IN LOVE WITH TWO

Chapter One

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(Half Breed)

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Staring at the long queue ahead of her, Ariel picked up her plastic bucket and went directly to the tap. She was about putting it beneath the tap, when someone hits it, making it fall to the ground.

"What was that for?" she whined, glaring daggers at Kabria, the girl who kicked her bucket.

"You are an idiot Ariel" Kabria smirked

"Can't you see the queue; many of us have been standing here waiting for our turns to fetch this water. But you came out of nowhere, to fetch. Get back in line half breed." She mocked, making everyone to laugh. Ariel sighed sadly

"The girl that fetched earlier told me to fetch immediately after her, we had an agreement" she pouted

"What fucking agreement, this is a public borehole and I'm in charge here, so you do as I say" Kabria barks. Having a sad look on, Ariel pleaded

"Please Kabria, I really need to fetch now, my mum is sick and I need water to prepare her herbs" She stated

"If you really wanna get water for that fucking mother of yours, then you will need to get back in the line or you get none, read my lips" she smirked. Ariel had no choice but to pick up her already dirty bucket, she dusted it with her bare hands and stared at the queue, filled with people waiting anxiously for their turns to fetch water.

"I should have stayed in the line, now it's more longer that earlier" she thought ruefully

Believing that Kabria will never go back on her words, she stride to the extreme of the line, cursing Kabria inwardly for making her go through the queue problem.

Kabria on the other hand, is the daughter of a well known notorious street lord, whom the government placed in charge of the public boreholes. She is just like her father and takes his place when he is unavailable. No one will ever wanna step on their toes, except they wanna sign a death wish. Ariel sometimes wonders why the government gave him the freewill to monitor the public boreholes, why didn't they allow someone reasonable take good care of it. Perhaps because he is feared by many, she concluded. And Kabria being the apple of her father's eyes, is even worse than he is.

Kabria taps a girl standing close to her and whispered into her ears. They both laughed and the girl casted disgusting glares at Ariel, who gulps down nothing. Kabria left afterward and the girl took her lead.

***********

On getting home, Ariel dropped her bucket of water and sighed tiredly. She remembered what transpired between her and Kabria earlier, and frowns. She would have arrived home earlier if Kabria hadn't prevented her. She touched her temple and glance at the compound, it looks next; perhaps mum swept it, she thought.

"Damn, why will mum risk her strength to sweep in her condition, she suppose to rest and let me do it" She mumbled

"She was about turning the knob of the door open, when she heard voices. She recognizes that if her mum immediately, but the other doesn't sound familiar. She tried eavesdropping on their conversation but couldn't fathom what they were talking about.

"I will take my leave now" the voice muttered as she tried to hide, but it was too late, the door opened revealing a pretty, curvy shape woman, about forty years of age, with her mother behind.

"Ariel!! You are back, thank goodness you came in time" her mum stated

"Ye....ssss, just arrive, good day ma'am" she greeted the woman in front of here, who was marveled at her beauty

"Good day damsel, how are you?" she smiled, and tried touching her hair, but she shifted backward

"I'm fine ma" she smile wearily, the woman chuckled

"I mean no harm dear; l just wanna feel your lovely hair. You have one beautiful daughter here, Gina, she is such a damsel" The woman said, referring to Ariel's mum, who smiled, and nodded positively. Ariel gave her mum a questioning look but decided to save it for later. They saw the woman off and went back into the house with her mum grinning from ears to ears

"Mum????" Ariel called, her mum face her

"Yes baby" she smiled

"Mum...I thought you were sick..i mean..you just got well suddenly and you are smiling like you won a lottery, what is it mum, and who was that woman"

"Oh you mean Miss Peggy" Gina grinned

"Miss???"

"Yes..she is not married, but she has a daughter just your age, and guess what"

"What" Ariel asked surprised at her mum sudden change of behavior, she is acting like a sixteen year old who is being asked out on a date. For damn sake, she couldn't get on her feet this morning, she thought

"My prayers have been answered" Gina shouted in glee

"Mum, I'm confused here, please can you go straight to the point" Ariel whined, and took a sitting position on their already worn out bed

"Ok ok fine" she clears her throat and sits next to her

"Remember the woman I told you about, the day I went to the grocery shop" she muttered

"Yes??? Is she the one?" Ariel asked

"Yes she is, and we have been getting along ever since then"

"I came in contact with her again at my work place....."

"The tea shop?"

"Yes baby. We became friends, shared contact and that was when we started chatting whenever we get to see each other"

"But you never told me you had a friend..strange" Ariel pouted, her mum chuckled

"Well she is my friend now. She told me about her daughter and she is also a model" Gina grinned, Ariel gave her a puzzled look

"So????"

"Haven't you always longed to be a model, darling?"

