our daughter’s life is at stake here, so please don’t let your anger get the best of you.”
Robert glanced at Mina, still silent.
“We have to do something to protect Cassie from being harmed,” Mina added.
“I will do everything I can,” Robert declared. “To find out who’s behind this and when I do, that person will never be able to come near Cassie again. I won’t let that person destroy our daughter’s life.”
Marga was hanging out with her new squad when Cassie stormed over and angrily slammed her hand on the table, sending Marga’s things flying.
“What are you doing?” Marga asked. “You’re ruining my make-up.”
“Am just returning the letter you gave me,” Cassie snapped.
“Letter? What you talking about?” Marga read the note.
“You sent me that letter, right? Tell me. What else do you know about me?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. First of all, this isn’t my handwriting, so if you don’t mind, bother someone else cause you’re ruining my day.”
“Stop denying it, Marga. That letter came from you, right? Tell me what else you know. I want to know the truth!”
Marga sprang up to her feet.”How many times do I have to tell you I don’t know anything about that stupid letter of yours?”
Alvin was watching nearby.
Cassie angrily snatched back the note and some make-up got stained on Marga’s uniform.
“Wrong move, Cassie,” Marga hissed before ruining Cassie’s uniform with make-up as well.
A fight began. Marga’s squad tried to hold her back while Fatima and LJ tried to keep Cassie from going after Marga.
Daniela received a phone call from the principal of Maxwell, who informed her that her daughter had been caught fighting with Cassie.
“What you smiling at?” Hector asked his brother at the gambling den. “You look like a crazy person, you know that? Did something happen?”
“Am just glad, Hector,” Alvin said. “My plan was successful. Now Daniela’s kid is taking the heat. My daughter with Romina is something else. She’s really kind but she’s scary when she gets mad.”
“What happened anyway?”
“Someone put a letter in Cassie’s locker. And Marga got blamed for it.”
“Did you do it?”
Alvin smiled to himself. A flashback was shown, revealing Alvin as the one who had put the note in Cassie’s locker.
“What if they find out you’re behind it?” Hector asked.
“I’ll make sure they don’t. All I want is to make sure that Cassie doesn’t stop searching for the truth. That way, she’ll come to me on her own. And when that happens, there’s nothing they can do about it. Not even Romina.”
“What the hell happened this time?” Daniela barked, storming into the principal’s office.
Cassie was seated with her parents. Carlos was there with Marga. Robert told Daniela that it was nothing serious and Carlos asked Marga what she had done this time.
“Nothing,” Marga said. “Cassie’s just throwing accusations at me.”
The principal explained that they had caught Marga and Cassie fighting because of a cryptic letter that Cassie had received.
“Cryptic letter?” Daniela asked.
“Yes,” the principal confirmed.
“Like seriously?”
“Yeah, like what I said,” Robert cut in. “It nothing.”
Cassie gave her father a look.”No, dad,” she said. “I need to understand what Marga really meant.”
“I already told you. I wasn’t the one who wrote that letter,” Marga insisted.
Carlos took the letter and checked it out. He then handed it back, shaking his head.
“See?” Robert said triumphantly. “Nothing.”
“No it’s not, dad,” Cassie insisted. “I know that letter means something.”
“Cassie, let’s just go home,” Mina suggested.
“I don’t want to, ma. Am not leaving until Marga admits to what she did.”
“Then wait all you want,” Marga shot. “Because I have nothing to admit.”
“My daughter’s right, Cassie,” Daniela added. “She has nothing to prove.”
“But I have a witness that says Marga did it,” Cassie revealed.
“Who?” Mina asked.
“Mr. Vin. The janitor stationed at the west wing.”
“Well then, we have to talk to him,” the principal decided.
Jessa told Mryna that she had payed off a huge amount of their debt and now they could finally leave the place.
Mryna was disturbed. “Leave?”
“Yeah. That’s why we came here,” Jessa said. “Because we needed money. Now we don’t need cash anymore, Myrna.”
“But what about my family? What will happen if we suddenly disappear? They’ll be suspicious.”
“So what? They’ll never see us again anyway. So, when should we leave?” Jessa asked excitedly. “Tonight? I already spoke to my aunt in Iloilo. She said we can stay with her, so should I buy our tickets now?”
Myrna nodded. Back at the principal’s office, the head of maintenance had been called in and Cassie announced that her witness was Mr. Vin.
The head of maintenance tried calling Alvin on phone but he couldn’t reach him, and the principal told him to bring Alvin to him as soon as he sees him.
