THE SPACE BETWEEN

TIWA

I'm Tiwa Adams, I grew up in the city of Lagos with my poor parents. We lived in a boy's quarters at my parents boss house.

I am 17 years old and I've always wanted to be a star model, I'm built with the body of a model, dark in complexion and tall. Even tho my parents complain about my diet and my attitude towards school work I don't care, all I want is to be a successful model.
..

     It's Monday, time for school.
"Good morning mother" I greeted by mother, my father as gone to this post as a gateman
"Good morning my daughter, you're starting a new school today" she said
Yes im starting a new school, my parents boss told me to start schooling with his children who are the same age as me
Michelle and Michello. They are twins.
" Mom i don't have a good feeling about this new school thing, I mean it's a high standard school for rich kids and I'm well quite the opposite" I'm not ready to face bullying even tho i know they will have a hard time doing that.
" You'll be fine" was all mother said and walked out, she's also going into the big mansion where she works as a maid. I was spared the works cause of school.

Getting to school with the twins felt a little less awkward than I imagined, they are delighted to have me, at least Michelle is
" You better know your place here and don't talk to me nor my sister" i heard Michello's thick voice behind my ears, I felt a shock pass through me
"Such a d*CK" I muttered. Michello is handsome and all but he has a very bad attitude, his sister on the other hand
"Hey Tiwa I hope you have a nice time at school!! I'm so excited to have you around" she said placing a peck on my cheek, I smiled.
After the first half of the day, I was already exhausted, I'm in Ss2 art class and it was really tiring. More tiring because I and Michello are in the same class while Michelle was in Science
"Should have just gone to commercial" I said to myself
"Hi" I heard a girl's voice from my side, I looked to my side to see who's talking I didn't notice the girl sitting beside me
"Hello" I replied
"I'm Zara" she said offering me a handshake
I took it and replied "Tiwa"
"You're new in this school right? I'm sure you'll want someone to show you around I'm available and since it's lunch break we can look around " she said, I could feel her enthusiasm
" Okay let's go" I smiled at her as we walked out of the class. Zara walked me through the school halls, dinning, classes, event centres, basketball court, football field and many more. We stopped at the canteen to get some water.
"Are you a family of the Demola's?" Zara asked
She was asking about Michelle and Michello
"Oh no, my parents just work for them" I answered and waited for her expression, surprisenly she was calm
" I'ld love to be your friend tho, seems you have non" she said and flashed a smile.
I smiled back and looked away just for my eyes to sight Michello
"Huh that brat" I sighed
"You mean Michello? He's not that bad you know" Zara said and smiled, making me notice the spark in her eyes
"You like him don't you" I said as I sipped my water
" Everyone does Tiwa, Michello is the most handsome guy in this school" she said
If he's the most handsome then they lack so much standards in beauty in this school.
" Hm maybe to you guys" I said, irritated by him .
I walked back to the class alone because Zara said she had to go see the nurse.
I sat on my seat waiting patiently for her since she's the only friend I have, nobody seems interested in the new girl in school.
"It has always been like that" I heard someone say, I looked behind me to see a handsome guy sitting majestically at my back.
"Huh" I tried to say but I couldn't help but notice every physic of his body.
He had a very curly hair which fell on his fore head, tiny eyes and a full heart shaped lips. He had a tall stature, for me thinking I'm tall enough to be a model, he is the perfect height of a model boy. Medium muscles and dark skin. Seeing a guy with dark skin really gives me the butterflies because I've seen Michelle and Michello all my life and they are half breeds, Half Nigerian and Half Korean.
"Don't stress it, students here just want to finish the school year and attend the ball party, they don't care about new students. But I do cause you're beautiful" he said. My heart ached, even though I knew I was beautiful, being called beautiful by the other gender which is not my Dad felt good. Michello always called me ugly baboon but it never got to me. I had a long African hair, thick and black, a full round big eye balls and a perfectly shaped nose and mouth.
I had a perfect figure that complimented my African beauty. In my last school, I never had the problem of winning beauty pageants cause I was always the prettiest.
"Oh I'm Gbolahan" he said again.
"Hi I'm Tiwa and thanks for the compliment" I said.
"You stay with Michello right?" He said just when I was having a good time with him. How could everyone notice I stay at Demola's.
"Yes, I'm the daughter of their worker" I said
"I knew I saw you one particular day I went to his house, you were washing and drying, I could not see you well but always wanted to see you anytime I came to Michello's" he explained
Instead of the 'washing and drying' part to kick in and end the conversation with this boy, the part of 'always wanted to see you' couldn't stop me from smiling
" At least you'll see me often now " I said and smiled
" I'm so excited to knowing you Tiwa" he replied and went back to studying. I smiled and took a last glance at the students in my class. We are just 12 because this is a pretty expensive school. I looked around until my eyes found the devil himself 'Michello'. He looked at me with a disgusting look I was used to and muttered something like "Ugly baboon" as expected.
After the awful day I had because of Michello I got home only to hear another awful news
"Tiwa the boss said you should move to a new room in the house" my father said
"Huh? Why?" I was totally confused, what's wrong with staying with you guys Dad?" I asked annoyed and confused
"My daughter, don't be annoyed, the boss loves us enough to give you a good education, he doesn't want anyone to discriminate you from them" he explained. He made sense but I still didn't want to accept the fact that we have to follow the Demola's opinion about everything.
" What if I say I'm not going?" I replied, folding my hands and frowning my face for him to see my disapproval.
" It's too late my dear, Michello came to pack your things" my father said and left my room.
" what!!?" I was surprised Michello would do that, but knowing that boy well, he did it for a reason.

