🌹✨ Welcome Dear Readers! ✨🌹
Welcome to my new world, where I will be sharing a story close to my heart. This novel is filled with emotions, complex relationships, and thrilling events. I hope you find in it something that touches your hearts and sparks your curiosity.
If you are a fan of romance, drama, and suspense, then this story is just for you!
Your support and feedback mean the world to me, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts.🎀
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🍂 Good luck and happy reading.🍂
-I was sitting at the computer, writing in my novel on a rainy night. The raindrops fell on the window, creating calm melodies that eased the noise in my mind. Those were my moments of refuge, where I could escape from the dull reality of my life.
I enjoyed writing as if I were living new experiences, thinking of each character as a part of me, and drawing imaginary worlds with no limits. My pen would glide over the paper, as I had written in my previous novel:
"With every line I write, I discover a part of myself I never knew."
However, life outside my window continued to flow without stopping. I felt bored with the daily routine that never changed, but I found comfort in my words.
"Writing is the only way I can truly be myself,"
I once wrote, and those words reflected my state at that moment. The more I dived into writing, the more I felt that I lived freely, far from pressure and expectations.
Then, I heard the sound of a car parking next to the house. I stood up quickly, adjusted my silk dress, and looked out the window, where the lights in my room were dim.
I saw that a car had stopped in front of the house next door, which had been closed for more than a year. I didn't give it much thought and returned to my writing, expressing my feelings.
Suddenly, I felt my eyes go numb, and I sank into a world of thoughts until I realized I had lost track of time. I was immersed in the details of my characters and their worlds, and when I lifted my gaze from the screen, I felt that night had suddenly turned into dawn. I couldn't believe I had sat the entire night writing, and the amount of words in my text had increased astonishingly.Suddenly, I woke up to the sound of my mother yelling at me for sleeping at the computer and being late for the first day of school.
"Sorry, Mom!" I said, rushing toward the bathroom.
"I was writing and lost track of time!" My mother, who was waiting for me by the door, looked at me with concern.
"Hurry up, school is just minutes away, and I don't want you to be late."
"I'll be ready in five minutes!" I promised her, while I quickly took off my silk dress and put on my school uniform.
As I moved, I couldn't help but think about that car. Whose was it? Why was it parked there? Many questions were running through my mind, but I decided to set them aside for now and focus on getting ready for a new school day.
---As I was putting on my school uniform, my heart pounded with intense anxiety. School wasn't just a place of learning for me, but a battlefield of conflicts and challenges. As someone who hated school the most, I found myself drowning in feelings of anxiety, especially because I don't make friends easily.
I remembered how quickly friends meet and form strong bonds, while I remain in the classroom corners, nervously looking at new faces.When I finished putting on the shirt and pants, I carefully combed my long curly hair. I combed it cautiously, letting a few strands slip down to cover my big puppy-like eyes.
I had always loved my eyes because they reflected my innocence and my desire to be understood. Despite my short stature, which sometimes bothered me, I tried to focus on what I loved about myself, like the few freckles that adorned my face, adding a touch of spontaneity, maybe… that's how I see it.I finished my look and then hurried down to the kitchen, wondering how much time I had left to eat breakfast. I felt the hunger gnawing at my stomach, which wasn't ideal when I hadn't yet mentally prepared myself for school.
I arrived at the kitchen table, where my father sat in his usual proud posture, holding a newspaper he was reading upside down, as usual.
"Good morning, Dad," I said, trying to ease the tension in the air.
"Hurry up, we don't want any trouble on your first day," he replied coldly, without lifting his eyes from the newspaper.
My father was always harsh with me, and I often felt that I wasn't what he expected. I felt that his treatment of me reflected a kind of sexism; he wanted a son, not a daughter.
He deprived me of many things, like going out with my friends or owning a smartphone, but I always accepted it and told myself, "He's my father, and that's something I have to endure." I tried as much as possible to move past it, even though my heart ached every time my father's cruelty showed, but it was okay.
