Unappreciated Treasure

It is a brand new day. Chelsy woke up with the sound of her alarm clock, which read seven am.

Sure enough, she could not sleep well because she kept on turning and tossing all through the night.

She was full of resentment all morning as memories of the previous night began flooding her mind.

She remembered the dinner she had with Ken and him leaving her alone at his villa and not returning. This made her blood boil with anger.

She sluggishly put her legs into her pink Barbie slippers and went into the bathroom. She couldn't help but have all sorts of thoughts going through her mind.

''Could he be involved in an accident? Was he with another woman? No, no, no, that can't be.''

She thought to herself.

Chelsy has always been an emotional person, and she sometimes let her wild thoughts get the better part of her.

She had to take herself out from that negative thought and focus on the long day she had at school.

She took a shower, dressed and made a quick breakfast. Chelsy could not eat the breakfast she made because she had lost her appetite. She took the remaining breakfast and tossed it into the trash.

She picked up her backpack, headed out to the bus stop and decided to call Ken. She tried reaching him several times, but the calls kept going to his answering machine.

Chelsy was so anxious and lost in thoughts that she didn't realize the bus had arrived. The lady standing by her gently tapped Chelsy on the shoulder.

''Ma'am, aren't you taking the bus? It is here already.''

Chelsy jumped out of her daydream.

''Oh! Thank you so much ma'am.''

She said and rushed onto the bus. 

Meanwhile, at the Roberts mansion, Ken walked into his father's home office. He threw himself onto the mahogany sofa and lazily draped his leg over the chair.

''Good afternoon dad. Why did you call me here at this time? Do we have another deal to close?''

Simon Roberts, who sat at his desk, looking at his computer as though nothing else mattered, said in a deep voice without looking at his son.

'' Kenneth, how far have you gone with the deal with Starlink Conglomerates? Were you able to sign the contract?''

Ken looked at his father with a sly smile.

''Come on dad, you know I have got this. An apple never falls far from the tree. The contract has been signed, sealed and delivered. Check your email. I have already sent you a copy.''

Simon looked at his son with so much admiration and said.

''I knew you wouldn't disappoint me. What about your little booty call? Hope she isn't going to cause us trouble.''

Ken laughed hysterically and said to his father.

'' Hey dad, like I said, an apple never falls far from the tree. You taught me well. She wouldn't be a problem. You don't have to worry.''

They both looked at each other with a mischievous smile.

Emilia Roberts, who was already at the dining table, asked the maid to get Simon and Ken to come out for lunch.

A few minutes later, the two men simultaneously walked into the dining hall and sat down. Simon looked at his wife and asked dotingly.

''Honey, where is Myra? Isn't she joining us for lunch?''

Emilia stretched her hand and placed it on Simon's thigh and smiled lovingly.

''Honey, why do you worry so much when it comes to your little princess? You know how picky she can be when it comes to food and maintaining her slim figure. She will be down very soon. Don't worry.''

Footsteps could be heard descending the wooden staircase and a sharp voice could be heard from the background.

''Talking about my eating habits mama? I am a full grown adult and not a toddler, for Christ's sake.''

Myra rolled her eyes and walked towards her dad. She tucked her short brown wavy hair at the back of her ear and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Simon Richards gave a soft smile and asked.

''How are you princess?''

She smiled at him and moved across the table. She sat by her elder brother Ken.

''Hey bro, I didn't know you were around. When did you come in? I thought you were at Helena's place.''

Ken smirked and playfully tousled Myra's hair.

''Come on Ken, I have told you so many times not to tousle my hair like that. It took me the whole morning to make my hair this perfect.''

Myra shouted angrily.

''If you keep shouting like there is no tomorrow, I won't take you shopping as promised. Have you forgotten today's date?''

Ken asked with the side of his mouth slightly raised in a smile.

Myra's eyes gleamed like she had just remembered something exciting. Then she smiled and said.

''How can I forget? Of course, you are the best big brother ever. Lest I forget, how is that wannabe girlfriend of yours? Isn't it time for you to ditch her already?''

Emilia looked at her daughter with a disappointed look and said in a harsh tone.

''Myra! How can you call a fellow woman like you such mean names? You know Chelsy is a good girl. I don't know why your brother chose to treat that poor innocent girl like that.''

She turned to Ken and spoke with a stern tone.

''Kenneth, if you don't want that girl anymore, just let her go and focus on someone else. Stop giving her false hope. Listen, I hope you will not regret this someday.''

Myra scoffed and rolled her eyes.

''Good girl you say mama! Oh please spare me that bullshit. She is the most uncultured and stupid girl I have ever come across.''

Simon who didn't want to be involved or caught in the middle of their argument, looked at Emilia and said with a gentle tone.

