I Hope You Will Never Regret

On Sunday evening, Lily was in her bedroom with a glass of red wine in her hand. She was looking at her group presentation with satisfaction.

Since she didn’t do well in her first semester test, she worked hard on their group presentation to improve her module marks. She contributed more information than the other group members.

The group presentation counted 20% towards her DP. She was hopeful that she would be able to sit in the examination for that module. She couldn’t afford to repeat a semester.

At that moment, she received a text message from one of her group members, Edward Locke.

When Edward was coming from the church with his family he saw the digital billboard jewelry advert. He decided to warn his fellow group members about the possibility of heavy traffic the following day.

His parents parked their car beside the road and watched the advert. Even though his father couldn’t afford to buy the jewelry for his mother, yet nothing was stopping them from admiring the exquisite jewelry from afar.

Lily looked at her phone, but she decided to ignore the text message. Lily tended to look down on people from average backgrounds.

Unbeknownst to her, she would regret ignoring Edward’s text message later. Monday traffic was usually not heavy, so Lily used to leave home around 7:45 am for 8:30 am class.

That day, she left home a little bit earlier because her group was the first one to give a presentation. However, that day, the cars were driving at a snail’s pace.

She thought maybe there was an accident. Usually, it took her five minutes to get to the highway. She looked at her watch nervously. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw that she had spent twenty minutes from home to the highway.

She started panicking. She decided to call one of the group members, Thandi Gama. She was their group leader. Also, she was a member of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC).

When the call was connected, she said, “Hello Thandi, I don’t think I will make it on time in class. I think there was an accident on the highway. The cars are not moving. Please ask Professor Mango to postpone our presentation.”

Thandi couldn’t believe her ears when she heard Lily’s request and replied, “Hello, Lily. Last night, Edward sent a text message to the group asking us to leave our homes early because the traffic would be heavy this morning.

Why didn’t you check your phone? Everyone is here except you. Why don’t you do yourself a favour and just drop out of the university Lily? Please don’t drag us down with you.

Should you fail to come to Professor Mango’s class on time, please don’t blame us for being ruthless. We will do the presentation without you.” Then she hung up. Lily was dumbfounded because it was not her intention to be late for class.

On the highway, the motorists were watching the advert of a handsome young man proposing to the most beautiful girl. They were a match made in heaven.

The motorists thought the Taylor Jewelry was advertising its engagement ring. It was delicate and exquisite. After they passed the digital billboard, the traffic started flowing.

Lily was so nervous because Professor Mango was very strict, and no one was allowed to enter his class when his lecture was underway.

Lily nearly fainted with anger when she saw that the cars were driving at a snail’s pace because of the advert. She didn’t have a doubt in her mind that the advert was from Taylor Jewelry.

She had a deep hatred towards the Taylor family because they humiliated her during Avery’s betrothal ceremony. Something caught her eye when she was looking at the advert.

It dawned on her that it was not an advert, but it was an engagement proposal when she saw her cousin, Avery. Xavier was proposing to Avery. She nearly fainted with anger; her blood was boiling. She was overwhelmed with jealousy.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

She dialed her aunt’s number and said, “Auntie, I missed my presentation today because of Xavier and Avery. They put up a big billboard showing off Avery’s engagement ring.

Professor Mango will fail me, Auntie. It is clear to me that I will repeat this semester because I didn’t get good results on my first semester test.

I was hoping that I would get good marks for my presentation to get the DP.” Then she cried sorrowfully.

Her Aunt’s heart ached when she heard her beloved niece’s crying. She tried to comfort her and said, “Don’t worry, Sweetheart. I don’t think your professor will be harsh.

I am sure that he would give you another chance to do your presentation.” Her aunt didn’t know that it was a group presentation.

At that moment, Lily cursed aloud and said, “Auntie, I am so upset. Avery would pay for every pain she put me through.” Then she dropped the phone without saying goodbye to her beloved aunt.

Aunt Elizabeth was dumbfounded when she heard her beloved niece’s words. She didn’t like her daughter, but it was not her fault this time.

At that moment, Elizabeth received a video clip from her son, Aiden. When she looked at the video clip, she was dumbfounded to see Xavier proposing to Avery.

She felt a surge of anger rising in her heart. She decided to call her son. When it was connected, she asked, “Aiden, what is the meaning of this?”

Aiden was taken aback by his mother’s question and replied, “Mom, Avery is your biological daughter. Please try to reconcile with her before it is too late.”

His mother laughed out loud and said, “It will never happen, Aiden, not even in your dreams. Please refrain from telling me about Avery’s matters. I am not interested. I don’t care if she lives or dies.” Then she dropped the phone.

Her beloved niece was going to repeat the semester because of Avery. She wished she had killed her when she was five years old. Her hatred towards Avery was deep.

When Lily arrived at the university, her group had finished their presentation. They were standing outside their lecture room chatting and laughing. It was clear that the presentation went well.

Lily approached them with a forced smile on her face and asked, “Hi guys, how did the presentation go? Did you explain to Professor Mango about my absence? Will he allow me to do my part later?”

Thandi looked at her coldly and replied, “The presentation went well. To avoid being penalized, we told Professor Mango that you didn’t contribute anything to the presentation.

During the first semester test, you came to the university reeking of liquor, and you dragged our class average down with your zero percent.

I was over the moon when I heard that you were related to the genius, Miss Martins. I thought you were intelligent as well. Unbeknownst to me, all the brains were taken by your cousin. It is such a shame; you are just an airhead.”

The other group members laughed out loud. Lily felt humiliated and embarrassed. She decided to go to Professor Mango’s office to plead for a second chance. Professor Mango refused to see her.

Lily walked to the university parking lot dejectedly. She felt like crying. It was over. She was overwhelmed with bitterness. She decided to go to the tavern to drown her sorrows.