Chapter one

Chapter One

“Nona, are you ready?”

Nona sat down with a book covered around her face, her stare looking disturbing as she kept reading.

“So, what are you reading?” Rabel said, taking a glance at Nona as she kept driving.

Nona shifted the book a bit closer off her face.

“Just tell me. I’m not wearing my glasses. So you’re not gonna talk to me? This isn’t easy for me. You spent your life trying to get to the next level, but the same monster keeps getting in your way. But one day, when you’ve run out of hint points, you are given an extra chance at life, just like that,” Rabel said, giving a quick stare at Nona as she faced her eyes back on the road.

“Mom, enough video game metaphors! I’m not ten!” Nona said, her head still facing down at her book.

“Well, it’s like opening a new book, and a new story begins. Better?” Rabel said.

Nona raised her head and slammed her book cover as she threw her face towards the window, ignoring Rabel. She desperately didn’t want to leave her friends behind.

“Damn it, Nona! Now we’ll be the main characters of our own lives.”

“Your life. Mine is 1,000 km away. Now I’m all by myself just for a fucking whim,” Nona said shakily, tears streaming down her eyes.

“Mark and I love each other.”

“Don’t want to hear it,” Nona said.

“Well, we love each other,” Rabel said defensively.

“Well, I loved someone too, and you didn’t care. I didn’t want to keep from Ben and my friends.”

“Nona, you’re 17. I’m sure you’ll make friends in no time. Honey, St. Marie is a good school, you see.”

“It has a great volleyball team. I’m sure you will be the captain in no time,” Rabel said confidently as she gently rubbed her hands on Nona’s and gave her a soft smile.

“C’mon, Mom! You don’t get it. I don’t wanna go to a fancy school a stranger is paying for!” Nona replied angrily, pushing her mom’s hand away.

“He’s not a stranger. He is my husband, so please, please get used to it,” Rabel replied possessively.

Suddenly, the drive became quiet as my mother remained silent, her eyes fixed on the road. I couldn’t believe I was leaving London. I felt a sharp pain tearing my heart apart as I gritted my teeth angrily.

Soon enough, we reached a very luxurious building. “It must be here,” I said to myself.

Stepping out of the car stood a tall-looking man in his early 40s, who must be Mr. Mark Leister. He looked a bit younger than his age, I made assumptions as I stepped out of the car.

“Hello, honey!”

“Hi, I missed you.”

“Same here,” Rabel said as she walked up to him, smiling, exchanging kisses with Mark.

I stood there, unsure of what I might be feeling, but I could hear my breath a little bit loud. My thoughts kept sparking up in my head as I watched my mom kiss her lover (stepdad).

Without hesitation, I headed for the boot to get my bags. I felt someone tap me on my shoulder.

“Please, let me.”

I looked up at a young man dressed in a suit, eyes being merry, and could take one breath when I noticed how close our faces were. I thought, This must be Magnus. I saw Mom greet him a while ago when driving in. She must have known everyone, before replying.

“No, I can do it.”

“Please, let me, Miss,” Magnus said calmly.

“No, let me,” I said, dragging the bag forcefully out of Magnus’s hand as he ran after me.

I dragged the bag out, and looking up, I saw my mom’s eyes boiling with rage. From her face, I could tell she wasn’t happy with me, but so was I.

I took the bag inside as the maid showed me my room. Going up the stairs, I stared at the building, which was far more than I expected.

I spoke to myself, I thought Mr. Leister was rich. Maybe this isn’t rich—he is wealthy!

My eyes fixed on the chandeliers. That’s why Mom is doing all this.

“Argh,” I sighed, stepping up the stairs and heading towards the door I was shown as my room.

“That’s your brother’s room,” Rabel said, stepping up the stairs a few meters away from my door, which was still open.

“You mean stepbrother,” I said, walking closer to the door.

I slammed the door, cutting her off.

As I turned around in the room, I noticed how it was full of my favorite colors—black and blue. I went straight to the window, looking at the bright clouds, when my door swung open.

“I picked your favorite colors. I brought a special decorator to do this,” Rabel said, sitting beside my bed.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I wanted you to have what you always wanted but I couldn’t give you,” Rabel replied warmly as she held my shoulder.

“Thanks,” I said softly.

“You deserve it, sweetie,” Rabel said as she hugged me and pecked me on my forehead.

For once in my life, I felt like my mom was putting me first.

Rabel left the room. Then I started unpacking. While bringing out my clothes, I pulled out a picture of my dad and me. I stared at it for minutes, then shoved it into my drawer.

Stepping toward the closet, I crassly brushed my fingers over the clothes when a tag caught my eye. I took a look at it. It was $500.

“Shh, this is obscene,” I thought to myself.

Stepping aside, I went towards the balcony at the back of my room near my window when a figure passed by, the vessel of plants covering the view of the other room’s balcony.

As I tried to get a glance at who it was, my phone rang.

I ran downstairs as I answered the call.

I kept gisting with Daby, my childhood friend.

“I didn’t eat the whole trip, and I’m starving. I guess these people don’t even have a lousy sandwich.”

I opened the fridge.

“What did I tell you? Not one goddamn sandwich,” I said as I slammed the fridge.

“Oh, shit!” I screamed, my phone dropping on the floor.

“Shit!”

“You must be my father’s new daughter. How about an Angus ragout? Some ramen? An apple strudel?”

Nick said gently, stepping closer to me as he opened the fridge.

“Don’t know what you eat in yokel land, but if you are gonna throw it up—”

He slammed the fridge across my face.

Looking at him, I could tell how hot he looked. He had deep blue piercing eyes, which made me feel a shivering cold running through my spine.

“Nick, right?” I asked, bringing myself back to reality.

“That’s right. And you are?” Nick asked, folding his arms with a serious face.

“Seriously?” I asked, confused.

“Are you still there, Nona?” Daby asked, as she was still on the call the whole time.

“Nona? That’s a boy’s name, you know?”

Nick gave a mischievous smile.

“Your limited vocabulary doesn’t include the word ‘unisex,’” I said as I turned to leave, faced with a huge black bulldog right in front of me.