---I sat at the table and began eating the same breakfast as every day, to the point where I no longer knew what to call this meal. It was a small loaf of bread, with a bit of cheese, and a piece of cucumber, but it was no more than fuel to get me through the day.
As I swallowed my food without paying attention to my father's conversation, my thoughts wandered far away, wondering what I would do on my first day of school. I was deep in thought, unaware of how I would face everyone.
Suddenly, my ears perked up when I caught one sentence from my parents' conversation: "They'll be our new neighbors."
I swallowed my food with difficulty and looked up at them in surprise.
"Who are they?". I asked, but my father ignored my question, continuing to talk to my mother as if I wasn't there.
I felt frustrated by his lack of interest, but I returned to my scattered thoughts.Luckily, to lighten the mood, my mother said,
"There are new neighbors who bought the house next to us, and we're thinking of inviting them since they've become our new neighbors."
I suddenly remembered the car I saw parked in front of the house next door. It was a new car, seemingly unused for a while, which made me suspicious.
I tried to convince them that there was no need to invite them, saying, "Maybe they're busy, no need to invite them.". But I received another scolding from my father, as if I had overstepped my bounds.
. I couldn't understand why he was so angry over a simple suggestion, but I didn't have time to argue.I felt time passing quickly, so I stood up hastily, grabbed my bag, and left the house, hoping the days would pass easily.
--arrived at the school I despised so much. There were several reasons for this hatred, as my high school was filled with teenage girls who acted inappropriately and boys who started dating on the first day of school. I saw myself as more mature than them, and this feeling weighed heavily on me.
I wandered the courtyard with my heavy bag, feeling anxious and lost. Teenagers laughed and exchanged glances, while I sat on a bench next to my favorite tree. I had loved this spot since I first came to this high school; it gave me a sense of comfort, away from the others' noise.
I stared at the tangled branches, thinking about how to spend my day.After a while, I felt the need to use the restroom. Entering the restroom wasn't comfortable for me, as it was often crowded with girls who either behaved inappropriately or bullied each other.
But I gathered my courage and decided to go, just to fix my hair before the first class.When I entered, I was surprised to find the restroom empty.
It was usually crowded, but it seemed I got lucky today. I didn't pay much attention, and I began trying out several simple hairstyles, but none of them pleased me.
I stopped for a moment, my hair now a mess on my head, as if I had been attacked by a bear.While I was lost in thought, standing in front of the mirror with my disheveled hair,
suddenly a girl walked in and shouted in fear:"Hobo! Hobo!"
I looked at the mirror with sadness and frustration, then turned to her and reassured her:"Hobo? Wtf...No, I'm just trying to fix my hair."
Suddenly, the girl gave me a new look and started laughing kindly at my appearance, making me smile despite my frustration.
"Oh, sorry... sorry for my outburst!" she said, and from her tone, I could tell she fully understood my feelings.
We didn't talk much, but I watched her in my frustration. She walked toward the mirror, took out some lipstick, and started applying it to her lips. The girl was tall, with short hair that looked like it was just growing back after being shaved. She looked more like a boy, but there was something sweet about her features.
She looked at me and gently asked:"Do you need help?"
I felt embarrassed for a moment, but I accepted her offer and nodded nervousl .
She stepped closer and started carefully styling my hair. I felt her hands working gently on my strands, adding a childish hairstyle that made my features look more innocent.
"Thank you!" I said, smiling despite my frustration..
"I wish I had hair like yours!" she said,
admiringly looking at me.
"And you're lucky to be so tall!" I replied, pointing at her slender figure.
We laughed a little, and I felt a strange sense of relief. It was the first time I felt a real connection with someone, instead of ignoring them as I usually did.
.
There was a strange feeling of comfort filling my chest, as if I had finally come out of my shell.But at the same time, my heart was weighed down with anxiety. I don't usually give in to such sweet words, but...We talked for a while until the bell suddenly rang. I smiled at her and said:
"It seems I need to go to my class now...".
