Andrei's POV
I checked the time, it was 7:00 p.m. Mum had called earlier, asking me to come home early that she wants to have dinner with her children. I knew mum, she would not eat until I arrive. So when I saw it was seven, I headed straight to my car. I had asked David to go home earlier, he was so happy.
As I was about to open the car door, I saw her again. She was walking towards the gate, tossing her purse to and fro like a pendulum. Obviously, she was in thought.
I entered my car and trailed her but she didn't notice. I had to hoot to get attention.
"Care for a ride?"
"You again? are you stalking me?" she replied.
"Me? Why would I? I just happen to drive past at the moment and I saw you,"
"Anyways, I don't need your help. I am an independent woman, I can take care of myself," she said with a pout.
I've never met such a stubborn girl in my life.
"Is it really a big deal to accept help from someone? why are you so..." I wanted to say why are you so full of yourself but mum called and I picked up, just to hear her complaining of how hungry she was because I refused to come earlier.
By the time I ended the call I couldn't find Cherry.
I want straight home, and when I arrived my humble home, I went straight to the dining table to find mum, Alex and Steph. I called it humble because that was what it was. Many people had asked why influential people like us chose to live in just a simple house instead of a mansion and why we had only few helpers and security guards but the question was left unanswered.
What was Steph doing here? So, this was what it was all about.
"You're finally here," Steph welcomed.
"I made dinner," she added.
"Good evening, mum," I greeted mum.
"Good evening, Andrei," Alex greeted.
Dinner began and as expected, mum started talking about marriage. Then she moved to children and then she asked plainly,
"When are you going to marry Stephanie?"
It was a question I hated to be asked because to me, it made no sense. I was never going to the date Stephanie, let alone, marrying her.
Stephanie was my childhood friend, she had loved me since high school. To me, she was just a friend, as if that was true because I didn't consider her one. She was the most shameless woman I had ever known, she had no iota of self-respect in my own view. I mean which girl with high self esteem forces herself into a man who doesn't like her.
"Mum, can we just eat peacefully? I didn't even know Steph would be joining us for dinner,"
"But why Andrei?, aren't I a part of this family?" Steph asked quietly.
She sounded like a harmless cheap but in reality, she was a very harmful wolf and only mum could be fooled by her pretence, not me.
"Steph, I have told you times without number, nothing can ever happen between us," I said before leaving the table.
Just as I put on my nightwear, Alex knocked on the door. Alex was my younger sister, she was only seventeen but to me, she looked twenty three.
"Come in," I ushered.
"What? aren't you going to usher me a seat?" she asked.
"Alex, if you're here to talk about Steph, then leave."
"Andrei, don't you know I always got your back, I'll definitely stay by your side always, but, since you don't need my help, I'ld leave," she said and stood to leave.
"Okay, fine, I'm sorry. What do you want to say?"
"Yeah, that's more like it. I support you and I don't like Stephanie. I hate her, I hate her so much. Do you know what she's been doing to me," Alex stated.
Of course, I knew Alex and Steph where never friends, maybe.
"I don't know why mum always listen to Steph, I was supposed to go on an excursion with my classmates, the last excursion before I graduate. But do you know what Steph told mum? "Mum, youngsters these days cannot be trusted, she might be planning to go out with a boyfriend behind your back," And to think that mum actually supported her, now I'm stuck at home while my friends are enjoying because of her," Alex complained.
"So, you're actually here to complain and not sympathize with me," I told her.
"Andrei...," she screamed before leaving.
I smiled at how cunning she was, she actually wanted my approval for the excursion. Alex really is cunning but I will always catch up with her cunningness.
And then, my thought drifted to Cherry, the one whom I just met but find amusing. The very first woman who my mind couldn't let go of.
Cherry's POV
The alarm rang loudly at 4:00 a.m. My back ached as I woke up, I remembered what happened yesterday when I arrived home.
I got home to find my house in a mess. Alcohol was spilled everywhere, the sink tap was left running and so the whole kitchen and dining, even the living room was flooded.
As if that was not enough, vomits of different people where on the floor. The most painful part was that the food items that was supposed to last till the end of the month, all of it was gone, it was either cooked and poured or flooded. And my piggy bank, it was broken with all of its money gone.
Daisy had done all this, she must have partied with her friends. And the worst part was that she didn't come home last night, so I was the one to clean the mess.
Now, where would I start from? I had the bills to pay and there was no food at home.
I stood up for my bed and went to the tub to brush my teeth. I looked at the reflection of myself in the mirror and a tear escaped my eyes.
My life had been full of ups and downs. First, it was mum and dad's divorce, then it was mum's death and then I had to look after myself and my elder sister, Daisy who was a thorn in the flesh for me.
It was five thirty, I heard a knock and rushed to open it to find Daisy.
"So you're back now, you ran away after what you did?" I spoke.
"Cherry, you don't have to start complaining this early," she replied and forced her way in.
"Daisy, don't you know what they call pity, do you pity me at all?" Daisy didn't answer.
"I try my best everyday to fend for us, I've done all types of legal job there are, I do everything but you still choose to make it harder. I was working yesterday, typing from morning till evening, hoping I'ld come home for a rest but you turned me into a cleaner," I just had to let all my anger go.
"Cherry, I would not let you insult me, I am still your elder sister," she screamed.
At least she remembered she was older, which younger sister does what I do. I felt like just kicking her out of my life and disowning her as my sister but the promise I made to mum came up.
"Promise me you would look after your sister, promise me Cherry," mum said before she died .
"I promise," I said and then she left us.
It was the last thing she made me promised.
I took my purse and blazer and left the house, I knew it was early but I didn't want to arrive late at work again. And since I was taking the subway, I didn't want to meet a very long queue. I'ld ask Amanda to help
pick up my car later since I'ld be at work them. Amanda was more like a sister to me than Daisy. Amanda was a business woman, she was always chanced.
I arrived work early that day and was so glad. Soon, I began my typing and time went by. I was so engrossed in typing that my rumbling stomach did not affect me. No food at home and no money meant no breakfast and lunch. Thank goodness for the free lunch that would serve as my dinner from now on. As for Daisy, she would fend for herself till I get my pay.
I patiently waited till lunch time and was the first to walk out for lunch along with Everly.