Ariel scoffs

"That was then mum, I have another dream now...I can't fulfill such dreams in poverty" she frown

"Hey brighten up, let me finish my talk before deciding on taking up an expression. She is not just into modeling, but she also rains pretty young girls like you into becoming one. And guess what, she do take them to the white man country for their first photo shot"

"So...are you...tryna say that I should go with her to the states?"

"Yes..to the states..." Gina grinned

"And I should become a model?" her mum nodded

"What??? Mum..i wasn't expecting this..why...i can't leave you here and go to another man's country with a stranger...how is that possible?" Ariel yelled

"It's not another man's country, it's also your country" Gina resorted

"Fine..i know that..but I can't leave you here..who will take care of you and whereas, fine I love modeling, but that was then. There was no money to sponsor me when I had the chance, now I'm choosing music..i don't want it mum" she spurted, going to the other side of the room

"Ariel!!!!!" Gina yelled, with a shaky but loud voice as she turns swiftly to face her and gasp

.

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How do you see this story....please recommend it...

CHAPTER TWO

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(The Offer)

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"I'm not doing this because I want you to become a model, fine, it's part of it..but I want the best for you. You can get the chance to see your father over there in America.

Your father is fucking rich, but we are here dying in hunger, I don't want you to live the life I lived. Just take good look at me, I am sick but couldn't get the best treatment for myself...no money to go to the hospital, only this fucking herbs are what I'm using.

I might die any moment from now" she cried out

"Mum no one is dying..stop saying that" Ariel snapped

"Then do what I want Ariel...save your ass from this suffering. Go with Miss Peggy to the states and find a suitable job for yourself. Find your father also. I can't be with you here forever....."

"But mum, I thought we talked about....."

"Fine....if you don't wanna go...it's just fine...fine" Gina throw her hands into the air, and went to stand beside the window, staring out as tears roll down here eyes.

Ariel stares at her mum as she sobs, she felt bad for raising her voice at her, which has not happened in a long time. Her mum got a point, she wanted them to be free from this sticking poverty life, but going to the states is out of it.

What if she get rejected there also, how is she gonna cope, she thought

"Hmmm" she sighed, staring at her mum, who backs her, still sobbing

"Mum is will surely get over this" she thought

**********

The next day**

"Grrrrggg" Ariel's wooden alarm clock rings making her to jerk up from her sleep. She hissed loudly throwing the clock across the room as she struggles to get up from her old shabby bed, which made a crackling sound as she did so.

Yawning loudly, she checked the time on the wall clock and gasp

"Jeez...it's 8 o'clock, I'm late for work, Mrs. Thompson is gonna kill me"

"That stupid alarm clock didn't ring at the exact time I set it to, I have to get a new one" she thought as her mind flashed back to the dream she was having earlier. She dreamt of being punished severely at her workplace

"I pray that dream doesn't come through" she mumbled and hurriedly freshened up. She was about preparing breakfast when she noticed a letter on the kitchen cabinet, it states:

"I made pasta with sauce for breakfast and yours is on the table.

I'm off to work, make sure you take good care of yourself

And don't engage in danger

Xoxo

Your mum"

She sighed and dropped the letter, glancing at the food on the table

"But why will mum go to work, she is not yet strong and she....oh" she paused, remembering the fact that her mum's two weeks leave is over.

She felt irritated staring at the food in front of her, but had no choice but to eat it. Pasta and sauce has been their breakfast for a long time now.

"Only the rich gets to eat what they want" she thought and devours it in a twinkle of an eye

************

"What time is it, Ariel" Mrs. Thompson, her boss barks angrily as she glares at Ariel who was shaking in panic.

Mrs. Thompson is a well known woman who owns a big shop where flowers are sold. She distributes them to costumers and Ariel is one of her worker. She always pretends to be nice to the world, but a demon to her workers.

"It's ...it's 8:30 am, ma'am" Ariel shudder

"8:30...a....m..?" When is resumption time" She snarled

"8: 00 am"

"Can you see that you are 30mins late, lots of punishments are waiting for you" she snapped, turning to leave

"I'm sorry ma'am, I overslept" Ariel pleaded

"Oh!!! Really? Well, just have it at the back of your mind that you are not getting any payment today, except you agree to work double time...now pick up these flowers and deliver it to Mr. Hudson, idiot" she spat and walk away, even before Ariel could utter a word.

"hmmmpphh" She sighed sadly

"What sort of life is this...now I would have to work twice the time I do work before getting paid, fuck that dream I had" She cursed climbed her old, worn out bicycle, ready for her first delivery for the day.

***********

Finding Mr. Hudson's house was a bit stressful but she managed to pull through and deliver the items.