She replied, glancing quickly at her watch:"And me too..."
I quickly bid her farewell before leaving the bathroom and heading towards the classroom. I felt somewhat relieved to have spoken with someone new, but I was still nervous.
I reached the classroom and glanced at the seats, which were all full. There wasn't a single empty seat.
I paused for a moment, wondering where I would sit when suddenly, I heard someone call my name:"Raquela..!"
I turned to see the same girl, sitting alone by the window. She raised her hand and waved at me gently. I felt relieved and rushed over to her, silently thanking God that I had made a friend.I sat next to her and smiled as she started:"Oh my God! It's so good you're here!" I laughed and said,
"If I had known you were in the same class, we wouldn't have parted in the bathroom." She smiled and teased,
"You didn't even tell me your name."I realized we hadn't properly introduced ourselves in the bathroom.
I laughed and said:"Oh, right. I'm Raquela. And you?".
She smiled and replied, "My name is Ramzi."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise and joked:"Ramzi? Isn't that a boy's name?" She laughed, saying,
"Haha, no, no, it's for both genders in our family."
I smiled and said, "Well, I'm Raquela… I don't know where my parents got this name from, but I love it.".
She looked at me with curiosity and asked, "Hmm… Your name sounds strange. Where are you from?"
I smiled proudly and said, "Italiano! I'm from Italy.".
Her eyes widened in surprise as she said, "Wow! My dad loves Italy; he works there and speaks the language fluently…"
I chuckled a little and felt an unexpected sense of comfort on my first day at school.The first school day passed uneventfully, not as I had expected. I spent the entire day with Ramzi, walking around the courtyard and exchanging light conversation.
As the day ended, we left school together, heading towards the gate. We talked a bit until she suddenly asked: "Is someone coming to pick you up?"
I felt nervous for a moment, the words caught in my throat, and I didn't know how to answer quickly.
I looked up at her and hesitantly said:"Someone...? Uh…?"
She smiled and said, "I mean your brother, your mom, or your dad… by car?"
I looked down, trying to avoid the question, and mumbled softly:"No… I like walking."
She nodded and said kindly,
"Alright, it seems like my dad is running late, so I'll walk with you."
I nodded in agreement, and just as we began to walk, a black luxury car suddenly stopped in front of us. Its windows were tinted, and it looked fancy.
Ramzi sighed in frustration and said: "My dad…"
I stood stunned by the car, impressed by its appearance, and I realized I was eager to see her father. Suddenly, the window rolled down, and I saw his eyes through the opening. They were half-closed, and his broad chest was visible through the gap. His stern gaze and the cigarette he held in his hand made me feel uneasy.I kept staring at him, a mix of admiration and anxiety, while we exchanged glances. A chill ran down my spine as he focused his eyes on me, and at that moment, I felt scared. I quickly bid Ramzi goodbye and, without thinking, started running away.
I ran mindlessly, not knowing where I was heading until I suddenly remembered my favorite flower shop and changed my route.I arrived at the flower shop where I always stood, admiring the various flowers that filled the space with their vibrant colors. Exhausted from running, I sat on the bench outside, catching my breath.
I had always loved sitting here, feeling peaceful and calm, while the shop owner watered the flowers around me.As I lost myself in admiring my favorite flowers, I heard the sound of an engine again. I turned to see Ramzi's father's black car parked in front of me. A shiver ran through my body, and my heart raced. Why was he here?Ramzi excitedly opened the window and cheerfully called out: "Hop in…!"
Wtf.
I stood in front of the car, staring at Ramzi in shock, my eyes wide open, hesitating to get in. I wondered where they would take me. But after a few moments, I overcame my fears and reminded myself that she was just my friend, despite her father's intimidating looks. I got into the back seat, adjusting my posture and straightening my skirt.
