LOGINI bit my lower lip as I eyed him, feeling mad he was intruding my privacy. "Welcome home.” He slumped down on the bed next to me, inching his face closer to mine. “Tell me, who is the girl? I heard you have no girlfriend." “Why are you here? Were you chased out of school or expelled?" His expression faltered for a moment but was replaced with a quick smile. “I missed home. I guess I just had to return to guard my stuff before they slipped away from me." His smile widened as he got up from the bed. That was when I noticed the clothes he had in hand. They were a new set from my closet which I was yet to use. "Those are my clothes. What are you up to?”He looked down at his arms with a smirk. "Didn't you hear what I said? I returned to look after my stuff so they don't slip away from me. When you came for the first time, my mum let you use most of my things before she finally took you shopping. So let's say, you're repaying me the favour." He winked at me as he walked out.What pain
I rubbed a hand over my face in exasperation. "Actually, she's a cousin. A distant cousin, but I call her my sister.” Was lying actually necessary?Well, I bid my grannie farewell and set off with them. I wouldn't lie, I had fun. And so I hung out with them for the rest of the week after school, whenever I wasn't practicing, and even stopped by at their place sometimes. I saw a lot of reasons why Grace enjoyed their company.They were so cool and good.Though I dreaded Ralph's coming which ought to be on Friday night. Among the shit Grace sent from Xena’s phone, there was the dirty chat with Logan. I wasn't surprised she must have slept with almost all the male teachers in school. She also kept sex tapes to threaten them with. Little wonder she had them on the palm of her hands.What broke me was when I saw she had one of me too. Now, I wouldn't blame Grace for thinking so less of me. Though mine wasn't as explicit as the ones she had with the teachers, but still, it passed a wrong m
I woke up two hours later to my aunt's and grannie's nudging. A doctor was around. They fussed over me, made me eat and take my medications, before I was left alone again.I think I was way too hard on Grace. Afterall that was her way with words, and that was how we rolled with each other. Saying things we don't mean to see who gets hurt. So I decided to phone her again before going to bed. But I was surprised to hear a masculine voice.“Who am I speaking with?" I asked in surprise.“Who did you have the intention of speaking to?" I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Shouldn't I be the one asking? I mean, why are you with the owner’s phone?" Who the hell was he anyway? All my guts screamed Alex.“Tell me why you should be the one asking, jerk.” My heart fell. Jerk. So I was still a jerk to her. My eyes drifted to the name of my screen. Bitchy. I edited it that moment."Listen, I am not a jerk, okay? She only mistook me for someone else, that's why my name is saved that way.”“Then what’s yo
“Why are you making everyone believe I am your son?” I asked my aunt after a long silence. “Do you feel so sorry for me or do I look too pathetic?”She folded her arms and gave me a straight stare. “Because you are family, Asher. I once had no family. I was an only child and lost my parents to an accident after graduating high school. I had no family till I met your uncle. I was hoping my husband would have a family I could embrace, so my kids wouldn’t feel lonely or go through the same experience I had. But I was disappointed when your uncle said he lost his family after a fire incident. But one day, he found his brother, your dad. I was so happy.” She paused with a sad smile. “I was happier when I learnt he had a family too. I was so eager to meet you guys.” she paused again with a deep sigh. “It was so unfortunate we lost your mum that period, and later, Gabrielle. So why ask me why I make everyone believe you are my son?”Wow. I was so impressed by her sincerity. She apparently s
Dinner that night was merrier than I had expected. My grannie’s eyes reflected happiness, and my grandpa whispered in my ears, asking if she was my girlfriend.And for the first time in a long time, I found myself in the kitchen, helping her do the dishes. The last time I had done it was with Gabrielle. I wished she would live with my grandma instead of returning to Minnesota, but of course, there was no way I could just propose that to her from the blues. We snuggled up in each other arms that night, but by the following morning, I had to let her go. After dropping her off close to her house, I was shocked to find my friends hanging around the area.“What are you guys doing here?” I asked, surprised.They gave me curious stares that made me wonder if they found out something they shouldn’t. “Don’t you think we should be the ones asking you that?” Terry demanded, inching closer to me with a threatening glare. “We sent someone to tail you after you left school yesterday, and guess wh
The house was one of the properties belonging to Uncle Harry. It was among the ones he had delisted because he had renovation plans in mind. One day, when we went out for dinner and passed by, he had ordered his driver to stop and told his wife that this was one of the buildings he intended to use for his new project.That was why he hadn’t been bothering with maintenance or raising the rent. What I didn’t know was when he intended to carry out those plans.I couldn’t believe this was where Suzella and her family lived. Should I tell them or not? Maybe I should mention it to Grace instead? But then, I would have to explain what I was doing here in the first place, and I wasn’t sure I wanted her to know that yet.I rushed into the house with Corn and Suzella. Their mum was struggling to get the old man onto a worn-out wheelchair when I came in. He looked limp and unconscious.“Move aside, Mum,” Corn ordered.She obeyed immediately, and Corn and I took over. “Fold the chair and bring it
Apparently, Aunt Cecil had made up her mind. She never wanted me here. In that case, they could at least give me my money before I left. I found them in the kitchen, cracking jokes and preparing dinner. I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “If I’m really leaving, then Regan has to give
Grace's POV I opened my eyes to find myself on the same bed again. It all felt like a stupid dream. My head throbbed as though I was being hit with a hammer as I tried to sit up. “Hey, relax." One of the nurses beside me, urged. "You'll be discharged in less than an hour. I've already administere
For a moment, it felt like my head swelled as I watched Grace slump down. Luckily, Corn caught her before she hit the ground. I could barely see. It felt like I was hallucinating because the memory of that night Gabrielle died kept flashing in my head; my dumb suggestion, the run, and then the car
I swallowed hard at first, but I quickly reconsidered. Why was she so interested in my personal affairs, by the way? It was none of her damn business. “Listen, you don’t have any right to snoop on my calls, okay? I owe you nothing,” I snapped, darting off. “Asher, really?!” I heard her call out







