Chapter Two
Author’s Pov
I threw myself against my bed, signing, the smile on my lips refusing to leave anytime soon. I was resuming school tomorrow, and I was really excited.
After the chat with my grandpa and aunt, my grandfather decided to sponsor me through my school after my aunt kept insisting she didn’t have the money.
I knew she just didn’t like the idea of me being in the same school as her child; that was all, as she had offered to take me to a less expensive and local high school in the community.
It makes me really wonder what she was expecting when she asked me to take the entrance exam. Probably she thought I wouldn’t pass, as I had been away from school for quite some time now.
Pushing away those thoughts, I later sat in bed with my chest,looking through the window at the stars in the sky.
I couldn’t help but wonder what my father would have looked like if he were still alive. My mother had told me that, even though he had refused to get involved in our lives again, he still kept sending her an amount of money to take care of me.
But she had suddenly stopped hearing from him after some time, and after she had asked about it, she came to find out he was down with some disease, and not long after, he was announced dead on the news.
I was eight at the time of his death. I vividly remember my mother shouting about how useless I was to her right now; she had called me a burden to her, pushing me out of the house for hours.
I sobbed and cried for her to let me in, but in her drunken state, she heard nothing, not even the thousand pleads and tears I had shed.
My mother loves me deep down; I know it was just circumstances getting in the way of the life she has for me. That’s why I'm trying my best to make it in life so we can both leave our lives together away from all the circumstances around us—just me, her, and Grandpa.
I fell asleep looking at the stars, wondering which one of them was my dad, and praying that he guides me through my school life.
I woke up quite early due to the excitement flowing through my spine, quickly doing the house chores before taking my bath. I was eager to start school.
I heard a knock on my door after I had finished putting on the dress Grandpa had gotten for me for school, along with some other clothes and school stuff I might need.
I quickly opened the door, not wanting to offend or get beaten this morning.
“Grandpa is waiting for you downstairs; be quick.“ Alex said, glaring at me, before turning his back and leaving immediately.
I quickly picked up my brand new bag and made my way downstairs.
“Grandpa!“ I yelled, hugging.
“Well, look who's excited for school.“ He chuckled, pinching my cheeks.
“Grandpa, I can’t believe you are really going to put her in the same school as us. She is going to disgrace me, grandpa.“ Rita whined at Grandpa.
“Rita! “ Grandpa scolded her.
“Why would you say something like that to your sister?"
"She is not my blood sister, so who cares?“ Rita completed it before taking her Dior bag and making her way out of the house.
“Don’t mind her baby girl.“ Grandpa said to me, making me nod my head and smile.
Surely I wasn’t going to let anybody spoil this day for me, not even my cousins or the devil, I thought with a smile on my lips.
“Fast, let’s go, grandpa.“ I said I was dragging him out of the house.
We made our way into my aunt's car as I joined Rita and Alex at the back, while grandpa sat in the front with my aunt.
Immediately, we arrived at the schools. Rita and Alex left after saying goodbye to their mom and grandpa, while I waited outside the car as grandpa and aunt conversed.
“Okay, let’s go, baby girl,“ grandpa called out, getting out of the car.
“Sure,“ I said as I locked my hand with his.
We made our way into the school, and after all the arrangements were made, I waited outside the principal’s office to be assigned where to go.
My aunt went out of the principal’s office, looking at me dejectedly.
“I don’t know why Grandpa is wasting his life-saving and hard-earned money on you, but if you mess up in this school, I swear to God that I am going to skin you alive.“ My aunt threatened, but the only thing that had entered my head was the fact that my grandpa was using his lifesaving skills on me.
“Life savings?“ I asked, looking at my aunt for an explanation of what she meant.
“Yes, surely you don’t think of grandpa as money for you. He is retired for God sake, and he is supposed to be spending his pension on himself, not on some unwanted thing.“ She snared at me before making her way out of the school, with her knees clicking against the expensive Carmel wooden floor.
I sat there with my heart swelling with thanks and tears in my eyeballs.
“Princess, are you ready?“ My grandfather asked about coming out with the principal.
“What’s wrong?“ He asked once he saw the expression on my face.
I immediately stood up, rushing to hug him.
“Well, I will give you both a moment.“ The principal said, smiling while excusing himself back to his office.
“What’s wrong, princess?“ My grandfather asked again, but no words came out of my mouth as I was sobbing.
“Did your aunt say something hurtful to you again?“ He asked, and I shook my head in response, trying to calm myself down.
“Grandpa, is it true that you are using your retirement money on me?“ I asked after calming down a bit.
“Oh, dear, is that why you are crying? Commonly,  wipe your tears, or the others are going to make fun of you in class.“ He said I was wiping my tears.
“Beside my child, my retirement money is to take care of myself and my family, or are you not my family again?“ He asked.
“I am.“ I said, chocking on my sob a little.
“Exactly, so you see, I am using it for good; moreover, I am sure you are going to make me proud in the future, aren’t you?“ He asks again.
“I am; I promise Grandpa that I will.“ I said, placing both of my palms on his cheeks.
“Yes, that’s my girl, so wipe to tears, okay?“ He said he was smiling.
I nodded my head, wiping away the tears from my cheeks, while my grandfather stood up and knocked on the door of the door of the principal office again.
The man came back out, smiling.
“Hello, dear, my name is Marcus. I am a good friend to this old man, so if you need anything, feel free to come ask me, okay?“ The principal said he was smiling.
I nodded my head before responding with a yes, sir.
After biding farewell to my grandfather, I made my way to my class, where Mr. Marcus introduced me before the class before asking me to find a seat.
I stared at the teacher, but my mind was far away, thinking of how to stay focused in school. I had someone who was sacrificing everything for me, and I wanted to make him proud.
Right there, I made a vow to stay clear of anything that could distract me from school and focus only on my books, not knowing that the one devil who was going to turn my life upside down was waiting for me in that same school.
After the bell rang, I took my books, placed them inside my bag, and made my way to my locker. Placing my books inside, I closed it and went to the lunch hall.
I stood in the middle, wondering where to sit. I don’t really want much attraction or friends, as they were just distractions.
Amidst making up my mind, I felt someone tap me from behind. Turning to look at the person, my eyes went wide as they came into contact with Rico’s own.
“Damn,“ I swore under my breath. How could I forget he was going to the same school with Rita and Alex.?
Deciding that ignoring him was going to be the best, I smiled at him slightly before turning my back to make my way to a table.
“Tina wait.“ He said, grabbing my arm.
I looked at his hand on my arm before looking right back at him, raising my eyebrows.
He stood there looking at me without saying a word, making me irritated, and just as I was about to ask him to leave, a voice spoke up behind him.
“If you guys are done, get out of the way.“ The voice said, starling Rico a bit as he immediately moved for the other guy to pass.
I looked at him as he looked at me before passing, making me gasp at how hot he was looking.
“Wow, you really are just like other girls, right?“ Rico said, glaring at me, Bring my attention back to his.
“Excuse me,“ I said, glaring back at him, before snatching my arm away from his and making my way to a table.