Tension slowly crept into me, and then Ramzi said:"I know you're wondering, we'll take you home..."
I was puzzled by her words, so much so that I hadn't fully grasped what she said. My eyes were fixed on her father's hand gripping the steering wheel, large and veined, with a gray watch adorning his wrist and his elegant shirt reflecting his stern personality.
While I was lost in thought, I suddenly remembered what Ramzi had said and asked her: "Should I give you directions to my house?"
Ramzi answered,
surprised:
"Didn't you hear me just now? We know where you live…"
She said it with a mischievous smile, but I wasn't paying attention, as my mind was still foggy. Her father hadn't spoken, nor had he looked at me, which only increased my curiosity about him.
Suddenly, I understood what Ramzi had said, and my eyes widened in shock as I asked her: "How…?? How…? Do you know me from before?"
Ramzi just laughed, lost in laughter at my reaction. Then suddenly, her father spoke in a stern and firm voice, rough and unsettling.I looked into his eyes through the mirror as he spoke without taking his eyes off the road, his features unreadable,
saying: "None of that… I saw you this morning, leaving your house…".
I curiously asked:"How...?"
"I was running this morning…"
I inquired, saying: "Around our house?"
Finally, he looked at me through the mirror with a dismissive look, as if it didn't matter to him. But Ramzi interrupted us with a smile that reflected her happiness:
"Raquela… Raquela… We're your new neighbors!"
. I felt a mix of surprise and confusion, as if I were living in a strange dream. How could we be neighbors? That meant that the fancy car that bothered me this morning belonged to her family.My face was frozen in shock, my eyes wide with disbelief as I remembered the previous night when I saw a luxury car enter the abandoned house next to ours. I never imagined I would be riding in that same car today, and even more so, that its occupants were our new neighbors. My features seemed frozen in place, while inside, conflicting emotions of shock and joy danced around.
Despite this strange surprise, I felt a kind of mysterious happiness filling my heart. I had made a new friend, and now, I discovered she lived next door! How strange, yet how beautiful at the same time. Having someone nearby to talk to after school, someone with whom I could start a new chapter, was a rare and unexpected feeling.
I turned to Ramzi with a light smile and said, "It seems I'll be luckier than I thought. Welcome to the neighborhood."
My words carried a mix of welcome and surprise, and I wanted to show her that I was genuinely happy about their presence here.A few moments later, the car stopped in front of our small house. I felt a bit embarrassed.
Even though I had always loved our home for its warmth and simplicity, comparing its size to their luxurious house made me feel self-conscious for a moment. But I tried to hide it and lifted my head slightly.
Ramzi spoke with a cheerful tone: "Your house looks beautiful from the outside… I can't wait to see it from the inside someday."
Her kind words eased my embarrassment, but I couldn't find a response other than a slight smile on my face as I softly said,
"I'd love that."
Before I got out of the car, I couldn't resist looking once more into the front mirror. I found his sleepy eyes watching me calmly and thoughtfully. I felt deeply embarrassed, my hand trembling slightly as I quickly opened the door and stepped out of the car.But before I could take a few steps, I heard an angry voice calling me from behind. I stopped and turned with Ramzi and her father towards the source of the voice, and I saw my father coming towards me quickly, his features angry, and his voice shouting: "Where have you been all this time? And whose car is this?"
I felt a deep fear creeping into my heart, clutching my purse tightly in my arms as if it could protect me from my father's wrath. I knew that at any moment, his hand might reach out to hit me, and I felt a sensation in my stomach that made me feel nauseous. My eyes darted between my father's face and Ramzi's father's eyes, and I could see in his eyes a mix of surprise and concern.
My father stood in front of me, furious, his voice like thunder: "Answer me, damned girl!"
It seemed like he was expecting an immediate response, but I was confused and barely able to think. I needed to explain to him, but the words were stuck in my throat.Then I looked towards the car, and the first eyes I met were his .
.
.
completion....