Jade's POV
"Did you see what I just saw?" I asked my friend, Juanita, who had just walked back to meet me, at where I was standing.
It was where she had left me earlier to talk with Andrew.
"What did you see that I am supposed to have seen, also?" Juanita asked me.
I realized she had probably missed it.
"Forget it. Let's go for lunch." I told my friend, dismissing the conversation.
Juanita looked up at me with a knowing look. The know that said she knew I was hiding something.
"You know you have to satisfy my curiosity. You can't leave a person hanging like that!" Juanita maintained, firmly.
I sighed. I knew she wasn't going to let go if it until I talked.
"Fine! I saw a girl in Andrew's car as he drove out of the campus. It's a girl I have never seen before." I informed my friend.
"She would definitely be one of his friends. A lot of girls hover around him, you know. Everybody wants to date Andrew Peterson. And I actually find it kinda strange that he is not dating anyone, yet." Juanita stated.
"She doesn't look like any of those girls we use to see him with. She is new. And he was laughing with her." I told Juanita.
Juanita was about to reply me when the bell rang and the principal's voice came on, notifying the freshers of an important event.
I tuned out on that as I realized the message wasn't for me, but my friend chose to listen with rapt attention, for a reason best known to her.
I couldn't shake off the image of Andrew laughing with that girl in his car.
Who was she? And why did he seem so happy with her?
Those were the questions that kept disturbing my mind. I couldn't even concentrate on my food at the cafeteria.
"Are you okay? What's wrong? You have been spacing out since we got here." Juanita had pointed out as we ate.
I shook my head, denying that something was wrong with me and started forcing the food down my throat.
As I walked to my next class, I felt a pang of ... something. I wasn't sure if it was jealousy, confusion, or just plain sadness.
But I couldn't deny the feeling. It was there, figuratively strangling me.
I entered the class and quickly scanned the room, expecting to see a familiar someone whose smile literally lit up my gloomy world.
Andrew!
But he was nowhere to be found.
I wondered if he had skipped school altogether, and a pang of disappointment hit me.
"Jade, it would do you some good if you can pay my words half of the attention you are giving that corner." I heard the Economics lecturer yelled at me. I hadn't been paying attention in class as my mind was completely on something else.
After class, I decided to head home early. I didn't feel like sticking around for my last class, and I needed some time to clear my head.
As I got to the mansion, I noticed Andrew's car parked outside.
I felt a flutter in my chest, wondering if he was home and no longer with that unknown girl.
"What's wrong with you? You have to stop harboring romantic feelings for him. He is your step brother now!" I stated to myself chidingly.
"Well, I can't stop it overnight. It is a gradual process." One part of my mind decided to be lenient with my heart and I couldn't protest to that.
I heaved a sigh and walked inside the mansion.
"I should apologize for being insufferable when he was just being nice to me." I decided and with that excuse to talk to him, I walked upstairs, excitedly.
No one was downstairs so I knew my mom and his dad were out.
And then, I heard it. A strange sound that I never thought I would be hearing.
Moaning.
And it was coming from Andrew's room.
"What the ..." My heart skipped a beat as I froze outside my door, my ears straining to listen.
It sounded like ... well, I knew what it sounded like.
I felt a wave of heat wash over me, mixed with a dash of embarrassment. I shouldn't be listening to this. But my feet seemed rooted to the spot.
The moaning grew louder, more intense. I could feel my face burning with embarrassment, but I couldn't tear myself away.
"Yes, there baby! Hit it faster! Yeah, like that. Uhnnnn, so good!" I heard a feminine voice moaned loudly and brazenly.
"Don't tell me he brought a girl home! And they are actually having ..." I trailed off as I couldn't complete the sentence.
I was shocked.
"Oh, yes, baby. You taste so good!" I heard Andrew's voice draw out. His voice was husky.
And then, just as suddenly as it started, everything went quiet.
I stood there, frozen, waiting for... something.
I didn't know what. I just waited.
But then, I heard footsteps. Coming from Andrew's room.
My heart and leg raced, together.
I pushed open my door and slipped inside, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
But as I turned to shut the door, I saw him. Andrew. Standing in his doorway, a satisfied smile on his face. It seemed he was about to go get something downstairs.
As he saw me, his smile faltered. He seemed taken aback by my presence.
"Hey!" Andrew said to me, his voice low and husky.
"You are back early?" He asked me and my lips quivered as I tried to reply him.
But no word came out of my mouth. I couldn't find my tongue. So, I just stared on at him, like a fool.
Then a girl appeared behind him. My doubts were cleared. It was the one from his car.
"Hey! Not getting the water, anymore? Then come back to mama immediately." The girl said to him, seductively and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Andrew's smile returned, and he stepped aside, revealing the girl more fully. She was even more beautiful up close, with piercing blue eyes and long blonde hair.
Her eyes met mine, and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.
"Who is the new girl? Is she your new house help?" I heard the girl ask Andrew.
Afterwards, a frown made it way onto her beautiful face as she stared at me.
"Baby, why is your house help looking at me like that? Like she wants to pull out my hair if given the chance!" The girl stated and peered at me.
And then, everything went black.