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CHAPTER 3

MIMI’S POV

I couldn’t believe my eyes on what I was seeing because to me, it felt like I was imagining things…this was the worst scenario I could ever see but here I am.

My blood ran cold seeing my stepbrother Danny, the only guy I have loved so much for years with my whole heart kissing and cuddling another girl. He is the same person I have protected and defended when his name was being gossip even if it means having enemies

Now, he is standing in front of me holding hands with someone else. It shattered my heart into pieces because what hurts the most was that it was happening right in front of me and with her!

My chest tightened and my legs shaking, somehow I managed to hold myself together from making a scene and stayed calm. For a second, I wanted to retreat and just walk away like nothing happened but I couldn’t seem to move.

The girl beside him smirked at me before replacing it with a forced wicked smile, more like a triumphant little smile that made my stomach twist in knots with so much anger.

“Hello, you must be Mimi Salvador, am I right? Who would have thought that i would see you again” she said to me, her voice sounded so sweet but every word from her dripped with venom and hate in my ear.

I knew she was pretending.

I wanted to ignore the fact that I knew her and act like she was a total stranger but I couldn't. Even if i was in a deep sleep…i wont forget the tone of her voice easily. Her name is Sandra and ive known her a long time ago…she is my childhood enemy and bully—my tormentor and the one responsible for my years of suffering and humiliation during my high school.

The memories of what she made me go through making my life in school a living hell crashed back inside of me: I could vividly remember how she and her other best friends bullied and called me fat and ugly pathetic girl in front of her classmates, the echoes of laughter and whispers through the hallway felt like yesterday.

My mind diverted to the day she tied me up on the chair with her friends and forced me to eat coconut cupcakes despite the fact that she knew that I was allergic to it. She was a monster and only wanted to see me choke and gag in front of everyone.

That was the day of my graduation and it was successfully ruined thanks to her! I spent that day in the therapist and dermatologist’s office trying to stop the allergic reaction and panic.

And now, after all these years just when I thought that I would finally be free from her, she was here again standing in my path and taking the one person I ever secretly loved for years.

Danny stared at us with confusion as the way we looked at each other in recognition, his dad got married to my mother when I was almost done with high school ... .so he didn't know her. He turned to Sandra and said casually,

“Oh, it seems like you two know each other, I’ll leave you to catch up as friends.” He said and before I could even protest against the idea of leaving us both, he walked away now leaving me alone with her.

This is the part I hated most!

When she made sure he had left, she moved closer to me and smiled at me maliciously.

“So, you’re Danny’s stepsister,” she said, tilting her head, inspecting me like a predator assessing its prey. “What a coincidence! I didn’t know that a lump like you could live freely with him under the same roof. Seeing the most handsome view you’ve never seen before must be a shock, huh?”

She asked, his words stabbed me like a sharp blade and I clenched my jaw refusing to answer the question. My hands were trembling from the trauma I went through before and from the anger building up in me.

I ignored her and bent down to pick up the equipment that dropped earlier from the bag trying so hard to avoid her gaze and hoping she would go away. But she quickly did what she always does best, she stumped her shoes on my hand stopping me.

I winced in pain trying to pull back my hand but it seems like she was enjoying the pain I was going through as she smiled confidently.

Her eyes widened, glinting with a venomous hatred that I hadn’t seen in years. “Oh no! Does it hurt?,” she said, her voice low and cold,

“Look, I don’t care who you are to him, but if you even think about telling him what I did to you back in high school, I will make sure your college life here is just like high school. Understand!?”

She yelled at me and I froze, my heart slamming against my ribs as breath caught on my throat. Her legs pressed firmly on my hand instinctively before she pulled it away and I stood up immediately shaking.

She rolled her eyes and jerked her shoulders against mine, she stared directly into my eyes one more time and walked to the door leaving me shaking with anger and fear.

But just as she was about to open the door, something in me snapped and I turned to her direction in anger…it seems like I gathered enough strength and I wasn’t that timid and terrified girl just now.

I faced her and my voice trembled but i forced myself to steady it. “Hey, Sandra,” I said, trying to hold her gaze, “you think you can just come here and bully me like you used to? Let me tell you something…for your information,I'm not the same naïve college girl you tormented before and I am not scared of you.”

I said confidently, she stopped and turned and her eyes widened in shock. I knew she didn’t expect that response from me…and then she scoffed at me while taking a few steps closer.

But I didn’t stop, “I’m going to tell Danny whatever I want,” I continued, folding my arms, my hands trembling slightly with suppressed rage, “because he’s too good for you, and you won’t stop me. Clock it!”

