Novel-novel oleh Mirah Praise

(MALDIE POV)*****************************I couldn't breathe.David was staring at the new guy…..Julian with a look that could have curdled milk…. It wasn’t just the usual “I'm better than you” look David gave everyone… it was a look of pure, territorial aggression. Even after everything he did to me, even after calling me a…..Gold Digger and a Whore, seeing another man look at me made his knuckles turn white.Julian didn't seem to care. He pushed off the lockers and walked toward us, his boots clicking rhythmically on the floor…….He ignored the whispers and the cameras.When he reached me and Mary, he stopped just a few inches away……..He was taller than David, broader and smelled like expensive tobacco and rain.“You're Maldie,” he said….It wasn’t a question..His voice was deep, vibrating right through my chest..“Who are you?” Mary snapped, stepping in front of me like a bodyguard…Julian finally looked at her, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. "Someone who doesn't like seeing tal

(MALDIE POV)***************************My hands were shaking so hard that the polaroid felt Like a vibrating blade against my skin…the image was clear too clear…….My mother Susan laughing over a glass of red wine, her eyes bright like the way i hadn't seen in years.And there was Richard, his hand possessively on her shoulder....looking at her not like a client, but like a partner....The time stamp at the bottom of the picture crushed the air out of my lungs…. “JULY 2023” They weren't supposed to know each other then. That was a year before the “Accidental” Meeting. A year before my our fell apart. A year before the eviction notices and the heroic rescue.“Maldie! Give it to me now David ran so fast and stopped in front of me…... He looked like a man who had just watched his house catch fire. His ‘Ocean Eyes’........ were blown wide with panic I had never seen, not even when I dumped that water on him.He reached for the photo……..but stepped back, my school shoes clicking sharpl

(MALDIE POV)*******************************I woke up the next morning, and I needed to prepare for school, I didn't have time to go meet my mum..I said when I get back from school we'll talk about it… . I got everything ready and went downstairs. My mum was serving breakfast at the dinnering table, everyone was there.“Morning Mum, Morning Mr Richard”. I greeted them, I didn't bother to look at David because he really disgust me now.. “Bye mum I'm off to school”“Maldie won't you eat before you leave for school?” She asked, “mum when I get back I storm out from the house” I walked onto the campus, and the air felt cold. Too cold……I could hear people whispering everywhere. Then I saw a huge crowd near the fountain, they were laughing and pointing at something I walked closer, my heart sinking. Then I saw it. posters everywhere……My face was on every single one. It was a picture of me from last night, my eyes closed, leaning into David “MALDIE THE SLUT” was written in big, ugly let

MALDIE POV)*******************************I walked straight to him and dumped the water all over his body. The shock on his face was instant because he didn't believe that I could do something like that to himHe sputtered, dropping his phone onto the counter as the cold water drenched his curly hair, washing the smugness right off his expression. “What the hell, Maldie” he roared, swiping the water from his eyes. I took a deliberate step back…my chest heaved…….my breath uneven……but my voice was really calm and controlled, razor-sharp.“That,”I said, pointing at the water dripping from his body from head to toe……. “Was a thousand dollars’ worth of water. Considering how cheap I was, you should be grateful I didn't use battery acid.”He straightened up, his eyes now blazing with genuine anger, not the calculated contempt from earlier. “You want to play this game huh? You think I won't tell everyone why you were so desperate to lose your virginity? That you couldn’t wait to throw you

(MALDIE POV)***************************The notice fluttered to the ground like a dead leaf.I watched the light disappear from my mom's eyes, we held on to each other……..two ghosts in a home that doesn't belong to them anymore, we were waiting for the cold world to swallow us whole. The kitchen smelled of nothing. For a woman who had spent her life surrounded by the scent of cinnamon, roasted garlic and ambition……….”Mom!” I screamed, my voice cracking as I stumbled over a box of silverware that had been packed with shaking handsI found her slumped against the counter, her hands weren't just shaking , they were vibrating with a frantic,rhythmic tremor as she clutched that stack of eviction notices………….”Maldie,” she sobbedShe didn't even look up as she pulled me into her arms“I'm so sorry. I tried…… I thought if I just worked a little harder, if I took one more job I would have give you the life you deserved but I failed you I'm so sorry my daughter”I buried my face in her shoulde

(MALDIE POV)*********************David woke up with a buzz alert from his phone, he turned and looked at me then, I just pretended that I was still sleeping. When he turned back I slightly opened my eyes again then it happened……. He quickly unlocked his phone without looking back at me, he held the screen up, it was a group chat titled …..“Forestwood Challenge”It's a group chat with his colleges friends Mark and Ralph I couldn't see everything clearly but the last two I saw it was crystal clear Mark: “Dude are you going to send us the proof or what? Ralph: “Did you actually get her to cave?? Are you sure, tell us Dave ....”David: typing………Trust me I've never lost a bet before “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” I've finally taken her V-card. She's mine now. Now you both should pay up **********************My heart didn't just drop…… but it imploded. I felt the blood drain from my heart, the delicious unforgettable sensual ache in my body instantly transforming into paralyzed cold. The