----
That morning Helena woke up late because she had a late session at university. By the time she left and got ready, her father had already left, leaving only her mother and the household staff at home. When she finished getting ready in her room, she went down to the living room carrying a bag with essential items. In her hand were the car keys, ready to leave on time.
In the living room, she found Jusper dressed very nicely, sitting on the couch with a costly phone in hand browsing. The whole area smelled of the perfume she had worn. It made the girl uneasy, wondering why the young man had come there. She had no habit with him, nor any kind of familiarity.
"Oh! Helena, hi! I was waiting for you. Let's go to university together, we'll make it on time," Jusper said as if it were routine.
"Jusper, what are you doing here? I don't think I told you to come here today. I have my errands, so you may go; I will use my car," she said, clearly displeased with his arrival, though it forced him to smile despite his reluctance.
A voice was heard saying, "Which car will you take, Helena? Why is it flat since I went out to deliver to your father's staffs, I saw it."
It was her mother's voice, and the girl was shocked, running outside like that. Upon arrival, she indeed found the front tires of her car missing. This made her hold her head in deep regret, seeing the misfortune that morning.
"Don't you see? Better let Jusper take you to university and back. What's the problem?" her mother said, turning back she saw her in the living room with Jusper standing nearby, his face showing a distant smile.
"No way, I'll take an Uber," she argued, refusing to get in the car, which made her mother look at her sternly.
"What kind of sense do you have, child? Why do you want to waste money? This guy came to pick you up for a free ride, yet you insist on taking an Uber, are you crazy?"
"It's my decision, and I've decided. I'll call my father's mechanic to fix the car here and take me to university. I've decided to use my own money. If it were my father's decision, I would agree; otherwise, it won't happen at all."
When Helena said that, she started walking outside, leaving them no words to oppose her stance on the street. Even hearing that, the girl held her position firmly, and they could not add anything more. When she left the gate and closed the door, she left the woman watching Jusper.
"Father, don't worry. Helena is yours and cannot be taken by that thug, unless it's me, her mother, who bore and raised her. You go to university, she has the intelligence of that child; when she finishes, she will come and get you herself. That child has lived happily for many days. Do you think she will accept being taken by a thug from Tandale?" she reassured Jusper.
"Okay, mom, I trust you because you are her mother. Leave Bright to come and leave her willingly, but don't tell him anything. The chief's son must not know about this; once he knows, it's over."
"Don't worry or have doubts, father. I won't tell anyone, but understand this girl is yours. You will get her."
Jusper left the place, feeling a little hopeful from what he had been told. That day he arrived home in a Range Rover, entered and started it. At that moment, the guard opened the gate, and he started maneuvering to exit. Helena's mother watched him with a smile until he completely left, then sighed.
"There are very foolish children, I've never seen anything like this in the world. That child has more money than her father. She changes cars as she pleases instead of opposing him; she picks up that thug herself," she said, then turned back inside.
----
A quarter of an hour later, Bright appeared at the bus stop standing. Beside him was Fost; they were talking while waiting for the car heading to university. Each carried his backpack on the back. Soon, a small Toyota IST stopped at the station; they ignored it but heard the honk that made them look.
There they saw Helena, sitting in the back, waving. Bright smiled seeing his lover's face, went straight to her, knowing the call was for him, and followed her. They were picked up together, and the car departed, moving at a moderate speed, passing Jusper's vehicle.
Until they were dropped at the university, getting out of the car, Jusper arrived at the spot, parking aside. Watching them with great anger, some did not care and continued with their business.