CHAPTER 1

“Dinner at the house tonight. And by the way, Uncle will be fetching you after school, dad said so,” my youngest sister coldly said from the phone. And before I could say something, she hung up the call.

When I looked at the clock inside our classroom, it pointed at 7 o’clock just in time and the bell rang. Even when the instructor hadn't finished yet with her discussion, everyone stood up and grabbed their stuff to leave. She had a disappointing look on her face.

I also stood up, grabbed my stuff as my mind went blank. I didn’t know what I should do when my uncle gets here. Usually, in a situation like this, I would have planned something to keep my composure firm, but when it comes to him, my fear becomes dominant and afterwards, I wouldn’t know what to do. 

Up until now, I still couldn’t find the courage to face him after all what he did to me. I left the room without saying anything to our instructor like I always do.

I went to the bathroom’s direction, but before I could reach there, someone blocked my way and when I looked up, it was Keith, the self-proclaimed queen bee and school bully. Three of her clown-like bitches are behind her, all raising their brows at me.

I can’t remember doing something bad against this girl to make her pester me every single time she gets a chance.

She gave me a fierce look for a straight minute without saying anything. “Where do you think you're going?”

 I raised my brow, “I believe that’s none of your business,” I said as calmly as I could.

She crossed her arms on her chest, showing off her healthy cleavage. I’m sure she just wants me to envy her with that big pair of boobs of hers. If I would be as arrogant as her, I would gladly show off mine which are bigger than hers. But, I won’t stoop that low. She’s not worth it. No one will be able to make me feel insecure of myself just because I wear oversized shirts.

“I heard you’ve been flirting with my boyfriend. You better keep your slutty ass from him or else you’ll regret it ‘cause I’m gonna make your life a living hell in this school,” she said in a serious and scary-like manner.

I let out a short sigh before putting my palms on the pocket of my loose pants. “First things first, which one of your boyfriends I am flirting with?” I sarcastically asked, emphasizing the word “flirting”. Students around us made a boo expression. I didn’t even know everyone was watching us. “Second, please, stop saying that kind of threat, it makes me cringe.” I moved my face closer to her ear. “Honey, you don’t know what kind of hell I have been. Let me show you how to properly threaten someone.” I moved even closer. “If you won’t stop pestering me, I’ll show off to everyone that one of your so-called boyfriends is that instructor from the college of education. I guess he’s not just teaching his students about being an educator, he’s also teaching you how to grind your hips on his lap. Bitch!” I whispered and pushed her hard.

Her minions were just in time to catch her. Her face was in complete shock. She probably didn’t expect I knew that kind of information of hers. I just accidentally saw them both in the music room, without any clothes on.

I rolled my eyes at her before passing through them. I went straight to the bathroom and went inside of one of the cubicles. I sat on the closed toilet and gave myself a good deep sigh.

My mind quickly averted to the thought of my uncle fetching me tonight. It’s seven pm already and it’s way more dangerous to be with him during the night.

I didn’t notice the lone tear that skipped from my eye. What should I do?

My hand started to tremble. I immediately grabbed my medicine which I usually take in situations like this to keep me calm. I grabbed my penknife which I always bring with me and hid it in my pocket.

I let out a deep breath one more time before going out of the cubicle and went to fix my hair and light makeup on the mirror. I then left the room and made my way to the parking lot.

“You can do this. You can do this. There’s nothing you can’t do. Act completely natural. Don’t make him get into you this time. If something happens, you know you did it as self-defense,” I whispered to myself as I walked, trying to encourage myself.

I went straight to the lady guard who was casually sitting in her mini guardhouse. She’s a big black lady. Most of the students in our school are afraid of her ‘cause she’s strict and she once punched a kid who tried disobeying the school’s law. But, she’s fun to be with, just don’t mess with her.

She smiled when she saw me. “‘Sup, girl! Waiting for your daddy again?” She then lightly laughed.

“As if I have another choice,” I sarcastically responded and went to sit in the chair next to her.

“You have plenty of choices, girl. Go get your damn own license and drive your own damn car so you don’t have to wait everytime like a grade schooler waiting for her momma to take her home. For christ’s sake, you’re fucking 20 years old.”

“You don’t know how many times I tried convincing my parents to let me drive a car. I’m not even allowed to drive a bike.”

“I hate your life. You have all these luxurious stuff, a lambo who fetches you after school, that million-dollar-worth watch, that gucci clothes and that obviously expensive pair of shoes yet you can’t drive a fucking bike. What the fuck is wrong with your family, girl? I would never trade my shitful life with yours. No offense.”

“None taken and thanks for the compliment,” I sarcastically replied. “And you can personally ask my family what's wrong with them. I mean, good luck if you’d be able to finish your sentence without having long guns pointed at you.”

“Your family is sick. How did you even make it through twenty years? I mean I’d probably die just finding out I belong to that family.”

“You need to be tough to survive in our house. That is why I’m tougher than you,” I confidently said.

She actually doesn’t know the real deal of my family. All she knew is we illegally import guns across Europe and Asia. She got that news from those college instructors who don't know how to keep their mouths shut. But, anyways, my family is a prominent one so it’s not impossible not to hear people talking about us.

With this little chit chat with her, a heavy and tense feeling I have got reduced a little. My mind calmed for a while.

Until an obviously expensive car made its entrance inside the parking lot, it was a black Bugatti La Voiture Noire, the 2019 version. How did I know? My two brothers have the same car. 

I smiled with the thought that it’s probably one of my brothers’ and not our uncle. Although I am never close to any of my brothers, at least I know I can be safe with them.

“Is that your man?” Dell, the lady guard asked. “I thought it would also be a lambo this time.”

She really knows that when an obviously expensive car shows in the parking lot, it’s meant for me.

I shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t know, let's see when he gets out.”

We both waited for someone to get out of the car. And when he did, my face immediately went down. It’s not one of my brothers.

It’s a complete stranger whom I have never seen in my whole life. He’s tall, has a huge body complexion and I think his shirt will burst open any minute with how big his body is. He has tattoos that cover his whole arms. Tattoos on his neck were also visible. He has shoulder-length black hair. And he looks like a mixed race of an asian and african.

He looks exactly like those guys whom dad usually makes business deals with. He has his belt with a gun on. He doesn’t look like someone from authority, a police or something. Who even carries a duty belt and a gun showing off in a school setting? He doesn’t even have a badge or anything.

I went back on being anxious again. It means that uncle will still be fetching me tonight.

“It’s not my man,” I said with a low tone. “I don’t even know who that is.”

“Oh, too bad, he’s hot. Like hella hot,” she sly smiled. “I would trade my husband with him,” she then snorted.

I went to look through my phone as Dell continued on fantasizing with the man.