Love and Redemption

Chapter one

~Maria~

"Maria!! It's time for dinner"; my mom shouted from the kitchen so I could hear.

"I'll be down soon!!" I replied in the same tune. I was tidying up my room when my brother ran into the room. He jumped on the bed and yelled my name telling me to hurry.

"Stop yelling my name, I don't like it" I reacted.

"Well hurry up; you're so slow" he answered.

"What are we having for dinner"? I asked my brother, smiling.

"We are having your favorites; chicken and chips" he replied happily.I could see the happiness in his eyes because his favorite food was also chicken and chips.

"Okay Coly ,now you can leave my room".

"Say please", he said smiling.

"Will you get the fuck out of my room now!?" I yelled at him pretending to be angry.

"Okay okay okay ugly ass!!" he yelled back at me as he dashed out of the room . Thank you very much!! I laughed at him.

My younger brother and I had a good relationship. We were like twins. We fought a lot but we were best friends, we never kept secrets from ourselves.

"Phew! I'm finally done with tidying up", I murmured to myself. I finally left my room for the dining room.

I lived in a big house. Well,I had very rich parents. My parents were workaholics but they still managed to create time for us, they never neglected us, they always showed us the love any child deserved, even if it wasn't enough.

I walked down the stairs in happiness.i was smiling because my brother had already told me what my mom prepared.

I got to the dining room and saw lots of food. "Mom!! What's the occasion?" I asked in shock ."We are celebrating", my mom replied. "Have you forgotten? Since you passed your exam we haven't had the time to celebrate because you know I and your father are always busy with work"my mom replied smiling.

My mom was a beautiful woman in her late 40s . She was a melanin beauty who took care of her skin a lot. She was also a tall woman and very strict too. As they say it, she was a no nonsense woman.

"We will also have wine",my mom said as she looked at my reaction.My mom knew me to be a wine lover.

Immediately, I ran to the wine cellar before she changed her mind. My mom smiled and at that moment I said to myself I've got the best mom in the whole world.

The wine cellar was a restricted place in my house,I don't get to go there except on special occasions like today.

I ran quickly to the wine cellar. It's funny how the wine cellar was one of my favorite places in the whole house. I always told myself that I would open a wine company when I grow up.

I quickly took out a bottle of st Louis wine which was non alcoholic.i have never taken alcohol before even though I want to, I can't.My parents were totally against it because they said I was a minor.

I also took out two bottles of eva wine for my parents and brother.My brother was not really a wine person.

I walked out of the wine cellar in a hurry to the dining room.

"Mom, I've got the wine", I placed the three bottles of wine on the table. I sat down to eat.

"Mom please pass me the ketchup". My mom passed the ketchup to me and I put a little bit of it on my chips to make it taste better.

After we had dinner the maid then walked in to tidy up the place. Her name was Rose . She was a very obedient and gentle girl, even if my mom treats her harshly sometimes. She never once took it out on me.

She was always respecting me even if she was older.

We were close but not too close.i took her as a friend.

My mom never approved of our friendship; she was always against it.

My mom always looks down on her a lot which I didn't like but there was nothing I could do. Yes,my mom was that type of person.

I left to my room immediately after dinner. I was the kind of girl that loved being alone.I was not a loner, I just sometimes enjoyed some peace and quiet.

I got to my room, opened the door and walked in. I walked to my cupboard, pulled my clothes cause I was putting on a gown and I'm not the kind of person that loves sleeping with a gown. So I changed to a white crop top with multi-colored boxers.

"I'm so tired but I have to revise my notes because Mom told me to", I told myself in a tiring tone.

When I was younger my mom always forced me to read my notes so I kinda got used to reading.

I loved reading.

I had a study area in my room which includes a chair, table and a lamp.

I checked for my books, then placed them on my reading table,I sat down and just revised for a few minutes before I retired for the day.

I did a little stretching with face yoga too.

"I need a phone, I'm so tired.All my friends in school own a phone besides me" .I was so sad about it.

I have always wanted a phone but I couldn't tell my mom because she always said it was a distraction.

There was even a time I tried convincing her to get me a phone and I promised her that it won't distract me but she didn't adhere to me, I was so sad about it so since then I stopped talking about it to her.

I couldn't fall asleep, I had to go into thinking.

As I was deep in thoughts I slept off.

Chapter two

~Maria~

I was still asleep and it was morning already. My mom barged into my room to wake me up.

"Maria, I can't believe you're still asleep by this time!!", my mom shouted.

I opened my eyes ,still half asleep, then I looked at my clock and saw that it was almost 7.

"Gosh!! I might be late for school" I spoke to myself while getting ready to take my bath.

I pulled my clothes to take my bath. I was really in a hurry. I hated being late for school because I was the top in my class and I didn't want to give anyone a chance to talk bad about me.

After taking my bath I picked my ironed uniform. I was a neat freak. I couldn't go to school without pressing my uniform. The one time I tried it I felt really dirty throughout that day.

