CHAPTER 1 VOL1.

I sat sobbing due to the recent news of my mother's departure. My mother was my favorite parent, whenever my father would force things on me, my mother would support me. It felt like half of me had been taken away.

To me, my mother was the best mother a person could have. She showered me with lots of love since I was her only child so right then, being away from her felt like my whole world had been shattered into pieces.

And yeah, I knew that she promised to come back soon but still, I couldn't help but cry. A day without her wouldn't feel complete. How would weeks and months feel?

The worst thing was that my dad wasn't helping at all. He kept on putting so much pressure on me. He kept on using my sisters death to remind me of why I shouldn't want to be live like other teenagers and of why I should always follow the rules that he set for my life.

The emotions bubbling inside me are raw and I am struggling to cope. I am feeling torn apart by the fact that my mom left without saying why and also, by the fact that her departure brought back memories giving me déjà-vu of what happened nine years ago.

I grabbed my phone from the coffee table and called Belinda, my best friend, but she wasn't picking up so I decided to go out for a change of mood and as usual. Whenever I was in this kind of state, I would go to my estate garden.

Whenever I saw the beautiful flowers there, the calm environment, and the warm breeze it always comforted me so I changed and went there.

Sitting on the bench in the garden and savoring this wonderful moment, I got a call from Belinda.

"Did you forget I exist?" My brows pulled together since this hardly happened. She was someone who you would call and you didn't even need to wait a second before you get answered.

"My phone's autocorrect changed your name to ignore," She joked.

"Time to change your phone to 'prioritize awesome friends' or should we start using a carrier pigeon to communicate?" I retorted and she laughed.

"A carrier pigeon it is. By the way, I was walking to your house and you know I never use my phone while walking." She said and I rolled my eyes. I guess she never wants to give up these posh behaviour of hers. Since she was an up-coming model she had set up some do's and don't's for herself, something I found very weird.

"Anyways, where are you? I am already at your place." 

"I am on my way, I just wanted to get fresh air from the garden."

"I can come to you." She volunteered.

"No need." I declined.

"Okay, see you soon,"

"I am hanging up," I told her and when I stood up, I began to work fast but I bumped into someone which made my heart skip a beat.

"Oh sorry," I said as I moved back but when I raised my head to see the person's face, I couldn't stop gazing at him, I was lost in his gaze.

He was on a screw neck sweater and selvage denim jeans- a sartorial which I  never guessed to look this good. His lips were curved in a smirk which made him look even better, like one of those runway models, and about his face- it was prepossessing.

He had an oval face with a slightly curved jawline, high cheekbones, and sharp contour. His hair was dark and disheveled, sharing the color of his eyes, he had a silver hoop on his upper ear and his lips...oh, God! Let's not even go there.

'How can someone be so handsome?!'

His lips curved into a smile when he saw my reaction "You should be more careful," His pretty lips spoke and I opened my mouth to reply but nothing could come out.

My throat had ran dry but why wouldn't it?

The sight of this guy had gotten me. Sincerely, he got me and I could only hope that I wasn't gawking the way, I imagined myself to be doing so.

Calming my heartbeat, I nodded feigning a smile and simply walked past him. That was the best thing to do to calm my battered heart besides, I couldn't stay all day gawking at him even if I wanted to.

On my way home. I kept recalling the images of his face in my head. How could a guy be so attractive and his eyes? It had one hell of an effect.

When I reached home, I went upstairs knowing that Belinda would be there. I got to my room and I met her sitting on my canopy bed typing with a smile on her face.

"What is making you smile so much?" I asked coltishly and tried to peep through her iPhone as I sat beside her.

"Ooh, you are here; it's just Nelson." She stood up but her smile still stayed put as if what he was saying was too funny to be forgotten.

"Nelson?" I stressed my question for emphasis trying to rile her up. After finding out that they hooked up, It has become the best thing to tease her with.

"Cut it off, he is not my type" She frowned and I chuckled enjoying seeing that look on her face.

"What's he saying that's so funny?"

"Not much." She replied and before I could retort, she changed the topic.

"What about your new school, when are you going to start?" She asked and the playful look I had dropped.

Yeah, I almost forgot my dad also wants to change my school because of some mess that I had gotten into with Belinda. First, being caught practicing cyber-bulliying, then bullying/harassment.

