Double cross의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

There are nights when my thoughts grow darker than the sky outside my window.Nights when I imagine pressing a knife against my mother’s neck — not out of hatred, but frustration. I imagine her begging, her voice trembling, asking why I, her daughter, would do such a thing. And I wouldn’t say a word. No tears. No explanation. Just silence. A silence she deserves after everything.Because this same mother — the one I deeply respect, the one I’ve never raised my voice at—is too kind. Too soft. Too much of a giver. And it drives me mad.“Mariam! Be fast! You’re late for school. I don’t want you punished. I made your favourite — dodo and egg!”Her voice pulled me from my thoughts. I blinked, breathing deeply as the image of the knife faded into guilt.“Mum, it’s not dodo and egg. It’s plantain and egg.”“Ehn, anyone sha. Go and wear your clothes!”She giggled, wiping her hands on her faded wrapper. I looked at her — looked — and I felt pity. She was too innocent for the world we live in.

In class, Samuel greeted us.“Hi, bestie. How are you?” he said to Bella.“I’m fine. You?”“I got something for you—and Mariam.”“Oh? For both of us?”“Yes.”“Thank you, Samuel!” I said.“You’re welcome, Mariam. I hope you consider me your friend too.”“Of course, I do.”“Let’s sit. First class will start soon.”Samuel turned to me, “Mariam, can we talk after this class?”“Okay.”“What about me?” Bella asked.“This is just for Mariam. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to you later in the dining hall.”Bella’s face changed instantly. She wasn’t happy.“Bella, why did your face change?” I asked.“Did it change? I didn’t notice.”“You better tell me what he says to you.”“I will. Aren’t we sisters?”“Okay. But don’t get too close to Samuel. Only I’m meant to be close to him.”“Hmm… you sound like you’re dating him. You’re friends, right? Unless you’re in love?”“I’m not! He’s just my best friend.”“Okay. But we’re all friends. It’s not wrong if he talks to me.”“I hear you.”It shocked me. My Bella

Next Day at SchoolI wasn’t myself. My stomach was tight with anxiety, and I needed to speak to Samuel—fast.I saw him across the hallway and began hurrying toward him. But just as I made my move, Bella stepped in my way.“Where are you going, Mariam?”“Oh… just to do something quickly downstairs.”“Okay, be fast. We need to go to the library—only one week left till exams.”“I know. I’ll meet you there soon.”Once she was gone, I ran straight to Samuel.“Hi, Samuel.”“Hey, Mariam. You good?”“No. I came to tell you the exact excuse I gave Bella—so you can say the same thing if she brings it up.”“Smart. What did you tell her?”I filled him in quickly, and he nodded.“Your mum—wow. She’s amazing. She saved us.”“She knows me well. I don’t lie unless I have to. And since Bella doesn’t usually visit, my mum sensed something was off.”“Your mum is not like the typical African mum, oh,” he said, chuckling. “Others would have shouted: ‘Market? I never sent her anywhere!”We both laughed. I

Mariam stepped out of her compound, adjusting the buttons on her school uniform with shaky fingers. Her eyes lifted and froze.Parked directly in front of her gate was Samuel’s black car.Her heart skipped.The window rolled down slowly, revealing his familiar smirk. “Hi, Mariam.”She blinked. “Ah… Samuel? What are you doing here?”“I came to pick you,” he said casually. “How else would I see that beautiful smile this early in the morning?”Her smile faltered, her voice hesitant. “But… I don’t remember telling you to come this morning.”“You don’t need to tell me, my love,” he said, stepping out of the car with easy confidence.She blushed slightly. “You know I usually go with Bella to school. I don’t want her to suspect anything. She’s your best friend, too.”Samuel chuckled. “Come on, Mariam. We’re just friends, not lovers. And Bella isn’t my girlfriend.”Mariam hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “Okay, fine. But promise me, you won’t drop me at the front of the school gate. Bella

Bella where are you, Mariam called out, she has been walking for 1 hour and still could not find Samuel and bella, as she go towards the school gate wanting to head home by herself, she saw them, Samuel and bella where did you go to, oh I took bella out she said she needed to change her wardrobe, bella hope you selected clothes for me, please why will I select clothes for you my boyfriend bought this for me, oh boyfriend you guys are dating now? Bella I told you that I can’t date you I have a girl I like and am even yet to confess my feelings to her, but still yet Samuel I told you I love you so will you abandon me totally you won’t be my friend again, we can still be good friends but I can’t reciprocate my love for you at all, oh wow have heard you, and bella left with tears she was so dissapionted and Mariam kept calling her out but she shouted back please Mariam you have to go home alone today please I am not going home straight and she left, and just as Mariam was about to leave S