Marga accused Cassie of lying, saying that she didn’t have any witness. “Why do you all believe Cassie?” she asked.
“Because am not a liar like you,” Cassie countered.
“Cassie, that’s enough,” Robert admonished.
Daniela asked how the situation could be resolved and the principal told them to take the girls home, saying that she would call them again once she had talked to Cassie’s witness.
As soon as they came out of the principal’s office, Robert asked to talk to Carlos and Daniela, and Carlos asked Marga to go and wait for them in the car.
“Did you mention anything to Marga about Cassie’s real situation?” Robert asked.
“Mr. Robert…” Carlos began.
“Stop,” Robert snapped. “Carlos, I just want to know if it’s a yes or no.”
Carlos and Daniela glanced at each other. “No, dad,” Daniela replied. “Marga doesn’t know anything. What made you think that?”
“Because if it’s true that someone’s been sending Cassie letters, then it all makes sense.”
“Not to us, dad. If we wanted Marga to know the truth, we would have told her long ago.”
“Am sorry, Mr. Robert,” Carlos added.
Robert shook his head in disbelief. “I hope what you’re saying is true. Because if I find out that Marga is behind the letter, then that only means one thing – you told her the truth, and I would never forgive you for that.”
Jude arrived home wounded and Myrna asked what had happened to him. Jude told her that it had just been an accident. Myrna hurried away to get the first aid kit and started treating Jude’s wound.
“Don’t worry,” Mryna said. “I know what am doing. Your dad used to come home with injuries when he was a police officer. I was the one who treated his wounds.”
“I can handle this,” Jude said. “This isn’t my first time.”
“Oh son, am already here… it’s done.”
“Thank you, mom.”
Myrna was taken by surprise. “What did you say?”
“Thank you,” Jude said before getting up to leave.
The Bartolomes arrived home, and Daniela grabbed Marga by the hand. “Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded,
“To my room,” Marga replied.
“You think you can get away with this?”
“Mommy…”
“I already told you, right? Don’t you ever tell Cassie about her real identity.”
“But mommy, I didn’t say anything,” Marga wailed.
“So now you’re lying to me?”
Carlos came in and broke Daniela’s hold on Marga. “What are you doing, Daniela?” he asked.
“Am just trying to discipline her. She doesn’t listen to me anymore.”
“Mommy, no,” Marga cried. “You know I wouldn’t do that, especially to you.”
“Am not sure about that anymore.”
“Mommy I told you it wasn’t me. How many times do I have to tell you? Please, believe me.”
“How? You’re the only one who knows about it in Maxwell. You’re the only one who’s been itching to tell Cassie the truth.”
Carlos asked them to stop arguing. He told Marga to go to her room so he could have a talk with her mother.
“You’re really good at this,” Alvin said to his brother at the gambling den.
Hector gave him a look. “Of course. You’re my only failure. I used to understand why you’re so incompetent.”
“That’s why am trying to make it up to you.”
“Make it up to me? What did you do? You made two little brats fight against each other. You won’t get anything out of that.”
“How can you say that?” Alvin disagreed. “Because of this, I can be with my daughter, and I’ll be earning money.”
Jessa came back to Kulas’ house to get Myrna so they could leave. She asked Myrna where her stuff and bags were, and Myrna told her that she would be staying for some time.
“What?”
“I can’t leave my sons,” Mryna said. “I don’t think I can abandon them again.”
Jessa chuckled. “Are you kidding me, Myrna? Since when did you start caring about your sons? You abandoned them to be with me.”
“That was then,” Mryna argued. “But things have changed now. When I saw my children and how they have turned out, my conscience would bother me if I leave them again.”
“Myrna, no matter what you do, things won’t change. They’re all grown up.”
“But I can still do something for them. I can help in my own little way.”
“How? By staying for good?”
“No, Jessa, please understand that am a mother too. And I lövê my sons.”
“Then I’ll give you a month to be a mother to your kids, okay? But after that, we’re leaving this place. We’re leaving them.”
Myrna nodded without another word. At Maxwell, Cassie found Mr. Vin and told him that she had been looking for him since yesterday. Alvin asked why and Cassie explained that she and Marga had been sent to the principal’s office, adding that they had had a fight because she had proved true what he had said to her earlier, and Marga still didn’t want to admit to it.
“Ah, am really sorry,” Alvin said. “But I can’t help you Cassie. I have so much work to do.”
“Oh, no,” Cassie said. “Mr. Vin, the truth is that I told them that you saw what Marga did. That’s why the principal wants to talk to you. Can you please come with me?”
