Chapter 5

Matthew POV

I was in the living room when I saw Linda walking in, she hasn't been around since yesterday and now she walks in like she owns this place, being completely ignorant about my presence,

"where have you been since yesterday Linda,"

"with my friends," she said, giving an insouciant shrug like I suppose not to have a problem with that,

"And who are those friends that I don't know of," I asked her, trying to calm my temper,

" is not in your place to know all of my friends," what is wrong with this woman for god's sake?

"I have every right to know which friend of yours, prevented you from coming to your daughter's birthday and from coming back home in the night, I'm your husband Linda,"

"Maybe if you would have acted like you were one before, things wouldn't have been like this," she said with tears in her eyes, walking out before I could say anything else.

Samantha POV

The home I grew up in could not be called a proper home,

I had a dad who was addicted to drugs and alcohol, every night when he was back home, he would beat up my mom or anyone who tries to stop him which was always me.

my mom wasn't a good person herself, she was a prostitute, and I can't blame her, she does it to feed five of her children and also pay the bills, my elder brother Noah was a bricklayer who was working for a construction company, he didn't earn much but he was able to assist the family.

my second brother Lucas was just like my dad, a drunk street fighter.

my sister Hannah was working at a bar, she also helps in providing for the family

Dad has never contributed to anything apart from collecting mom her money not minding how she got it, he also owed a lot of people, my younger brother Gabriel died because of his inability to pay back some gang member's money,

I was the only person out of my siblings to go to school, it was when Brain Stars academy, one of the top high schools had hosted an exam to help kids who couldn't go to school, get admitted to their school, Noah was the one who helped me with the amount of money I needed to write their exams and I was also among the people who got their scholarship.

Noah and Hannah were happy for me, they decided to cook something nice for me as an appreciation gift that day.

My mom and Lucas just told me that it was my luck while my dad didn't even say or react about it at all, I didn't mind thou, I was happy about my achievement.

Although my dream was to be a painter considering the state of my family, I will study law instead,

my mom has been a shadow of herself since when my brother died, she doesn't talk much, and when my dad wasn't around she brought most of the men she slept with home, some would beat her up, and some wouldn't even want to pay her, she got stab once by a man whom she fought with after he refused to pay her.

I can also remember a time when one of them almost rape me, if not that my elder brother was around to save me, but my mom still blamed us,

"It's all your fault, you fool," she yelled pointing at me.

"how many times have I told you not to wear that short, it's too tempting, and you," she pointed at my elder brother, "you shouldn't have hit him, now I have lost a customer and it's all your fault,"

"what's wrong with you Mom, that customer of yours tried to rape my sister, your... daughter and you are still pointing fingers at us," my brother shouted back at my mother,

"at least I use to gain from him, unlike you two who I gained nothing from," she said before walking out of the house to apologize to the man.

I finally started school, it was really hard at first to associate with other students, because they saw me as the pauper who got lucky because of their parent's donations, but I was able to have a friend, her name is Chloe, she was from a rich home and she didn't criticize me even after telling her about my home,

"no matter how you're in control of your life, you can never be in control of the situation you were born to see, face, or accept, such is life," she always tells me.

after school, I would open the wood shop my brother made for me to sell the toys and comic books I made and some of my paintings, I made, so I could save up for University.

my brother made a drawer under my bed, so our parents won't know where I hid my money.

he was the best brother and father figure I ever had.

Monday morning finally arrived, I woke up at my usual 6 am, showered, and then brush my teeth, letting my long dark hair air-dry while I carried on with my morning routine, I put on my uniform, which was a white shirt with a black and grey strip jacket also a blue pleated skirt and a knee length socks and a black cover shoes, I checked myself one more time before carrying my bag and going downstairs,

"good morning Noah, "I greeted my big brother

"you're looking good as always Lil sis,"

"thank you," I said laughing

we were having bread and fish for breakfast, but since I didn't want to miss the bus, I just put it inside a pack so I'll eat it on the bus,

"aren't you eating," Hannah asked

"Monday buses are hard to catch, so I want to be there early so that I'll get in on time, I'll just eat this on the bus.

as I waited, other students who lived in the same area started arriving, most of them seem surprised that I'm using the bus but they didn't approach to ask why, so whatever their thoughts were, it doesn't bother me, the bus arrived and I was the first to get in, I didn't want to stand and eat my meal.

"hey Chloe," I waved at my friend, when I arrived at the school, she was just about to enter, but she waited for me so we could go in together,

"hey Sam, how was your weekend," she asked, giving me a warm smile as we walk into the Hall

"I didn't do much,"

"you should have come to Amanda's birthday party, everyone was invited,"

"I didn't really feel like I was supposed to be there,"

"Sam, she invited everyone and from what I know she isn't the type who discriminates against others, you just lost a chance of meeting Gael," she sneered, rolling her eyes

Gael was my long-time crush, I love his quietness, everything about him speaks attractively,

"not like as if I'll have the chance to talk to him," I said rolling my eyes, before it slip my mind that I forgot my pen in the locker, that was the same time the bell for the first class rang.

so I quickly told her about the situation before hurrying back to my locker, I unknowingly bumped Into a tall masculine chest, I look up to check who owns it and I couldn't believe my eyes,

did I just bump into Gael, the guy of my dreams?

"I'm... sor...ry, I...I didn't see you comin...,"

"it okay, just watch where you are going next time, he said leaving me spaced out.