Riding back to the shop, she sighted a group of people, mostly teenagers, watching a video of a young white boy, who was singing beautifully, from a billboard along the side of the road, which is just few meters from her workplace.

She is a fan of many artist and wish to sing like them, but this boy singing, captivated her hear. He seems to be new in the music industry, or perhaps she hasn't watched any of his videos before. But the way he handles the Microphone is intruding, not to talk of his mesmerizing beauty.

Kabria and her friend, stood among the crowd. One look at her show that she is already in love with the new musician.

Her eyes glints and she blushed each time he smiles. While singing. She feels like the smile is meant for her, as different weird imaginations filled her mind about getting to meet his and kissing his juicy lips.

Every other girl there has the same thought, except for Ariel, who is only in love with the way he sings.

Although she feels a tingle each time she stares at his face, and also wished to meet him in physical, singing with him on stage. But he is white, fine, she is also partly white, and who will wanna fall in love with a half-breed?

"Can I even get to meet a rich dude like him, being a poor girl? No I can't, fate doesn't always work in favour of the poor" she thought

She was about taking another glance at the projector when a voice screamed her name; it's her boss.

"Ariel!!!! Get your God damn ass over here" she screamed

"Oh my Gosh" Ariel gasp; she has totally forgotten that she was going back to the shop, and her boss has been staring at her all along, being that the shop is just close to where the billboard is. She hurriedly rides down there and parked the bike.

"I'm really sorry Mrs. Thom..."

"Sorry for yourself, just know that you are doomed, you will work triple times for being late again"

************

Arriving home, she met the door unlocked

"Is mum home" she thought

"Maybe she arrived early from work" she shrugged and went in

Her mum stood beside the window, still in her work cloth

"Mum?? You are back" she said, as Gina face her

"How was work baby...you didn't close early today?" she asked, looking sad

"Yes...Mrs. Thompson made me work triple times today, and gave me a half payment" Ariel muttered sadly, taking off her shoes

"But why...I asked you not to get into any troubles with her" Gina snaps

"I didn't, she was just being harsh on me. It's because I arrived work late"

"But you shouldn't have gone late, what happened to the alarm clock"

"It's worn out...I'm sorry" she mumbled, Gina sighed and toughed her temples, facing the window again, as there was a bit silence, before Ariel spoke up

"And you? What happened, you came back early...but you look sad" she bit her lips

Picking up an handkerchief from the bed, Gina made a muffling sound and blows her nose, into it

"Mum?? What's wrong, you are crying" Ariel said, going close to her as she hold her hand

"I ...i...lost my job" she cried, sobbing loudly

"W...what!!! I mean, how?"

CHAPTER THREE

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(Mission 1)

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"Someone already occupied my position, my boss employed someone else"

"But why, you were sick, you didn't skip work intentionally and whereas, you took a leave..."

"But stayed beyond the expected time, I was supposed to resume last week"

"You weren't strong enough, your boss knew that" Ariel flared in anger

"That's life for you, baby"

"Hmm...so what are we gonna do now our combined salary for a month is barely enough for our feeding" Ariel pouted, cleaning the tears off her mum's eyes

"I will try to get a new job, perhaps work as a cleaner in the library" she coughs, cleaning her stains of tears on her cheek

"Getting a job is rare this days; especially at the library" Ariel cooed, her mum shrug

"Well, one just has to try" Gina breathed out

"Mum??"

"What is it?"

"About what Miss Peggy offered?"

Ariel said, arranging the bed cover

"So? What about it?"

"I thought about it...and I guess it's a good idea. I have made up my mind; I will go with her to the states and take up my dream work. I also wish to see my dad; we might get to meet each other"

Gina smiled out tears as she watched her daughter speak, she ran and hugs her, kissing her hair

"Thank you so much, muahh, muaahh" she kissed her cheek multiple times

"Uhnn, stop that mum, I'm no longer a kid" Ariel laughs as her mum chuckles.

"You are still my baby, no matter what" She tickles Ariel

"Haahaaa, mum stop it, ahh...stop!!!"

They both giggle, laughing heartedly as the tickle each other

**********

The Shaw's Mansion**

Mr. Shaw, his wife and their son, Aiden, sat at the dinning as they eat their morning meal.

"Aiden...where is your brother, why isn't he here for breakfast" Mr. Shaw asked, as Aiden frown

"I don't know" he mumbled

"What do you mean by you don't know" His mum asked

"We no longer stay in the same room; I mean Axel is behaving strangely these days. He snubs me and spends most of the time in his room. He is going crazy because of one freaky breakup" Aiden spat

"What break up" Mr. Shaw asked with furrowed brows. Having this questioning look, as Aiden glance at his mum

"Flora Broke up with him" Mrs. Shaw muttered, as she sips from her cup of tea

"But it's not the end of the world; there are many other girls out there. Why should he kill himself with depression over one lady?" Mr. Shaw spat

"You won't understand dad, Axel really loves Flora; he is crazy about her"

"He should get over her then, if she loves him back, she wouldn't have left him. Go call him; I need him down here, right now"

"I'm here" A voice said behind them, it was Axel

He wore a sad expression, backing a black back pack, cringed to his back, and a traveling box in his hand.

