Page 62 of Follow My Voice
“Whatever happened on campus today, you don’t have to tell me, but I just want you to know that you’re not alone, okay?”
And then all of a sudden, I remember the nickname Dario used to refer to Diego. “Thanks, Cangurito. See you later.”
I hop out of the car as fast as I can and Diego lowers the passenger window. “Hey! If you ever call me that in class, you’re dead, Klara,” he shouts after me, swiping his thumb across his neck to emphasize the threat.
I laugh and pretend to shake with fear. “Ooh, I’m scared the little kangaroo is going to attack me!”
“Klara…”
“Good night!”
I walk inside, still laughing at Diego’s mortified expression when I called him by his childhood nickname. I find Kamila in the kitchen, wearing a black skirt and a dark blue blouse that looks great on her, with her brown hair up in a messy bun. Her white doctor’s coat is hanging on the back of her chair and she has a glass of wine in her hand. Andy is bent over the oven, checking something that smells divine. “Mmm… what smells so good?” I ask.
Kamila studies my face with those dark blue eyes of hers; she knows me so well.
“Baked chicken, my specialty—we figured we’d wait for youto have dinner,” Andy answers, also seeming to read my face and understand that something has happened.
Although I’m smiling, I know my eyes are puffy and probably a little red from all the crying I’ve done today.
Kamila sets her wineglass on the table. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, don’t worry.”
“I’m not sure if I should worry, but I believe you. I heard you laughing as you walked in, but your eyes…”
“I went to visit Mom’s grave.”
Kamila gasps in surprise. “Really?”
I nod. “I got emotional, but I’m fine now. I’m glad I was finally able to go to the cemetery after so long.”
Kamila smiles and walks around the table to hug me. “You’re my champion, Klara,” she whispers and kisses the side of my head.
Andy crosses the kitchen. “Hey, I feel left out,” he says as he wraps his arms around the two of us. “You’re both my champions.”
We pull apart and Kamila pretends to be annoyed. “Okay, let’s eat before Andy gets all sentimental and starts crying into the chicken.”
We set the table and start eating. I can’t erase the smile off my face and Kamila seems to join me in my good mood. She knows what a huge step visiting my mother’s grave is for me. She mouthsI’m proud of you.And I allow myself to be proud of me, too.
After finishing the food and doing the dishes, I wipe my hands with a cloth to check my phone and see that Kang still has not messaged me. I’m disappointed, but I don’t want to send him any texts until I have a chance to talk to Perla, to hear the story from her lips.
I lie in bed catching up on some homework, albeit a little distracted as I try to take in everything that has happened today.
The words engraved on my mother’s headstone suddenly pop into my mind:Every defeat is a step toward victory.
Maybe today wasn’t the best day, but I got to ride home withDiego and I visited Dario’s and my mother’s graves; a defeat led to a victory.
“Have you been right all this time, Mom?”
I miss her so much.
Good night, Mom.
27Tell Me
FRIDAY ON CAMPUSthe energy is through the roof and everyone is excitedly talking about the men’s soccer team’s upcoming game against their biggest opponent to date. Though no one seems to be too worried. They’re already making plans for the district finals a few weeks away—who they’re going with, what they’re wearing—even though the tournament hasn’t started and, technically, the soccer team hasn’t qualified, either. Apparently, it’s more of a social occasion than a sporting event. For my part, I hide under my hood as I walk quietly toward my class. Although Diego and the visit to the cemetery did me a lot of good, my mood is still low. I guess I underestimated how much my encounter with those girls affected me. Another factor is that I haven’t heard from Kang since I told him I wouldn’t be riding home with him.
I shake my head; I don’t want to think about it. My goal now is to talk to Perla. There must be some reason she hasn’t shared the details of what happened between her and Kang. Maybe she’s not ready to open up to me; we’ve only known each other a short time and she might not like me prying into a subject that is obviously very sensitive for her. I really like Perla and I want to be her friend.But we’re just getting to know each other, so any awkwardness could end our friendship before it even cements. I don’t want to lose the only potential female friend I have, but I’m dying to know what happened.