Alvin was taken by surprise. “Ah… am really sorry but I can’t help you, Cassie. I have so much work to do.”
“It will not take long,” Cassie pleaded.
“Am just new here. If I get involved, I might lose my job.”
“Mr. Vin, I really need your help. If you keep silent, they’ll think that am really lying. I need your help. Please.”
“Ah…ah, okay. I’ll do it.”
“Really?” Cassie asked excitedly. “Thank you Mr. Vin. Thank you so much.” Cassie then had a phone call from Fatima. She told her that Mr. Vin had agreed to testify on her behalf.
Alvin was staring at Cassie and smiling to himself as if he had hit the jackpot. Robert was talking on phone with someone at the parking lot of Camila when he found a cryptic note which had been slid into the windshield of his car.
Maureen and the new squad were chattering when they saw Marga storming their way. “Oh no, the dragon’s on fire,” Maureen commented. When Marga reached them, she asked what was going on.
“The principal spoke to Cassie’s witness,” Marga began. “And now she wants to have a word with my parents. We already had a fight because of her. I can’t let that happen again.” Marga turned to her squad. “So you three, look for Cassie. She’ll be paying with her life.”
Alvin was busy with work when Cassie came over and gave him a treat, thanking him for explaining things to the principal.
“Thank you for this, Cassie,” Alvin said. “But aren’t I too old for this?”
“You’re never too old for ice cream, Mr. Vin. Please take it. It’s really delicious. And it’s chocolate flavored. I always eat it with my dad,” Cassie added sadly.
“Hey, why are you getting sad?” Alvin asked.
“It’s nothing. I just miss my dad.”
“Is he living abroad?”
“Oh, no. He’s just here. But, we’re not on good terms now. So it’s like he’s also in a far place.”
“You know, I have a daughter too.”
“You do?” Cassie asked excitedly.
“But she doesn’t live with me,” Alvin added. “She’s living with her mom. I haven’t had the chance to know her.”
“That’s so sad to hear. How old is she?”
“She’s fifteen.”
“Ah… we’re the same age.”
“You are? Maybe that’s why I see her in you.”
“Is that the reason why you’re always around me?” Cassie asked.
“Not that I wanted to scare you.”
“I admit that I was. But you’ve proven you’re not a stalker, and you’re a kind person. Am happy I got to know you.”
Carlos offered to pick up Marga from school later since he would finish work early today. Daniela told him that there was no need because she would be the one to pick her up.
“I don’t want you two arguing,” Carlos said. “She said she didn’t do anything, right?”
“And you believe her? That’s new.”
“Yeah. Like you always do. But what I don’t understand is why you’re so mad at Marga. So what if Cassie discovers her real identity? Marga has nothing to do with the past. Did something happen that you’re not telling me?”
“Didn’t you hear what dad said, Carlos? If Marga did write that letter, then he’ll be done with us. And I’ll never let that happen.”
Robert was staring at the cryptic note he had received earlier. He folded it up when Mina started entering the room.
“Why do you seem so troubled?” Mina asked. “And what were you reading?”
“Oh, nothing important,” Robert said. “Did you pick up Cassie yet?”
Mina shook her head. “Not yet.”
“Come on,” Robert said, dragging her along. “Let’s pick her up.”
Marga confronted Cassie by the stairs and accused her of ruining her life. “You ruined my family,” she hissed. “You bãstârd!” Marga pushed her to the floor, and they struggled for a while.
Cassie kicked Marga away and managed to get back on her feet. “What’s your problem?” Cassie asked.
Marga charged at Cassie again. “You are the problem,” she ranted. “Mommy and I had a fight because of you, because you keep accusing me. And now mommy’s angry at me because of you.”
Cassie fought back. “You’re fighting with your mom because she knows. She knows what you’re capable of, so stop trying to act innocent. We’re the only ones here and you still won’t admit it.”
Alvin was walking downstairs when he saw them.
“Am not lying!” Marga yelled.
Cassie pushed Marga back, and Marga pushed her in return. Cassie fell down the stairs, dragging Marga along with her. Marga fell on Cassie during the tumble and both girls hit the floor pretty hard. Cassie was crying and moaning in pain and Alvin came over, asking if she was hurt.
“Ouch, it hurts,” Marga cried, pretending to be in pain.
Alvin started calling out for help. Robert and Mina were seated at the waiting area of the school. Mina mentioned that he was really quiet. She asked whether he was okay and Robert told her that he was fine. Daniela and Carlos also arrived and Robert told them they were picking Cassie up. Daniela suggested that they all go out for dinner.