After putting on my uniform I quickly arranged my room before I left. I ran to the dining area.

"Good morning Dad", I greeted my dad without even looking at him. He was having his breakfast in the dining room. I actually love my dad more than my mom because my dad is so nice and he's more of a listener unlike my mom who is so strict.

"Morning my princess, won't you have breakfast"? My dad asked. "I'll be there in a mo........" "Maria it looks like I'll leave you behind", my mom cut in.

"I'll soon be there". I answered immediately.

I took a bottle of water from the fridge and kept it in my school bag.

"Bye dad, bye Billy". I waved at them as I was running towards the door.

I ran to the garage where my mom was, she was sitting in her Toyota car waiting for me to open the gate.

"Just open the gate, you've already wasted enough of my time", my mom complained. Immediately I heard that I quickly changed my direction to the gate to open it. I opened it and she drove hastily out of the compound.

"Mom please slow down,I don't want to get dizzy before I get to school" I grumbled. My mom looked at me only to turn her face away immediately without saying a word.

My school was not that far from my house. I always take the bus but anytime I'm late I beg my mom to drive me because going with her is faster than going with the bus.

My school was about an hour and a half walk from my house, 40 minutes by bus and about 20 minutes by car.

I attended Nullway high school in Nilla. It was one of the most popular and expensive schools in the area. It was also a very prestigious school.

My school was well facilitated and it had all the sporting activities from the football field to a swimming pool. I really loved my school.

My mom dropped me in front of my school and I got down. "Bye mom", I waved at her while walking towards my school.

"Good morning sir", I greeted the guard as I walked into the school. I didn't wait for his reply. I quickly ran to my class.

"Maria you are almost late but you're not" A friend of mine leered. Her name was Becky, she was among the few friends I had in school. I was not really the social type so I had very few friends in school.

"I overslept".

"But you never oversleep".

"Well it happened I grumbled irritably while tidying my desk".

"It seems you're in a bad mood, I'm not going to bother you again" Becky shrugged and then went outside.

I dropped my books and then left for assembly.

The principal addressed us and after that we all left for our class.

I was in grade 11, and I was 16 year old.

"Becky! I'm sorry I was just a little angry this morning because I was almost late for school" I explained as I walked to her desk.

"Hahaha..so you were almost late, I would have loved to see you late and flogged, it would have surely been a sight" .Richy cut in mockingly

"The Almighty Maria being flogged for coming late" he taunted while smiling at me. He just wanted to get on my nerves

"Shut up Richy and mind your business"!! I was getting annoyed.

Richy was one of the clowns in my class. He was always getting on my nerves. Not only mine but he always annoys everyone. But everyone loved him.

"Don't worry I'm not angry at you I figured that maybe something happened to you at home". Becky said in a cool tone.

"Nah..... nothing happened"

We had three classes already and it was break time.

" Maria Becky, please don't go to the dining hall without me. Kylie shouted from her seat. She was also among my very few close friends.

Becky and Kylie , we were so close, like besties. We did almost everything together, we also walked around together and ate together too.

"You're so slow" I said as I moved to where she was

"I'm coming I'm coming I'm coming" Kylie replied.

"Slowpoke" Becky jeered.

"Whatever bitches" Kylie was still writing.

We loved and enjoyed teasing ourselves.

After Kylie was done we all took our books to our lockers and from there we left to the dining hall.

We took our food and went to our usual spot to sit.

"Maria, when are you going to get a phone? you're really missing a lot" Kylie blurted out as she was eating.

"Oh please don't remind me of that misery" I answered her.

"Have you even tried talking to your mom recently? you're already 16 years old". Becky murmured while chewing her food.

"Look, can we just change the topic"? I sighed.

"Look who's coming? It's our girls boo" Kylie cackled.

"Will you lower your voice"?!

"Oh our girl doesn't want her boo to notice her" Kylie teased me. She and Becky then laughed in unison . They both laughed at me.

Jaru was my school crush, I've been crushing on him for two years. He is actually a very handsome guy with brown eyes and a golden ratio. He is one of the most popular guys in my school and he's also brainy , that's the reason I like him. I can literally count the number of times I've talked to him. I've always avoided anything that would make me have a conversation with him because I know that I would flop. I would be too shy to reply to him and I didn't want that to happen.

"Will you guys cut it out? you're irritating" I looked at them in disgust.

"Please girl, tell me you're not enjoying it," Kylie teased me.

"Well I'm not"!! But I was actually too shy to admit it and my friends knew it .

"Ain't you gonna turn around to look at him, he's about to pass you"; they continued teasing me.

"Guys please stop it ,okay" I whispered.

My two friends were actually sitting beside each other,I sat opposite them with a table at the center.

I felt his presence when he passed me and it made me cringe.

