☁︎𝑺𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑬☁︎

Chapter 1️⃣

☁︎𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚☁︎

I quickly glance at my wrist watch again as my level of impatience rises. I look around the empty car park frantically, praying to see my mother's black jeep in the distance, coming to pick me up from this bloody school and take me home.

Exhausted, I heave a sigh and sit on my stainless bucket, resting my head on the top of my suitcase. It's not the most comfortable position, but it's better than standing. A few minutes pass and I see the school's gateman peek at me from inside his small post through the window. He too, looks like he's praying for me to go home so he can close for the day and meet his family.

Right now, it's only the both of us left in the school. The matron got tired pretty quickly and left, complaining about how my parents always come late to pick me up, making sure she said it in the rudest way possible. I let out a deep groan as her words replay in my head again. By now, I thought it wouldn't affect me, seeing I've heard it from her mouth a couple of times, but it still stings as bad as it did the first time she said it.

I take another glance at my wristwatch, and fear wraps her cold arms around me when I see the time.

9:42 pm.

Did she have a car accident on her way here? She's never been this late before oh!

I wrap my arms around myself as the cold air slaps itself against my whole body, making me shudder. For a few more minutes, I continue to stare at the vast car park, determined to stay alert in case mum comes any moment from now. But it's not long before my strength starts to falter, before my eyes start to close on their own accord.

I sleep off.

☁︎༒︎☁︎

I'm woken up by a bright light that penetrates through my half-closed eyelids. By instinct, I cover my eyes with my palms, so I wouldn't go blind. The light is accompanied with a loud whirring sound, and after a few minutes, the light goes out and the sound stops. The next thing I hear is a door opening, and I don't need anybody to tell me that mum is here. I check my wristwatch for the time.

11:17 pm.

Wow, what wonderful timing.

"Good evening ma," I greet, not even bothering to look at the human before me as I start dragging my box towards the car.

I don't get a reply from the person and I really don't care, but when I leave my box near the boot of the car and head for my ghana-must-go, I hear the person who is supposed to be my mother say,

"Who are you calling, 'ma'?"

I stop in my tracks, startled by the deep, teasing tone of the voice. That voice sounds nothing like feminine, that voice sounds nothing like my mother's.

"Mommy didn't tell you she travelled, ba?" the person says again.

I can tell when he starts approaching me, but I don't move, instead I stay where I am with closed eyes, praying this whole thing is a dream.

"Serenity, it's me nau!"

I feel the person's large, manly hands land on my shoulders, gripping it nicely before he swiftly turns me to face him. I open my eyes, and when I see his face, I know it's not a dream.

"It's clear you are so happy to see me!" he smirks, clearly knowing I feel the opposite way but still deciding to be sarcastic anyway.