“I don’t think that’s a good time,” Carlos commented.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Mina said. “Robert, this could be a good opportunity for the girls to patch things up.”
Robert glanced at Mina and Daniela. Both women had a phone call a second later.
“Hello?” Mina said. “Oh my goodness.”
Daniela was appalled. “What?”
“We’re on our way,” Mina added.
“What’s going on?” Robert asked.
“Robert, we need to leave,” Mina replied. “Cassie needs us.
“Daniela, what happened?” Carlos asked.
“It’s Marga and Cassie,” Daniela began. “They got into an accident.”
Cassie and Marga had been admitted at the hospital and were being treated. Miss Alfonso thanked Alvin for his help and he asked whether he could leave.
“Wait, the girls’ parents are on their way here,” Miss Alfonso said. “Am sure they’d want to know what happened.”
Alvin looked like he was going to have a heart attack. He hid his face as Mina and Robert entered the room and went over to Cassie’s bed. Daniela and Carlos came in a second later and Alvin tried to keep them from seeing him. Daniela noticed him however.
“How are the girls doing?” Robert asked.
“Both obtained scratches and bruises after falling off the stairs,” the doctor said. “But, nothing serious.”
Alvin took the distraction to slip out without being seen.
“What happened? How did the girls fall?” Carlos asked.
Miss Alfonso told them that they hadn’t spoken to Cassie or Marga yet. Mina asked Cassie what had happened.
Cassie glanced at Marga. “Ma…”
“It’s Cassie,” Marga said quickly. “This was all her fault.”
“You did this to my daughter?” Daniela growled.
“No, I didn’t, Daniela,” Cassie replied. “Marga, tell them the truth. You åttaçked me near the stairway.”
“You just don’t want them to know that you started the fight,” Marga accused. “It’s because of that letter I had nothing to do with.”
“You’re really good at twisting the truth, aren’t you?”
Marga put on a pretence again, crying out as if she was in pain.
“Why are you acting like you’re the one who’s badly hurt? You’re the one who fell on me.”
“We will find out the truth,” Mina said. She turned to Miss Alfonso. “But we’ll need your help, ma’am.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Miss Alfonso said. “The man who brought them here saw what exactly happened.”
“That’s Mr. Vin,” Cassie added.
“Where is he?” Robert asked.
Miss Alfonso and the others glanced behind. Alvin had disappeared. Alvin hurried out the entrance to the hospital and took off his working gear. “That Daniela’s daughter,” he cursed, almost out of breath. “I almost got caught because of what that brat did. I will not let her ruin my plans.”
Back in the hospital room, the doctor told Robert that Cassie’s muscles had gotten strained and she didn’t have any broken bones. He gave Robert some pain relievers prescription. Carlos asked about his daughter and the doctor told him that he hadn’t seen any fractures in her arm but he had made her wear a sling so she wouldn’t move her arm that much. He suggested that they get her arm x-rayed just to be sure.
“Daddy, let’s not get the x-ray,” Marga said.
“No,” Carlos disagreed. “You might have broken a bone.”
The principal came in. “Am glad you’re all still here,” she said worriedly. “I heard what happened.”
“Then I guess you also heard that it’s all Cassie’s fault,” Daniela accused
“Daniela, we don’t know that,” Mina argued. “What if this was Marga’s fault too?”
“Romina, look at my daughter. Obviously, she was the one who was åttaçked. I want Cassie to pay for what happened. I want her out of this school.”
Cassie’s eyes were wide with surprise. “Daniela…”
“Cassie, I won’t let you bully my daughter anymore. First the letter, now this?”
“Daniela, that’s not true.”
“Mrs. Bartolome,” the principal began. “About the anonymous letter, I already spoke to the janitor that Miss Mondragon was talking about. And he confirmed everything. He said Marga was the one who put the letter inside the locker.”
Daniela and Carlos turned to stare at their daughter in disbelief.
“No, mommy,” Marga said. “He’s lying. That’s not true. Believe me.”
“Excuse me. Can I meet with this janitor?” Robert asked. “I want to talk to him. I want to hear him say what really happened in person.”
“Don’t worry Mr. Mondragon,” the principal said. “I was planning on calling him down here. Since he also saw the girls fighting by the stairway, he has a lot of explaining to do.”
“Ma’am, we need to find him as soon as possible,” Mina said. “So we can know what really happened.”
“I’ll make him come here.”
Later that night, Robert walked Cassie to her room, and he asked her whether she was going to be okay.
“Yes, dad,” Cassie simply said.
