Chapter 4

Rachel

After my mother caught me snooping around on the internet for seduction techniques, she did not make any more moves. What she left was just her words about her teaching me the right way to seduce and get a man.

I was burning with intense anticipation and the day seemed to move slower than it should but I persevered to the next day.

I was ready to bombard my mother now. I felt like I had given her enough time to prepare her teaching materials and whatnot.

I habitually checked my phone and I saw that there was message on my school group chat.

We had all graduated but the chat hadn't been disbanded and someone would occasionally share something.

Now, the class monitor of our set of students had posted a message about a school gathering for our group.

I dismissed it.

I walked past my brother's room habitually. The door wasn't locked. I poked my head in to see Norman on his computer. He was playing games.

Normally, I would hang out with him and join him in his games. I loved crushing Norman in games but now, I have a different thing in my sights.

I was trying to catch Chase Williams so I did not have so much time to spare. Playing games with Norman would have to wait.

"Did you see the message on the group chat?" I asked as I maintained my peeking position.

Norman did not look back. He continued to play his game intensely.

I was feeling somehow sorry for the keyboard in his grip.

"No. What about you?" He sent the question back and the sounds from his game accompanied his voice.

I shook my head. Then I remembered that he wasn't even looking at me.

"I don't think I am going." I said instead.

I went downstairs to see my mother cooking up another storm.

I swear, she never gets tired.

I went into the kitchen. This time, I did not try to hug her. I just leaned on a tabletop instead.

I stayed where I can see her clearly.

"Good morning mom, how was your night?" I asked as I watched her busy figure go from one place to another with ingredients.

She turned to look at me and her face took on her usual disapproving look.

"Good morning baby. Why are you wearing this again?" She asked with a frowning face.

The miraculous thing I could not fathom is that as she looked at me and spoke to me, her hands that were still busy never miss their mark.

I guess this was the wonders of thousands and thousands of practice.

"Yes. This was what I want to see you about. You said you would teach me how I would unlock my feminine charms but you did not say anything since yesterday." I gushed out.

I had habitually worn my usual clothes. Now, I am thankful I did. I am that thankful that I did not put any strenuous efforts into dressing or my mother would have forgotten her words.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, "I was going over the steps I had perfected for you."

A guilty look was on her face. It had replaced the disapproving gaze she had before.

I knew she had probably forgotten but I chose not to call her out.

Beggars can't be choosers and I was not about to bite my helping hand.

I was a newbie in seduction and the harnessing of my feminine charms.

I did not want to spoil anything with a snarky mouth.

I can not build my self up to be who I want to be without any outside help.

"So," I began excitedly with my lips curved by the edges, "How are we going to do this? What should I do? I can't wait!"

Chase's handsome face appeared in my mind and I became more enamored. God really created him well.

"After we are done eating and after the house chores are completed, we will hit the mall to change your wardrobe. What do you think?" My mom asked me as she played the food.

I nodded before hurrying to help her.

I wasn't the type to shirk house work so I helped her with setting the table.

I wanted everything to be as fast as possible.

Soon, everybody in the family gathered together at the dining table to eat and after that, I helped my mother with the house chores.

When we finished cleaning the house, the time we would head out to the mall arrived.

I did not change my clothes. My mom did not comment either but her face still showed that she did not approve of it.

She did not say anything because she knew there was no girly or feminine clothes in my wardrobe.

If she asked me to change, it would be a futile endeavor because all my clothes are of the same variety.

I think me going to the mall to change my wardrobe did a lot to appease her dissatisfaction.

We got to the mall earlier than I expected and my mom led me to the section where I would be able to get female clothes. The beautiful ones that are gender neutral was included in my mom's search for the perfect wardrobe collection.

I and my mom picked outfits and I tried them on.

Even with my excitement, my tiredness began to show.

I could not believe that this was something my mom might experience occasionally and she could still muster up the happiness and joy of going for another shopping trip.

It was an eye opener for me.

She was starting to look more like a superwoman to me.

My exhaustion seemed to drain my excitement away.