But the truth is that, we were just defending ourselves. I wish he can just be as chilled as Beli parents and ignore it.

I have begged him severally but he always tells me that he has made up his mind and there is nothing I can do. He claims to be doing the proper thing every other father would do. Right thing my foot.

Gosh. I will miss my schoolmates a lot including Belinda because even if she lives close and visits often, we will not be as close as when we were in the same high school.

When Belinda noticed the change in my mood she put her right hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, everything will be alright." She smiled cheerfully at me.

"Besides I have good news," Her smile widened.

"What?" I asked with a low voice. Thinking about leaving my school already made me sad. I felt very hurt about it.

"I am going to JK too." She yelled and I was stiff for a moment rendered shocked by her news but when her message sank better I jumped on her. I couldn't believe it! This was the best news! I couldn't have imagined that she would be coming too.

"Remember the promise. We're graduating from the same high school. Going to the same college," She said as we broke our embrace. Gosh, was this the reason. She was so crazy and that's what I love about her the most.

"And getting married on the same day," I complete her statement gigging and she smiled brightly.

"But...." She uttered with her smile fading.

"But what?" I asked agitatedly.

"I will be coming next semester," Her bright face faded and I felt my beating heart calm down. I thought it was bad news or she wanted to say that she was just kidding.

"That's not bad as far as you can come I am fine." I tapped her cheeks and she nodded.

"I need to go. I just wanted to swing in,  say hi and grab a good luck hug before my casting call," She uttered and I mentally face-slapped myself for forgetting about it.

"Oh, gosh! I didn't mean to forget about it? How many hours or minutes do you have left? Gosh, anyways, I don't look bad. No need to change my clothes, let's just get going," I rattled off as I stood up but Belinda shook her head.

"Not this time. I know you promised me that you'd follow me for all my in-person auditions or open calls to support me but now, you're going through a lot." She said and I faked a smirk. I didn't want to have to stay in this my damn house— not today. It was reminding me of things that I want to forget.

"That's more reason why I should go. I need a break from these four walls," I replied then she walked towards me and grabbed my hands in hers.

"I know you and forcing yourself to such a place when you're sad would make things worse. Try to face the emotions that you feel, don't escape them. I am not that good with words but I hope you understand what I mean," She said smiling comfortingly at me and I nodded.

She was right. If follow her, It wasn't going to make a difference since we won't be going to somewhere fun. She was going for a shoot, it would only exhaust and my brain would still be overworked there. Moreover, if the shoot takes long and we get home past 7:00Pm, I would get in trouble with my dad for breaking my 7:00pm curfew. I guess I will just do as she said— face my emotions besides it's not like I can ever avoid being in this four walls for more than fifteen hours a day.

"But, if you insist and deeply believe that I am wrong, we can go. I don't mind. All I want is for you to be comfortable," She added but I shook my head.

"I will be fine. I will just finish up Power book II, bake something good or get lost in a book." I exclaimed putting on my best act to convince her that I was good but she didn't seem to be buying it.

"I don't believe you. You're not fine. I promise to make it up to you when I get back. I'd stay over for as many nights as you want. Why did the shoot have to be today of all days? I wish I didn't have to…" She stated but I cut in.

"It's more like, why did my mom have to leave on this special day?" I joked then I smiled warmly at her "Belinda. It's fine. Go. This is the biggest gig you've ever secured and I am sure you're already running late. You don't want to screw it," I uttered and when she still didn't move, I removed my hands from her. I went to the bed, grabbed her handbag then I walked back to her and began to push her away from my door.

"Hey, hey, you just ruined our cute moment," She complained but I didn't mind her. When she was out of my door, I banged it on her face and locked my room door.

"Bye. I wish you good luck my beauty icon. Make the Camera melt!' I told her giggling and I didn't need to look at her to know that she was smirking.

"Of course,"

+

After Belinda left, I decided to bake. I began to bake cookies with Enchanted by Taylor Swift playing in the background, distracting myself from the situation at hand in my life.

'And it was enchanting to meet you,

All I can say is, I was enchanted to meet you,' I sang along then my mind drifted to the guy that I had met at the garden and as I kept on singing, it was more like I was saying my thought.

I had never seen him around here before so I wonder where he's from but I can't say though. He might be one of our neighbors. Since I am the from school-to-the-house type, knowing all our neighbors is surely impossible.

Anyways, all I can say is I was enchanted to meet him.