Robert stared at his daughter for a while. He sat before her. “Cassie, about what happened,” he began. “Please tell me the truth. How did you and Marga end up hurting each other?”
“Are you doubting what I said?”
“No, it’s not that. You were the one who started that first fight because of that letter.”
“Because I know that letter came from Marga.”
“Cassie, you’re not sure about that.”
“That’s what Mr. Vin said.”
“Who is this guy that makes you believe everything he says is true?”
“Dad, he has no reason to lie to me. Why don’t you believe me?”
“Cassie, I just want to know…”
“Dad,” Cassie cut in. “Am starting to feel sleepy. Can I go to sleep now?”
“Yeah. Okay. Let’s talk about this next time.”
Daniela attended to Marga in her room. Marga thanked her mother for believing her. “For believing that Cassie’s the reason I fell down the stairs.”
“But was it really her fault?” Daniela asked.
Marga was silent.
“Nevermind. I don’t really care who pushed who. What I do care about is the letter. I don’t know what I’ll do if I find out that you’re the one who sent that to Cassie.”
“Mommy, I promise. I really didn’t do it.”
“I believe you. And I’ll stand by you on this matter. But what I need you to do is to make everyone believe you that Cassie really did push you. That way, she’ll lose her credibility. Can you do that?”
Marga nodded. Mina came into Cassie’s room and mentioned that Robert had told her earlier that she was sleeping.
“I jus said that to make him leave,” Cassie admitted.
“Are you upset with him?” Mina asked.
“I just feel sad, mamma. It seems like dad is doubting everything I do. He doesn’t trust me anymore. I feel like he doesn’t love me anymore either.”
“Cassie…” Mina sighed. “Did you know that I gave birth to you in a car?” Mina revealed with a smile. “You were so excited to come out then. We almost didn’t make it to the hospital. And your dad was the one who helped us. If he hadn’t helped us, something bad could have happened to us.”
“Why are you telling me this now?” Cassie asked.
“Because I want to let you know the sacrifices your dad made for you, Cassie. That’s why you should never think that your dad doesn’t lövê you, because it is not true.”
“Am sorry, mamma. I just feel really hurt by all this. It’s like he’s taking Marga’s side when I am his daughter.”
“Cassie, your dad was just asking,” Mina pointed out. “So don’t take it the wrong way. You shouldn’t be upset. He just wanted to know what happened.”
“If that’s the case, then we have to talk to Mr. Vin.”
Back in her room, Marga had a flashback of her recent conversation with her mother. She grabbed her phone and started recording, putting on a show and telling her ‘baby-dragons’ that she hadn’t been able to update them because she had been in an accident.
“Look at my arm. It’s sad, right?” she said, putting on a sad face. “But what’s sad is that it wasn’t really an accident. I don’t know why Cassie had to do this.” She finished the recording and smiled to herself wickedly.
At school the next day, Nadya congratulated Cassie for a job well done. “I knew it,” she said. “You’re a ruthless, savage dragon.”
“And the meanest of us all,” Nica added, smiling. “Don’t worry. Marga deserved it.”
Cassie was confused. “What are you talking about?” she asked.
Fatima came up with LJ and asked Cassie whether she had seen Marga’s vlog.
“I haven’t,” Cassie replied. “Why?”
“She’s blaming you,” LJ said. “She said you pushed her down the stairs.”
Fatima showed Cassie the video. Marga and her squad walked over and Cassie confronted Marga.
“Stop right there, Cassie,” Maureen said. “You can’t hurt Marga again.”
“I never hurt her, Maureen,” Cassie said. “She’s lying.”
“Lying?” Marga pointed to her arm which was still in a sling. “Does this look like lying to you? We were supposed to have a dance practice, but I missed the rehearsal because of this stupid injury. You know how much that club means to me, and now you’re saying I’m lying.”
Cassie turned to Nadya and Nica.
“Yep,” Nadya said to Cassie. “She missed it.”
Cassie turned back to Marga. “But I didn’t do that to you. I never pushed you. Take back what you said in your vlog.”
“What do you want me to say? That I did this to myself? To cover for you? No, I won’t do that. I will let all of Maxwell know who you really are.” Marga walked away with her squad.
Fatima told Cassie that she believed she hadn’t pushed Marga, but everyone was sympathizing with Marga because she had gotten injured.
“She’s playing the victim here,” LJ said. “You’ll just look like the bad person if you insist that you’re right.”
“But I have to do something,” Cassie argued. “She’s fööled a lot of people just to save herself.”
“What’s your plan?” Fatima asked.
“I know the truth,” Cassie declared. “And I won’t let her twist the real story.”
