CHAPTER EIGHT
VISITING MICHAEL'S HOME
Michael wasn't in school for almost a week. On Friday of that same week, Kelvin, Sylvester, and Michelle sat in the school canteen.
"I miss Michael", Kelvin blurted out.
Michelle was staring at them while slowly sipping Coke with a straw. She sat facing the two of them who sat on the other side.
"Me too", Sylvester put in. With a slightly pouty face, he said,
"He's not even replying to my text".
"That's not true", Michelle said.
"How do you know? I've tried to call him but his number is not connecting through. I text him almost every day, but he's not replying. I just hope he's okay", Sylvester said.
"But he replied to my text last night", Michelle said playfully but they didn't get it as they chorused,
"Really!!!",
Some people in the cafeteria even turned to look at them. Their look made Michelle burst out into laughter. She laughed so much, and that was when they realized she was joking.
Returning to her Coke, she said, "You guys should stop looking at me like that".
"You shouldn't be making jokes like that", Kelvin said.
"Okay. I'm sorry", she apologized with playful eyes.
"What if we visit—him?" Sylvester said softly.
"But we don't know the location—or we could just browse the location, right?", Kelvin put in.
"I know the location," someone whispered from behind them, which made them jerk and sigh on realizing it was Odelia.
"Odelia!", Sylvester called, rolling his eyes.
"Yes! You guys want to visit Michael. Me too", she whined. "Like...I've missed him so much. And I know he misses me too", she said smiling, while sitting on the empty seat beside Michelle.
Michelle sneered her nose at her. Kelvin looks at her.
"Odelia, you can't go with us. I don't think Michael would want that", he said.
"But then...", she pouts. "I know his house".
"How do you even know that?", Sylvester snapped.
She blinks severally before replying. "Uh! I had to follow him out of curiosity...just one time", she pointed up her right index finger.
"You stalked him?!", both Kelvin and Sylvester said.
"Nooo! I didn't, guys. Please don't tell Michael. I'd be so embarrassed if he knew about it", she said.
"You're not going with us...", Kelvin paused. "Give me the address, quickly".
"Oh!", Odelia was clearly disappointed.
"Guys", Michelle started saying as everyone turned to her. "My aunt will be coming to pick me up after school. She wants me to go somewhere with her", Michelle said looking at the snacks on the table. She was avoiding eye contact with Kelvin and Sylvester. She also knew that they knew she was lying.
"Yeah! We don't need you anyway." Odelia quickly turned to Kelvin and Sylvester. "Let me go with you guys in her place".
Kelvin looked steadily at Michelle.
"Michelle..."
She interrupts immediately, looking at him, "Please"
Kelvin nods in understanding even though he wants her to go with them.
Sylvester quickly pushed a piece of paper and pencil to Odelia.
"Here. Tell us where you stalked Michael to or we will tell him about what you did".
"I'm sorry", Odelia tried to run away from the situation but Sylvester eyed her and mouthed,
"Write!!".
* * * *
After school, Kelvin and Sylvester took a cab who dropped them off in front of a huge private estate with a very long driveway. There were no visible houses around, just tall trees and well-trimmed grasses. They almost thought Odelia gave them the wrong address but the cab man assured them that they were in the right place. He told them cabs were not allowed into the Estate, so since they weren't going in a private car, they would have to walk down until they saw the building. They followed the driveway that had beautiful trees lined up on each side. There was no one on the road except them.
"Why do you think Michelle refused to come with us?", Sylvester asked Kelvin.
"She's yet to get used to him. She still thinks that Michael dislikes her because he usually doesn't talk to her so much. Don't worry, I believe they'll soon get used to each other", Kelvin said.
"Yeah. Thats right. Besides, she picked out the apples herself. Was she around the day Michael told us he loves apples?" Sylvester asked, holding up the bag in his hand.
"You tell her almost everything. It's not a mystery if she actually remembers that part", Kelvin said and they laughed.
"Oh!", Sylvester screamed softly while pointing ahead.
"I think that's the building", Kelvin concurred. "Wow! This place is huge!", he couldn't hide his admiration.
They finally got to the gate of the building. It was a small gate. They looked inside, they didn't see anyone.
"Why is everywhere empty?", Sylvester asked.
"I don't know. There's no guard around", Kelvin agreed.
Sylvester went forward and touched a button that made a bell-ringing sound. Immediately, a man wearing a uniform walked up to them. Sylvester and Kelvin adjusted themselves to stand very properly.
When the man was close enough, "Hello! How may I help you?" the man had a small, soothing voice that didn't reconcile with his tall and strong features.
Both of them bowed immediately before Kelvin spoke up, "My name is Kelvin. And this is Sylvester", he said, pointing at Sylvester. "We are Michael's friends from school. We came to pay him a visit".
"Michael's...friends?" the man questioned, looking from Sylvester to Kelvin as if he didn't hear them the first time.
"Yes!", Kelvin nodded.
Just then, the walkie-talkie on the guard's waist beeped. Looking at them, he answered the call, nodding and bowing to no one in particular. Immediately, he opened the gate and asked them to enter.
The person who called him was Miss Hena. They already alerted her that two students were walking into the estate. She has gone to tell Michael about it. The guards give him CCTV footage of them. Immediately, Michael saw it was Kelvin and Sylvester; he told Miss Hena that they were his friends and they should be let in.
Miss Hena called the guard at the gate and instructed him to let the teens into the house which the guard did immediately. She quickly rang the kitchen and gave them instructions on what to serve to the teens while she walked towards the door to wait for the boys.
When they stepped into the house. They stood at first in awe to take in the beautiful environment. All one could see was a building that exuded elegance and quality wealth. No shiny gold or silver, but then there were honest and proud trees situated at strategic points, giving the house a good-natured vibe.
"A house set to counter attacks, NIS agents as security personnel. There are four levels in the residence. Two elevators, six full-time chefs, more than seventy rooms, spectacular spiral stairs, an indoor pool, a tennis court, and a cinema. I also believe that's how super rich simple men do their thing", Kelvin said.
Sylvester chuckled softly, "No wonder he slept off at the movie theater the last time".
Before they got to the door, the door opened, and Miss Hena had a huge smile on her face, showing a well-set dentition. When they got to where she stood, she welcomed them with warm smiles.
"You're welcome, boys. This way please", she led them into the house. "Michael is waiting for you", she said softly.