"Axel..What's wrong, what's all this, don't tell me you are leaving" Mrs. Shaw muttered, going towards the stairs where he stood

"Son, what is going on" Mr. Shaw yelled

"I'm leaving..i need to leave here..i need clear my mind" Axel said

"Whereas I'm not a kid, I can take care of myself...I need to forget about"

"But that doesn't mean that you should leave, fine, I know how hurt you are because of her, but...come on Aiden, speak to your twin brother" Mrs. Shaw said, worriedly. Aiden shrug

"That's his decision, what do you want me to say...but Axel, you need to rethink this, what will your fans say when if you did not show upo at the show coming up in tomorrow, what do you want your manager to tell them"

"My manager will take care of everything..dont worry about my fans"

"Axel!!!!!"His dad called, furiously

"Dad" he mumbled in reply

"If you step out of this compound, then say goodbye to this family" he spat

"Honey?? Dad!!" Mrs. Shaw and Aiden called at the same time, with a surprise look

"Dad you can't do that, Axel please think of me as your brother, I need you here, everyone needs you, you can't just leave" Aiden muttered, going to take off the box from Axel, but he held it firmly

Axel walked directly to his dad and faced him

"Dad, I know you want the best for me, but I also want you to know that I am suffering from heart break and depression.

You can't just be ruling my life the way you want it, fine, we both have been obeying and respecting your words right from time, but you can't be telling me what to do forever.

I'm a grown up, I and Aiden, we should know how to live our lives in peace without your interference..i don't like this dad, stop controlling me in your own way, this is my life not yours...learn to respect our decision too" He yelled angrily, his dad landed a heavy slap across his face, making him to shriek

"Listen to me boy, I am your father and you will do as I say, I rest my case" He snapped, and walked out of the dinning with his wife trailing behind him, pleading with him to reconsider his words

"Honey please, he is just a kid....try to get his point...honey...honey..please wait up...

Aiden stare at his brother and sighed, he picked up his car key from the table

"What's your destination" He asked

"Paris" Axel mumbled softly

"Paris? Cool city, pray you come back to your normal self before coming back, I missed the real you, Axel.

You have changed so much within a short period of time. Just forget about Flora and moved on...I support your decision; taking a break somewhere far, will relieve you of all the pain" Aiden said

They hug each other, as Axel muttered a thank you. Aiden patted his hair, and break the hug

"Come on, let me drop you at the airport, you won't wanna miss your flight

*****************

Mr. Jenkin's Office

"Dad!!!!! Dad!!!!" Sophia yelled, barging into her Dad's office disrupting the board meeting he was having with some directors

"Who is this girl..." The board chairman asked, irritated for being distracted

"Sophia, oh my God...I'm really sorry for the interruption, just give me few minutes to speak with her, she is my daughter" Sophia' dad pleaded

"You have five minutes Mr. Jenkins or this meeting will be cancelled, and you know what that means" the board chairman muttered, as Mr. Jenkins hurriedly drags Sophia out of the office

"What is it, why didn't you wait for me to be through with the meeting first before coming in" He asked heatedly

"Dad....it's him, he is not picking my calls; I'm damn frustrated" Sophia cried out

"Who are you talking about?"

"Axel, dad....he isn't paying any attention to me. I love him so much dad"

"Then go tell him about your feelings, I had his girlfriend broke up with him, and he is really depressed right now. Fine, that's all you have always wished for; now it has happened...go do the right thing" He spat

"I am trying to reach him but he is not picking my calls, he is totally ignoring me"

"Then what do you want me to do"

"You are his dad's friend right? You can use your influence to tell his Dad about me, he might not want to disobey his father, he will have no choice but to date me" she explained, cleaning the tears off her eyes

"Hmm...Baby, I know how you feel now, but Axel is still in pain and he needs time to recover..." Mr. Jenkins explained, but Sophia doesn't seem to agree with him

"Dad, if you don't do this for me, then I will kill myself, remember that I'm your only daughter" She threatens

On hearing such threat, her dad succumbs to her wish

"Hmm...ok fine baby...I will see what I can do okay...please don't try to hurt yourself...I need to go back in there for the meeting to continue, I will see you later okay...muahhh" he pecked her cheek and squander off

With shoulders high up, Sophia walks out of her dad's company with smiles plastered across her face; believing that she has completed her first plan

"Hmm, mission one completed, Axel will be mine, no matter what" she smirked