I walked into the big mansion, welcomed by Michelle
" I'm so happy I was able to convince dad for you to stay with us Tiwa, you don't know how happy I am" she smiled widely, it's all her doing
" But you should have asked me first Michelle, I don't like the idea, especially the fact that Michello packed my things" I complained, Michelle was expecting a happy and positive response from me but I just could not hide how disappointed I was.
"I'm sorry Tiwa but please let's just act like sisters" she made a puppy eyes and I fell for it
"Alright Michelle" I said and smiled at her
" Oh how much I love your smile" she replied and hugged me tightly, taking me to my so called room.
We entered and met Michello standing by the window, facing the direct sun, his well braided long hair fell on his shoulders, he folded his arms.
" I'll leave you two" Michelle said and walked out, she didn't even let me speak
" You're so lucky you know!" He blurted out, annoying me
" What's your problem with me Michello, why did you pack my things here?" I said angrily
" A thank you will do you know?, You're such an ungrateful brat Tiwa" he said turning and facing me
" I don't know your problem with me, please get out" I said opening the door for him to get out.
He chuckled and started walking towards the door. He walked slowly making me impatient, instead of walking out of the door he walked towards me making me move backwards
" What are you doing?" I said after I felt my back hit the wall
" Oh why are you moving back?" He mocked
He moved closer to me close enough for our lips to touch
" Know your place, MAID!" He said then walked out
" That f*cking bastard!!"I cursed as I jammed the door.

                          ............
Later in the day, I heard a knock on my door, I was already asleep after all the work of arranging and sweeping my room, the room was big enough for me to stay indoor the whole day.
"Who's that?" I said, rubbing my eyes
"Your mother Tiwa" I heard my mother's voice
"Mama" I said happily as I ran to open the door, she came in, smiling as she gave me a big hug
"Mom how're you?" I said as I made her sit on my bed
" My daughter, I am very happy for you, your dreams will come true now that you have someone ready to cater for you" she said
" Mom you sound down what's wrong?"
" The boss is moving I and your father to another house in Abuja" she broke the news. I could not believe what she just said, what did she mean by moving?, what about me?, How will I live here without my mother and father?
" Mom i don't understand" I said, clinching to her.
" My daughter, you have nothing to lose, you'll have the life you've always wanted my dear, don't make it hard" mother said, making me rethink what she said
" What do you mean by making things hard Mama?" I was already getting annoyed
" Tiwatope" she called
" We will be fine, just enjoy your stay here" she said again before going out
She literally just sold me to this damn arrogant family.

Another day of school, school hasn't been bad this past few weeks and the Demola's are surprisingly treating me right, except from that demon called Michello
"Open the door" his voice rang at my door
"Michello I'm dressing up, can't you spare me some privacy?!" I yelled, only for me to hear the door lock open and he stepped in.
" What the hell Michello, who gave you the key to my room?!" I shouted trying to cover my half naked body wrapped with a purple towel, with another towel which I wrapped around my shoulders. I heard him chuckle
" Maid what are you hiding?, Your body is not as attractive as you think it is" he said and threw a pair of new Snickers on my bed
" What's this?" I asked
" Michelle wanted to wear the same shoe as you maid so I got the both of you a pair of balengicaga Snickers, you're welcome Maid" he said and was about going out
" Why?" I blurted out, why are they so nice to me? Why are they treating me like I'm one of them? It was weird and somehow scary
" Why what?, Didn't you understand the simple English I said?" He snapped as he glare at me. I swallowed my spit, since we were all young I've always been intimated by him. He threw the key on my bed and closed the door behind him
"Huhhh" I'm so annoyed, I started at the very beautiful white and black Snickers on my bed, it matches our black and white uniform
" Huh I don't know if I should be happy or worried" I said to myself before I continue with my clothes.

                          ...........
The school was crowded with what seem to be another school, because they were on different uniforms, a blue skirt and trousers with cream long sleeves
" Who are those?" I asked Zara who seemed excited to see them.
" Oh Tiwa those are the teenagers from Mount High, one of the prestigious schools around" she said, she was so fantasized by them
" Okay?, And what are they doing here?" I asked again
"Oh our annual get together party is coming soon, where all schools around Lagos comes to party at our school, we do it every year" she replied, seems like this would be interesting I thought, not knowing this would test my ambition and skills to be what I want to be and make me regret coming to Good Will Internationals.

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