MIRABEL
"What?" I uttered while staring at Tania.She lifted her brow at me, asking, " Is there a problem, cupcake? Don't you want to help your friend?"Her eyes dimming with desperation and evil, leaving my heart pounding with fear."Or are you having second thoughts about being on my team?" She questioned, taking her arm off my shoulder."No, it's nothing like that. I'm..." I stammered, watching Tania and her friends surround me like they were set for a battle.This left me vibrating in fear."Then it's what? Aren't you going to help her? " Her friends questioned."I will," I answered immediately, seeing Tania''s eyes glitter with delight."I'm going to help you get Derek. I was just surprised about the offer, that's all," I lied, putting on a fake smile.Tania and her girls giggled with delight, shaking hands with each other.I just watched them, being the odd one out, as they jubilated over my decision."I knew you would say yes to me. I love Derek so much and I'll make you my P. A if you can make this work fast," She proposed further, patting me on my head.I noticed her girls staring in shock at her words. She's giving me a position higher than theirs."Just don't delay sugar. You have just a week for this. Good luck," Tania said, smirking at me.Both Tania and her friends left my side, chuckling as they walked away.I turned around, watching them leave.Her proposal rang in my head while I made my way out of the school."Get Derek to be her boyfriend? I... I can't do that. What have I done? Why did I agree to this?" I panicked, leaving school.When I got home, I couldn't even eat my meal without thinking about Tania's proposal."She wants me to get Derek to be her boyfriend? How do I do that? " I wondered, playing with my meal with the cutlery."But this is an opportunity for me to be among Tania's team. If I can get Derek to love her, she'll accept me in her group. It's going to be so cool."I began imagining myself dressing like Tania and the others with students respecting me.It's all I've ever wanted.But if I want to achieve this, I have to get Derek to be her boyfriend."And what about me? " I asked, reminding myself of the feelings I've kept in me just for Derek."Can I do this? This is someone I love so much, and Tania wants him for herself. Do I really want to do this?"I was lost in my thoughts that I failed to notice my mother standing close, staring right at me."Are you okay? " Mom asked, sitting next to me at the dinning table.Her voice brought me out of my thoughts, as I planted a fake smile on my face to get her off track."Yes, I'm fine Mom, " I answered."Are you sure? I hope nothing bad happened at school?""No, nothing bad happened," I lied, facing my meal.She hummed, saying, " Mirabel, if anyone is troubling you at school, just tell me.""I promise Mom. No one is troubling me at all. I'm fine, " I said, trying to get her to believe me.But from the look on her face, I could tell she didn't buy my words.She just smiled at me, facing her meal.After dinner, I went to my room to rest, taking out my diary to note down my experience today and how Derek saved me from Tania's wrath."Now I'm stuck with the proposal made by Tania. What should I do?" I noted down asking myself that question.My mind went to the night Derek and I made love together. I could feel butterflies dancing in me, before it was replaced with bitterness at Derek's cruel behavior towards me.With a sad face, I noted down my pains and how I wish to forget that night."What's the need of harboring this feeling when the one I love is going to be my stepbrother soon?" I sighed, bowing my head sadly."You have no choice, Mirabel. Remember what Derek told you. Accept your new life. Just get Derek and Tania together and become a member of Tania's group," I decided, accepting reality..The weekend finally came. I sat at home in my room, thinking of how to execute my plans. Only for Mom to come knocking at my door, calling out to me."Are you ready?" She asked, stepping into my room."Ready? For what?" I asked."Silly girl. You mean to say you forgot what we discussed yesterday?" She asked, lifting her brow at me with her arms crossed.I was completely lost, trying to remember what exactly we discussed.That's when Mom shared with me."I'm traveling on a business trip with my boss and coworkers. I told you that you'll be staying with your stepfather and step brother till I'm back.""What?!" I was stunned to hear this.Where was I when she was saying all these?"Get your things ready, fast. You are really something. I was thinking you'd have gotten your bags ready."Mom left the room, giving me thrity minutes to get myself ready.I was still in shock, realizing that I'll be spending my time with Derek until Mom returns."With Derek? Oh gosh!" I felt my body vibrating.Listening to my mother's words, I got myself ready to go and stay with my stepfather and Derek.We got into the car heading for Hallman's mansion."Make sure you behave yourself there. I promise to get you something from my trip." She giggled.I frowned, telling her to stop treating me like a kid."I'm a big girl, Mom," I groaned while she laughed.Mom arrived outside Mr Hallaman's mansion. I was shocked to see the height of the beautiful mansion, gazing like a dullard.Mom handed me my bag, as we both stepped outside the car."This is your stepfather's home. Isn't it lovely?" She asked."Yeah." I stared on, until I noticed two bodyguards at the door of the mansion, opening the door.That's when I spotted Derek stepping out with his father.It got my heart racing on seeing his handsomeness.MIRABELMy face came flushing as Derek and his father came closer to my mother and I. Mr Hallman doesn't hesitate to get cozy with my mother, kissing her dearly, as he asked her how long her trip would last.I drifted away from them, almost standing close to Derek, who gave me a glare, causing me to look away.I felt my body vibrating while trying to compose myself. But my innocent heart was finding it hard to beat properly."It's a three weeks trip. Just take care of Mirabel for me. Please, she's fragile and hardly expresses herself," Mom said to Mr Hallman, making me look like a kid. I felt embarrassed, ashamed to look Derek's way."He must see me like a loser. Oh Gosh!" I panicked within, hoping this ends. Mr Hallman assured my Mom that he'd take good care of me."If I'm not around, Derek would watch over her, " Mr Hallman said to Mom.I just stood there as they talked about me, before Mom gave me a hug and left for her trip."Welcome, Mirabel," My future Stepfather welcomed me,
