Ans 18

I have always had an almost pathological sense of paranoia. Ever since I was a child, I was convinced that the people around me were out to get me. Back in elementary school, when everyone was lining up for their student ID photos, I flatly refused to have mine taken. I insisted that the district office was going to use my picture for identity theft. The situation escalated so badly that the principal had to personally sit me down and spend half an hour trying to convince me otherwise. Then, there was the fingerprint registration system in middle school. The school required every student to submit their fingerprints to access the campus buildings. I was so terrified that someone would steal my biometric data that I literally rubbed the skin off all ten fingertips to make them unreadable. Even when my fingers were bleeding, I kept shouting that they were trying to steal my identity. I would rather climb over the school fence every day than cooperate. Every relative I had called me crazy. My parents were so fed up that they seriously considered having me admitted to a psychiatric hospital. I did not care. I guarded my privacy with obsessive determination, gritting my teeth and holding my ground all the way up to the eve of the final exams. Then came the day before the exam. That afternoon, our homeroom teacher, Tracy Collins, walked into the classroom carrying a metal lockbox. A warm, motherly smile spread across her face as she set it down on the desk. "Everyone," she said, "to make sure nobody forgets their documents tomorrow, I'd like you to hand over your IDs and exam admission slips for safekeeping tonight." She patted the lockbox reassuringly. "Tomorrow morning, I'll personally return them to each of you outside the testing center. This way, there's absolutely nothing that can go wrong." The class was deeply moved by her thoughtfulness. Some students even looked close to tears as they eagerly pulled out their documents and lined up to hand them over. Everyone except me. My hand clamped down over my pocket so tightly that my knuckles turned white. Cold sweat poured down my back. A sharp alarm bell was ringing in my head. Trying not to attract attention, I fished out a spare flip phone from my bag, ducked beneath my desk, and dialed emergency services. As soon as the call connected, I lowered my voice and spoke into the receiver. "Hello. I'd like to report a crime. My name is Charles. "I believe a teacher at St. Alden High is working with an identity-fraud ring and is planning a large-scale operation tonight involving examination fraud and identity theft."

The day I was admitted to Crownstone College, my parents threw a thirty-table banquet to celebrate my younger brother, Jason. There was a banner across the hall. [Congratulations to Jason on getting into vocational school. You've brought honor to the family.] When it was time to cut the cake, Jason made a wish in front of all the guests. "I hope my sister gets married soon and stops wasting the family's money." The relatives raised their glasses and praised him for being so sensible. Dad beamed with pride. "A boy who learns a trade has a solid future. Unlike a girl, no matter how much she studies, she'll end up getting married anyway." I sat alone in the corner. The doctor had diagnosed me with severe depression and warned that I couldn't handle any more emotional shocks. My parents said I was bad luck. They told me not to have another episode and ruin my brother's celebration. I nodded, picked up my medical report, and walked to the rooftop of the hotel. Right then, my phone rang. On the other end were my parents from eighteen years ago. My young Dad laughed through tears. "It's a girl! We have a daughter!" My young Mom's voice trembled. "Sweetheart, I just gave birth to you. "Did our child grow up feeling loved by us throughout all eighteen years?" Listening to the applause from the banquet hall below, I laughed until I could barely breathe. "Yeah, you loved your child very much. "It just wasn't me." "What do you mean? Jess, don't scare me–" I smiled in relief but didn't answer her. I could hear fireworks from below. It sounded like they were celebrating my disappearance from this family. I closed my eyes, leaned forward, and jumped.

After I secured early admission to one of the country's most prestigious universities, my old high school invited me back to sit for the State Scholars Exam and compete for the top statewide score. But just ten minutes into the math paper, the proctor out of nowhere accused me of cheating. "Everyone else starts with the multiple-choice section. You went straight for the proofs. Were you planning to copy someone else's answers later?" Before I could explain a single word, he dragged me into the boys' restroom. Not only was I humiliated and forced to strip, I also had to let him inspect me over and over again to confirm that I had no cheating devices on my body. After I returned to the exam room, I decided it was better not to cause more trouble, so I started from the multiple-choice section like everyone else. But less than five minutes after I sat down, he yanked me up again. "This is even more fake. You didn't even take time to read or think through the questions before writing down the options. If that isn't cheating, what is?" "I suspect you knew the answers in advance. I'm reporting this to the exam board right now and having your exam qualification revoked!"

Sometimes a family member can be a blessing. Well, at times, he or she can be a curse. Annabelle Siromani moved to America with her parents when she was sixteen years old. They moved to the USA because of the constant problems her maternal aunt gave her family due to her obsession with Anna's father. She had to move to a new place with her family, away from her birth place, Pakistan. They had to get away from her deranged aunt that left no stone unturned to ruin their lives. Follow Anna in her story as she finds out how difficult it is to adjust in a new place.

Vanessa Valencia a 17 years old girl whose eyes is full of life, a heart full of magic, a mischief prankster, a cupid matchmaker who make a win-win situation for herself, but one conversation with her friends makes her have a mission, MISSION to find a perfect man for her mom, who's been single for too long when Vanessa realized her been a cupid matchmaker, she never played hitching game on her mother. what if Vanessa decides to find her mother a partner? a soulmate?. "But Vanessa dude, that was a successful hitch," Aden fist bump Vanessa while having a bite of pizza that they got as a treat from the person Vanessa played cupid on. "Enjoying yourself kids?" Alisa asked. "Yep, Mrs valencia" Kova nodded his head in yes. "Glad, when I'm off to bed, have a goodnight," Alisa greeted and began to walk upstairs in towards the bedroom. "Damn nessa, no offense, your mom still has it" Aden commented while sipping his drink. "Aden really," Vanessa said rolling her eyes. "What? can't a man be honest," Aden dramatically placed a hand on his heart. "But nessa, I don't understand, You been a hitcher or cupid matchmaker, still your mom is single WHY?" "What WHY?" Vanessa questioned while trying to copy Aden. "Aden's right," Kova agreed. "Come on girl, USE YOUR BLESSING ON YOUR MOM AND HITCH HERR," Aden whispered standing up and pointing at Vanessa. "Now that's dramatic Aden". But Aden's words did put Vanessa in deep thought, ADEN IS RIGHT, HITCH HER, YES, Vanessa thought. ................................. Will Vanessa be able to find her mother a perfect man or not? Join Vanessa's journey in 18 to 80, to know what happens. {The above cover doesn't belong to me, credit to the owner)

Layla, pressured by her strict mother, finds herself torn between passion and duty on whether she should do law, despite her heart belonging to art. All while her intense and tangled feelings for Aria cause a rift in their friendship - leading to deep heartbreak and isolation once Aria disappears from her life. Just as she resolves herself to recover, frequent encounters with Aria's ex, Nelle, continue to occur. What started off eerie, soon proves to be different from expectations. As emotions collide, and secrets unveiled, Layla is forced to face the truths on growing up and the blurred lines between emotional drama and supernatural mystery.