''Honey, I am sure Ken knows what he is doing. So let's not interfere with private matters that concern him and his personal life.''

Emilia snorted.

''Ken is my son and I won't watch him destroy someone else's happiness because of some selfish reason.''

She cleaned her mouth with a napkin and said.

''I have lost my appetite. You can all continue without me.''

Emilia stood and left the dining table.Everyone on the table was stunned.

''I have never seen mom this angry before.''

Myra muttered. Ken sat there, eating his lunch as if his mom didn't just scold him. 

Back at school, Chelsy was at the school canteen trying to get an early lunch since she had skipped breakfast.

Suddenly, her phone started ringing and it was Rachel calling. Chelsy answered the call and Rachel's playful voice sounded with a high pitched…

'' Hey baby girl, where are you?''

Chelsy replied and said she was at the school canteen.

"You know what, just remain where you are. I am on my way to see you."

Ten minutes later, she joined Chelsy. When Rachel saw her, she shouted with wide eyes as if she had met with a ghost.

"Holly molly"

"Chelsy! Did you just pass through the valley of the shadow of death? Why are the eye bags under your eyes, reaching your jaws?"

Chelsy couldn't help but laugh at her best friend's exaggerated statement.

''Come on Rach, don't be ridiculous. I just did not get enough sleep last night. I guess that is the reason why I look like a walking dead.''

Rachel looked at Chelsy and said in a soft tone.

''Is everything okay? I know you will not look this disheveled without a reason. Is it Ken or is it that first class evil spirit called Melinda?''

When she mentioned Ken, Chelsy's countenance changed. Her face became sullen, and her eyes began to shimmer, with tears starting to form. But she quickly forced the tears back and gave a painful smile.

''It's nothing.''

Rachel looked at Chelsy with an angry expression and said.

''Chelsy. If you don't tell me what is going on right now, I will call Melinda and start raining insults on her without asking what she did.''

 Chelsy quickly stopped her.

''No. Rachel. Please don't do that. It isn't Melinda. It is actually Ken.''

Rachel's angry expression changed and became a little subtle. She placed her hand on Chelsy's shoulder and asked.

''Please tell me Chelsy. What happened? You know you can tell me anything, right?''

Chelsy looked at her and tears started rolling down her cheeks. She told Rachel everything that had happened the day before.

Rachel looked at Chelsy with so much pity in her eyes and gave her a hug while patting Chelsy's back.

''Shush now sis. I am sure he is okay. If something bad had happened to him, I am certain it would have been on the news. Whatever the case may be, just focus on your dissertation for now, okay?''

Chelsy sniffled and cleaned her tears with the cuff of her shirt. She looked at Rachel and said.

''You are right. I need to focus on my project if I want to graduate as a valedictorian.''

Suddenly, Chelsy got a text message from Mister Edward, her school supervisor asking her to come to his office.

''Rachel, I will have to leave you for now. Mister Edward just asked me to come to his office. I'm sure it has something to do with my dissertation. I'll see you after school, okay?''

They separated and Chelsy rushed to his office. When she got in, he was sitting at his desk with a blue folder in front of him.

With a troubled look on his face, he said.

''Chelsy, I am sorry, but there is bad news.''

When Chelsy heard this, she started trembling and sweating profusely on her forehead. She asked.

''Sir, is there any problem with my dissertation's draft?''

He shook his head and said no.

''I am sorry to inform you that your participation as the University's representative for the Martin Lion conference has been given to someone else.''

Chelsy looked at him with a big shock plastered on her face.

''But mister Edward, that can't be. I have been preparing for this conference for over seven months now. How can I be replaced in just two weeks until the conference?''

Chelsy spoke, trying to keep the tears from falling down her cheeks.

''Sir Edward, this isn't fair. Who was I replaced with and why?''

Mister Edward looked at Chelsy and shook his head.

''You were replaced with Philippa Clark. As for why, the school board didn't give any tangible reason. All they said was that Philippa was best suited to represent our University. You know I am just a lecturer, and I can't compete with the higher ups.''

Chelsy was stunned. She gave a painful smile.

''Wow. Just wow. Thank you, Sir Edward.''

She turned, and left his office with a heavy heart.

Walking along the office corridor, Chelsy saw Philippa Clark coming out of the dean's office. When she saw Chelsy, she walked up to her with a triumphant expression and said.

''Chelsy, I'm sure you must have heard the news. Oh, poor thing.''

She walked closer and spoke into Chelsy's ear in a condescending tone.

''I promised you I would make sure you regretted coming to this university. This is just the beginning of your end.''

Then she gave a malicious cackle and catwalked away.

Chelsy stood there frozen like a planted sculpture. The tears she had been holding for a long time, started falling down her cheeks like torrential raindrops.