She suddenly burst out into a cruel and piercing laughter which made my stomach churned. “Oh really!? So sorry, sweetie, but that’s not what he says to me in bed.”

My jaw dropped and my vision blurred in shock and disbelief upon hearing that my twisted and my vision blurred but before i could even react, she put her hand inside her handbag and pulled out a pink panties.

She flung it on my face letting it fall mockingly on my feet…my hands clenched into my fists until my knuckles turned white, raw anger boiled in me.

Just then, I heard footsteps echoing through the corridor coming towards our direction like 5 meters away. I could see the reflection of Danny from the transparent glasses.

Sandra turned back and immediately she saw him. Her8 eyes darted around the room and I could tell she was plotting something, but before I could move…she picked up a bottle on the table, broke it into pieces and pressed her hand against the glasses.

My eyes widened in shock as the sharp glasses cut through her palm…blood gushed out freely glistening under the light. I stepped back in horror breathing heavily and at the same time confused on what she was trying to do.

My hands and whole body trembled uncontrollably as I covered my mouth with my hand. I didn’t understand exactly what was happening as panic surged through me as well as confusion making my heart race faster.

And then, Danny got to where we were running..I could see the shock in his eyes, probably he heard the shattering sound.

Immediately she saw him, she screamed loudly in agony and tears, “Danny! Help me! I’m in pain!”

My heart sank and I turned to her sharply, my head was spinning like a haze and nervousness. She is lying obviously and I could see the satisfactory smirk and mischievous grin on her face.

But then, it seems like I couldn't make Danny see it. Why the hell is she accusing me by stabbing herself? Sandra is crazy and I should have known that she can go to that extent.

Danny’s face twisted in outrage as he rushed to her side helping her up carefully while glaring daggers at me. Danny hated scandals and to him, reputation means a lot to him as a star player especially with the newbies watching him for college recruitment.

So when he saw the blood and tears in her eyes, I knew that he would see it in another way…as another disaster waiting to ruin his name.

“What the heck is going on here!?” He yelled at me in anger and lips trembled nervously…I Wadsworth of words.

“Why don't you ask her! I didn’t know your stepsister was capable of something like this,” Sandra said, her voice dripping with fake innocence as tears rolled down her cheeks,

My chest tightened as I realised that she was just accusing me and trying to frame me up and look like the bad person in front of Danny.

“No!” I cried, desperation breaking through my calm facade. “I didn’t do this, Danny please, believe me! I swear! She did this to herself!”

But Danny didn’t listen, I was expecting him to believe me or ask questions instead but his eyes, which were usually warm and kind, darkened with fury and disbelief.

“Mimi, how dare you do that? How could you do this to her? I thought you were friends…you’re a bully to your fellow woman!” His voice thundered in my ears, making my stomach drop.

I opened my mouth to protest, but the words felt stuck in there, heavy with desperation and fear.

U could see the mischievous grin on Sandra’s face and a triumphant smile as she stood there faking those tears and letting Danny believe her lies.

My throat tightened, and my voice trembled as I said in tears again. “Why do you seem not to believe me Danny, I'm your sister and you have known me for years…I couldn't possibly hurt a fly I swear!”

Danny shifted his gaze from her, he stared at me for a while and i thought he would change his mindset but he said to me.

“Shut up!” he shouted. “You think she would do that to herself on purpose? She came to you sweetly, and now you lie about it?!”

I swallowed hard, my vision blurring with tears I refused to let fall. My chest heaved as I tried to find words, to make him see the truth.

“Danny, how could you believe her over me? What's wrong with you? I didn’t do this. You know me! You know I wouldn’t…”

He cut me off and took a few steps close to me, his voice was cold.

“You’re my stepsister and that is what I respect…I don't hit girls but if you force me, you would be the first girl I would do that to. Right now, you will have to apologize to her. You owe her an apology.”

My stomach dropped upon hearing those cold words from him. This is the first time he is talking to me like this…it seems like he was damn serious about it.

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, apologize? For something I didn't do and for letting her manipulate himandtwistingeverythingi fought for?

My mouth opened and my mind screamed, but I couldn’t move.

I stood there, frozen as I watched her smirk at me from the corners of my eyes, Danny crossed his arms on his chest patiently waiting for me to do that.

I felt so helpless, I wanted to scream at this point but I couldn't because the heartbreak was already too unbearable for me.

I thought he loved me and promised to stand up for me in school.. but now, it seems like he wasn't telling the truth after all.

It was all lies. For the first time, the person I loved most made me feel inferior to my worst bully.