I was starting to look through the outfits on the rack with numb eyes now.

I turned to my mother, "How did you always get so excited because of shopping?"

My mother smiled.

"Well, you would soon understand." She cupped her cheeks, "The joy of looking your best isn't something that can be quenched by a little thing called exhaustion."

My mom and her childish antics.

Besides, I beg to disagree that exhaustion is a 'little thing'.

I shook my head to get rid of any thought of continuing that conversation.

I did not want my mom to go on and on about my dressing again.

We both spotted a red dress that had sequins on it. The sequins was not very eye-catching or glaring. It was low key and exquisite.

It screamed charm and grace.

All my exhaustion faded away instantly.

"Mom, I want that dress." I whispered to my mom. I felt like talking loudly would be spoiling the aura of this marvelous creation.

"I know." My mom whispered back at me before we walked over to the dress.

It was not worn by a mannequin but it was displayed in a prominent place that showcased it's unique attributes.

My hands landed on the clothes first and another person's hand landed a second later.

I looked at the new arrival to see a girl from my college. She is Julie, a friend that turned into an enemy.

Both of us wrinkled our nose and we both glared at each other.

Julie could have been considered my friend once. I had gone into the friendship she offered with good intentions without knowing that she approached me with bad intentions.

She wanted to date Chase and I was her ticket.

I, my brother, Chase and the rest of their friends always hung out together. I could be considered the only girl in their group that wasn't the girlfriends that changed quickly or the  female best friends with benefits they bring on outings once in a while.

Any girl that fancied some of my brother's friends or even my brother always tried to get to them through me. I did not know why I did not see through Julie's intentions earlier.

I had met many girls like her. Her tactics was just different.

My position in my brother and his friends' hearts was special. I was their little sister.

This is one of the reason I wanted to seduce Chase first. I felt like all his mind would be programming me as a little sister and that was something I do not want to see.

I wasn't satisfied with being a little sister anymore. I wanted to be something more special.

When I had discovered her hidden intentions, I broke off our friendship and this single action of mine caused enmity between us.

After that episode, she began to try all ways to make my life harder and it did not help that she was well regarded by the boys in college.

"Oh, what do little macho Rachel want here? Do you want this dress? But you have killed away your female self since forever. This dress won't help you." Julie smile was lifted at the edges.

I don't know if she thought it made her look seductive but to me, it felt like a crooked attempt at being intimidating.

Her words caused anger to rush through me.

What I chose to do is my choice. I don't know why this bimbo thought she had the right to criticize me.

This was what she always did in college.

She did not have any thing to insult me with so she chose to attack my love for masculine things instead.

I often walked with Norman and Chase. There was a period they took up bodybuilding and they learnt defense.

I chose to learn defense too and I trained my body.

I might not be as active as I was when I first started but I still practiced when I can.

This established an habit within me. I liked to settle things with my fists.

Now, I wanted to bash Julie's annoying face in.

I wanted to hear the satisfying crunch of her nose breaking.

I raised my fist.

Julie took am imperceptible step back.

"You are still the same. You don't behave like a demure girl at all. All you know is to raise your fists when you are in a disadvantage." Julie sneered as she tried to behave like my action didn't scare her.

After classes, I always tried to track her down to give her a lesson anytime she tried to make it hard for me.

Most of my attempts didn't succeed as she had her huge band of admirers protecting her but sometimes I manger to catch her.

Those times, I make sure I taught her a lesson to remember.

Looking at her now, it seemed like she did not remember any lesson I tried to teach her.

I was ready to beat her up again.

She needed a wake up call to remind her of who I am.

A soft hand wrapped around my clenched fist.

I did not need to check to know who the hand belonged to. It was my mother's hand.

My mother walked past me to stand face to face with Julie. She stood in a position that shielded more of my figure from Julie.

I felt like I did not really need her help with settling this but her action sent warmth straight to my heart .

The moment she passed by me, she said something.

"Don't worry baby. A gentlewoman fight with words not fists. I will show her that no one messes with my baby chick."