MIRABELSince Mom left me under my future step father and step brother's watchful eyes, I had no other choice but to go to school from there.When the morning came, I got myself ready for school, taking hold of my bag and going through it, just to make sure it was in order.Suddenly, my books fell out due to my carelessness, sending me on my knees to attend to them.I didn't feel like myself. It was as if a part of me was missing or something.While picking the books, my eyes fell on a pick hard cover, which was different from the others."My... My diary," I uttered, slowly picking it.I thought I had forgotten it at home, but it has been in my bag all this while.Taking hold of it, I opened the pages and came across the time I first noted my feelings for Derek down.Reading through it brought nothing but pains to my heart, sending me shutting the diary close.I didn't want to think about the past or about what happened recently. I just want to pretend I never fell in love with him.K
MIRABEL"Where do I start from? How do I approach Derek? " I pondered on in class, looking lost.I didn't know what or how to carry out this plan. All I've been feeling ever since Tania made that deadline, was nothing but intense fear.My heart has been racing since morning, unable to concentrate any more."Mirabel! MIRABEL!!""Yes?!" I answered loudly, turning to look forward.I saw all my classmates gawking at me with their mouths filled with laughter."I have been calling you for more than four minutes straight. Seems you are thinking outside studies, huh?""No, Ma'am. I'm sorry, " I apologized to my professor, feeling ashamed already.I lowered my head down in embarrassment, hearing my classmates cackling at me.When I lifted my head a little, my eyes met with Tania and her friends. They were also laughing at me.Only Tania's grin and gaze terrified me more. She signalled with her
MIRABELI came closer to Derek, standing before him, gasping for air at the same time, and feeling scared within.My eyes came lifting to find Derek and his friends looking directly at me with their brows levitating.His friends didn't look too scary to me like before. Back then, I would have trembled whenever they walked pass me with Derek, knowing well that they are friends with my crush.But now, I no longer felt that way. They didn't give that troubling vibe liie before.The only person that was making me uncomfortable was Derek himself. The way he stared at me, like I had something irritating all over my face, got my body shivering. But I couldn't allow his appearance or gaze to weaken me."Come on, Mirabel. Just say it," I encouraged in my mind, still catching my breathe."What do you want?" Derek questioned in a deep voice, looking annoyed.I stood upright, clearing my throat.The confidence I had gathered within, suddenly came dying when my voice got stuck in my throat."I...
MIRABELAntonio soon left me to meet Derek. He promised to get back to me once he has spoken to him.I had given him a smile to show my delight in his help in my situation. But as soon as he left, I became terrified, thinking about Derek's reaction."What if he gets mad and comes looking for me? Oh goodness! Why didn't I think of this?!" I panicked, pacing about in the class with so much fear in my heart.I found myself visualizing Antonio and Derek talking about Tania, and that she had sent me to speak to him about being her boyfriend.His face in my mind, came turning red, as he yelled my name out, looking for me."I'm going to make her regret the day she stepped into my life! Where is she?!""No!" I shrieked at my own imagination, getting scared the more."No, no, no. I can't allow him to meet me here. It's best I leave this place and head home. Yes, I'll head home and wait for his return. It's better than staying here in front of multitudes, " I decided, feeling that would be safe
MIRABELIt was ten in the night. I've been in bed since that time Derek bullied me, sulking in my pains and loneliness.In my hand held a photo of Mom and I, together. It was the only photo I had of us in my bag.The others were back at home, hanging on our walls. I was lucky to have this one in my hands.At least, I won't feel lonely. I have Mom's photo with me."Who's my little princess?" Mom's voice echoed in my head, flashing my memory to the time she always teased me for being worried over some things she took as little.Though it was embarrassing, it still made me smile."I am," I muttered, responding to the voice in my head, hugging the photo tight.Just then, I heard a knock on my door. That got me jumping out of bed in fear, thinking about Derek.Now, any knock that comes on my knock always sounds like Derek, hiding at the corner waiting to attack me like earlier.I cuddled into the co
MIRABEL"Come here," Tania ordered, glaring at me with her arms crossed.Her friends did the same, standing beside her like her bodyguards.My heart was beginning to pound on seeing them. They finally caught up with me. I can't hide any more from Tania.I'm doomed."Mirabel, what is wrong?" Antonio asked, looking at Tania then back at me.He was beginning to see traces of fear all over me, as he stared at my face with concern overwhelming him."Mirabel, " He called my name, taking me by the hand to show his support.Feeling scared, I uttered almost inaudibly to Antonio, "Please help me."His eyes came shimmering with surprise, turning to look at Tania and her friends once again.They had their gazes fixed on me, calling me over."Didn't you hear her calling?""Stop wasting her precious time."Tania's friends said, speaking to me rudely, with their eyes hovering at me.
MIRABELIn an empty class, I hid under a desk, crying in pains.My arms wrapped around my legs, with my face buried down.The humiliation was too much to bear. I couldn't take it anymore."God, I'm tired of this. I'm tired of this life. I can't take it any longer. Just help me out of this, I beg of you, " I cried.I was trying my best to stop this stream of tears from flowing out any more, but the faces and echoes of all that mocked me, wouldn't go.And this is all because of Derek. The one I always looked up to when our parents haven't met or announced their relationship to us.Then, when he was just my crush, my life was still okay. I could still stand the bullying from Tania and her friends, but after learning we're going to be step siblings, Derek has made my life a living hell.Now everyone wants to bully me. Everyone hates me."I'm a loser. A nobody. I'm useless.""No you're not " I heard