Tallulah's POV Just like that, the surprising words that left his lips turned my thoughts into waves of rumpled messes. His touch was gentle and his eyes were sincere, the sound of his low voice finding its way beneath my skin and sending shivers up my body. With a deep sigh, his hands pulled away from my chins, his eyes moving back to the dashboard. His reply had made me completely mute, with feelings of both warmth and pain revolving round my mind. Everything he had said gave me a sense of value, knowing I was worth more than a good time to him. But it also cut through my beating heart knowing we couldn't be together. I'd never realized how love could make one feel this special and hurt at the same time. “This obviously didn't work out, so maybe we'll try another time.” He voiced, reaching for the door handle. “In my opinion, I think you'd be better off visiting a driving school. That'll be way better than having to deal with your pathetically obsessed step brother.” He go
Tallulah's POVAs I folded the clothes into my open box, all I could think of were thoughts of the unexpected as I tried to imagine what my new college would look like. I was still unsure if I would want to spend my nights at the school's dorm, but a little test run would soon determine that fact. It also bothered me that Marcus would also be attending the same school and would probably attend some lectures with me since I would be taking a management course. How convenient it is that my Stepbrother ho I had slept with would follow me everywhere I went, from home to school, and back again to his father's mansion. All I had to do was survive the next six months during which he'd be taking his courses. I would have no problem with the six months after that before my graduation.“So…” The voice from behind me cut through my train of thoughts, my eyes shooting at the door to see Kathie with a smile on her face.“How was the driving lesson?” She asked, sauntering into the room, clad in
Tallulah's POV The waves of anticipation mixed with a bit of fear washing over me had my eyes wide open by 6:30am, 15 minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off. Knowing there wouldn't be enough time to take a little nap, I hopped out of the bed, striding into the bathroom. After a warm, thorough bath and after slipping on a new pair of jeans, my fingers assessed the plain red shirt which was so lengthy that it would cover my ass if I should put it on. We had gone shopping during the weekend to get some things, and I specifically chose this pair for my first day of school because it felt appropriate and less revealing. I wouldn't want to attract undue attention due to the uneasiness I’d feel being drowned amidst a sea of gazes. But come to think of it, the fact that my new coursemates were wealthy and elite meant that they might be clad in elaborate outfits and footwear. That would make me more noticeable since I had decided to go with something simpler. Maybe I should put on t
Tallulah's POV I was a bit reluctant at first, but I gave it a second try since I was still curious to know if I was well dressed. Also, I was already clad in the clothes I was using so it wouldn't hurt to just show him. “This is what I'm wearing.” I replied, standing in front of him. His eyes shot at me again, but this time, there was a negative look creeping into his expression, one which he couldn't hide. That look scared me a little, but I also didn't know what to expect as he continued to assess me for a moment with grunts leaving his lips. “Wait…” I exclaimed, earning his attention. “Please… be sincere, alright?” He nodded, his fingers lifting to caress his beard, and after a few seconds of assessment, a deep sigh left his lips. That's a bit disappointing. Was I so poorly dressed that he couldn't find the words to describe it? He smiled. “Uhm, would you… take a spin for me?” My brows raised in disbelief as I struggled to grasp what he was saying, and when the w
Kathie's POVEver since my little conversations with Lula last night, from the moment I saw the flicker in her eyes and the fakeness in her forced smile when I asked about Marcus, I knew there was something she was hiding from me. Something only her and Marcus knew that had changed his behavior towards her. I couldn't guess what it was, but I was determined to find out.The sound of their low voices which I listened to through my room's door confirmed that fact. At first, their conversation had started out in calm, indistinct tones which I couldn't quite hear. They were whispering as if trying to hide something which I found suspicious because it was obvious that they were getting along fine. Maybe I was just jealous that my best friend and only brother were getting along so well that they were beginning to keep secrets. It gave me a weird feeling of being left out and secluded from the lot.Throughout our quick breakfast, I found myself staring at the duo, my eyes moving from Marcus
Kathie's POV “I was just hurrying up since we're already late.” Marcus apologized, before my dad could get the chance to say a word. Dad's eyes shot at him in a defiant look, before moving and resting on I and Lula at the backseat. “And who's fault is it that you're this late.” He shot back. The rhythm in his thick voice carried enough weight to keep Marcus silent. The latter wouldn't dare to blame it on someone else now that Dad was breathing on his neck, waiting for a wrong reply. “I'm sorry, Dad.” He muttered. “Whenever you're alone in the car, you're free to drive off a bridge. I don't care.” He growled. “But when your sisters are in it with you, you'd better not drive in that reckless manner. Do you understand me?” Marcus nodded without saying a word while Dad's look of disappointment slowly contorted into a warm smile as his eyes shifted to I and Kathie again. “Alright kids, I'll see you during the weekends, okay?” He said in a soothing tone. “You’re free t