"He has passed, you can raise your head now", Kylie whispered. I raised my head and I was smiling like an idiot

"Hmmmm.... Are you sure you're not in love with this boy? Because as far as I'm concerned this is already above crush".Becky asked.

"Whatever" I said.

The bell rang and it was break over. We left for our classes immediately.

After having like 4 classes the bell rang and it was time to go home.

That day in school was already over.

Chapter three

"I'll be going home soon". Maria said. She was already done with writing her notes. She took her notes to her locker.

.

"Please wait for me, let's go together. Kylie was still writing her notes. I'll also take the bus, my mom is too busy today so she won't be able to pick me up" Kylie said.

"Okay then, but please hurry up, don't wanna get home late".

When Kylie finished writing, she arranged her books and we left the school for the bus station.

"So will you still be going to Harvard University"? Kylie asked.

"Of course; you know it's my dream to attend Harvard and become a medical doctor" I chuckled. The fact that my parents promised to send me to Harvard always made me happy.

"How about you Kylie, what University would you like to attend?,I remember you told me Landville University or have you changed your mind"? I asked.

" Uhmm... I don't know for now. When I told my parents they said the tuition fee is very expensive and you know that recently my parents have been facing some financial problems" Kylie told me.

"My dad got fired from his job and it really affected him and everyone so for the meantime I don't want to bother him" Kylie further said.

.

I noticed she was getting emotional already, so I decided to change the topic.

"Just have faith and pray" I told Kylie then I hugged her to comfort her.

"Thanks ria" she sobbed.

"Don't worry, I'm here for you" I replied.

We talked about a lot of things till we got to the bus station. When we arrived there was no bus so we had to sit and wait for the next bus to stop.

The bus finally arrived and we got in. I got to my destination first.

"Bye Kylie" I waved as I came down from the bus.

"Bye Maria" she replied.

My house was not far from the bus stop, it only took about 8 -10 minutes to walk.

It was already late so I tried to walk quickly.

I was walking fast with a mind full of hunger when I heard someone shout.

"Hey, beautiful wait please"! he shouted

I turned; but I tell you that was a mistake, I think it was kind of a reflex action. I didn't want to be rude or anything so I decided to wait for him.

The young man approached me. He had brown hair and was also tall. He was light skinned, with a cute face.

"Not bad, but not my type" I thought.

"My name is Will I live two blocks down that road; he pointed at the road but I didn't bother to look.

" None of my business" I thought.

"You are very beautiful" he complimented me with a smiling face. "I see that you always take this route everyday around this time," he said.

" So you've been watching me" I said with a not too loud voice.

"No no it's not what you think, I work around here and I'm always seeing you, I'm not watching you" he said with a smile.

"Okay then if you say so and thanks for the compliment" I said.

"So can we be friends"? wil asked

"Sure" I replied

"Can I please have your phone number"? he pleaded.

"I don't have a phone" I told him with a straight face.

He looked at me suspiciously and said "you're lying".

The thought of not having a phone always changed my mood. "I said I don't have a phone".

"I know you're lying," he huffed.

"Look, believe whatever you want!!" I snapped and walked away.

I didn't turn back as I walked away, I just looked forward till I left his sight.

I was kinda embarrassed, I blamed myself for stopping to reply to him in the first place.

I walked home in a pissed off mood.

I walked in, still pissed off. "I'm home" I said as I headed to my room.

"Welcome princess" my dad replied; "how was school today"?

"School was okay, nothing unusual happened", I answered as I left to my room. I pulled my uniform and took a hot shower.

"Dinner time"!! My mom shouted.

"I'll be down soon" . I replied.

I put my clothes on and left my room. I headed to colys room first.

I had to knock on the door because the door to his room was always locked.

When I got to his room I knocked.

"Who is there?" he asked.

"It's your dear sister" I answered him.

He didn't say anything for like 10 seconds.

"Open the door"!! I yelled as I knocked on the door. "What do you want"? he asked as he opened the door.

" I wanna see you, I miss you" I teased him.

"Oh please cut that crap out" he said with a disgusted look.

"You've not answered my question yet, why are you here?'' he asked again.

"I know you and you hardly come to my room unless you need something....." he asked.

I smiled as I walked to sit on his bed.

"Well mom and dad have something important to say over breakfast. Do you know what it is?" I asked.

"How would I know, if anyone should know first if anyone should know first it's supposed to be you, because you're their favorite child" he taunted.

I smiled.

"Well you always come home earlier and I was thinking you must have heard something" I said.

"Well I didn't". If that's all you have to say you can leave", he opened the door.

" Why are you being cranky this morning?" I asked him.

"None of your business, just leave my room so I can dress up" he cranked

"Whatever...."I stood up and left his room.

He slammed the door on my face.

You're so rude I yelled at him as I kicked and bagged the door.

He is soooo annoying.

"Ugly ass, I'm sure you enjoy spoiling my mood"!! I shouted as I walked away angrily.