MIKAYLA. . .I stare blankly at the gold medal I won in a painting competition at the national level. Impressive, I know. The entire class either praised me or grumbled behind my back but not a single person I found who was genuinely happy and admired my talent.I can't even find one. It is only my Dad who loves me and admires me. I know once I reach home, I'm gonna receive a gift for this achievement.However, I'm very much annoyed now because my stomach hurts and my back, too.I wish I could escape this day. I would have skipped school today but I couldn't forget about this competition. I wanted another medal in my collection to annoy my cousins; to make them jealous.I know the idea is great but what about now?I hide my face in my arms and sigh. The pain between my thighs is the cruelest. I just want to go home as soon as possible!"Priyanka! He's here!""They won!""I see the trophy in his hands!"Yelling like witches drunk on fresh blood, they leave the classroom, hopping aroun
BARAK. . ."Tomorrow is your engagement with Mikayla Uriel, the girl you hate to the core. She burns your entire existence but you're ready to let her be your wife."Through the narrow ways of my eyes that find no interest in the sight before me, I dart my attention to Arad. His arm raises leisurely as to hold the white stick between his fingers and let the gray smoke be released through his mouth. The ashy odor is sick."Strange, isn't it?""Love is not only blind...""It's dumb, deaf and crazy, too."Humorless laughter spills throughout the silent cabin of mine, caged by the glass walls."But here, it's hatred, right?""What runs through his mind, I wonder.""You better not know," I finally chip in, lowering my eyelids to the screen of my phone that burns my eyes.I scroll down, having nothing else to do and her picture pops in. The one that was sent to me when I was in America. My heart hushes to the soul of mine about her beauty."Why? Is it dark or funny?""No, it's madness. Daw
MIKAYLA. . ."Soniye, you're so talented," I hear the soft voice of my nephew say as he sits beside me and watches me sketching a face.I hum, my squinted eyes focused on the canvas. The face of a man is what I am sketching, not wishing to put on many shades. It is actually my nephew's homework and I am doing it."How do you do that?" He asks after a pause. I hear the sound of a wrapper being torn.The silence in my room is too much. So much so that the sound of graphite rubbing against the rough sheet can be heard easily. I like it."I dunno," the words come out under my breath, barely audible.He giggles and swiftly brings the piece of chocolate to my mouth. I don't deny having it silently. The solid bar melts on my tongue, taste fusing into my calm senses and it crawls down my throat."I want to sketch like you. Can I do it?""Why do you ask me? Ask your Uncle. After all, he's your teacher.""Uncle said you get jealous!"He burst into laughter as he held his stomach. My hand halts
MIKAYLA. . ."I hope you got it, Miss," a smile is on my way as an assurance to my heart that my boss gives me."Of course," Mr Hitler, I grit my teeth and stretch my lips in a perfect pretty smile for a response.He buys it, nodding his head. I push the door close and step back. My smile vanishes in the air and I walk back to my desk.Finally, he is not letting me go. How annoying!I want to resign from this job and find something else to do, if possible, but Mr Hitler is not letting me go, stopping me with lame excuses. I tried a lot to convince him but he is adamant about it.He has reasoned with me enough times that he doesn't want to lose an employee like me and I wish to get out of here as soon as possible.I remember my childhood when it was easier and smoother for me. Being a daughter of two beautiful people has its perks. Anything I wanted, I would just smile or bat my eyelashes to lure them into a plain web and they would do anything I would ask them to. However, things hav
MIKAYLA. . ."How was the journey? You didn't face any problems on the way, right?" Mama asks my friend, Julia, who is sitting across the table.There is a cup of tea in her hand, dainty fingers wrapped around. She loves it. Chay ki deewani hai. Her coffee-brown eyes are set on my Mama who is smiling at her.My Mama loves Julia. She is my childhood friend. My mother has known her since she used to come to my house to do projects and homework."It was all right. I slept the entire flight." She chuckles in the end, her shoulders jerking.All eyes are on me now, expecting an explanation. "She's saying that the flight was good. She slept the entire flight," I say as my eyes particularly linger over my sister-in-law, Tabitha. She seemed confused until now.My Mama nods her head. "Eliab got there just in time, right? He didn't make you wait, I hope.""Of course, he was waiting for me there. Although, I thought Mikayla would come to pick me up." She steals a glance at me, taking a sip of he
MIKAYLA . . . "Have a great day and be a good girl, okay?" My dad says, looking down at me with those eyes. "Yeah, bye, bye!" I wave my hand, grinning at him. His eyes follow the movement of my small hand. Well, my hand is very small in front of my Dad's hand. He smiles back and kisses my forehead. My eyes close for a brief moment before the touch leaves and he gets back into the car, passing me one last smile. I sigh once the car leaves and walk through the broad stoned pathway that leads to the grand building of my school. The scent of fresh green leaves meets my senses as I breathe deeply, walking as I hold the straps of my red princess backpack. On the way, my classmates and those who are not even my classmates greet me. They hover around me like moths, telling me silly things while I enjoy receiving attention. I deserve it and I know it. After all, I am the brightest student in the school and everybody wants to be my friend. Flipping my pigtail behind my shoulder, I look
MIKAYLA. . ."May God bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; may He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." My Dad cups my face, kissing my forehead as he blesses me with the Lord's Word. How lovely."Amen," I smile, nodding my head as I pull back.Holding the plate, then I feed him the cake. It is my fourteenth birthday, after all! One of my favorite days of the year which I celebrate at least for a month.He holds my wrist, enjoying the entire piece. I giggle, wanting to give him my whole cake. He then takes another piece and feeds me. I only have half of it, putting down the rest after he cuts it.After that, I feed my Mama and my other family members. When I cut more pieces to serve my friends, including Blondie because I had no other way than to invite him, I happily serve them. But not when I come face to face with Blondie.Why are the pieces still left?"Congrats for finally being fourteen years old on this ear
MIKAYLA. . ."Here?""Shut up for now, Mickey," as that said, he smashes his lips against mine, taking in a deep kiss.I hold his shoulders as he pins me against the locker. His hand crawls up my hip, holding my waist and caressing ever so softly.I tilt my head, letting him have better access. I part my lips, allowing his tongue to enter my mouth when a loud banging of the door interrupts us.Ibzan jerks back, looking at the one who interrupted us. I follow his gaze and really am not surprised to see Mr Blondie standing beside his locker, holding the gloves.Jerk.He stares dead into the eyes of Ibzan, muttering, "Are you not coming?"He is calling Ibzan to join the practice as both are members of the college sports team. Mr Blondie is one the most admired players, more famous for his dumb looks and body which every girl calls hot.Ibzan is another famous player but not as admired as Blondie but who cares? For me, my Ibzan is better — even the best. This Blondie cannot even compete