Kathie's POV “It looks nice.” I heard Lula say as she stared at the buildings through the window. “It does.” I whispered, a lump forming in my throat. “I just hope it's as nice as it looks.” My eyes trailed down the pathway, noticing the group of girls clad in various styles of clothing, some with pants and tops while the others in stylish gowns or dresses. But one thing that was common about the lot was that the edges of their clothing were at knee length so they looked decent. I had heard about the school's long list of principles concerning dressing and behaviors, and I was starting to witness it first hand. Another thing I also noticed was how the campus was mostly populated with females, the males having less numbers as they moved alongside the first. “Kathie, can you check the school map on your GPS?” Marcus' voice cut through my train of thoughts, his eyes scanning the roads with an expression that showed he didn't know which way to go. “I can't see any directions t
Kathie's POV “Don't worry, Kathie. College is just a piece of cake and that lodge right there is going to be amazing.” He said, pointing behind him. “Really?” I muttered. He nodded, but the twitch in his expression was beginning to fill me with doubt. “You know what?” His eyes lit up, with a mischievous smirk creeping into his expression. “I think I'm going to create some awareness for you.” “Hey everyone!!” Before I could stop him, he turned around to the few girls striding away from the entrance behind us, yelling at the top of his voice so that the girls present had their gazes shot at us. “Listen up y'all, I have an announcement.” He shouted. “Marcus, don't.” I begged. But he went on with it anyway. He continued. “This blonde damsel over here is my sister!! If anyone messes with her, she'd have me to deal with…” I could feel the embarrassment surrounding me like a mist as he continued to raise his voice, the girls staring at us with raised brows and confused
Marcus’ POVMy mind wandered about, trying to imagine why she wasn't taking her calls, considering the fact that it was already 9am and the carteen must have served her dinner an hour ago which would have given her enough time to be in her room at this hour. I dialed the number over and over again, but it was still the same result. The series of dial tone beeps on and on until the call was cut. The only two reasons I could think of was either she was asleep or she just didn't want to talk to me. But both reasons seemed strange due to the fact that I knew Tallulah never slept early nor would she want to avoid speaking to me. We hadn't gotten into any dispute lately, and most importantly, the last time we parted after she strode into her dorm, her chins were flushed against her will with a warm smile across her lips. I could feel a smirk creeping across my lips as I thought of how perfect she looked as she walked away into the girl's dormitory with her box trailing behind her. Even t
Marcus' POVThe sight of the other students lifting their hands to answer questions, and the sound of their voice as they did so enthusiastically gave me irks. It reminded me of the first year of school when I had been like them, doing all I can to stay relevant and loved by the lecturers. After a while, I saw the real pictures and realized that it was all unnecessary since it only mattered if the exams and tests were passed properly.Most of the students in my department were men who were advanced in age, some even as old as my father. They must've come to take the course just like my father made me do because they needed the certificate for a job they wanted. The thought of how long I was going to have to deal with this unending circle of classes, tests, and exams annoyed me deeply. Not just a week or a month, six whole months which would probably rob me of my mind before I was halfway through it.I thought of just leaving and spending the rest of the session hanging out with some
Lililan's POVThe sight of the three siblings, Tallulah, Marcus and Kathie leaving the house in the sparkling Ferrari threw my mind into tides of thoughts as I wondered how their school would be like and how they would cope now that they would be away from home during the weekends. I wasn't that worried about Marcus since he had already been in school for four years, graduating with a perfect grade. My concern was about the girls, Kathie and Lula. Before I graduated highschool, I had met Tallulah's father and had the affair with him that changed my life forever. My dream of going to college to study a course which would help me do what I loved was destroyed with the sight of that strange but handsome fellow. When I found out I was pregnant and was far from the prevention stage, I kept the secret away from my grandmother who I loved since I had lost my parents when I was just ten years old. Life was already rough for us since she and my uncle struggled to pay the fees and afford my e
