Santi: The Devil's Pioneer

Chapter 59 - The End is Near

*Emily's POV*

This happened two months prior to the Trial. It was a day like any other.

I walk across the threshold, sipping my cold coffee. The damn driver didn't even bother to look in haste.

I had just gotten home from school. I left the group, knowing well enough how they'd react to the current Santi situation. I had not seen her since she left my apartment though.

But that doesn't stop the guys from constantly bombarding me with questions. Emman, in particular, was sensitive to how I responded to his questions about Santi. It was annoying me.

Hailey, my maid, who was assigned to keeping my apartment spotless was out for some business and that meant there was no one to remind me about lunch or cook my lunch. I ended up watching television through lunch hours and now my stomach was craving food like never before. A knock on the door pulled my attention away from my binging seasons that displayed a boring cartoon movie.

Santi was standing in the doorway looking as beautiful as ever

"I see you're busy," she said, smiling as she tapped the doorknob.

I greeted her with a vague hand wave and rose to my feet to formally meet her "Come on in, it's OK.

"We both sat down on the couch, and she declined the coffee I offered to prepare in favor of something else, she added. "Since I saw you come home around lunchtime, I got something for you; it must have been a rough day at school, huh?"

"Seriously Santi stop, you're making me look bad." I laughed sheepishly.

She pulled out a box from the brown paper bag she carried and handed it to me. I opened the box to find beautiful ramen and sushi staring back at me.

"You're godsent," I said to Olivia, making her chuckle at how serious I was.

"Go ahead. I've already eaten lunch," she said, and I joyfully grabbed up the chopsticks and ate a handful of ramen.

"So, other than sparing me from famine, what brings you here?" I wondered, attempting to break the tension.

"I simply came in to say goodbye," the happy, carefree vibe vanished.

"Are you going already?" I couldn't hide my dismay and surprise at the time.

"Yeah, everything is officially yours now, I would like to say sorry for the imposition and the trouble we all found ourselves in weeks ago." She smiled encouragingly.

"I hope so." I chuckled, trying not to feel emotional at her departure.

"I won't ask what happened during the meeting yesterday with you and the guys, but I'm sure you'll win them over soon, just like you did everyone else."

"Did you observe that?" I shuddered, and he may as well have told her everything. "It was sort of hard not to," she said softly. "Perhaps that entire thing wasn't as discrete as I thought." I tried not to reveal that I'd overheard her and Emman talking the day before. "Wait, what do you mean by 'everyone else?'" I was baffled. This time, Santi rolled her eyes.

"Like you didn't know, everyone else is enamored with you; all the boys think you're amazing, and they were looking forward to seeing you again."

This was fresh information to me, and considering what I had heard the last time, it was absolutely wonderful news.

"It's good to know."

This made me thrilled and gave me the strength to hear her say it. So, despite all of my episodes, they actually liked me.

"Anyway, I'll get going now, my ride is waiting. She picked up her purse and prepared to leave, "All the best to you."

We embraced goodbye before she departed, and I felt like I was saying goodbye to a cherished friend.

The week went by with my usual dull routine; the only difference was that instead of warm, friendly Santi, I now had to report to devilish, surly Emman Johnson, which is the single most stressful thing I had to do all day. It seemed as though all of my worst fears had come true.

He treated me as if I were an imposter, always coming out to get him, and his confidence and arrogance almost convinced me of it, but I had more faith in my kindness, and even though I sometimes refuse to believe myself, I genuinely think in myself far too many times to forget it, even after all the things I clearly heard that day, and even after it replayed in my mind over and over again. I still had confidence in the quality of my relationships.

I knew it would be hard. Especially for Emman, to transition from having the best girlfriend to losing it due to your sweet obsessive sister. I knew he did not have it easy. But he did not get to blame it all on me. I had played Santi. But we reconciled. At least I think she forgave me when she came to visit. And that was it.