Harlan sat in the front seat at the class and waited for the arrival of the lecturer who would arrive any moment from now. Since Jason had succeeded in painting him as a thief, no one sat beside Harlan and somehow, he loved it that way."Guess what?" Someone's voice was suddenly above the buzzing in the class."Harlan Smith is in our school," the person said even though no one had paid attention to what she said earlier. Her statement got head turning in her direction."What did you just say?" Someone asked, disbelief evident in the person's voice."Actually, I heard from my dad, he asked me if I knew how Harlan Smith looked because he is here!""Are you sure of what you are saying?""Very sure. My Dad is a friend of Mr Healy, he called in late last night and told my dad about how much he is in a fix about how to treat the students since no one had the name 'Harlan Smith' in the college database," the girl explained, gesturing in the process."Wow, that is kinda weird. Does that mean
"That was what he told me when I caught him checking through my bag, but since now, nothing has happened," Tracy, who had accused Harlan of stealing something from him, sneered."He must have read a fantasy novel and loved the phrase, you can't blame him!""Christ! He could have practiced the words in front of a mirror and see for himself how ridiculous it looks on his lips!"Harlan swallowed hard. He was in pain partly because of his face, but the pain of being ridiculed was greater. "I don't have all the time in the whole world, let's get going," Jason snapped, rudely reminding Harlan of the checkup he had to take him to.Harlan took in a deep breath, opening one of his eyes that shot pain all over his body, he slowly walked out of the hall."If I were him, I won't step foot in this school again," someone said."Do you think he has any sense of pride in him considering that?"
Harlan kept on ruminating about why his identity as Harlan Smith should mean so much to Jason as to make him sound as serious as that. He wondered who Jason was speaking to.The car stopped in front of the hospital that Mr Smith had brought Harlan the other day so that he could know the state of Harlan's health. Harlan had not seen any importance to it then, but now, he was grateful it had happened. "This is the hospital where you want to do the checkup?" Harlan asked with a smirk, the pain in his eyes was subduing gradually but it was still a bit swollen."Yes, and don't ask me silly questions," Jason snapped.The fact that Harlan Smith was back had not really made any sense to him until Mr Smith had announced it himself with that damn smile on his face, telling everyone how good he feels to have his son back. Jason clenched his fist, ready to let out his anger on anyone who got in his way. As for Harlan, Jason was sure the idiot would never be able to pay the hospital bills."Here
"Jason, what is with this rumour I am hearing?" Jason's father bellowed, looking sternly at Jason.Jason stared at his father in confusion, "what rumour, father?""Why did Harlan Smith pay your hospital bills and why didn't you bring him to me immediately when you saw him?" Jason's father asked angrily.Jason continued staring at his father in confusion. Of course, he didn't know how Harlan had paid for his hospital bills because by the time he came out from the hospital, Harlan wasn't there again.Jason's father brought out his phone and showed Jason the back view of a guy who had the same clothes as Harlan had worn in the afternoon when he followed Harlan to the hospital and he was wearing a cap too. A caption under the picture read 'the Alberts know Harlan Smith, he paid one of the Alberts heirs' hospital bills a few minutes ago.'"Dad, if I knew where Harlan Smith was, I would have called your attention to it.""Wow. Stop fooling around, son. Don't make me anxious any longer when
Smith bit his lips and thought about the best excuse to give Harlan. He was grateful when his phone rang. At least, it would give the perfect opportunity to escape Harlan's inquisitiveness for the time being.Smith answered the call. He muttered an "okay" before hanging up."Son, let's see later. And I still want to know about where you want to live, that place you are living right now is quite insecure and I don't like how it looks, my personal assistant told me of how small it was," Smith said standing up."I will love to move here," Harlan Said at last, he could see reasons with Mr Smith.Smith nodded, "I will send Jack to get you things for you. Meanwhile, don't forget about where you have to go tomorrow, I will get you the necessary things you need in order to attend the meeting."Harlan stood up too as Mr Smith left the room. After he had left, Harlan looked around, a smile on his face as he walked around th
Harlan looked at the phone to be sure it was Jason that called him. It was!"What are you saying?" Harlan asked in surprise."You stupid fellow! Come out of that stinkin' place you are living now or you will regret it for the rest of your stinking life!" Jason blared over the phone.Harlan clenched his fist, "you will pay for being as rude as this to me, just wait and see."He hung up and called Jack who answered the call almost immediately."Where are you?" "I am at your house, Mr Smith ordered me to get your stuff into the new house. But, Sir, do you still need the things here? They are supposed to be in the garbage.""They are my things, I want them here.""I get that Sir.""I want you to go to the Alberts family and inform them that when I am ready for them, I will make sure they are no more than a filthy rag.""I get that Sir. I will inform them."Jack smiled after Harlan had hung up and kept the phone in his pocket. Harlan was finally becoming tough, but not as tough as he wou
"Hi. This is Harlan Smith," Harlan said into the phone, the only thing he could do to suppress his anger this time was to do what he hated to do most —make life difficult for someone else. The Alberts asked for it anyway."Harlan... What? Harlan Smith? Are you... Wait a minute, Harlan Smith, are you living in this city or—" the voice at the other end stuttered."I want to warn you, all of you Alberts, not to get on my nerves. One of you is really making me angry, if it persists, you are not going to like the consequences, not a bit," Harlan said into the phone."What? Do you mean one of the great Alberts is offending you? That can never be possible!""It's just a warning though, but if I have to call you like this another time, you won't be okay with it," Harlan said and hung up."Darn you, Jason Albert," Harlan muttered under his breath and took a sip from the cup of juice. Feeling bored and a bit
Harlan looked at his reflection in one of the rooms in Mr Smith's house that has now become his room as he got ready for the meeting Mr Smith had said he would be going to.He ran his hand through his hair slightly and smiled. The alarm on his phone rang to remind him that it was time he got going. He went outside where Jack was already waiting for him.Jack could not help grinning when he saw Harlan, he also couldn't help wondering why Harlan had not been wearing good clothes all the time he had known him.As the car drove to where the meeting was going to take place, Harlan's phone beeped. He checked the message. His brow furrowed. The same number with the same message.'I am Madame A. You can ask me anything.'He snorted and deleted the message as he had always done for the past few days."Sir, are you friends with Jason Albert?" Jack asked."Why did you ask?""He took