Kathie's POV The days blurred together in a whirlwind of lectures, assignments, and the steady rhythm of Bella's presence in our dorm room. Each evening brought a quiet routine: Bella engrossed in her coding projects, me buried in textbooks, both of us occasionally exchanging brief words or glances that seemed to convey more than what was spoken aloud.One particularly exhausting Friday afternoon, after a marathon of classes, I returned to our room feeling drained. Bella was already there, as usual, her focus intent on her laptop screen. I flopped down on my bed, staring up at the ceiling with a sigh."You look beat," Bella remarked, her voice breaking the silence. She glanced over at me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.I managed a weak smile. "Yeah, these lectures are really taking it out of me."Bella nodded sympathetically. "I get it. Want me to make some tea again? It might help you unwind."I hesitated for a moment, touched by her thoughtfulness. "Actually, that sounds p
83. Kathie's POVThe following days of lectures came in a rush, each day filled with two or more lectures which lasted two hours each. There was so much information to take in as the lectures did their best to make sure that everyone understood what they were teaching. I knew it wasn't this way in other colleges. I heard from my friends that their lectures don't even bother to come to classes most times, and when they did, they taught their courses to a class of over two hundred students, not caring if the students understood what they taught or not. I wouldn't blame them though, imagine having to make each of those hundreds of students understand each lecture. It would be exhausting. The only suffocating thing about this school was my new roommate, Bella Terrace. I wouldn't exactly use the word ‘suffocating’ due to the fact that it was a sweet kind of uneasiness I felt whenever she was present in the room. Most of the time, she was always on her PC, typing quickly in a manner that
Tallulah's POV One afternoon, as we sat under the shade of a large oak tree near the campus pond, Connor brought up his plans for the upcoming semester break. "I was thinking of visiting my family back home," he said, twirling a blade of grass between his fingers. "It's been a while since I've seen them, and I miss them.""That sounds nice," I replied, watching the sunlight filter through the leaves above us. "Do you go home often?"He shook his head, a wistful smile on his face. "Not as often as I'd like. My family lives a few hours away, so it's not always easy to make the trip."I nodded sympathetically, understanding the challenges of balancing university life with family obligations. "I hope you get to see them soon," I said sincerely. "Family time is important."Connor's expression softened. "What about you, Tallulah? Any plans for the break?"I shrugged, unsure of how to answer. "I haven't really thought about it. Maybe I'll visit my parents for a few days.""Sounds like a goo
Tallulah's POVI couldn't help but check my makeup over and over again on my phone's screen as I stood at the university's bustling cafeteria, nervously scanning the room for Connor. We had agreed to meet here for coffee, and despite my initial reservations, I was determined to approach this with an open mind. It wouldn't be fare to write him off just because of his looks which made him look like a dangerous gangster. The sight of him sitting across the room at he extreme end had taking large breaths as I prepared myself to meet him. Spotting him at a corner table, I made my way over, my heel slapping against thw tlles as i maintained the posture wuth a warmth on my face that resonated wjgh my burning chest.Connor looked up as I approached, his face breaking into a warm smile. "Hey, Tallulah! Glad you could make it," he greeted, gesturing for me to take a seat across from him."Hey, Connor," I replied, returning his smile as I settled into the chair. The aroma of freshly brewed coff
Tallulah's POV Connor’s invitation caught me off guard. I hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. He seemed sincere, but after everything with Marcus, I wasn’t sure diving into something new was a good idea. Yet, there was a curiosity tugging at me, urging me to step out of my comfort zone.“Um, sure,” I finally replied, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in my chest. “Coffee sounds nice. But as I said earlier, I'm not interested in seeing anyone right now, so I'll have to decline. I'm sorry.”The silence followed my rejection, my heart pacing firm each second that passed, not knowing what to expect from the latter.“That's alright. He voiced, breaking the silence. And as I said, I just want us to be friends, nothing intense. So we can still have coffee tomorrow to get to know each other.”“I'm sorry. I'll be occupied tomorrow.”“When will you be free?” He asked, almost immediately.It seemed like he wasn't willing to back down to the extent where he had begun to lie
Tallulah's POVThe calmness in the air was quite palatable, bringing me relief as I stared into his expression filled with remorse. I admired his bravery, not afraid to stand his ground regardless of who was against him, as long as protecting me was involved. After a few seconds of staring, he shrugged lightly, his eyes shooting at the car.“So, are you going to drive off, or not?” he asked, my brows rising in confusion.My fingers felt the keys in my palms, realizing that he had given me his car keys a moment ago. I was beginning to remember the conversation we were having about me taking his car while he walked to my dorm, and I had also remembered my firm resolve not to let him off easily.“Are you sure you want to hand the love of your life over to me?” I asked, earning a chuckle from his lips.He snickered. “Come on, Lula. We both know you're the love of my life. That car is just a substitute now that you're my step sister.”I found the joke awkward rather than funny, but I smile