I was in lala land when my mom shouted so loudly from God knows where exactly.

Mom: Shennie!!!

Yes! That's me. I go by the name Shennie Arti Zhloy I am now 17 years old, the story of my life began when I was only 9 years old. So many years have passed but I still remember everything like it all happened yesterday. Let me take you through the journey of my life, through all the ups and downs, through all the smooth and rough roads and through all the thick and thin.

Flash back: 8 Years Ago

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Mom: Shennie, Wake up!! (calling from the kitchen)

This is how my mom always wakes me up in the morning and I'd pretend as if I didn't hear her call me and continue with my peaceful and noiseless sleep till she comes and wakes me up with a few slaps on my chicks, then I wake up. This has mostly been the annoying routine, every morning.

Me: mom it's still too early. (I said yawning)

Mom: You know you have to go to the holiday lessons your father has already paid for your teacher. You will be starting at 11:00 am so you better wake up, Pickle. (How I hate that name, Pickle and my mom loves to call me by that name just because, when she was pregnant with me she used to love pickles so much and now she calls me her Pickle)

Me: Noooo, mom. I told you to convince dad to not let me go for the holiday lessons, you know how much I hate them.

Mom: I tried baby, but you know your father he wants his princess to have the best grades so he didn't listen to me.

Me: ouuww, mom (whining) this is so unfair. Other children go on holiday trips and I go on holiday lessons. What will I tell my friends at school when they ask me what I did on this holiday. (I faked a cry, but she was not giving in to my crocodile tears. Seems like I had to go whether I liked it or not)

Mom: Are you done now, Pickle... If you are, then wake up and prepare for your lesson (she got up and left)

Me: I don't like that name mom (I was shouting when she was walking away and she immediately turned back and said, "you will always be my Pickle." Yea that's my mom for you.

I woke up and got ready for these holiday lessons. I wasn't even looking forward to them with excitement, like for real, holidays are meant to be spent on holiday camps, or you can go for a family vacation, stay in a hotel or a beach house but no, my father had to make this holiday the worst. Ok, guys, you may think that I hate my father but no, I don't hate him. My father is the best dad I could ever ask for. He is the only humble man I know on this earth and I respect him so much because he deserves it. He was always there to play with me when he was not at work. He would play doles with me. Can you imagine a man playing doles? My dad is the sweetest, right?

So my family is like this;

My elder sister who is 4 years older than me, which means she's 13 years old and her name is Cherry Avti Zhloy.

My mom Arti Zhloy. Yes, I was named after her.

My dad Derek Daniel Zhloy. Some people call him DD. Zhloy.

My cousin whom we have been living with ever since her dad (my uncle, my dad's elder brother) passed away who is named Ellain.

So as I was saying, I got ready, I wore my jean skirt, my favorite pink barbie top, and pink sandals. My mom had already prepared my porridge for me, so I ate it. I didn't even know when I finished eating, I just saw that my plate was empty. I don't know what I was thinking but my mind was not even here, I don't want to go mxm.

It was now 10:40 am and I was done, so I took my bag.

Me: mom I am all done now, I am going.

Mom: ok sweety, have a good day and don't get into trouble. Jaden and Princess are already waiting for you outside.

Me: At least I am going to be with some people I know.

Mom: stop whining and go now, Pickle.

Actually, Jaden is my mother's best friend's son, who lives in the same neighborhood as ours. He is so adorable and we are very good friends and Princess is his friend which makes her my friend too.

So I found them waiting for me. I hugged them and we walked to the place where we will be having the lessons since it wasn't that far. It was only a few minutes walk and we arrived.

The teacher who was going to teach us was a male. I think he was in his early 40s. He welcomed us and we sat down. He started teaching us things which I already knew. Things like the quadratic equation, simultaneous equation, blah blah.

OMG!! I was so bored. I hate Math. The lesson went well and when I was about to go, my eyes landed on this boy. I didn't know what was happening to me, I felt like there was something moving in my stomach, It felt like butterflies. I just froze and stared at him. He was so pretty, I mean, really pretty that I had almost choked on my spit. What is the right word for what I was seeing? Huhm, HANDSOME, yes handsome. He had a chocolate flawless skin, his eyes were so perfect, you know those brown shiny eyes, which tad of darkness and light. He had a pencil-shaped nose which fitted on his face perfectly. His smile was like that of an angel with the perfect white teeth. He was a bit short though and he was looking so good with those jeans and t-shirt with _'Cool'_ written on the front. Trust me, no exagerration with all his features, he looks just as gorgeous as that.

Hold up, what are you doing, Arti? Snap out of it already. What the heck is happening to me?

Jaden: Shennie, lets go (I heard him, but I couldn't do anything)

Princess: Shennie, Jade said let's go (still I could not move. It was like I was glued on the spot, which made it difficult for me to move) Jaden then shook me, that was when I could finally snap out of my so-called illusion.

Me: What-what did you say? (I asked, a little bit confused)

Jaden: Geez! Shen, what's this new drama? I said let's go.

Just then, we started to walk away. I didn't know how to walk, but I was doing it. After we walked, probably 30 feet away, we noticed that there were 2 boys following us from behind. Who were they? We hurried our pace, we were frightened.

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Who were the boys following Shennie, Jaden, and Princess?? Did that boy also notice our girl Shennie?? Is Shennie falling in love at this age?? Is it even possible to fall in love at the age of 9 when you haven't even reached your puberty?? Find out in the next chapter... Please dont forget to vote. Your votes gives me the courage to keep on writing... Please, do comment your thought. Heart you all😘

With Love Atipa

Edited by author Judith